The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-27
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Special Dispatch to the Post-In,eiligencer.
OMAHA. June 8.-Tne Nebraska iegssia-
ture last winter passed one measure tina: Is
ABOUT 10 HberAte many toiling women from
bondage. for IL limits the days work to ten
hours aid forhids under heavy penalties
any employer 10 compel female employees
10 isbor from sunup 10 shutdown The Law
en3osns upon all employers the duty OF
providing seats for female employees and
permitting the use OF such seats during
business hoars- In each case Of violation
OF the law . fire Of 80 IL :npoFd. and the
deputy labor commissioner in required TO
see that the law IL strictly enforced II
will cause the dismissal Of many female
employees.
Speaking for the labor commission Burt
Bush. . prominent Official OF labor temple.
aaid:
'You may rest assured the new law relat-
Ing 10 the employment OF women will be
rigidiy enforced. Organised labor support
ed the bill before the legislature and Is IN
fun sympathy with its provisions: the
deputy state labcr commissioner has can
yassed the situation and will work in con-
junction with the friends OF labor in this
and other cities 10 make sure OF a proper
obseryAnce OF the new regulation.
The industrial committee OF the Womau's
Club has taken . great interest in the
start: this committee has publicly proc aim
cd that since Omaha has passed beyond
the village stage OF existence II Is no longer
necsssary for retail stores to maintain
such long working days 1hA committee
has made canvass among the merchants.
urging that the working hours Of women
oe shortened in consonance with the new
law.
Miss Mary Fairhrother. . leader in
woman's club circles and editor OF the
Woman's Weekly. 10 . strong advocate OF
the measure. and has worked Ia and out
u al nh Hr~ - IA
.'of course. approve OF the measure. and
Z want to zee II enforced not only in the
restaurants a well. The girls in The latter
enployments have never had any protec-
tfon from the exacttons OF employers and
have been compelled to work from sunup
10 n1ghtfall. The new law will be q boon
to them. The law may cause the dismissal
OF some OF the women. but not for long. for
they are ino.spensahle.'
Industrial committee Of the Woman's Club.
u active In the movement to reduce the
working hours Of women and - strong
supporter Of the new measure. Mn. Fran
man. - highly gratifed at the provisions
Of the law. and commends It highly.
Joseph Hayden. head Of one OF the larg-
said that he d ID not think the
operation Of this new law would cause the
Dismissal Of very large number Of women
Tor the present ~ least. ne VIII obey the
law strictly and X its observance shall sua
geet economy IN the wedding out process
that matter win be taken UP later. One
OF Mr.. Hayden'e department managers Il OF
the contrary opinion. He says the girls
are very uneasy ana predict the new Law
win deprive many girls Of their positions
which will 30 to men who can be made to
work more than ten hours q day.
w. r. Bennrtt OF another big house aald:
We believe this law TO be wisely framed
and we believe that no upright merchant OF
Omaha would seek to avoid this law by
substituting men In the place Of female
employees. We have always employed fe-
males. but nine and cne-hAlf hours . day.
except Saturdays and holiday times. when
II seemed impossible 10 conduct our bust
ness without longer hours We are now
ready TO make this proposition: that all
stores close on Saturday at s O'Clock.
Impossible for III to close Saturday
night" said the MANAGER OF another large
concern. because We frequently have more
trade Saturday night than all through the
day Of Saturday. and think this 10 the
experience OF most Of the large storekeepers
In the city. 4 large part OF our clerical
force is now women and girls. We do not
think the law In practicable for Omaha or
any city in Nebraska. and are disposed 10
think that n no attention IL paid to It,
there Will be no complaint. We will prob
ably continue AZ we are now and wait for
the law to be tested