Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-09-28
BIG STATE BOARD
FOR EQUAL WAGE
Takes Action at Meeting Dur
ing Which Women's En-
ployment Is Discussed

The Industrial Board went on rec
ord last evening as favoring wages
for women in industrial war service
to be equal to that paid to men
for the same service. That action
was taken on resolution offered by
Mrs. Samuel Semple, of Titusville,
Pennsylvania, the only woman men,
ber of the board. Other members
of the board present were DIR. A. L.
Carver, of Rearing Spring, repre-
senting employers; William Young,
of Philadelphia, representing labor,
and Commissioner John Price Jack
son, chairman of the board
The board also made rulings per-
mitting women to work in certain
processes in plants manufacturing
explosives and chemicals only when
most approved methods of dust elm
ination exist, that women be pre-
vented from heavy lifting and that
other specified means for safeguard
ing their health be adopted.
The resolution offered by Mrs.
Semple and adopted on the matter
of equal wage for women is as fol-
lows:
"The board strongly recommends
to persons or organizations taking
women into their employment in
the place of men that they look upon
it as patriotic service, that the wage
paid to the women shall be equal to
that paid to the men for the same
service. The board calls to the at
tention of the employers the fact
that it is the service of the women
that will cradle them to maintain
their industries; and also the fact
that many of these women, because
of the military service required of
the men of their families, are now
compelled TO assume self-support,
and also-in many instanceS-the
support of dependents. The board
urges its belief that patriotic devo-
ton of employees and of employers
should go hand in hand"
Regarding the employment of
women in Pennsylvania plants man
ufacturing explosives and chemicals
the industrial board rules as follows:
Cd Inasmuch as it is an estab-
lished fact that women are more sus-
ceptible than men to certain indus
trial poisions met with in the man
ufacture of explosives and chemicals,
the employlp ent of women in these
industries shall be permitted only
where the most approved methods
and dust. The employment of women
shall also be conditioned upon the
employment Of woman as plant
nurse, whose duty it shall be to in
struct the women in safeguards to
health.
(2) The work in such plants shall
be so rearranged that men shall at
all times perform that part of the
work which involves the lifting of
heavy weights; and women shall not
be required. or allowed to lift heavy
weights.
(3) The employment of women is
prohibited in handling of the nitra-
tors in the manufacture of nitro
glycerine.
90 Conditions of heating, lighting
and ventilation shall be maintained
at the highest point of efficiency.
Means shall be provided whereby
puddles of water on the floor shall
be eliminated-or the floors Slated
to prevent wet feet.
(5) Rest, wash, dressing and lunch
rooms shall be provided in full ac-
cord of the requirements of the
woman's law. The physical upkeep
of the establishments shall be in full
accord with the safety standards of
the department of Labor and In
dEStry.