The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-11-04
Some Of lis Aspects Discussed In
Manning Hall
=,
LECTURE BY PROFESSOR SALMON
Matters That Every Housewife Ought to
Pay Heed To-No Union of Employers
and Employes-Ths Work of For
eigncrs.

Prof. Salmon of Vassar college lectured
yesterday afternoon Ia Manning hall on
"Some Economic Aspects of Domestic
Service" for the benent of the women's
adjunct to Brown university.
Miss Mumford, principal Of the girls
department Of the high school, introduced
Professor Salmon. who said she would
explain why SO little had been said about
domestic service, important as IL
was TO every housekeeper. 1t
Was hoped that an interest would
be aroused In this part of the labor ques-
tion. No political economy treats of this
branch OF labor. though according to
statistics 100000 and over are
engaged in this sort OF labor. Pub
lie opinion has not yet demanded a
scientific treaties on the subject. No
great amount of capital is involved. There
Is no union of employers or employees.
Trusts, ETC.. do not enter into the discus
sion. Political economy has been dev oted
more to the study Of the production rather
than the consumption OF wealth. House
keepers are hardly right in considering
domestic service an entirely personal
affair.
A study Of the
Changing Political Surroundings.
will be of interest. First in the colonial
times, when domestic service was little
used. Then its increased use with
the increase of emigration. Then
the work OF slavery in supplauting white
service. Then the treaty acts by which
the Chinese came to this country. These
foreigners have brought new economic
aspect into our households.
Domestic service is mostly taken up by
those OF foreign birth. Most
foreigners are engaged in do
nestle service. Most foreigners seek
the larger cities. Domestic servants
are found mostly in the large cities. Con-
sequently employers in large cities find
more difilcrlry IN obtaining serv--e than
in small towns. Ia manufacturing cities
domestic service is not large. The
industrial conditions OF city then de-
termine the number OF domestics. Where
there is competition
Domestic Service
Is hard to obtain. TIE wages
are amenable to general economic
laws. Skilled labor commands more pay
than unskilled labor. A corollary is that
the skilled servant does the work beti er
than the uuskilled domestic. The
service offers no oppor unity Of adva q ce-
ment. Still the pay is high for the labor.
Domestic service must be regarded AZ
part OF the labor question. Half of our
domestics are of foreign birth. 1t is diff
ficulty to the employer to mingle this
foreign element with the American native
born. Anotherdificulty is the restlessness
OF this class.
In various places temporary occupa-
tions draw from domestic service. The
number OF domestics housekeeper hires
is almost innumerable. The exciting in
fluence or American life invades the
kitchen and the laundry. An engagement
at the summer hotels is as eagerly sought
for by by domestics rs the vocation
by those more free to fol.
low their bent. The great diff
Guilty is that employers do not recognize
some OF the truths Of the great
economic laws. The employer Is
too often the autocrat in his own
home. Questions are settled on a
personal basis. Kind treatment and per.
sonal consideration are IN part a solution
of the difficulties OF domestic service.
Prof Salmon concluded by touching
upon the relation of the employer and
employs, and the relative advantages OF
domestic service from tn, dcmestic's
point OF view.