Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-16

THIS ts the fourth Of series OF
articles on the problem Of the domestic
yorker, IN Uhich tho facts Of tho prob
lem, together tCtth its causes, are dts.
cttSsed
THE women who cook. scrub launder and
i dust do not receive enough money for
their services
That, according to two women who have
undergone personal experience with the do
nestle employe problem is the cause of the
acute scarcity Of houseworkers, the supply
of which disappeared with the outbreak of
the war and the end of immigration.
The one. Miss Mary McGough, cook OF
twenty years service, has passed the halt-
century mark as the director of the menus
of various families and will continue to act
In that capacity as long as she can COM
mand the salary to which she believes Bhe
Ia entitled. The other, Miss Myrtle Powers
n Young woman, after five years experience
as cook and general houseworker, has
changed her vocation for position yield
ing more money and will not return to
homework unless 1t offers corresponding
sum. -
The prevailing figures of SO and "
week with board and room, for COOKS Is TOO
low according to Miss McGough, who named
SO $40 and more as a just salary. The
usual figures of 81 SIS and Sc for general
houseworkers is too small, according to Miss
Powers, who named $s and 80 as just
salary.
'"The low wages cause the scarcity OF
good cooks" said Miss McGough, who lives
at 4426 Parrish street. THAT Is the an
swer
.It is true that employers are paying
little more now than they did when L hrst
went into service. but the increase has not
been enough because the cost of living has
gone up faster.
"a cook should get SO or $40 a week. or
more, with board and ROOM Because l
know that can get that much l wouldn't
take n position for less. unless IL was Win
a small family. For example, 81 week
for cooking for a family of four would be
inst But housekeepers don't like to pay 1t.
"If girls were paid more there would oe
less trouble In getting them and there
wouldn't be so much complaint about the
life OF houseworker. They would be WILL
ing to do the work"
ENTERTAINING IN KITCHEN
Housework girls themselves are to blame
in part for their dissatisfaction she con-
tinues Many OF them have raise prlde
which prevents them from entertaining men
friends in the kitchen, she explained in
notherIy way and others, to escape the
monotony of their lives, keep late hours
at night and make themselves ILL.,
''If the kitchen is tidy ana in order there
can't be any objection TO receiving callers
In the kitchen" said Miss McGough' but
the girls nowadays don't seem to think
that way. They meet their friends. outside
and want to go TO shows and stay out
late Then they don't get enough sleep
and It makes them sick They can't do
their work properly
Miss McGough had no objection 10 sFi
changing her position.
"It Is a good thing to keep moving" she
said. by cooking for one family and then
for another n girl becomes better cook.
She learns different ways of cooking from
the families she works for. There Is al
ways something 10 be learned and you can't
And 1t out in one place"
Miss McGough's longest period In one
home was six years. Among her former
employers were Mrs. Otis Skinner, wife OF
the actor of Bryn Mawr. and the Misses
Cadwallader at Pocono Pines.
OF the mistress temper, the bugaboo OF