The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1913-04-25

Miss Mary E. Mcdowell of the univer-
sity settlement of Chicago for the
Mahon bill providing for minimum
wage in this state. Certain business
interests have already started an
earnest fight to defeat the bill, but
the appearance here of Father Ryan
and Miss Mcdowell has frightened
the chances of the measure in the
lower house. 1t is likely that the
legislature will pass minimum wage
bill Of some character, although the
Mahon measure may be changed to
some extent as there is wide diff
ference of opinion as to the best
method of administration of such law.
Father Ryan for years has taken
an active interest in this subject and
his book on "a Living Wage is con-
sidered a notable contribution to cur
rent economic literature. Miss Nc
Dowell has had many years of deal
ing with young women who find it
necessary to work.
That the enactment of a minimum
wage law would not prove handicap
to business development and that it
would not drive industries out of the
state. was the message brought here
by Father Ryan. He declared that
some of the smaller lines of business
might be eliminated, but general con-
ditions would not be. mo business"
he said, "has any right to exist at the
expense of flesh and blood He felt
confident that such a law would do
nothing more serious than to elimi
nate few "anti-social employers"
Employers Would Benefit.
He contended that employers would
receive in turn for an increase in
wages greater efficiency from en-
ployes. Living conditions, he said,
would be improved, and he denied
that prices would Immediately soar
and that the public would gain moth
ing through the enactment of a mini
mum wage.
Father Ryan touched upon the
point made by the opposition that
the fair and equitable method would
be federal minimum wage He
said that the same argument might
be made against an attempt on the
part of organized labor to secure bet
ter wages
Miss Mcdowell presented some
striking illustrations of the dangers
and results of low wages. She told
the story of young woman who fur
nished her with the following budget
of expense covering a period of one
year:
For laundry, $65; for lodging, $3.50;
for car fare, $3640; for clothing, $133.-
| 65.
Her work included two meals a
day, so that no item Of expense COW
ering that point was included in the
| budget. Her salary was 1859 for the
| year, leaving a balance of $2.95 ''for
recreation, sickness and all of those
things which a girl has a perfect
right to want
''This young woman said Miss Nc
Dowell, said to me-, if a girl can't
have a little fun she might just as
well commit suicide Our young wo-
men who work. have right to have a
little sunshine and little fun, 1t is
just this fact that sometimes causes
them to grow desperate"
National Politics Behind Bill?
National politics is said to be be-
! hind a seemingly simple bill now
pending before the joint legislative
committee on finance. 1t is a bill to
abolish the present state oil inspec-
ton department and create a new one
under the charge of the state insur-
ance commissioner acting as state fire
marshal Under the present law the
oil inspection department is directly
responsible to the governor, who ap-
potts the state inspector and ap-
proves the appointment Of deputy in
spectors from a list of eligibles fur
nished by the state civil service COM
mission.
The insurance department under
it's present administration is hostile
to the governor, who sought to re-
move it's head and as a result of such
action a suit is now pending in the
state supreme court. The present
insurance commissioner is a strong
friend of Senator R. NJ. LaFollette.
Governor McGovern wants to go to
the United States senate two years
from now as successor to the veneer
able Senator Stephenson, who will
not be a candidate for reelection.
How LaFoIIette Men Figure.
Senator LaFollette doesn't want
Governor McGovern to be elected
senator because he cannot get along
with him politically and because Nc
Govern supported Roosevelt for pres
ident last fall The LaFollette men
figure that if the state oil department
can be taken away from the governor
and placed under the state insurance
commissioner without any civil SER
vice restrictions as to the appoint
ment of deputies they will politically
weaken the governor and strengthen