The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-07-23

the keyboard of a typewriter, but it
can't last. We are getting paid what
we ought to be paid everywhere, but
every month the situation is coming
nearer stoS what it is on the Mainland:
stenographers are pouring in from all
sides, and competition has begun. With
competition our employers can do just
what they like, for girls do not have the
first idea of standing together and de-
manding the right kind of a salary for
their work. They will all get together
and promise solemnly to insist on the,
rates agreed upon. and then you will
find nine out of ten of them underbid-
ding, sub rosa. There are some business
principles that women are incapable of
grasping, and their failure to grasp this
one accounts for the financial demorali-
cation of the field for stenographers ev-
erywhere. 1t will not be so bad here,
perhaps. for the Islands are out of
reach of most of the girls who get in
and cut rates, but sooner or later we
are doomed to the same situation here
as on the Mainland"
Another stenographer looked more
hopefully on the matter. .'All the girls
are well paid here" said she, land they
are treated with marked respect and
consideration; there is no question of
French dinner with your employer here
to hold your position, and we all stand
on our merits. The situation on the
Mainland in this regard is well. known,
but politely ignored Being given the
opportunity to work, with good COM
pensation for services rendered, is a
great satisfaction in itself and when
one considers, besides, that one is free
from such annoyances as go with posi-
tons on the Mainland (and for which
the infringements of the wrong sort of
girl is responsibility, why, there is posi-
lively no comparison between the Main
land and Honolulu. / think we are safe
in our situation for long time to come,
for the stenographers all come from the
Mainland and must be competent ones
to supply the demand; the competent
ones are the kind that will insist on
keeping the salaries up, and so I think
it's going to be all right
Another stenographer, in speaking on
the subject, with some bitterness stated
that if salaries decreased it would be
the fault of the girls themselves, their
weakness in the matter of loyalty to
each other being accountable.
This is probably, in a measure, cor
rect and those who are of the better
understanding are powerless to prevent
the result.
Although, with great solemnity, the
women of this particular, and feminine
weakness, Gross their hearts and hope
to die, they are not proof against the
temptation to underbid on the quiet,
each thinking it will do the cause no
harm for just one to do so. These are
the kind of women that should stay at
home.
From the views of the various women
who are seeking for value received in
different kinds of work, to gather the
! festive shekel, it will be seen that the
! question from over the waters should
be considered carefully before it is an
swered; 1t is not unlikely that the ex-
| aggerated reports of opportunities for
I working women in the Islands will
soon cause such an immigration of bus
mess girls as will noticeably affect sal
aries. On the other hand, the transien-
cy of the. Honolulu population may be
: commenteds upon. The climate, isola-
| ton and other conditions are factors
i that have a bearing upon the situation
and the middle class of Honolulu is a
changing one; this lessons the danger
of overcrowding. Particularly is this so
) of business women, whose homes. for
the most part, are on the Mainland and
who come to the Islands for limited Pc