St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-12

s5.47, $500, 1929, $685., s6.71. Three
consecutive weeks of the same five girls
at Is cents: S6.75, S9.42, S9.3S, $5.16,
1874. The foreman says the girl in the
last average who only earned S5.16 did
not work but little over half time.
In answer to our question why cassi-
mere pants were reduced from Is cents
TO 10 cents we were shown the
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORK,
Which gives less work to the machine
operator. When Is cents was paid for
machine work the finishing cost IS cents
per dozen, while since Is cents has been
paid for the machine work S1.20 per
do2en>has been paid for finishing. Be-
fore making these inquiries we were
under the impression that Is cents COW
cred the entire cost of making pair of
pants, but the figures show that other
work by hand brings the cost per pair to
80 and 40 cents. After these goods leave
the cutter they pass through seven diff
ferent hands before completion. and
since the reduction to Is cents these
pants cost the firm per cent more than
formerly.
On different kinds of work we find the
following averages for three consecutive
weeks in March:
For thirty-two hands, S7.25. For fifty
1928. For seventy-seven hands, 1918.
For eighty hands, 1898.
These figures indicate that an expert
hand can make from So to $3.50 per week
on the cheapest work made in the fac
tory, and far more ON the finer class of
goods.
COMMITTEE CONCLUSIONS.
In view of the above, we are forced to
the conclusion that much injustice has
been done Messrs. ShOtWell, Clerihew q
Lothman, and that they are in no way
responsible for this strike and do not
merit the odium that some are trying to
put upon them, and that the strikers
have no just cause for complaint. Their
workroom is large. light and airy; their
wages, whilst small and unremunerative
to the inexperienced beginners, of which
they are assured before employment is
given them, yet increase rapidly with
experience and become quite remunera-
tive to the expert
We cannot but regard the whole mat
ter as being extremely unfortunate, first
to the firm. as their manufacturing de-
partment is much disorganiZed, not
Knowing whether they will be able to
continue i'll this city with profit this
branch of their business, or forced to
seek another locality; second, unfortu-
ii'oI w IhC SlllS, lHdIly VI WllOul qul6
work under
A PRESSURE OF SENTIMENT
worked up by few, some of whom have
returned to work, and have assured the
committee that others are only deferred
from applying to be reinstated by the
idea that they may be ridiculed if they
do SO, or subjected to annoyances should
the leaders Of the strike again be re-
ceived back. The committee has been
assured by old hands that the charges
of ungentlemanly conduct of language
on the part of the superintendent are
entirely groundless, they never having
heard of any such charge until after this
strike. Most of these girls are depend
ent upon their earnings for their sup
port, hence, cannot afford to be idle and
without income. Third, unfortunate to
the city, as the manufacturing depart
ment of large establishment, the pay
roll of which department is now at the
rate of $4,000 per annum and constantly
increasing, may be compelled by the I'M
friendly action of some of our citizens,
to suspend manufacturing, or remove
this branch of their business elsewhere.