The San Francisco call., 1895-10-08
FRESNO RA|SIN PACKERS,
The Story of the Sham eful
Treatment of the Girls
Confirmed.
Labor Commissioner FITZGERALD
Very Angry at the Conduct of
Bonner g. Co.

| Labor Com missioner Fitzgerald is very
angry on account of the treatment of the
! forty-five women and girls sent by him to
work N Bonner & Co.'s raisin- packing
establishment at Fresno. Last Thursday
ne sent the women to Fresno to fill an
order and the account of their sufferings
was published in Sundays CALL.
The girls upon arriving at their destina-
ton found, contrary to their expectations,
that no provision had been made for their
board and lodging. For several days they
almost starved to death, subsisting entirely
upon raisins. At last they appealed to a
Catholic priest, who started a subscription
and provided for their immediate wants
The girls were unable to earn over 90 or
| 70 cents day packing raisins, being mex
perienced in that line of work. The COM
pany refused to pay them anything until
the amount of their railroad fare, 81, which
was advanced by the company, had been
made good.
Mr.. Fitzgerald yesterday said:
In sending those women to Fresno 1 made
particular inquiry as to the standing and re-
| sponsibility of Bonner & Co. This company's
San Francisco agents is the Williams-Brown
| the man from this firm told me and told the
women what they would receive for wages.
| he SalQ tnat the women could earn from 81 to
| 81 30 day, and that, as the packing-house is
| in the town; the packers could get cheap food
and lodgings. l made a more direct inquiry
and sent this letter:
Aessrs Charles G. Bonner Co., Fresno
| GENTLEMEN: In reply to your telegram of to-
day L answered by wire, Tuesday morning,
special rate $4 in lots of fifty" The reason
say Tuesday morning Is that tomorrow (Satur-
day. is half holiday with u.s. consequently all
arrangements for shipping these girls will have
to be on Monday. Kindly send me full particu-
lars 10 the wages and accommoda ations
which these girls may provide themselves with
In your city; also as to their probable net earn
ings, in order that they may know exactly
what they are 10 expect. Please do not exag-
gerate in any particular, as prefer the disap-
pofntment upon this end and not in Fresno
Awaiting an early reply, have the honor to
remain yours truly. F.. L. FITZGERALD,
Labor Commissioner.
The answer was on the line of the agents
statements, and the women and girls were sent
last Thursday. l was intending TO send fifty
more, but will not.
l am surprised that firm such as Bonner &
Co. Is represented to be should treat any one
as these girls say they have been treated They
are fine and highly respectable set of women
The firm should have paid them at least
enough to pay for their food and shelter.
AS soon as read The CALL l telegraphed to
lady who was to some extent in charge of
the women and girls for particulars 1 just
received reply, in which she wires:
"Highest wages earned was 60 cents. VIII
be in San Francisco tomorrow evening and
give you full particulars"
This confirms the published account of the
various troubles, and the whole affair is a mat
ter OF profound regret to me, as was very par
t1cular in selecting the packers to send to
Fresno. did all in my power to protect the
women before sending them out. ] would not
have been more surprised if l had learned that
Bonner d Co. had dubbed the women than to
hear of the shameful manner in which the
women and girls have been treated.