New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-06
ROOM At THE TOP" 4
MYTH, SAYS EDUCATOR
Opportunity Does Not Exist,
Professor Nearing Tells Cost
of Living Conference.
DR.. SElGER A DISSENTER
Too Much Claimed for Minimum
Wage, Declares Columbia
Man-Buy in Bulk, Ad-
vises Mrs. Heath.

Philadelphia Apri, The minimum
va-c waste and extravaganza were de-
rgtcd az to-day's sessions Of the annual
meeting of the American Academy of
Political and Social Science, which had
under general discussion the general sub
.oct of the cost of living
THE minimum wage was warmly urged
n, addresses. but one speaker. Dr. Henry
r.. Seager. professor of political econ
,my at Columbia University. said that
Che enthusiasts Of the minimum ware
claimed too much for IL "as panacea
for an the ills of the working classes.
Among the things he advocated TO bet
t.r the conditions OF the wage earncrS
was social insurance. By adopting the
r'an. he said. the United States would
20 FAR toward reducing within manage
able limits the number of individuals
who. because of lack OF training. lack Of
ambition and accidents, become incapa-
ble Of earning living wages.
Professor Scott Nearing. of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, attacked pres
eut industrial conditions. lie called at
tention to the strike Of the silk workers
IN Paterson. y. j.. where, he said. the
min owners were being aided by the
Sheriff and the police"
Gloomy Over Trainn1ans Chances.
Professor Nearing said that statistics
gathered by several agencies. including
The government Census Bureau, showed
that one-half Of the male adult workers
iu the United States receive less than 500
fn wages a year. and three-quarters less
than 500 a year. He said the claim that
there was always room at the top was
"a myth because the opportunity did not
exist The trainmau. he said. had
better chance of being killed than Of ever
reaching an executive position. Professor
Nearing added:
1T il fair TO conclude that from SEQ
90 Sao) a years TO Sc a working day
IS the minimum amount necessary to IN
able n man, wife and three children 10
maintain a normal standard Of living IN
the industrial sections i'm the Eastern part
of the United States
our archaic system Of domestic SER
vice" was declared 10 he the worst waste
I'm living expenses by Mrs. Charlotte Per
kius Gilman. author Of The Home. Its
Work and Influence" She said:
Industrial progress follows lines Of
specialization. organization and intereX-
change Domestic service is uuspecial-
.zed. unorganized and self-suppliod.
For all men and women TO perform
their own house service separately would
he the lowest line OF industrial efficiency;
for each man TO require one whole
woman. with more If he can afford H. 70
perform his house service is next to the
lowest
"Thc waste OF labor involved is over
f1 per cent of the worlds fun output;
GGy women doing work for fifty men
which could be done by zen women If
specialized. organized and interchangius
their products. The waste Of plant. the
hi'chen space. cooking apparatus. dishes
and utensils fuel with brcakage, etc, is
az least 90 per cent
The failure az the American housewife
to buy 10 the best advantage is partly
due to the high cost Of living. declared
Mrs Julian Heath. OF New York, prcsi-
dent Of the Housewives League
Marriage is a partnership in which the
man is the producer and the woman the
srender." she said. 1T is the duty Of
the woman 10 spend what her husband
produces in a way 10 obtain the greatest
and most lasting benefit. American
housewives have not been doing this.
They found they could not do it singly
and alone. BY combining they already
nave accomplished wonders. and will &C
complish more.
Mrs Heath said that part Of the high
cost Of living was due 10 women buying
il packages, Instead Of in bulk. "The con
sImer pays the cost OF the package and
the extra cost Of handling" she said.
The consumer pays for the great amount
Of printed advertising which adorns the
package. and every item on the list adds
TO tho cost Of living"
"Is II immoral 10 destroy the health
and happiness Of young girls by the low
wages they get?" asked Mis- Frances
Perkins, OF New York. She said this not
only ruined the girl. but the community
as well which stood by and permitted
conditions which tempted her.
Unless this fearful toll ceases said
the speaker. the community will pay an
awful price for the crimes committed
against the future mothers Of this land
Other speakers were Samuel II. Barker
Of this city. DR.. Albert Shaw. Amos r. +.
Pinchot Franklin T. Baker. OF New York,
and Ida NJ. Tarbell.