The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-03-07
INTERESTING FACTS
Presented BY Mr.. Albert Flesh of the Richmond I'm
derwear Factory Concerning the Operations OF the

local conditions, because we were
told that there were many girls here
who desired to get employment in fac
tories.
I'VE have been unable to get as
many as we need.
This is not because we do not pay
good wages" said Mr.. Flesh. For l
/ think may say that we are as fair in
| this particular as any factory owners
who have ever operated in your city.
Yes, our hours are ten-we begin
/! at six forty in the morning and work
until five forty, with an hour for lunch.
1--WE have a Saturday half-holiday
all the year round and our average
working hour weekly is fifty-five hours.
But this is greatly reduced in in
dividual cases since girls who, for any
reason, do not feel physically able to
report will sometimes take day off
and this makes the average much less
than fifty-fve.
| "W pay on the basis of piece work
entirely. Thirteen dollars weekly is
i the maximum amount We have SO far
paid in this city for girls individual
labor, and five dollars the, least.
| THAT is, on piece work.
There is a form of labor performed
which does not come under the head
of piece work and which is done by
women unable to work at anything
else and for this we pay four and four
dollars and half weekly.
| But on our regular piece work we
pay nothing less than five dollars.
And this Ave dollars is paid. frequent
ly, at our loss, until an employee be-
comes skilful enough to earn it, and,
later on, more.
I'VE do not understand why we can
need"
I'VE are trying to do everything we
can for the comfort and convenience
of our employees-we have a lunch
room-where we serve hot coffee with
out extra charge, and we intend to
have music at the noon hour so that
the girls can dance among themselves
if they SO desire.
But to adjust these economic in
equalities We must have commissions
to investigate thoroughly and formu-
late plans through which matters can
be readjusted without peril to the
existence of our industrial institu-
tons.
We do not understand why We can
not get enough girls. We have one
hundred and straightforward two
hundred as stated ny your paper the
other day. But although We constant
ly advertise we do not find it possible
to get all we should like TO have and
Ineed."
In reply to a question as to what he
thought of the proposed Guest House,
as a home for working girls, Mr.. Flesh
said
/ Il think this is a good thing. But l
think the Association has started out
with too large fund in view. A build
ing that would meet all the require.
ments of a town this size could be
erected for less than the hundred
thousand dollars the Association has
announced as the amount it wants.
Il would be glad to do all l could
toward the consummation of this
proposition as l think a building OF
: this character is needed in this city.
But should recommend the ladies
to investigate and find out just how
much a building that would meet con
ditions in Richmond would cost.
The per cent of young women who
! would take advantage of such an in
} stitution in our employ is not large
about thirty, / should say.
The absurdity of these hasty legis
lative measures is seen,' added Mr.
Flesh, sin the fact that Mr.. Keegan
prepared his eight hour bill in few
hours and a similar bill, proposed in
New York, was the result of months OF
. study and investigation on the part OF
authorities and experts.
I'VE should use some intelligence
and common sense in these matters,
said Mr.. Flesh, land remember that
social activities are so inter-relate6
that we cannot work with one part
without affecting the whole"
The views of this local manufacturer