Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-16
REAL WORK begun.
The Convention Of Knights Settles
Down to business.
READING THE REPORTS.
What the Treasurer Has to Say-The Re-
suit of Mrs. Barry's Investigation
Into the Condition OF Ameri-
can worlIngwomcn.

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov 15.-The real work Of
the general assembly, Knights Of Labor. has
commenced. The committees have been APP
pointed and their work allotted to them.
Frederick Turner, general treasurer, was
the first officer TO submit report. The re-
ceipts for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1883, he reported, reached nearly $3.50 900, "a
considerable decrease rem the previous year,
due to a rapid decline in the membership Of
the order, brought about by many causes,
which win be more thoroughly brought to
your notice In the reports Of other officers.
In the itemized expenditure OF both the
yearly and supplemental reports are found
the salaries Of officers and their necessary ex-
penses, such as railroad fares, hotel bills,
postage, kilograms, etc. Mr.. Powderly is
credited with an expense of 1886 OF, which
includes S4,5s3.26, eleven months salary,
and in the supplemental report an expendi-
ture Of 81, 5Jl.40 is credited to him, 81 40 ~
Of which Is salary. One great expense of the
last year was the Minneapolis session of the
general assembly, which required $17, 45307.
The report Of Mrs "a NJ Barry, general
investigator OF woman's work and wages,
was exceedingly interesting as giving some
idea Of the condition OF the workingwomen
of the country. In some respects the report
Is a revelation.
AS a preface to her report she said: II dc
not feel justified in spending the time and
money Of my constituents in playing the spy
or detective as, since we have started the ball
OF exposing the wrongs and injustice done
workingwomen rolling, others have en-
tered tho field ia this line, and with what sue
cess all must DO satisfied who have followed
the footsteps of Nell Nelson, Ethel Allen and
our own dear Eva Gay
s'Neither did / feel justified in going around
among industries and gathering from officials
or employers such information as they would
give, knowing that such knowledge could be
CLEANED from the reports of our labor bureaus
and state factory inspectors
My understanding OF the duties implied
In my office was that l was TO do everything
in my power that would in my Judgment,
have tendency to educate and elevate the
workingwomen OF America and ameliorate
their condition.
AS a further PREDATORY Mrs. Barry stated
the difficulties to be overcome in keeping
women organized after they had formed them
selves into district assemblies.
Impatience at the conservative measures,
and disappointment IL they are not able to
see immediate and great good from organiza-
ton were the principal causes for the decrease
in membership, and in some instances for
total disbandment of local assemblies and the
failure of several strikes had increased the
discomfort
Mrs Barry then detailed an account OF her
work, OF her travels from place TO place. of
the assemblies she organized and their pres
emit condition.
In illustrating the condition OF the shop
girls in the large cities, she narrated the
following, which she investigated while III
Chicago:
"In large retail store children of all ages,
from apparently years up to Is, arc en-
ployed Each was well drilled in the parrot
like answer to the query, How old are your
" Past IA
1.-THE older employees refused to give any
information whatever about their wages or
the system under which they worked
Another establishment had one of its de-
partnents in basement where statesmen
and women, who were largely in the major
ity, worked all day with incandescent lights,
not one ray of sunshine or fresh air, except
such as was circulated through the rooms by
means of pipes in the sides Here again
tried to CLEAN some information but failed,
finding at least some women who did not
love to talk. / was told on good authority
that the reason for this was the employer
would 60 to each girl in Sirn and tell her
that owing to her superior qualities he would
pay her more than any other, naming the
amount, but upon condition that she would
not mention it to her neighborn