The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-06-24
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Hearings On Minimum Wage
Brings Disclose Many Start
ling Labor Conditions.

WASHINGTON, June 24.-Prog-
ress Of the greatest Importance has
been made in Washington this winter
toward reaching standard of gov
eminent employment high enough to,
remove any fear labor may have of
the extension of government owner
ship and operation.
Proponents of fundamental econo-
mic reforms often criticized organ
lied labor for not taking a more &C.
tive stand in favor of government
ownership. Labor's luke warm atti-
tude was amply explained when Con-
gresham John I. Nolan of San Fran
cisco brought out some of the facts
regarding the government as an en-
ployer.
Minimum Wage OF So.
Hearings on the Nolan bill to es-
tablish a minimum wage of SO for
government employees in the District
| of Columbia disclosed the fact that
scores of men are working as street
cleaners in Washington for $1.25 a
day, and that thousands of govern
ment workers, including veteran
clerical employees, receive less than
| enough to keep the wolf from the
door.
Mr.. NO1an's discousurers was one
of two developments that aroused
government employees as they had
| never been aroused before. The other
was the attempt, through the Bor-
land bill to increase the hours of
government clerks from seven to
eight a day.
Conpressnoor No,o, Sc ,;e. ,>
unionist and representative of the
Union Labor party of San Francisco.
His bill had the backing, Of the
Arthur E. Holder, legislative repre-
| sentative OF the federation, was
largely responsible for the success of.
the hearings. And it was the same
influence,-that of the American
Federation of Labor,-that defeated
the attempt to take a backward step
| and add to the hours of government
clerks.
Government employees in Washing
ton,-from the street cleaner at 1926
day to the scientist at $4,000 a
year, suddenly awoke to a realization
of two things. The first was the
helplessness of any big group of en-
ployes to prevent exploitation and in
Justice and neglect of their inter-
ests, unless they are organized, and
regardless OF whether their employer
is a private corporation or the United
States government. The second was
the power and good will OF the Or
gained workers of America.
Union Has, 5000 Members:
Out of this realization came the or
ganization of a Federal Union of
Civil Service employees. Today in
this union has more than 5000 men,
bers among the government clerks In
Washington. When the unions books
were opened the government en-
ployes flocked to A. F. of L. head
quarters by the hundreds.
Today there is more Independence
and a better spirit among govern
ment employees in Washington than
ever before. They no longer feel
themselves the helpless wards of a
more or less benevolent government.
An for the first time there is some
force other than political pull to
which they can appeal,-their own
power as an organization.
The organization of government
clerks and of the teachers employed
in the schools of Washington and
New York is Of historic Importance.
It means that workers who. wear
white collars and draw their pay by
the month are waking up to the
fact that they are not a privileged
class, that they must make common
cause with their fellow workers in
shop and factory and. on the rail-
roads and wharyes and shins
The Nolan bill establishing s.
minimum wage for government en-
ployes in the district has been re-
ported favorably by the house COM
mittee on labor. Letters to your con-
gressmen and senators will help the
fight for its passage.