Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-21
AIDS WORKING GIRLS

continued From First Page)
does not desire a sacrifice of health or
life when such is not necessary.
Similar organizations sprang up in other
cities And in May. 1885, conference OF
representatives of the several leagues
was called to form an organization that
would be nation wide in scope and in
terest And its aim has been to fix a
standard of working conditions. based on
actual working conditions, and to in
fuence employers generally to come up
to the standard.
Constitution of League.
It's object is set forth in the constitu-
ton:
1T shall be the special object of the
National Consumers League to secure
adequate investigation of the conditions
under which goods are made. in order to
enable purchasers to distinguish in favor
of goods made in the we'll ordered factory.
The majority of employers are virtually
helpless to maintain high standard as
to hours. wages and working conditions
under the stress of competition, unless
sustained by the cooperation of consum-
ers: therefore. the National Consumers
League also proposes to educate publ1c
opinion and to endeavor to direct its
force as to promote better cond tons
among the workers. while securing to the
consumer exemption from the dangers
attending unwholesome conditions 1t
further proposes to promote legislation,
either state or federal, whenever 1T may
appear expedient. The National ConSum-
ers' League further recognizes and de-
clareS the following:
THAT the interests of the community
demand that all workers shall receive ia r
living wages. and that goods shall be
produced under sanitary conditions.
THAT the responsibility for some of the
worst evils from which producers suffer
rests with the consumers who seek the
cheapest markets. regardless how cheap
ness is brought about.
THAT il is, therefore, the duty of con-
sumers to find out under what conditions
the articles they purchase are produced
and distributed, and insist that these con-
ditions shall be wholesome and consistent
with a respectable existence on the part
of the workers.
La Toilette Bill Favored.
One of the specific lines of work TO be
undertaken by the Washington branch. il
is expected will be in securing the pas
sage by Congress of the La Toilette bill
Ito regulate the employment of females
In the District of Columbia. This bill
fixes ten-hour working day for women
in all kinds of working establishments in
the District and confines their work be-
tween the hours of 4 O'Clock in the morn
ing and 10 o'clock in the evening; fixes
an eight-hour working day for girls under
eighteen years of age and limits their
working hours to between { am. and q
pm; prohibits the employment of women
for more than six hours consecutively,
without an interval of at least three
quarters of an hour. except that women
may work six and half hours if dis
missed for the remainder of the day be-
fore 30 pm. The bill would require
employers to post notices in their fac
tories regarding the hours of work, would
authorize the Commissioners to appoint
two inspectors to enforce the provisions
of the law with full authority to visit the
places of employment, and would impose
fines of between SO and $50 for the first
offense, OF between $50 and 500 for the
second offense and of not less than $3.50
for the third offense.