The Washington times., 1913-02-06
MERCHANTS VOICE
MORE OBJECTIONS
TOE|GHT:HOUR BILL
Delegation Appears Before
House Committee on Labor
-.
Today. =,

' A delegation of Washington mer-
chants and their employees appeared be-
fore the House Committee on Labor to-
day to protest against report on the
La Follette-Peters bill which proposes
to limit to a day of eight hours the
work of women in the District of Co
lumbia. A similar delegation recently
appeared before the Senate committee.
R. P. Andrews, vice president of the
Merchants Asso :iation, led the oppo-
nents of the bill and Harry King, a
department store proprietor, made the
principal argument against the bill,
which he declared would injure rather
than aid the women workers Of the
District
The hearing adjourned until tomorrow
when Mr.. Andrews said he would pre-
sent additional witnesses and merchants
oppose to the plan. G.. f. Sewers.
laundry proprietor. was in the midst of
his testimony when the hearing ad-
journed in order that members OF TIE
committee might go upon the floor.
George Z. Hebbard, representing
the tailors, told the committee that
such bill would work harrl to the
tailoring business and its women en-
ployes.
Price Work.
'Most of the work in the tailoring
line is piece-work," he said, "and
cur help get their pay accordingly.
working generally to suit conditions
and themselves. The seasons in our
are short and experienced
lielp is hard to secure. Mr.. Heb
bard objected particularly 10 the
suggest ion that women employees
should not be allowed TO work over
time for extra pay, as. he said. over
time work was necessary in crowded
seasons.
Mr.. Hebbard presented two repreben-
tatives of the women workers. each of
whom declared that women in tailoring
establishments disapproved- of a law
which would prevent them from max
ing overtime in the busy seasons.
Mr.. King said an eight-houh law. en-
forced. by an inspector who might break
into the midst of sale, would drive
trade from Washington.
mo such law. exists in any city of
the East" said Mr.. King. .'Why should
Washington open its doors to more
competition than We have? Baltimore
has a ten-hour law, and 1t is an easy
thing to drive our people to Baltimore
to shop. An eight-hour day would give
many of our customers little time for
their shopping. What are we going to
do about the Government employees who
do not get out until 40 and who must
shop after that hour
Mr. King reminded the committee
that the bill did not propose contin- |
uous day OF eight hours.
Tells Objections.
Under this BILL" he said, "a store |
might work girl for two hours in the |
and then have her come back |
and work from to 12 o'clock mid |
night Mr.. King said the merchant |
would not object to bill providing a !
City -four-hour week for women. as the ]
stores might then arrange their affairs |
90 as TO keep open a short time Sat
urday nights.
THE people Of Washington do not |
want this bill and the employees do nCs |
want II, said Mr.. King. "Why should |
these people from California, Colorado. |
and other distant points come here an / /
attempt TO get through such a law IN |
The District. We have no sweatshops !
In Washington. This is oUr city AMI |
Il is a beautiful city. Let the advo-
Gates of this low go to some of the
States like Pennsylvania and New
y Gork which may need such legisla
ton
Mr. King told the committee that ir it
the bill II would DC injuTing |
the very persons 1t was presumably IN
tended to benefit-the working women.
Il am frank to say he continued.
that IL this bill goes into effect, ard
men and not women are allowed 10
work longer than eight hours the uer-
chants will have to replace the woEIen |
with male employees wherever 1t is pos-
siblc -