The sun., 1896-01-20
CONDITION OF sHop GIRLS.
Another Favorable Report on It Submitted
to tho Central Labor Urion.

The conditions under which the girls work in
the big retail dry goods stores formed the sub
jcct of another report at the meeting of the
Central Labor Union yesterday. This second
report was made bv Delegate Robert Winston
of ts Liberty Dawn Association Of Coach
Drivers. Like the report or Dele ate Pallas OF
the Pattern Makers Union made the Sunday
previous, Winston's report denied the charges
made by working girls organizations that the
girls are i'll treated. 1t had been expected that
he Social Reform Club wo,id send IA committee
to the G. l.. L. yesterday with report in oppo.
sition to the one furnished by Delegate pallas
and endorsing the charges made by the Work
ing Women's Society. This committee did not
appear.
Delegate Winston was appointed on Sunday
q week ago by the &. l.. T.. along with Dele
gate Downs OF the Amalgamated Association
OF Plumbers and Gas Filters, to assist Dele
gate palas in continuing his investigation
His report yesterday was read from notes. but
he promised to nave fuller one next Sunday.
He said that Delegate Downs could not get the
time to 90 around. and il had been agreed that
Winston and Pallns should 20 on with the
""!T visited several N Of The liz SSI Iepnrtment
stores without ANNOUNCING myself. and went
through them thoronghly, =. From the base.
uncXporcd. | went first to one store which
Mr., fallas visited, ,r and found matters as Mr..
class order In the basement where girls
we're employed there were from fifteen tOtwen-
ty fans working. which kept MP n good circua
ton of pure air. No one knew why | went
into tho store. and consequently there was no
sn%'S Mnnn Iso to fix pp matters 50 that everything
Winston said he found some Of the cash
girls working for $? week. The wages gen
The delegate described another we'll known de-
partmcnt store which had been visited bv
Pallas. He found j, clean, airy. and well
,l.pu. for In Mi
ed. There was restaurant up stairs whero
girls could get lunch cheap, two cents being
the price for II cup Of coffee. II the girls We're
very poor and could not spare the two cents
they received green checks. each OF which en-.
titled them to II cup OF coffee free. Some OF
the girls were very poor, evidently. he said: but
they seemed TO be satisfied with the conditions.
Delegate Winston visited u store which had
not been examined bv Pallas, and the condi-
tions." said he were what would call first
class in all the departments of this store l
wish we had as clean, airy. and pleasant
mcnt in this store. The hands had lockers
provided FOR them superior to any ever saw,
even at the Hotel Waldorf. | am talking now
about things | know
He went on TO say that he found in all the
stores he visited more seats for the girls than
the law required.
Most Of the delegates applaudcd the report
of Marble Workers was not satisfied. how
ever. II think" he said I'VE ought to go
easy with reports about captalistir stores. |
don't believe in praising capitalists. | don't
believe in fact. that this report should he given
to the press"
some of tho delegates expressed their disap-
prova of this course. and Delegate Ryan
hastily added: AT least. not until we see more
who formed the committee were not experts.
The report was accepted rs progress"