Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-29

er cues OF the states-keokuk, indie
pendence, Burlington, Grinnell, Oska-
loosa, Boone, Iowa City and Clinton.
Mrs. Henry Sabin acted as chairman
under the national committee and Sc
cured reports from the outside towns,
while the various clubs of Des Moines
united in the work here.
Grinnell's Good Showing.
The result of these reports was COM
plled by Mrs. j. g. Hume land owing to
her absence from the city was-read by
Mrs. Akin. On the whole the condi-
ton OF the working woman in Iowa is
good Wages vary from $3.50 to $40
per week, the highest being paid in
Grlnnell, $40 to SIS per week. Grin
nell seems to be the model town for
WORKING women. Fifty women are en-
pioyed in the glove factory and'no sex
discrimination is made in regard to
wages. Seats are furnished clerks, tot
let accommodations are good, and on
the whole conditions are most excel
lent. In Keokuk was found ,tenden-
cy TO discharge men for women, and
IN oskaloosa few years ago all the
women principals in the schools were
dlscharged and men appointed. Last
y, AoWCNCl, Two fiCducleS were
supplied by women. In Keoklk also
curious fact was disclosed. There are
no working girls clubs, no Y. w. C. A.
no associated charities, no mission
schools-and yet, there are very few
women in jails!
Des Moines institutions, employing
from twenty to $50 women each, We're
visited. OF the seven dry goods stores
reported, the wages vary from So to
S25 per week. In few are the wages
less than from So to Sc per week. For
luncheon one hour is generally given,
and seats are provided. Toilet accom-
modations and ventilation are good in
the greater number. In one, the ven
tllatlon was found to be very poor.
-Four laundries were visited. The
wages vary from 81 to $40 per week,
aluho $40 is rare. In one, the average
wage was 81 per day of ten hours, and
some received less. In one establish
ment, the number of hours required
was ten; in two, seven to ten hours, or
more with extra pay; in one, if work
ing by the week, the hours depend up
on when the work is finished. In two
the lunch hour. In one, boxes are used, !,
IN one no seats are provided, altho
IN all the establishments, lunch must
De taken where working. The ventila-
ton, especially in summer, is describ-
ed as trying. In one, muslin is placed
over the windows to prevent the dust
from coming in. Otherwise, the venti-
latlon in two laundries is described as
goods" in one, as excellent" and in
one it is said there is none which could
be properly called such. Toilet accom-
modations are described-in one,
good" in one, ssfair," in one ''poor,''
in one miserable" women and men
being compelled to use the same toilet
altho it is promised this will be rene
died.
The average wage of house servants
is So, the hours indefinite. The aver
| age wage of seamstresses is ST. to So. so
per day in the homes with one meal.
The hours average from nine to nine
and a half. The average wage of ste
nographers is SIS, the hours eight.
Des Moines has many institutions of
benefit to working women. Among
Others the mentioned city library,
Business Woman's Home, Y. w. C. A.,
Roadside Settlement, night schools and
gymnasiums.
Mrs. Edith Payne Parsons spoke for
the children. She said the working
child in Iowa is still comparatively
| new factor. Nevertheless, according
to the last report issued by the labor
commissioner, we find 623 apprentices
| in the states various factories and
foundries. The Iowa code declares that
every master must send his appren-
tice to school for at feast four months
| each year. One button factory in the
eastern part of the state employees
thirty boys and lis girls not appren-
tlces. We have no law regulating the
age, and hours of child labor, except
| that no child under 10 may be EN-
ployed in mines. Hence, the industrial
child in Iowa is wholly at the mercy
of his employer. In Des Moines city
boys are regularly employed by the
messenger and delivery services, by ho-
tells, retail stores, a few by factories,
and in addition must be reckoned the
army of newsboys and bootblacks, and
the street boy, who is ready for any
thing that may turn up. The average
wage paid for children in the stores is
from So TO So per week, which must
compensate for the loss of education,
! health and strength. Mrs. Parsons
quoted child labor laws and conditions
in other states, and added that the
trend at least was for shorter hours,
higher age and better conditions. She
asked: MAY we not hope for the III
innate upbuilding of national code of
child labor laws?"
Mrs. Martin Flynn spoke especially
OF domestic service. She said there
was only one line of labor where the
demand was greater than the supply,
and this is domestic labor. Mrs FLYNN
advocated training girls for servants,
giving prizes at the state fair for the
best domestic work as in the other
arts If the legislature will make ap-
preparations for fallen women, Mrs.
Flynn asked why it should not help
to elevate women who have not fallen
and are willing to work.
THE MOTHERS ADJOURN,
End Their Convention in Des Moines
With Resolutions.
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