The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-05
Kansas 5 and 1O.Cent Store
Girls Labor Cheaply.
Factory Inspector. Bressette
Probes First Class Cities.g
AVERAGE VASE FROM Sc TUS7
And Work Is Usually Fifty
Z Four Hours q Week.
Full Record of Women Labor in
= e..
e All Lines of Industries.

Investigation of cases of 225 girls
working in five and ten ent stores in
cities Of the first class by Miss Lenna
Bressette, state female factory in
apector, show Ill girls working for
wage of more than "a and less than IS
q week, while in many instances girls
work in these stores for So a week or
less-beginners sometimes starting at
81 so a week. In records of several
thousand cases personally investigated.
Miss Bressette found a large per cent
OF the working girls either partial or
self supporting. while many girls are
assisting to keep homes together.
The investigation conducted by Miss
Bressette covered every degree of in
dustry practically. in which women
are employed in this state. Many cases
personally Investigated showed a wage
earned by working girls of less than
50 q week, although In a number OF
these cases girls were working broken
time. Considered in general way, the
average wage for Kansas working girls
1.-THE wage most generally paid-is be-
tween S. and 81 a week. On the other
hand, there are a number OF girls in
stores, shops and factories drawing a
wage of $12 a week. A smaller per cent
draw a wage of SIS a week, while in
some instances as much as $50 a week is
paid. In a few cases, a wage OF $50
week is paid.
A low wage scale does not seem to be
confined to any particular class of Ia
Dor or industry where women are given
employment. While the trouble in the
five and ten cent stores is Intentional in
Miss Bressette's report. it is not in the
form Of special criticism. as similar
conditions seem to exist in other lines
OF labor. The chief trouble in the five
and ten cent stores is the combination
Of low WA gpQ and long h0I1rS
Not as q Criticism.
: OF the 225 girls personally investi-
gated in five and ten cent stores in
cities Of the first class, found that they
were all working more than 81 hours
a week, or more than nine hours a
day. But one of the girls drew more
than $12 a week. All ut II received
were paid a wage OF less than IS a
week. OF these 225 girls. AZ support
ed themselves and helped to support
others, As supported themselves and
80 supported themselves with the as
sistance Of relatives or friends.
in the garment factories. Miss Bres-
settle found a condition almost equally
bad. OF 255 cases Investigated in
cities of the first class, IA Of. the giris
received less than SO a week and 81
of tn, number were paid less than 81
a week, while .the IS received less
than S. and 101 less than Sc. These
girls were all working full time. The
than in the five and ten cent stores
In only As instances, did girls work
longer than 81 hours a week and in
no case was the term of employment
longer than 60 hours.
Department Stores.
Investigation was made Of cases OF
1923 girls in department stores il
cities Of the first class. OF these III
received less than Sc a week, while
week. 135 between So and 50, II be.
tween 50 and SIG, and 116 between
$40 and IL; IS are paid over $12 anG
under SIS, 80 draw wages of between
SIS and $50, IL between $40 and $2s
a q 20 receive a wage in excess Of $2s
a week. A total of 1852 department
store cases in cities Of the first ant
second class were investigated. o.
this number 142 girls certified tina
they were self supporting, 81 that they
were supporting themselves and help
ing support a family. 336 stated the!
were partially self supporting.
Records of 6,067 Individual case.
show 81 girls working full time fol
less than SO a week. 24S receiving les
than 81 a week. 799 less than SIS {
week. In 53 of the 6.067 cases, wo
. men received more than $25 a week
Working hours in $50 cases wer,
found to be less than 4S hours a week
In 1925 cases. the hours were in ex
cess of As and below "a. In sos
cases girls and women worked NOR,
than 81 and less than so hours a week
Miss Bressette found sos instance
where women worked more than g.
and less than ~ hours a week an,
sixteen cases where women were re
quired to work longer than'72 hours
week. or IL hours a day
In. All cases. girls were self sup
:. porting only. In 376 instances. girl
were partly supported by family
while in IT'S instances women an,
girls supported themselves and other
on their weekly wage.
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