Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-20
ORGANIZED labor
| BACKS NOLAN BILL
Arthur E. Holder of A. F. of L.
Legislative Committee Ap-
pears at Hearing.
SUBMITS TABLE SHOWING
Minimum LIVING COST
Figures Also Presented Giving Pay
Of Watchmen in Other Cities and
Federal Buildings Here.

Organized labor in the United States
bill which sets a minimum limit of SO
day for all government employees. and
this was apparent today at the open
ing hearings on the bill before the la
Dor committee of tho House, where
Arthur E. Holder of the legislative
committee of the American Federation
Of Labor gave first-hand statistics on
cost of living. The table OF household
expenses of the average government
employe-that is, bare necessities
totaled considerably beyond the income
of many Of the lowest-priced govern
ment workers, and 1t is on the score Of
a decent American standard of living
and of bringing up children that or
ganized labor will make its fight in
Congress for the Nolan standard and
the Nolan bill.
The author Of the bill. Representa-
tive John l. Nolan of California. Is a
member Of the subcommittee which
is Representative Maher of New York.
and other members are Representa-
tives Van Dyke Of Minnesota. Denni-
son Of Illinois and London of New
York.
THE principles Of this bill" said Mr..
Holder. land. in fact, the bill itself. has
been Endorsed by two conventions OF
the American Federation of Labor.
Ply 1.-The rate Of So day is the lowest
reasonable minimum for living in any
it is too low" Mr.. Holder brought to
attention the fact that hitherto at
spasmodic fashion had been made
through the appropriations committee,
and that. the Nolan bill gives a foun-
dation on which the appropriations
ing House rules and placing legisla-
ton on appropriation bills.
Minimum Cost Of Living.
Mr.. Holders table of minimum costs
of living for a government employee.
his wife and three children. as pre-
scented to the committee. follows:
Three meals a day at cents meal
per person amounts to rs cents day;
per year, $27375: lowest scale of Iva
BILE house, at $50 a month. s240; for
man, two suits year. at Sis. $50: no
overcoat; three suits Of undergar-
cloak for wife. s25, per year. s54; un-
dergarments for wife. three suits. SO;
clothes for three children. $50: stock
ings. 50: shoes. husband and wife. $40;
shoes for children. s12; repairs for
shoes. 81; coal Figured at 81 a ton).
$40: soap. 10 cents a week. $500: mis-
cellany, $40; floor coverings. new bed
ding. replacement to crockery, furni-
ture, $40; towels, window shades minor
repairs, umbrellas, ETC.. SIS; total cost
per year, S765.s5.
Bare Living Expenses.
This list" said Mr.. Holder. SIS the
barest living expense. and I defy any
one really to make decent meals at 5
cents a meal. The woman who can do
that is a great financier. How can a
government employe get by on $3.50.
and that is not the lowest wage paid
by the government. In this list Of
necessities there is nothing for street
cars. no tobacco, no candy. no school
books. no Sunday school contributions,
nothing for church, no newspapers, no
moving pictures, no theaters, no ex-
cursions, no lodges, no insurance, no
postage stamps; the family is expect
ed to remain stationary, for there is
no provision for births or deaths; no
medicines. no accidents. no doctors.
1t simply costs $765.95 to remain on
earth and serve the government"
Mr. Holder gave figures covering the
watchmen in various cities, and partic-
ularly in the government buildings in
Washington. where there is uniformity.
He called attention to the multiplicity
of duties performed by watchmen at
the bureau of engraving and printing,
where the men are paid only s720 a
year. In the Library of Congress. he
said, watchmen are paid $500 a year.
He left a statement showing that
janitors in the public schools are paid
on the low basis of $40 a month for
eight rooms, and urged that the Nolan
bill be made to include this class of
laborers.
In a colloquy between Representative
Denison and Mr.. Holder the labor union
official declared that organized labor
would be dead against any minimum
wage scale legislation for men in pri-
yate employment, inasmuch as the men
could speak for themselves. but that
for women and children he believed
minimum wage legislation all right.
Proper to Appeal to Congress.
Mr.. Holder said that in view of the
fact that government employees 'waiv-
- &h>;r RIGHT IN strike" he believed