Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-13
Women Employed Mer-
camille Establishments

The State department of labor and
industry commenced Monday to gath
err statistics in reference to women
employed in mercantile establishments
throughout the State. This investiga-
ton will include all classes of mer-
camille Establishments. In discussing
the investigation and it's scope, State
Labor Commissioner Roscoe A. Eddy
says:
up to this time the State has
never gathered statistics in reference
to stores, banks, bake shops, confec-
tionery stands and such other places
as are included in mercantile estab-
| lishments. We have quite lot of sta
tistics in connection with manufacture
| ing and mechanic establishments and
there is much information along these
lines furnished by the United States
government, which can be referred to.
bat nothing for mercantile establish
ments. Many of the other states Of
the Union have compiled statistics
with reference to mercantile estab-
lishments and issued bulletins upon
the same. The statistics which We
gather will be published in the third
biennial report Of the department Of
labor and industry, which will be
ready for distribution about Jan. l.
1917.
| There is always a call for such
statistics. During the last session Of
the Legislature while the 54-hour bill
for women and minors was being dis.
cussed the question arose whether or
not it should apply to mercantile es-
Establishments. The owners claimed
that it should not and the promoters
Of the bill that there were many and
sufficient reasons why it should, say
ing that the hours were long here in
the state of Maine and the wages be-
low what they are in other states.
Many members of the legislature
called at the department looking for
evidence which would show which
statement was correct. This depart
ment could furnish nothing. 1t is ex-
pected that the same condition will
arise when the "a hC ur bill comes be-
fore the people at the fall election.
Another matter of vital interest to
the people Of the whole country is the
minimum wage question. Many of the
states have passed q law fixing a
minimum wage for women employed in
mercantile establishments and the
question is now pending before legis-
!atures of other stater and will doubt
less come into the legislature of the
State Of Maine during the next session.
1t will then be very important that the
Legislature has such information as
is necessary to deter mine whether or
not there is a call for a law which will
determine whether or not there is a
call for a law which will govern the
minimum wage of women employed in
mercantile establishments. Officials
of this department Eave discussed the
matter with many owners and man
ayers of mercantile establishments.
In genera. they claim that conditions
are better as to hours and wages in
the State of Maine than they are in
Massachusetts and New York. We
have also talked with people who are
in favor Of legislation tending towards
a minimum wage. They claim that
i conditions in mercantile eStablish-
ments in the State Of Maine do not
compare favorably with other states.
We have no statistics which will as
sist the people in determining which
statement is true. In view of this we
have determined to gather and COM
pile a complete list of statistics which
we believe will be of much benefit in
the future when legislation of this ma
ture comes up for discussion.
Our regular force will be increased
by special agents in several of the
large cities of the State as we desire
to gather the statistics al about the
same time over the whole State.
Blanks have been carefully prepared
using the same questions as have been
used by the United States government
and the states of Massachusett and