Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-25
MAyL0SEP[ACES
UNDER 8-HOUR LAW
Many Women Said to Face
Prospect of Having Their
Pay Reduced.
HELP MAY BE EXTENDED
BY CONSUMERS LEAGUE
Body Responsible for Legislation
Takes Up Study Of the
Problems Presented.


Takes Up Study Of the
Problems Presented.
Expressions of anxiety were heard on
many sides in Washington this afternoon
| as the probable effects of the new eight
| hour law for woman workers. signed by
President Wilson yesterday, began to be
| noted.
From all over the city came reports
of possible loss of positions by women
or a curtailing of their hours Of work
and amount Of pay in order that those
who employ women may comply with the
law.
What. IL anything. can be done to pre-
vent women from losing positions or hay
ing their pay curtafled Is now being Dis
cussed by members of the Consumers
League. the organization that stood be-
hind the legislation and demanded its
enactment. Miss Constance LeuTp. the
today, and DIR. Harvey W. Wiley. whose
wife has been the vice president of the
organization, stated today that Mrs
Wiley Is i'll and cannot give consideration
to the matter at this time. In addition to
which she has recently severed her active
connection with the management of the
league, retaining only her membership.
Thinks League Should Help.
! Miss Mabel Boardman, one Of the hon
orary vice presidents of the league, while
pointing out that her position IS purely
an honorary one. and that she had there
| fore net participated in the attempt to get
| the legislation, said that she thought 1t
would be highly desirable, II 1t is found
that there will be hardship or suffering
as consequence of the new law, II those
who are responsible for the lesis!atlon
will see to it that such suffering is ale
waited.
The Consumers League" Miss Board
man said, was started principally to do
away with sweat shop conditions. ana
| | became a member of 1t at that time
have noted the signing of the new law
| by the President. and the reports that
a great many women will be thrown out
of work by 1t and men substituted in
their places.
III hardship is to ensue think II nign-
ly proper that those who are responsible
for the legislation, in or out of the league,
should do all they can to remedy con-
ditions. / would be glad to assist In
any effort that might be made, were
1T not for the fact that the Red Cross
work is taking so much of my time
Likely to Call Conference.
1t is expected that when Miss Leupr
returns to the city a conference of
Consumers League officials will be
held.
Miss Pellew. secretary of the league,
said today that she preferred not to
say anything for publication In regart
to the matter at this time, and that
she expected to hold a conference with
| Miss Leupp upon the return OF the lat
ter to the city.
In the meanwhile it is stated at the
| District building that strict enforcement
after July ] next. Because no approprla-
ton has been made for the emp oyrnent
| Of three inspectors. one man and two
women. and none can be had until the
beginning Of the next fiscal year, the Dis
! trict hea IS are In a quandary as to what
| If any, steps they may take to insure the
| provision of the act being compiled with.
Commissioner Newman this afternoon
| said that Congress would be asked i'm
| mediately to include in the urgent de-
! ficiency bill an item for the employment
| of three inspectors at $1,zOO per year each
as required by the law.
| He stated that in view of the lack OF
an Organization for carrying the pro-
| visions of the statute into effect it is
| improbable that the law will be strictly
| enforced until after July !, when the
! appropriation to be requested will become
! available.
I
sary a readjustment of the hours Of EN-
ployment and probably of the wages II
girls and women operating the telephone
switchboards at the hotels apartment
ington. was the statement of the man
ayers Of a number OF the larger places OF
this kind today.
Switchboard operators, 1t was stated,
are paid an average OF $26 month and
board, two operators being employed, as
a usual thing. in the big apartment
| houses. Hotels. of course. employ more
than two operators.
These girls, as a usual thing. 1t vas
explained. work one day from $50
and from $50 to 10 pm. The following
day the operators go to work at 2:3o
o'clock and are Off at for the day at $50
In the evening. the girls, where only two
this manner. By this arrangement the
girls are not required to work on an
average eight hours a day, but their
hours of work total more thar
forty-efght hours IN week If i
Is necessary to employ third operator.
1t was stated today by the managers OF
several large department houses, 1t 10
likely the wages will be reduced to $O
a month. This would make it necessary
to pay a total of $50 month and board
three operators, where now the pay Of
the operators totals $50 month, with
board for two.
To Employ Men Waters.
Several Of the larger restaurants will
supplant q number Of their mattresses
with men. in order to comply with the
requirement Of the law, which forbids
an employer to require his women EN-
pfoyes under eighteen years Of age to
| work after o'clock in the evening. One
restaurant in which about thirty wait
| resses have been employed announced last
nis hit that fifteen of the CIR would be
discharged and their places filed by men.
At number of the city's leading hotels
1t was stated the new law will work more
or less of a hardship on the chamber
maids. This class of help, it was stated
Is paid an average Of SIS a month. with
board. the girls going to work at 8
O clock in the morning and quitting at
Is o clock in the evening About three
out of ten of these girls, 1t was stated.
are asked to return to work at 8 O'Clock
in the evening, or at Z O'Clock, working
until 10 o'clock at night. Just how this
condition Is TO be overcome the managers
of the hotels Intercepted have not yet
decided. 1t was stated the girls pick. d
for work at night are always anxious
| to get the extra time. while the others
earn in Tips an amount practically equal
| to their wages.
Managers of several of the big apart
ment houses and hotels called atten-
| ton to the fact that, while the new
| law becomes effective today. no appro-
priation has been made from which to
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