Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-19
WANTS BREAD WRAPPED
HOUSEKEEPERS' ALLIANCE ASK
IT OF BAKERS.
More Stringent Requirements for
References of Domestics
Is Subject Discussed.

Bakers would be required to wrap up
In paper each loaf of bread for morning
delivery. IL the Housekeepers' Alliance
had its way.
Housewives will some time tell the truth
about the bad and good qualities Of their
former domestics. IL a movement fathered-
mothered by the alliance becomes OF gen.
eral acceptance in the household.
meeting of the Housekeepers' Alli-
ance was held yesterday in the Columbia
Woman's building. Protest against the
exposure Of food Of all kinds and request
for a District OF Columbia regulation to
make bakers deliver the staff of life un-
der proper cover were expressed in reso-
tuition. better system was urged.
More stringent requirements as to ref
erence OF household workers was dis
cussed.
Through the committees on household
economics Of the national federated clubs
an attempt was made to interest house
keepers in organization. The plans did
not meet with much enthusiasm
Mrs. whitaker's ideas.
Mrs. Alice E. Whitaker opened the
discussion by calling attention to the
fact that the housekeepers today stand
practically alone In representing unor-
ganized effort and interest.
After reviewing the various lines of
work undertaken by the alliance in its
two years of existence Mrs Whitaker
continued:
TT is generally conceded that the
laboratory and cooking school and
many text books teach the housewife
how to feed her family properly and
how to select or build home with
good sanitary conditions. But, SO far.
from no source has she received ma
terial aid in the management of en-
ployes In her home.
Training in a business life teaches q
woman, when later she becomes a
ly, to keep accurate accounts, and. most
of all, 1t gives her good knowledge
of what is most appreciated In the home
by the members who are away during
the day. But 1t gives little aid in hir-
ing, managing or discharging house.
hold workers.
"a woman at the head OF business
may hire a foreman. His former en-
skill, or good or bad habits. She may
hire that ver-changing assistant, an
Office boy, and learn from his former
place whether he will get In early
enough to sweep out or whether he will
run away to every base ball game.
Worthlessness of References.
mot so with household workers. Tho
written or verbal information concerning
their qualities is nearly always so vague
that the power to read between the lines
Is your only guide.
therefore what is commonly called a
servants reference is usually the most
non-committal document in existence.
Hence the demand of the hour Is for some
sort Of protection to the housewife from
poor references.
1.-The kindly spirit which makes a wom-
an hesitate to say that an employe Is dis
honest indolent or unskillful would be
better exhibited in trying to help other
women to a true understanding of the
merits and faults of household workers
and best OF all. to show to the women
employed that 1t is worth while to have
good habits and learn to do ---eir work
well"
The alliance will hold a social meeting
April 6, when DR.. H. w. Wiley will de-
liver an address at the home of Mrs. Ap-
pleton P. Clark. on Lanier place.