The Washington herald., 1914-04-30
make ATTACK
ON S-HOUR LAW
Retail Merchants Plan Test
Case on Ground Is Is
Unconstitutional.
GIVE BIG HOUSEWARMING
Prominent Business Men Hear De-
nouncements Of New Legislation
Governing Women.

The constitutionality of the elght-hour
law for women probably will be tested
in the courts by the Retail Merchants
Association. After a conference at the
housewarming in the new quarters. on
the fourth floor Of the Star Building. last
night. the matter was referred to the
general counsel OF the association with
a request for a legal opinion. The attor-
ney's views will be reported at the next
meeting Last nights developments pre-
sage quick action on the report.
Declaring the belief that the law dis
eliminates against merchants. the MEM
bers expressed the opinion that it is un-
constitutional. One prominent member
announced that he already had dis
charged a woman stenographer and that
he had decided also to let three women
heads of departments go on the same
account The women are paid. respec-
lively, s1.Oo0 s.. .ec0. and 81. 500 a year. and
their places will be given to mel unless
something occurs to cause a change in
the employers mind. He said:
Quit Making Sale.
Since the eight-hour law went into
effect the $3.50 woman quit work one
hour, when she was selling customer
more than 500 worth of goods. She told
the customer the law compelled her to
quit in the midst Of this service. / then
made up my mind that this was no place
for a woman under the new law.
reached the same conclusion as to the
other two department heads. / hate to
lose them. for all three are women with
brains. They know just what to do. and
81, NWa eIrna
men to take their places. But the law
practically says they must be discharged.
/ expect to pay men the same salaries
these women are getting"
The fact that in some patent attorney 3
offices in the Capital there are many
stenographe and that these women are
exempted by the law was brought to the
attention of :he association as an in
stance OF the discrimination Of the law.
"OPcrates Against Women"
THE eight-hour law operates directly
against those IL was designed to benefit.
declared another member. I'VE fire.
quently have extra work for the girls
and they would like to do it II they
might but under this law We have to
bring in others to do it. They are not
efficient as our own girls. and besides
this. our own girls resent the employ
time"
One merchant reported that he worked
many stenographers and was especially
deslrous Of testing the law. IF the law
is to remain in force / may be COM
PEELED TO let all these girls CO." said he.
A resolution of regret upon the recent
death OF Edward Sommers. for years
an esteemed member. and another thank
ing the Chamber Of Commerce for its
courtesy to the retail merchants were
adopted.
BIG Attendance.
Many representative business men Of
Washington attended at the housewarm-
ing. While detained at home. Cuno H.
Rudolph. president of the Board of Trade.
phoned his fluctuations through Secretary
Charles ]. Columbus. Secretary Thomas
Grant. of the Chamber Of Commerce:
William II. Singleton. vice president of
the Board of Trade; Chris J. Gockeler.
secretary of the board. and other officers
and members OF trade bodies were pres
ent.
Resolutions were adopted congratulating
f. C Graham and Claude r. Miller the
committee on furnishing the new quar-
ters, for the excellent Judgment and taste
displayed in their selections: to Top
hams. Inc. for a desk set; TO r. Harris
& Co, through a. d. Prince, chairman
of the jewellers section of the associa-
ton. for a clock: to NJ. C. Copeland &
Co. for a flag, and to members of the
association who are subscribing to the
furnishing fund.
Joseph Strasburger. the first president
OF the association. was honored with a
rising vote of thanks.