New-York tribune., 1896-09-27
REFORMS IN THE STORES.
GOOD RESULTS OF THE MERcANrur
INSPECTION BILL.
IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY SECURED IN THE CON-
DiTioN or sALEswoMEN AND cAsHGInrs
MERCHANTS COOPERATING WITH 81

ested In its passage has been directed 10 observir
It's first results. II has been generally scknovl.
edged for some years that the conditions surround.
ing the saeswomen and children employed In thu
large retail stores were such required thorough,
investigation and Improvement Although the hin
just passed covers all places without distinction
| where goods are offered for sale Il was chiefly
directed toward the retail drygoods establishments
and great department stores The law. moreover
having been enacted by the State Legislature an
| plies TO all cities and towns within the State OF
New-York, but 1t was the suffering and need IN
this city which first inspired the friends OF tho
workingwomen to exert themselves in support OF
such measure.
Before touching upon the various benefits which
being wrought under the now act, IL is inter-
esting to note that It's promoters are apparently
satisfied with the manner In which the merchants
of the city have begun conform to It's pro-
visions. 1t is true that the inspectors appointed TO
visit the stores have yet had sufficient time 10
make their rounds thor ough and complete men,-
Der Of the Health Board under the control OF which
body the task OF inspection has been put. said
day two ago. however, that all tho prominent
retail stores were complying with the law fast
as could reasonably be expected. lie had no COM
plant to make Of any obstinate There had
not yet been time enough since September l. no
said to inform and look after all Of the smaller
shops. but these would he reached successfully az
rapidly the work could be pushed forward.
SHORTER HOURS SECURED.
One of the first hardships which the new law ale.
vates Is the excessive length OF the working hours
| The first section provides that no woman under
twenty one years OF age shall be allowed to work
more than sixty hours week This is substan.
TALLY to compel working day Of ten hours al.
though IL is conceded that employe may work
more than ten hours IN one day solely for The pur.
r H.
day. This Will admit Of tho taking of the Saturday
half holiday where that Is desired by the firm Tts
chief benefit will be in the case OF those cheaper
establishments. in Grand-st and in all tho poorer
neghborhoods OF the East and West sides where
women and girls have always been compelled to
work until 10 or II o'clock on Saturday nights
Under the present regime this overtime will have
| be offset by shorter hours some other day In
| order to keep within the sixty hour limit.
| The interests of the proprietors have not been
| overlooked in this section. which provides that the
| foregoing rules shall not he applicable in any year
| between the ffteenth Of December and the first Of
| January following Thus the saleswomen and
cashgirls will still be required TO perform the
heavy extra work of the holiday season
The secretary OF the Workingwoman's Society.
the organization TO which belongs the credit ..
first arousing public interest in behalf Of the sales
| women gave some statements last week which al
| though nor new are probably unknown TO the
| jorty of peopl"
SALARIES REDUCED BY FINES
Employees IN the retail stores" she said. are rot
paid for working overtime For three or four weeks
| previous to the holidays. women and children re-
main at their places until II and IL o'clock without
supper or extra pay Further than this. the wages.
| which are low often reduced by excessive fines
imposed chiefly for hardness The salaries OF sales.
women range from 81 to SIS. but the latter sum IL
In he cl
and millinery departments the wages arc petter
than in most OF the others. The average salary Oh
| 2 saIesyoman In this city-takng into consdera-
ton both the better and the inferior class OF stores
is not over s, 70 a week. When fines are deducted
| from this amount small as II is to begin with yon
can see that what remains Is scarcely ~ 10 oe cS,
living wages The little cash girls receive lIof'i r 81 ~
70 80 % a week the latter amount being rare Lhey
| are also fined so that what they actualy ger :.
the end of the week is often much less '"'' INV
The Mercantile Inspection bill has not. OF course
! touched ,lpon the wages question IN any way put
the ening Of the hours will go far toward reo
dying matters
IMPROVED SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS.
.uo,h.r ,ont 10 which tho reformers directed
their attention and which the bill regulates ID u'
sor,torv condition of the several establishments
1-ndar the nspection which has now been proViden'
any violations of the laws Of health VIII oe repo,''
and proceedings Immediately begun 10 oorreo' '".' ~
Those shoppers who have had occasion 10 w" ''
| hoce of
tho arr becomes in those places. OWING 70 "'
crovds the heat and the almost 'otai iscN VI 'e"-
,uotion The law now provides that the propIie,uvss
~ anv store must Obtain permission rom tnn 49, ~
Board before he can emp,Sk S" nmsnt This permis
sion is Of course. not supposed 10 ~ i;sht ven.
the inspectors are fully satisfied tnss 'r III sst could
tilation and all such arrangements are All '""'
be required.
SEATS FOR sALEswoMEN
! ,r,o ,ao, MAT the saleswomen have been ooised
! 70 stand throughout the entire DAY a' wv, ro,'
| has according the testimony o. capap,e ,.s
| ,es been exceedingly injurious 10 o"e' -.
There never seeried 10 he any GOOD rcaso" WY 80
| should not sit down when not a"'ua'N '"e a
waiting ON customers arranging their s'orh' s n
tbev will now have opportunities 10 oo 80 -,
. ,h., thore snail be at least one seat lo' e'
80 ,,,,r,cn employed. The seats are 10 oe p'
,,,or in front OF behind the counters n,,,v
>, rho nlace where the saleswomeh d'' p%f 80 -.
| engaged A law similar in form 10 '"' ", 49,, ,b.
| ,,,,,ement was passed in this state IN io'', ~.
nromoters Of the new bill comp'"i" Ny ,bs
s.r,nor ststute was almost entirely ignoreo W Wv
| merchants. ~ Aaan ths Gus
,omarv allowance for lunchecn-.i,nilti, fan
minutes is now given drs rs" T The Increase time -
arded as something TO he esps distance 10
In places wnett oo and consequently found na'u
| to be back al their posts pronpus o' Wv
THE woRHINGwoMEN's sociEl''
The workingwomen's Society was orsSn'N "a.
v.,rs ago II has accomplished since 'hea ,..
markable amount OF work. all tendins - noorer
nrovement OF the conditions surrouh"'"e -. ,,.
| class Of sef-supporting women From :. ss'.rcs
Consumers League. which has had wlae nna, y, ,n,
:, tho same direction. Tho specific oo,eo' IT.. "
latter society is TO pledge its members as eafsIy
80 az hnnaaveiv with their employees II nas ~ the
on ' its books the names Of sre" eat these Two
most influential people OF me siS of others de-
voted to the interests Of wcrnssrt eorie Se to
in general put forth their strohget oec,s The Mer:
i"y3slstion favorable to their proJec,s Years OF
rsnfile inspection bill is the fruit OF many ''"
! persistent work
M cpassHOPPER