New-York tribune., 1901-01-30
NoN-PAYING EMPLOYERS.
A vrcIrANr EYE is KEPT ON THEM BY
THE WORKING WOMANS PRO
TECTIVE UNION.

'ySetting women what IS their own and helping
hsu TO help themselves, is the object OF the
Working woman's Protective Union" said Mrs NJ
J. KEMP superintendent Of that institution yester-
dsv 'sNfanv and many a woman goes hungry in
this city because she cannot get the money she
has earned"
One Of the most pitiful cases that ever came
ruder the jurisdiction of the society is awaiting
t-ial IN one OF the courts now. The plalntin Is a
deaf mute, who has kept herself and aged motheF'
who IS an invalid, with heart trouble, from pecom-
ing pJlblic charges by making ardhcial leaves at
-vyo cents gross and violets at seven cents ana
only long days that have extended far INTO Inc
night have kept the little home.
Pleading bad luck" and mo money the en-
nIover has paid IN small instalments. promising 10
give the lump sum soon until debt OF s54 ~ mas
accumulated This fortune 10 the helpless PENN
less women, he refuses 10 pay.
n IS Just such stories as this that Mrs henp
and the officers Of the society listen TO on claim
ants dav.' which occurs every other Wednesday.
Al these times II is usual 10 find every aValaole
seat in the Office, at No. 59 Clinton Flace HIleo
while groups Of poorly clad, Weary-eyed women
stand about eager 10 tell the story OF their grieV-
snoes. Frequently debtor and creditor meet there
and after hot words and native expressions "hlch
arc calculated 10 move listener to laughter ana
10 tears at the same time, the difficulty Is otten oy
tactful arbitration, settled then and there. but
when this falls unless the creditor leaves the city
ne pays the BILL or. II Il is within $50 under the
working women : dCA nc SOC5 ~
Five bundred and ftty-seven claims amounting to
A4s2 30. were collected by the organlzauon on Last
Sear OF the 57 debtors, nearly half were women
and fully two-thirds were foreigners Seven cIaI-i.
aggregating S24O in from $ 70 SlOe are no" N ~
court and the Whereabouts OF otner oeoUors arc
being sought. . ,,..,o- - claims
however small II the creditors are WORKING
AS rule the small amounts are most
IS said that the city is rhrongeo with 7IIPoiS q
who make II their business 70 oeIrauo Mol HlisS
women and IN many cases they are s15a
women For thirty-eight years the WORK o. ~ ~
organization has gone steadily on, oflhslIls 70
bar OF Justice and often TO prison those VINO MIdu
defraud their women employees, and II mas tdhen
in no instance cent Of remuneration HoIl -
clients The work of the society increases yea
When debtor is victim OF circuInSt Stdnces an
shows a disposition to pay he IS IaVoIeu az a.
lowed an opportunity TO settle the naaIteI ~ -
stslments he first object Of the union oelng " 10
sct ss a mediator. and claim is never taken 70
court II IT can be avoided. Middlemen dTessInaheIs
and theatrical managers are the most HeqG1elSS qGS
transgressors, but debts are colected LOT -
nurses stenographers, teachers ana every Cl9S9
and condition of women bread winners except o.
rnestic servants and these aided If they are
without home and friends IT.
John II Parsons the secretary, has gwen ms ms
services as attorney gratutously for tWenty-seNeh
years. -, ..L
The organization has collected since its estao-
ishuenr nearly $4,000 in from a few cents up
scores OF dollars, but averaging less than .
each All this has represented withhelo wages
which would otherwise have been lost. 1t has
procured the passage OF laws which give special
protection 10 all working women and in adoltion II
has supplied several hundred thousand applicants
with employment good advice and other needeo
relief