Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-17
SCORES E|GHT-H0UR[ law
PROPOSED FOR WOMEN
Mrs. Rillis K. Skies Shows Disad-
vantages to Workers of
Her Sex.

To the Editor Of The Star:
We all know that back of every effect
there is a cause; for everything gained
there is something lost, and for every
compensation we pay a price. Do the ad-
vocates for the eight-hour law for women
in the District of Columbia reflect that
for every woman they help they are
bound to hurt another?
The writer is employed as secretary in
an establishment which is successful
through giving the best possible service
to its customers. This establishment sup
plies not only the reasonable, but meets
the unreasonable, demands of its CUSTOM
ers. which necessitates its employing
the most efficient help to fulfill these de-
mands
Sees Hardship in Plan.
Can the eight-hour law advocates regu-
late the demands of customers? Probably
not man or woman who wants thing
and who has the money to pay for it gen.
orally gets it, and Furthermore gets it
when he or she wants it. The law of sup
ply and demand is the life and vitality Of
the trade world. So this eight-hour law
cannot curb the demands of customers.
Rather 1t curbs the demand for woman
workers who help to fulfill the needs of
the public.
The employee who, helps to give the
things wanted on shortest notice: the
employe who has worked and studied to
gain the competency to enable her to do
her work in the best possible manner in
the least possible time; the employe who
has passed through the eight and ten
dollar stage of experience and has now
raised herself to the fifteen and twenty
dollar position-these women may all
lose their positions on account OF the
eight-hour law enacted for the benefit
of women, and be compelled to seek en-
ployment in offices whose firms have not
the large business and who can readily
limit their every working day to eight
hours. and who consequently will pay less
salaries to their employees.
Two continents are crying Votes for
women Give the women a chance. Is
this giving the women chanceo
Wants to Finish Work.
The public has long cried Pay women
decent wages This establishment
wherein the writer is employed, does pay
decent wages Its employees are not paid
according to a scale. but according to
efficiency; according to things accom-
but at times through the busy winter
season it is necessary for part of the
force to work overtime in order to meet
the demands of it's customers. This re-
sponsibility is repaid in increased sal
aries. and the overtime work is at all
times optional. If my work is not COM
pleted by ) o'clock. 1 do not want to be
prevented from finishing it. 1 ask the
right to follow the dictates of my con-
science and judgment
No one can run his business for the
benefit or convenience of his employees
He cannot control the demands of his
customers who make his business. What
is the inevitable? He viii still continue
to fulfill his customers orders. but the
orders will be executed by man employees
Refers to Sweatshops.
Are we sure the "sweatshops," which
are run by the inhuman persons who
make women. work inhuman hours, will
be regulated and its employees benefited?
May not these proprietors employ men
and boys? Is 1t really true that We have
any of the so-called "sweatshops'' in the
District? Is not the proposed law in
question experimental in that it applies
ONLY to women, and also women of a lin
tied territory?
Furthermore, the eight hour-law-for-
women advocates very CONSIDERABLY ex-
empted the servants. Why? If they
want to help the woman workers, why not
help all-help the servants as we'll? Is 1t
not fact that a large percentage of
woman workers of the District are serv-
ants?
The weakness of the proposed law lies
in it's inconsistency. The advocates do
not try to help all women. And until
law is consistent, applying to all workers
over the entire country, men as well as
women. thereby regulating conditions uni
formly, then, and not until then, will the
woman workers be benefited.
lMrs) RIJLIS X. SI<lLES.