The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-02
OPPONENTS OF NIGHT WORK FOR
WOMEN PRESENT POTENT PLEAS
AT HEARING IN STATE CAPITOL
Representatives of Church. Civic and Labor Organza
tions, Heard In Protest in Conditions Bad Time
to Change" Say Manufacturers, Pointing to Inter
national Crisis.

islators to reconcile the state law
with the national legislation regarding
child labor.
Attorney Welles called as the first
spokesman for the manufacturing in
terests, representatives of the Win
chester Repeating Arms Co., where it
was stated there are 900 women night
workers. 1t was argued that the wo-
men work under ideal sanitary and
moral conditions.
Jarvis Williams speaking for the
U. M. c.. Co., of which he is an exc
cutive explained the system of night
working of women. He said no wo-
man is obliged to work at night, the
night shift being recruited from the
women workers of the plant who
have expressed preference to do
night work. Mr.. Williams stated
that the women are more efficient
workers
"You prefer them to the men?"
asked Mr.. German.
Eyes," replied Mr.. Williams. 'They
do better work.
do you pay them as much as the
men,"
Mr.. Williams replied frankly that
as much, adding that it was an I'M
disputed fact that from the time of
Adam woman had not received her
dues in comparison with men.
Andrew J. Steen, employment man
ager for the U. M. c. Co., explained
the presence Nof a committee Of five
volunteers from the night workers.
He said that Wednesday night it was
explained to a meeting of the night
workers that such legislation was
considered and that the five women
who attended the hearing volunteered
to go to Hartford to oppose the legis-
lation, at their own expense.
Charles M. Walker representing
New Haven mercantile interests in
New Haven, speaking of the hours of
women in mercantile establishments,
told the committee that a woman 80
years old is being carried on his pay
roll. When she reached IS years of
age she asked. to be pensioned.
W. r. Billiard, a textile manufac-
turer. pleaded with the committee not
to change the present lazy. He said
patriotic impulses should prompt the
committee not to alter conditions in
the present trying times.
James G.. Ludlum, representing the
International Silver Co. of Bridgeport,
declared women workers were salts
fed under the present laws, citing
experiences of his own plant during
strike troubles.
Miss Corcoran, representing the state
factory inspection department, told
the committee that while representa-
tives Of the U. M. c. Co. stated APP
proximately 400 women were working
nights, the correct figure is 252. OF
all the women at work in Connecticut
less than one per cent. are night
workers. The exact figure is .S7 of
one per cent.
She said the committee ought not to
assume because the five U. M. c.
workers appeared robust the others
were equally strong. There are just
six factories working women nights,
two munitions plants one wire mill,
and two textile mills In New York it
can't be done.
She said she would not go deeply
into another phase Of the night work,
merely limiting at conditions she had
discovered which jeopardized the
moral well being of the workers
Representative Fox Of New London
favore.d the end of night work for wo-
men. Frank. Anderson Of Bridgeport,
Senator Neebe of Meriden, and Rep.
Minor Of Plymouth opposed night
work for women on principle.
Rep. Minor said the committee
should not be misled by the cries of
patriotic duty from the munitions
makers who are busy making NUM-
tons for foreign countries, and MAX
ing money on the night work Of
women.
The State Suffragists' organization
was we'll represented through Mrs,
Hepburn, the president, Miss Pierson
state orga nicer and other members.
Mrs. Hepburn clash-d with Attorney
Welles as we'll as with Senator Rolf,
chairman Of the committee, Insisting
on her right to be heard as a citizen
Of the state, when the committee
would not allow her to break in on
the time allotted to organized labor
and manufacturing interests.