Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-30

were regarded as JcOpdTulHlili liit tiiSiN
ment of the measure into law
Both suggestions came from members
of the committee. One proposed that the
regulation be extended to INCLUDE man
workers. to anticipate the possibility tnat
men. unrestricted i'll the hours OF laoor'
might displace women when the re strlc-
ton shortened their hours OF WORK Inc
second proposition had TO do with the
possibility of requiring woman en-
pIoye To be on the job for many consecu-
tive hours, while only engaged in actual
labor during the eight-hour period. Inc
bill was REGARDED as covering this point,
as far as il could be covered without
running foul of the freedom OF private
contract and consequent judicial nulllnca-
ton.
Gompers Advocates Bill.
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor: Represen-
tatfve Andrew ]. Peters of Massachusetts
author of the bill before the committee;
Mrs. Florence Kelley and Miss Josephine
Coldnark of New York city. represent
Ing the National Consumers League,
Miss Miude Younger of California Dr.
George VI .Kober of Georgetown Cnlver-
sity and young woman VINO WORKS III
a Washington laundry and whose name
is withheld by request on the plea that
her testimony might blacklist he-. were
the advocates of me bill before the COM
NIT. ZEE NO opposition Was NOlCtu
Miss Younger of San Francisco, who
has independent means. is a member of
the San Francisco Waitress Union. In
Of the popular New York lunchrooms.
where she -.orHed waitress to eX-
perience the life Of working girl. Miss
Younger gained material for u series of
articles which appeared anonymously in
a monthly magazine under the title of
-periences of a Waitress"
Miss Younger told Of the operations OF
the law in California regulating the hours
of labor for women. She declared that
none of the objections made to the bill
before its enactment had materiaiZed
She also declared that in the shorter
hours more work was done by the en-
ployes. and that the employers had found
q way to adjust themselves TO the altered
conditions in every line of industry and
were now pleased with the operations of
the law.
Objects of Protection.
Mr.. Gompers announced the indorse-
ment of the measure by the executive
council of the American Federation Of
Labor. He said that he had never advo-
Gated regulation of work hours for man
workers. except government employees and
men who worked under ground. consider
ing them not objects of coddlng and
better able to fight for themselves, but
in the interest of better physical woman
hood. fitted for maternity. he regarded
the woman workers as proper objects OF
the protection OF the government.
Declaring he was not indulging in
prophecy, but emitting to explain whether
Jail or private retirement causes the pros
pect of the end of his activities. Mr..
Gompers said that this might he the last
nlittees of Congress. He took the occa-
sion to laud the work of the committees
Praise for Committees.
THE labor committees have become
among the most important in Congress in
constructive work" ne said. If they
are made up in the -uture of brainy men.
these committees will become the domi-
nant factors in national le~isiation.'
Statistics regarding conditions of labor
were supplied by the author of the bill.
Representative Peers Mrs. Kelley ex-
planned TO the committee that those who
had helped in the framing of the meas
ure especially the National Consumers
League. had had a single purpose TO draw
it up in such shape that l. would con-
form TO rulings of the highest courts on
similar legislation; she said that il was
rot meant 20 be experimental. but that
II experience showed need for amrlifca-
ton or modification the result could be
attained in later legislation.
The girl who has had thirteen years
experience in her twenty-six years of life
In laundry work, appeared in q shabby
of going To work at Sl.ln a week when
thirteen years old. and having advanced
10 the muniticent Stipen dof $50 week,
working beside men and doing the same
work that they received So and SO for.
Supports Mother and Child.
The wh.rr Of the machinery got on her
nerves md she has had to quit work
until srs RECEIVERS her poise She supported
be t.oth,r and her own child. expla ming
tlsj she j. a widow. Break down OF ma
rlin,'ry holidays and excess of business
VIE o.CaSionS for overtime work she
- g. ( n which no extra pay was forth
COMM.
N:,lN women were in tho committee
Nmorg those in attendance were
.!ei'u Nicolay. Mrs. Ernest Bicknell.
i ~ Net " Sedgiey, Mrs Raker OF Cali
r".7- "'r~ ioindeAt"r, wife of the sena
~ asiington: Mrs. Charles Stock
"-s. .,iTe .ticlard Wainwright. Miss Alice
- ns,a 5rs. ". b. Bryan Bush Browl
-: =. Brown. Miss Ed.ta Goode
'-- -.aHcc - L.lpp. daughter OF
e Indian commissioner. Miss
. - ten. Miss Marion Peilew, Miss
Sc. 3. BRYAN. Miss Eja.j Chase Mrs
= art Mrs. Aiac1onaId. Mrs
t.'X illinois, "a ii Frank Morrison
-a3H ( ;ac Am r:c@H Federation ol
.:.lr. t.tivc Pctc-s r,4dc th,. opening
-...,srnss At the nearing. the absence
a. AVS 81. the lrrtt- Ton az NnfuFII y nc
La - re IiStEict u Columbia was
IvJ;Ttrd Il by M I"trr-. who said that
uIn! 80 ~ had good re=js!;tiVc idWS. ne
.-dIIsid' red that the rational government,
sbouio axe the initiative i'm legislation oi
iiiS Ga. s,Cter
Tn, ccSSity to protect employees from
Tho 4 of employers. he said. has beer
recoSn'At Il FOR over century. England
!esru:tIed IN this S.rfimeut with the
I;tyttI, Ia ~. and many fthr states
have Dec. active IN atiOrling regulations
rs said.
= .iiiS Washington = not factory city
ht 5tIG. L. problem of the c,npIoynien nj
of women is hctertheless important II
ny 10 means follows. he declared. tina,
y ''r,an d. no. ueed protection because il
- not .,.I;UIt Ce3ter.
He paid com plimcnt TO many employ err.
wi1o regard the interests of their EN-
ployes. These nc declared. are at a dis
I'D ''autaSe with their less sc-upulous CON
EDITORS. OF over 1890 women employed
81 the District OF Columbia he said, mos
OF them do not work more than from
forty-eight to- tifty-four hours a week
onc-tIlird az them. however he said
WORN from siXt y-iiVc 10 SeVenty-fiYe hour:
n eek.
Urges Model for States.
MIR Peters urged that the national law.
should Re model, and stimulate and en-.
courage similar legislation In the states