The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
CONSUMERS LEAGUES AIM
TO IMPROVE III CONDITION OF
SUOp GIRLS.

Thirty.three 4" Fnir shops" ON Hts /" white
List"-A Fair shop Pays st Least 80 -
Week aad Treats Its Employees Well
Otherwise-Gir In One Fair shop"
Notoriou-iy Rude 90 Customers.
The Consumers League is a society which has
q white list, instead OF a black list. II 10 oom-
posed OF about 1 800 members, who pat no dues,
attend no meetings, and receive no benefits.
The only requirement necessary for member
ship Is to approve of tho object OF the league by
signing a paper to that effect.
This object, as expressed In the constitution,
ia the Improvement of the condition of women
and children employed in the retail mercantile
houses Of New York city. The names OF MEM
bers are not made public. only those OF the
Governing Board being given out.
The President Is Mrs. Charles Russell Lowell;
the Treasurer, Miss A. Stone; Recording Secre-
tary, Miss Louise Caldwell, and Corresponding
Secretary. Miss +. J. Pomeroy. The other mem-
bers who compose the Governing Board are
Miss Billings, Mrs. George +. Garfield, Mrs.
Charles Currior. Mrs. H.. NJ. Devices. Mrs. Boil
ton Hall, DR.. Mary Putnam jacob. Mrs. Ed
ward Lauterbach. Mrs. Seth Low. Miss Mary
Lusk, Miss s. A Moller. Mrs. Frederick Nathan.
Miss Mary Field. Mrs. G. NJ. Perry, Miss NJ.
Slade, Miss II. T.. Stokes. Mrs. C. A. Spoford.
Mrs. c. w. Watson. and Mrs. q. C. Wilde.
Tho white list at present numbers thirty
three firms, the majority of which are the large
department stores. There are a few confec-
TONERS. shoe dealers, and other retailers repre-
sentcd. To get the name of the firm upon the
white list 1t Is necessary to satisfy the Gov
erning Board that the shop 10 what the league
calls "a fair house" To do this the following
requirements must be complied with:
WAGES.
A fair houss is ono in which equal pay ia given for
work OF equal value. irrespective OF sex. in the de
ISs min nas mnS wages ws% are s en-" PER es week sTP Pol sapeh snsed
Ad IN w TG5ss Mss sna are "a" ala IA t %y th In.s "asE. oe'o" g.
In which fpes, II Imposed, are paid into . funo Tor
In which The minimum wage; Of cash girls are "a
4 tsi. house !. one in which the hours from 3 4: =
Sonstitg!e the worrying day; and a genera ssIfi ,ssi,
in which a vacation Of not less than one week is
In which all overtime is compensated for.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS.
A fair house is one in which work. lunch: and rstir,
III respects to the present sanitary laws. -.
seats for saieswomen is Observed and the use OF seats
permitted
OTHER CONDITIONS.
A fair house Is one In which humane and oonsid.
crate behavior toward employees Is the rule. -,,.
the rn co MsiGe naon' ySs smR IS lep tSeIr :" due service "s'' vi
ployed.
The names of the firms who are considered by
the Governing Board to come up to this stand
ard of n fair house are printed In lists. aad a
copy is mailed to each Of the Members. These
members agree to give the white-listed firms
the preference In making their purchases. Some
Of them are so conscientious about 1t that they
will not go to an outside house, even though
they could suit themselves better by SO doing.
Most Of them. however. simply give the white
The mem hers NJ Tho Govern,no BOARD owl.
d.,,,v 10 ~ coed ~. norohon a rosnon.,-
aentl' 10 hol fesAro 'ne As espon
Bile for all the evils Of the retail system, for.
along with the white list, goes an appeal to the
.hnnn. :, sanst 49,, .te nnroh.s,na nrh,io "a
shoppers. IL says That the purchas'hR puoiic ID
undoubtedly responsible for the long hours OF
labor demanded of thousands OF women and
80, 49,.
girls In this city and concludes with some prac-
tical advice.
shop during reasonable hours; when pos
e'ole, early IN the morning. "heh s@'eS"ohen
are fresh and not tired out and nervous Avoid
making nurcbases nm n SATURDAY. Afternoon. an
that eventually the shops will al consent to give
u hat hniioay. Wage your noilaaE puIehases
early IN the season II POSSIBLE. Make cons,ant
inquiries as to proper provision OF seats, ana re- e.
Report to the League any cleaned
favorable or unfavorable, to their employers.
hecome members or the league anu persuade
sont iuoh'3 !" Joih oto,t o"s t'"o -"
Ieeilrrltated or annoyed oythe apparently nulHer,
ence or uhreiossness OF satesMomeh, sup anu
consider what u means 70 De on ones rect from
ten 10 fourteen hours a Day " q CROWDED space.
shoveu ana pushed ABOUT; liIting neavy ooaes
at times. waiting on Impatient customers ana
customers VINO want to Dc helped 70 KNOW
their own minds; keeping accounts OF sales ana
STOCK: taxing addresses OFTEN given harriealy
ana careiessiy. ana oIteh be,hk hneu II the{ are
written ihcorrectlyl aho AL TINS ior snarles
ranging from 81 to 80 a week, out Of (which they
are obliged TO dress neatly and fairly well, ana
10 pay Tor their meals. lodging. washing' cloth
This advice To the shoppers is followed by an
appeal TO the saleswomen 10 90 their nuty 70 the
puollc ana TO their Employers, Inc board says
that the eHorts 70 obtain Tor all tle women ana
girls VINO work IN retail shops the same condi-
tions that exist IN those shops which nave been
put on the whlte list are hainpered oy the TACT
that inc service IS ottsn netter In the shops