The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-02-14
MINIMUM PAY FOR WOMEN
GIVEN HEARTY SUPPORT
Social Workers and Labor ePople
of Washington and Portland,
Ore, Gather in Olympia and
Discuss Need of a Living Wage
for Our Women in Industry.
Especial Correspondencel

Especial Correspondence
OLYMPIA, Wash, Feb 13.-The
hearing held before the joint meeting
of the senate and house committees
on labor in the senate chamber, hav-
ing under consideration the various
bills providing for a minimum wage
for women workers, was one of the
most interesting hearings that has
been held during this session of the
Legislature. Social workers, labor
! leaders and others from various parts
of Washington and from Portland
joined hands in urging before the
committees of the senate and house
of the Washington legislature, the
necessity of passing a bill fixing the
minimum wage for women. AS a re-
suit of the hearing the senate com
mittee has decided to report the bill
fathered by Senator George U. Piper,
of King county, back with the recon-
mendation that it do pass. 1t is be-
| lieved that the bill will meet with lit
! tie or no opposition in the senate, and
that it will also pass the house by a
large majority to its credit.
Among others attending the meeting
and speaking were Father O'Hara and
Dr. C. H. Chapman, of Portland, and
leaders and organizers of labor in Sc
attic and other cities. The Portland
speakers came here as representa-
tives of the Consumers league. which
has been instrumental in drafting the
Piper bill and a similar measure
which is now before the Oregon legis-
lature.
Two Bills UP
Two wage bills were up for consid-
Grafton, one by Piper, providing for a
commission to fix the minimum wage
by districts, and another by Mrs. N.
Jolidon Croake, of Tacoma, fixing a
flat rate of $1.25 a day.
Senator Piper in opening the hear
ing before the two committees de-
clared that his bill was the product of
the best thought of the land.
my interest" he said, sis not to
gain any glory that might be involved
in putting through this measure, but
it is to get minimum wage bill which
will put an end to the greatest tragedy
in this country"
i Father O'Hara declared that the
bill as presented was the result of
years of thought, investigation and
study by the leading social workers
and lawyers of the country
Measure Viewed AS Fair
1--WE consider the bill good because
it contains the element of fairness,
he said. at does not establish a fiat
wage, but allows the establishment OF
flexible system to meet the demands
of cost of living, which is variable.
'In Oregon we started out on the
flat wage basis, but gradually worked
around to the commission system, and
l believe it is the best. 1t is appalling
that conditions under which girls are
forced to live because of the low
wages. Imagine girls working hard
for eight hours on two scant meals a
day, and then sleeping in dark, dingy
howell such as can be secured for SIS
or Sc month.
Our bill has the support of the best
of employees because it is fair. It's
purpose is to give the girls their
Just dues. When a girl works for 81
a week and it costs Sc a week to live,
she is adding just 50 to the unearned
profits of her employer. That 50 must
come from her parents or from other
sources. 1t is subsizing the industry
just that much"
Mrs. Croake in defending her bill
declared that she believed the COM
mission system would not be effec-
tive, inasmuch as the commission
would have an ear to the call of "its
master"
c. o. Young, organizer for the Fed
Grafton of Labor, declared that the
wage bill for women is the most vital
problem confronting the legislature
today.
1.-THE girl of today is the mother of
tomorrow" he said. at is of vital
Importance that she shall be fitted for
the reproduction of her kind and she
cannot be if in the years of immatur-
ity she is underfed, improperly cloth
ed and improperly housed"
DR.. Chapman spoke in favor of the
Piper bill as a measure being the
product Of great thought and investi-