Evening star., 1896-08-10
The Laborcr is Worthy of Hi. Hire.

The LabOrer Is Worthy of His Hire
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
'Wanted-A rapid and accurate type
writer; hours to .; ST. per week: state
speed and experience; must furnish ma
crime"
My attention has been attracted so otter
to advertisements similar to the one
quoted above that L carnot refrain from
speaking on the subject
My early training was such as 70 cause
me to believe that labor unions ana
strikes should not exist. but since l have
arrived at a reasoning age and have been
brought face to face with the world see
things in a different light. While ] do
not consider IL right that one man shall
dictate that his employer shall think as
he does in all things and pay him the
wages which he insists he should receive. 1
am more than convinced that the ia
borer is worthy of his hire And IL
this is the case in one branch of employ
ment, why not in all otherso
When l read the first few words Of the
Want" "a rapid and accurate type
writer" 1 was pleased to know that there
was demand for rapidity combined with
accuracy. for though the two should go
hard in hand the average person neglects
or sacrifices the latter for the former, and
In many cases, especially among those who
employ young men or women at small com
pensations, premium seems to he put on
fI.
while efficiency is relega;ed to the back
ground.
But this particular would-be employer
desires not only "rapidity. accuracy. Iorg
hours from q to -, and experience" but
alas. machine"
Let us consider for a moment the outlay
that the applicant for this position must
required references"
In tie first place n high-class tyne-
writing machine, which is the only Kind a
rapid and accurate" typewriter operator
uses, costs about the same as a htgh-grade
bicycle, in the reighborhood of SlGj. but
II one does not chance to be the happy
possessor of this luxury. which is too ex-
persive for this fastidious would-be en-
ployer, the person accepting the position
must oblgate himself to pay S. per month
for rental, which Is equivalent 10 a reduc-
SO"
As an expert" is required take II that
there must be considerable work to Ice
done. and that the employer who would
pay such princely 90 sum would see
10 ii that his clerk should have no idle
time. lei us do little figuring and see how
much work this expert can do.
The civil service requires a rate of sixty
hve words per minute IN order to secure
a percentage of loo, but let us not be 60
strict with our candidate. but say that ne
Or she must only write at the rate of nfty
words minute, which is not at all an
urusual speed. Allowing one hour for
iuhcheoh gives US seven Working hours,
time to write twenty-one thousand words.
which. at current rates. co cents per thou
sand. will amount to Sl2.60 worth of work
In day, or In a week of six days S756n
Think of it. And ali for the paltry stipend
Of SO per week"
There is sometimes reason to be sus-
picious of the man who does not furnish
typewriting machine for the accomplish
ment Of his work. / know of several
Instances where clerks have been required
TO furnish machines. and I'm the end they
have received nothing for either their serv-
ices or the instrument. ANNA NJ LAISE.