The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-03-08
LOW WAGES CAUSE
(continusd from First Pare,


cation to pay a living" wage. They
assume that the girl so employed is
entitled TO her living at the expense
of her parents. and that what she
earns merely helps the family fund.
The committee. and particularly Sen
ator JUL. insisted that the other
members OF a working girls home
earn no more than enough to support
themselves. even Il they do cooper.
ate. and that IL each individual OF
such family or only one OF such a
family. earned less than a living wage
the whole family suffered. and the
employer paying wages too low was
sinking his responsibility.
Mandel and Rosenwald expressed
the opinion that a girls character and
her environment. and they laid stress
on the latter. shaped her life. Wages
have little to do with IL.
But doesn't a living wage. or a
wage under that. have much 10 do
with the environment" uueried Lieu.
tenant Governor O'Hara. chairman OF
the committee. This was admitted.
Under Paid Girls.
IF n girl cannot live on her in.
come don't you think that, with the
pitfalls which surround young
woman. an immoral life offers the
easiest way OUT" Mandel was asked.
Not If she is the right kind OF a
girl; il she is starving and immoral
ity is repugnant TO her as II should
be. she can go into domestic service"
What" exclaimed Senator JUL.
do you think there are enough places
for domestics TO take care of all the
underpaid girls and women working
in stores and factories"
House servants are mighty
scarce" smiled the witness. and as
both JUL and Mandel had raised their
voices the spectators heard il and
Uttered. II was one of the very few
things they did hear Mandel ex-
pressed the opinion that IS is a living
wage for girl dependent upon her
self alone. whereat JUL handed him
pencil and paper and insisted that
he go into detail on the matter
How much for clothing" Insisted
the legislator. and the witness hesit-
ated: Two dollars2"
NO; I should say thai one dollar a
week would be enough" was the re-
ply.
All right: one dollar: uut It down"
said the questioncr. Now. laun-
dry
"Rut these girls live AZ home. their
laundry is done there" said the Wit
ness
But suppose she dosent." pursued
Senator JUL. How much"
SAY. twenty-five cents. then"
In this way they went down the list
board and room 81: sickness go
cents: lunches - cents: car fare co
cents and church. assuming that the
girls contribute when the collection
box is passed 10 cents
Well. that makes $50" said Sena-
tor JUL. who Ia dfoOted the column
wrong And that dosen't include
railway fare. theatres probably only
half OF a girls necessary expenses"
Witness and inquisitor had II out
on this basis. the former insisting
that the senator should not disregard
the fact that most Of the employees live
az home and are not wholly Deepen
dent upon themselves.
Mr. Simpson had come prepared
with figures which showed among 9th
or things. that the Marshall Field re
tail store employed 1922 female clerks
whose average wage Is Slu.16.
Fallen Women Testify.
The last Witnesses Of the day were
women sur rised in the f"I\ rloin by
deputies who invested the district in
taX'cabs with lane Doc" warrants
They talked in whispers and all 10
The same ehect. namely that they had
been unabl" 70 make a living AZ rCpu-
table call nCs. and 30 took the down
ward path.
- r." was n woman ~ rs. She
worked IN laundry a. $3.50 q week
after hor husband died and left her
with two children.
"YoI couldn't support a family on
that. could you2" inquired OII1ra.
NO. found couidu't even support
myself on b.. -p went wrong
How old were Won them
vouty-eirht"
'Wher' ar" the children now '" sho
Wa asked.
"Wel. you may De- sure they are not
IN Chicago
"E j. o." worked in 50 Louis
shoe factory from 30" age oi ~ wears
10 is. and never got NOR" than g. q.
Wr"k. Then -l" 900 Nernd th" call o..
o." underworld and bad Been There for
N'" gears I..e .h' nir"r-. shoe OBJ tco D.
. h"r "1rr.uc 40 about 81 week..
n ~" worked for e.. 20 vprk. but
hor parent seemed d. lfi.nod WITH
+ her contributions 90 tle general fund.
anf -H" '..t nnWr
add fH'f -coIi tuu about earning
oo Inlr'' asked oIIaft
OH. no. they just looked G-satis.
GeI"