The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-08
FIGHT TO FORCE
LIVING WAGE FOR
THE WORKING GIRL
tContinued From Page one)

who work during the rushes and while
| the regular clerks are at lunch. All live
at home, he said.
1t developed that the short hour en-
ployes are paid on a basis of IS a week,
SO that a clerk working only four hours
| a day would receive only 81.
This latter class Is composed mostly
of married women who wish to earn a
| bit of pin money, and of students who do
not depend upon us for a living" ex-
planned Simpson.
| Senator JUL would not have II that
way, insisting that if the girls and wom-
en- worked they should receive an in
come from their labors to live on, and
when the witness was excused they still
differed on the point
Tn the course of the Interrogation the
witness was asked to state the net prof
its of the Field business, which the wit
ness declined to answer without consult
ing his attorney In which refusal he held
steadfast after the authority of the COM
mittee to compel a reply had been quoted
to him.
The same question was put to the
other employers. Its purpose was to learn
of the salaries of girls earning 81 and
IS could not be doubled without ma
terially affecting profits
Simpson said no state should be allowed
to adopt a minimum wage law for women,
as the business men OF that state would
be at disadvantage as compared with
other states. 1t should be federal law,
II at all, he declared.
No Sentiment in Business
When Senator JUL remarked that there
was no sentiment in business, Simpson
became rather enthusiastic and said there
was great deal of it at Marshall Field s.
He then detailed the welfare work. of the
firm, speaking of the rest rooms, vaca-
tions, a compulsory school maintained in
the store where those who have had no
advantages in childhood are forced to
acquire the rudiments of an education
and of salaries paid during sickness.
The last witnesses of the day were
women brought from the tenderloin by
deputies who invaded the district in taxi
cabs with Jane Doe" warrants
They talked in whispers and all to the
same effect. namely, that they had been
unable to make a living at reputable call
ngs and so took the downward path.
"A. r." was woman of 3S. She worked
in laundry. at $3.50 a week after her
husband died and left her with two chill
dren.
you couldn't support a family on that,
could your" inquired O'Hara.
mo, / found | couldn't even support
myself on it, so I went wrong
How old were you them"
Twenty eight
Where are the children now?'' she was
asked
well, you may be sure they are not
in Chicago"
'.E. p. B." worked in st. Louis shoe
factory from the age of II years to IS
and never got more than S. week. Then
she answered the call OF the underworld
and had been there for five years. Like
the others, she placed her earnings at
about $25 a week.
Worked for So a Week
'R. NJ" worked for 50 week, but her
parents seemd dissatisfied with her con-
tributions to the general fund and she left
home.
Ibid they scold you about earning so
little?" asked O'IIara.
"Oh, no; they just looked dissatisfied"
''R. r. wore a wedding ring, the only
piece of jewelry about her
Married." asked O'Hara
The girl looked at the ring, hestated
and then answered: mo, 1t belonged to
my mother. It's the only thing of hers I
have"
Those close enough to hear the testi-
mony We're reminded of Mandefs test-
mony anent girls going. into domestic
service when ~. H." took the stand.
"why did you go wrong?' asked Sem
ator JUL. "roo little money!"
We'll, yes, that was it,
What did you work at before that?"
Domestic servant"
'"tWhat were you paid?"
"Two-fifty."
well. tell us about it,
Il got up at o'clock in the morning
and worked until through, generally at
about O'Clock at night l had enough
to eat, but didn't want to work so hard.
l got to running around with fellows and
then I'd want to be decent and would
go back to work again, but 1t was too
hard. I began household work after my
parents died, and l was 10 years old /
tnlr 10 iit,til Il