Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-03-14
WAGES AND STATUTE Law.
sioux City Journal


Since Illinois has been first in the
Iowa to go slow and observe what may
come Of the experiment after the Hill
ncis legislature has passed a law estab-
listing a minimum wage scale of sl2
weekly for women. Assuming that
such law would be constitutional and
could be enforced, would il prove an
acceptable substitute for the law of
supply ard demand? Most business
men would prefer to watch the expert
ment from the Iowa rather than from
the Illinois side of the Mississippi. 1t
is not impossible that the ultimate con-
sumner and even the wage worker
might in the end prefer the Iowa side.
II all the girls now working for Sc
to IS a week in the Chicago DEPART
ment stores are raised to si2 weekly
what will be the effect on department
store wages as a whole? The low
wages are now paid to beginncrs-ap-
prentices who are going to school in
business. If the girl who is just be-
CHING is worth s12 week because
she needs the money. what is CIR.
worth per week who has served her
apprenticeship and Demonstrated her
utility? She now not only draws but
earns two or three times as much as
the beginner. II demonstrated intelli-
g.nce, ability and energy are TO con-
tinue to have premium over ignor-
ance and Incidence and incapacity.
the seasoned, useful employees wages
must be increased in proportion as the
apprentices has been increased. The
capable journeyman is worth two or
three times as much as the apprentice
any day. An increase of from so per
cent 10 100 per cent all along the line
would not perhaps be undesirable
from a humanitarian viewpoint. 1t
might be something for everybody to
be pleased about. But it must not be
assumed that such a beneficial change
can be wrought without adding ma
terially to the common cost of living.
The patrons of the stores and factories
will pay indirectly all the wages paid
directly in those establishments. The
consumers must stand any raise in
pay that IS caused by the law of sup
ply and demand or by a law passed by
the Legislature. The merchants are
mere midGlemen. If the consumers
want the employees to have better pay,
and are willing to pay more for their
goods 10 that end. the merchants, no
doubt, will cheerfulIy take in the addi-
tional dollars and pay them out to
their help.
Another think worth bordering over:
If an unskilled girl, who has no one to
support but herself, must have $12 a
week, because she needs 1t. what
shall be paid to an unskilled masculine
worker who has a wife and six SINAI!
children depending upon him for sup
port? II s12 week must be paid to
the girl to remove her from tempta-
ton to go wrong, what shall be paid 10
the man who has seven other lives de-
pending upon his earning power-whal
weekly minimum wages must we pay
him as insurance that he shall not re-
sort to crime TO meet the physical needs
of his family? AS mere matter OF
arithmetical economy 1t seems TAR 70
figure that if an Independent girl needs
s12 q week for herself. the man whose
labor must suffice for seven must nave
how much? 1t doesn't matter mucn
what you figure. A weekly income OF
$50 would not seem too large for sucn
a family, and $25 would seem mad
euuate to all it's needs. After the state
has taken care Of q grown daughter
who has struck out for herself, Is II
going to let the other seven members
of the family drag along On weekly
wage no larger than is insisted upor
for her alone? The comparison is pur'
posely made extravagant. but the prin'
cipIe VIII not be missed.
If Illinois adds to the cost OF Twins
within its borders by increasing tn
| cost Of production. how long VIII
continue 10 do business in competitor
with states which are content to le
supply and demand settle wage aues
| tons? :,
Finally. If all the states follow tn
example of Illinois and boost the cos
of production all around. will the In
creased wages be Of much utiilty
keeping the wolf away from the doc
Of the wage earrers? One OF tn
things we are slow about learning !
that increased income &c As"r
when the outgo IL increased proper
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