Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1891-08-07
THE Consumes LEAeuE.
What Sensible Woman's Organizatiol
Is Doing for shop Girls.

Is Doing for shop Girls.
A little over a year ago a mass meeting
was held at Chickering 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
ganization declaring its object to be "to
ameliorate the condition Of the women and
children employed IN the retail mercantile
houses Of this city by patronizing so far as
practicable only such houses as approach
in their conditions to the standard OF a
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. SpOtford, treasurer; Miss
Caldwell recording secretary, and Mrs.
Robert V McKiin, corresponding seere-
tsry; and these women have succeeded
during their twelve months of Office In rem.
dering very efficient aid to women en-
ployed in shops
For time IL was up hill work; first, to
induce employers TO believe that they were
treating their employees badly, and then to
elicit from them promise to change their
methods: but business men are not unjust
aud 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 OPP
preston 10 shop employees, and this action
has even more weight with the shOpmen,
strange as it may seem, than has the moral
side Of the questionable 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 establishments will
sign the paper.
The standard Of a ''fz@ouse" is Zone in I
which equal pay is give work of equal
value, irrespective of sSA, 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; I'm which the minipuml
wages OF cash girls are two dollars per
week, with the same conditions regarding !
weekly payments and fines; in which |
the hours from s a. m. TO 8 p. IN. with |
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 cOmpensat-
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 is
and the use of seats permitted;
in which humane and considerate be.
havior toward employees is the rule; in
which fidelity and length Of service meet
with consideration which is their due; in
which no children under fourteen years Of
age are employed"
No one who reads these rules will find
anything unreasonable in them. On the
contrary, even the woman who has borne
resentment in her heart toward this or that
;lerk because Of having been treated by
yer with indifference or disrespect will not
wish her to be cared for in a less humane
manner than this paper demands.
In the constitution adopted by the Con
league the condition OF member
ship is the approval by signature of the OBJ
ect Of the league, all persons being eligi
Die excepting such as are engaged in the
etail business in New York.-New York
World. {