The Washington herald., 1914-05-02
Eighthour Law Inspectors on the Job
AND EMPLOYED SEEK THEIR AID
y =
Appeals Come by Mail and Telephone
Newly Appointed Officials
Say Pubic Is Eager to.
Avail Of the Advice Of Of.
6ce on Its Business.
Rr MILDRED DILLON.

BY MILDRED DILLON.
To see that the working girl gets her'n-
a little recess occasionally in which to
learn the lame duck and the half and
half'' and keep up with the regular pro-
cession of the unemployed-the two
women inspectors of the recently enforced
eight-hour law of the District, started on
their arduous task last Monday.
Yesterday I went over to the District
Building, where they occupy an office,
Paul W. Garrett.
Il am from The Washington Herald,
/ said. '.and / have come to ask you to
explain your work to me, that l may be
able to tell one-half of the world here in
Washington, SO to speak-the half that
lives up around Dupont circle in the big.
fine houses-how the other half is living.
now that you are putting in force the
eight-hour law.
willing to Explain
"Oh," said the feminine two-thirds OF
the inspector force. f.
Then Mr.. Garrett and Miss Margaret
Dissmor, who are the other eight-hour
law inspectors. gathered around and told
me much of their work that has been
done to date.
TT is splendid for us the way that
business people-the employers and also
the employed-have aided US and CO.
operated with US in our work to enforce
this law"
II had hardly removed my hat in the
office Monday morning when young
girl came in to complain that at the
shop where she was buttonhole maker
the girls were worked overtime and un-
derpaid," Miss Simpson said.
And letters come in every mail from
all parts of the city giving US leads on
shops and restaurants and all kinds of
business houses. that We follow up i'm
mediately with the eight hour law, she
said.
Outside of Regulations.
I'VE are all very enthusiastic about
the work" said Miss Dissmor said, and
are sure that ii will be a great success.
The eight-hour law has been practiced
with great success in many other cities,
and we, who are in favor Of II, can see
no reason why it will not meet with the
hearty appr wal of everyone in WASH
ington. And certainly the overworked
women and girls will appreciate its
merit IL no one else will"
And about yourselves and the eight
hour law?" / asked. III you, with en-
thusiastic energy. should work over
time some day, who will pay the fine. or
is the object of having a man among
you, to use him for the surplus and over
time work and thus evade the law?"
You see" one of them explained, "the
law reads that: No female shall be en-
pIoyed in any manufacturing. mechani-
cal or mercantile establishment, laundry,
hotel or restaurant, or telephone or tele
graph establishment or office, or by any
express or transportation company in the
District Of Columbia more than eight
hours in any one day or more than six
DAYS or more than forty-eight hours in
one week.
They Violate the Law.
That 'let them out" if it is their in
clination to work over eight hours
day. Mr.. Garrett let out the fact that
he worked over eight hours the day be-
fore and expected to often when the
department got into good running order.
Dear Miss Inspector: Where is this
eight-hour law for the District, l would
like to know. / work in tailor shop
from a. m, until 7:S0 p. m, and during
the rush times some of the girls work
longer than that The shop is No.
Such and Such a street
This is a sample of the letters received
by the inspectors. Some of them are
signed, but most OF them are anonymous.
Appeals Are Many.
THE telephone calls come in by the
dozens and the personal calls we have
are more in rumber than we anticipated
SO soon" Miss Simpson said. I'VE plan
our work in the Office and tabuiate the
leads we get to follow them up as soon
as possible and We distribute the work
as We think best"
do you anticipate having trouble with
employees over the enforcement of the
law?' 1 asked her.
well, We will wear police badges"
Miss Simpson replied. And we can very
able"
While / was there a woman restaurant
owner came i'm TO interview the in
spectors on what changes she would have
to make with her female help. The print
ed law was shown her and It was ex-
planned by Miss Simpson that no girl un-
der eighteen would be permitted to work
in any of the said establishments or
businesses as named in the first section
of the law. before the hour of in the
morning or after at night OF any one
day.
Guard Girls Interests.
1T looks like will have a hard time
arranging my business to fit the law"
the woman said, though not disagree
ably. THE only ways out are either
10 pay the girls less. if have TO take OF
extra shifts, or to discharge the girls
and get men i'll their places
Miss Simpson looked sadly after the
woman as she departed. ..--. .
7 always try to take the girls part
to the employer" she said. 1T doesn't
seem fair that they should lose their
positions. but we know that the law is
right and We have to enforce il and the
employers will have to comply with It,"
The manager of one of Washington's
largest hotels came in and interviewed
Mr.. Garrett
The hotel business is a twenty-four-
hour business" he said. '1 have COM
petent female lelp on my Fay roll now,
and l want to keep them, and If you
can help me out by telling me how /
am going to do 1t under the new law,
1 will be much obliged"
lie had brought to the inspectors Of
fee his employment register and ex-
planned to Mr.. Garrett the different shifts
OF the scruObers, the chamber maids.
the bath room girls and the telephone
operators.
Mr.. Garrett showed him the law with
all Its sections and clauses and they