The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-25
NOLAN BILL REAL
DEFENSE MEASURE
Report on Three DolIar-a-Day
Minimum Declares It viii
Foster Americanism.
Continued from First Page,

CONTINUED from First Page0
expenses, newspapers. cost Of sickness,
insurance. school books or luxuries.
1.-THE record shows" the report COLI
t.nues, that there are dozens OF cases
where the low-paid Government en-
ploye is forced to seek outside employ
ment after hours and during his vaca-
ton period In order that he may make
provision for the bare existence OF his
family. Prof. Keen, OF the Uni
versity of Washington, national
authority, conducted extensive investi-
cations, and sometime ago estimated
$40 per year for absolute necessities for
a family of man. wife, and three chill
dren). The prices have advanced since
that estimate. was made. and are still
going higher"
The report says that the second sec
tion of the bill was stricken out by the
committee. This section proposed a
graduated increase for employees receiy-
gested that the first duty OF the Gov
eminent is to lower salaried employees
those who receive less than $3 per day.
the salaries for the higher classes COM
ing later.
The following was inserted after the
first section of the bill:
Provided further. That the pro-
visions OF this act shall apply only to
ously in the employ Of the Government
of the United States, or In the employ
Of the government OF the District OF
Columbia. for a period Of not less than
the age of twenty years"
Effect On Folks Back Home.
The committee report says in part:
Because this bill. II. passed. Will mean
many millions OF dollars In increased
appropriations. some nembers Of Con-
gress might say that II will not, set very
we'll with the people back horne. :.
"But when they arc informed TINT II
means considerable less than the price
OF two battle cruisers or two dread
nauGhts. q numter OF which Will De
provided for at this Congress and foi
which there is urgent need. the 'people
back home will not find 0ny fault. but
will be entirely In sympathy with the
movement to place the employees OF tue
Government In position to have ny
ing wage, so that they may live decent
ly and respectfully and have kindly
feeling for their employer, and thai
their children may have fair chance
in this life and that they. too, Will have
respect and a truly patriotic feeling fol
the country of their birth.
For years efforts have been made u
regulate child labor. and II was only
recently that this House PASSED n child
labor bill. That measure affects thu
great industries of this country; II re
moves the long existing practice OF .ex
DlOltlnR the CnlIO OF JcNuer VENTS Nv TN
factories. mines. and workshops OF on
nation. The members of this House he
lieved that those children should be II
school and should have the opportunit'
to build up their minds and bodies un
der healtrfil conditions. Is. 1t no
equally our duty toward the low-psi'
Government employs ia see that n
has a sufficient wage to enable him T.
bring tip his children under decent ant
healthfil conditions of mind and body
Will Foster Americanism.
This measure will foster true Ameri
canism and is one ~ the few soun'
measures of preparedness that tn
sixty-fourth Congress has had place
before Il.
There may be some who will sa
that SO per day Is too high rate 70
the men and women employed by tn
Government. But would they like
labor for or try to raise family an
live on that or less? Wages or tn
unskilled laborers all over the countr
have been advancing. and they are nc
outs are taking place among the ur
organized unskilled workers all owe
the country for advances In wages
meet increased prices, and this WI
industry are given greater considers
"The underpaid Government employ'
are mostly unorganized, but eve
WneTe tney are organized tHey no III
strike to have their grievances az
justed. They depend upon the Govern
ment or Congress to treat them fairl!
and here is our opportunity. thoue
long delayed, to make the Governmel
Of the United States the model EN-
"The printed record OF the hearing
before the subcommittee contain
number of heartrending stories of Go
eminent employees who have worked
different departments for a number
years. They tell OF their struggle 4
existence; how the family has had
depend upon neighbors and others 4
charity. and In some instances We
Not able to purchase any new clothlr
for a period covering seven or Gig
years; and others testified that tn,
had not entered a moving picture sho
or other place OF amusement In fol
years.
Couldn't Consider Complaints.
Statements were made by individua
and those representing organizations
employees of conditions in the Cover
ament service, where employees were col
PEELED to work overtime without ext
compensation also. complaints abo
favortism shown In the matter of pI
motions, where length OF service did n
receive consideration of misrepresent
ton by correspondence schools and OF
ers Of the advantages afforded the &c
could not consider these complaints.
the bill before IL pertained only to
question OF salaries and therefore &C
fined itself to the subject matter OF
bill.
"It is the belief OF your commit
that this Is the first time In the histo
of this Government that the true COM
lions as Affecting the cost or living
its low-salaried employees has ever b'
brought to the attention OF any comm
80 nd hAR Iah INF