Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-07-31
THE CONSUMERS LEAGUE.


Is u ling for shop Girls.
4 litt'c over year ago II mass meeting
was held at Cnickcrng hall under the
auspices of the Working Women's society
for the purpose Of establishing what is now
known as the Consumers league, an or
ganzation declaring its object to be ITO
nmeliorate the condition of the women and
children employed in the retail mercantile
houses OF this city by patronizins SO far ms
practicable only such houses as epproach
in their conditions to the standard Of
fair house as adopted by the league, and
by other methods"
The principal officers of the league are
Mrs. Charles Russell Lowell, president;
Mrs. Charles S. Spofford, treasurer; Miss
Caldwell, recording secretary, aud Mrs.
Robert Y. Mckim, corresponding secre'
tary; and these women have succeeded
during their twelve months of Office III rem
deriug very efficient aid to women EN-
ployed in shops.
For a time it was up hill work; first, to
induce employers to believe that they were
treating their employees badly, and then to
elicit from them a promise to change thelf
methods; but business mon are not unjust
and hard hearted, and one by one they are
gradually showing their willingness to see
the matter in the right light.
Besides, a large number of women in
New York who do much shopping have
put their shoulders to the wheel IN order
to force out of existence this form Of op
preston to shop employees, and this action
has even more weight with the shopmen
strange rs it may seem, than has the moral
side of the question--the awakening to the
sense of injustice
The names of few Of the firms were to
be had at once, and these were issued by
the Consumers league in the shape Of a
white list" for the benefit of the shoppers
Interested in the reform. This list is being
added to each month, and it is hoped in the
end that all the retail Adjustments will
sign the paper.
The standard of a "far house" is zone in
which equal pay is given for work Of equal
value, irrespective of sex; in the depart
ments where women only are employed,
in which the minimum wages are six
dollars per week for experienced adult
workers, but fall in few Instances be.
low eight dollars; in which wages are
/ paid by the week; in which fines, if i'm
posed, are paid into a fund for the benefit
| of the employees; in which the minimum
wages of cash girls are two dollars per
week, with the sAne conditions regarding
weekly payments and fines in which
/ lut uOiiS ldpIll Q "a III W y p ILL., wv lbu
three-quarters Of an hour for lunch con
stitute a working day, and a general
half holiday is given on one day OF each
week during at least two summer months;
in which a vacation of not less than one
week is given with pay during the summer
season; in which all overtime is compensate
ed for; in which work, lunch and retiring
rooms are apart from one another, and con
form in all respects to the present sanitary
laws, in which the present law regarding
the providing of seats for saleswomen i.
observed and the use of seats permitted
in which humane and considerable be
havior toward employees is the rule; IL
which fidelity and length Of service meet
with consideration which is their due; il
which no children under fourteen years Of
age are employed"
No one who reads these rules will fine
anything unreasonable in them. On I'll,
contrary, even the woman who has born,
resentment i'm her heart toward this OK tina
clerk because of having been treated hy
her with Indifference or dlsroSpect Will no
wish her to be cared for in less human,
manner than this paper demands.
In the constitution adopted by the Con
sumers' league the condition of mem Der
snip IL the approval by signature OF the ob
jccL Of the league, all persons being ehgi
bic excepting such as ar engaged in tht
retail business in New York New Yorl
World