Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-20
TELLS OF INDUSTRIAL
 CONDITIONS IN NORWICH.
Annual Report of Charlotte M. Hollo-
 way, Industrial investigator of the
 State.

The 1916 report of Charlotte M.
 Holloway of New London, industrial
 investigator of the bureau of labor
 statistics, contains many new features,
 among which are reports on Chinese
 laundrieS, tuberculosis work in laun-
 dries, and soda water fountains. Ref
 erence is made to labor dissatisfaction
 and changing conditions in industries
 reported in 1915-16, together with the
 high rates of food, clothing and hous-
 ing, as compared with previous years,
 and their resultant economic effect.
 The increased output of munition
 factories, determining factor in sup
 plying demand of labor in all other
 industries in the state, is discussed at
 length, as well as the increasing linn
 itations of child labor in Connecticut.
 prior to federal legislation. Child labor
 is steadily increasing in arduous oc-
 equations as against a slight increase
 in less exacting work.
 The report bearing on conditions in
 department and and 10 cent stores,
 says: Never in the history of their existence did the department and other stores of the state do so much and so profitable a business as during the year 1916. In 1915 there was the re- adjustment of wages and various other unusual conditions to be met with, which measurably decreased their net revenue, still even with these. 1915 was a profitable year, as was the end of 1914 in some localities. A number Of new places has come into exist ence, some of them to stay, though one or two, meeting the brisk compe- tition, and having a higher cost for goods and labor, after a few months struggle gave up the endeavor. The sUrest index of general prosperity Is not the grocery or meat business but the dry goods. The lower che 5 and 10 cent store manager keeps his expenses, the better for himself, not Nv in iar-x 1Nr1% I5 standing with the main office. The managers in Connecticut are all up to date men, anxious to do we'll, and to have a good standing in their com munity with other men. r. Since 1913 conditions have greatly improved in the and 10 cent stores for the girls.
 Tn the stores in Hartford the aver a e working week is less than B hours, in Norwich the use of two evenings in 1 the week, with the opening hour l brings the schedule from 55 to 56, ST. | and, in some stores, 58 hours. .-. A l minimum wage cannot be esta blished 1 n the mercantile or any other business l n Connecticut until there has been i provision made for the large, class of 1 ncompetentS whom it's establishment | would throw out of employment ,as l III minimum wage laws are made with | ,eceives competent help for his money. graded apprenticeship system would | rave to precede the ruling of ss a week."
 According to the report. the highest 'ercentage of advance in wages was n Bridgeport and Hartford, ranging IS high as 46 per cent. in the Park cfty and being almost a uniform 25 l ger cent. in Hartford. Reference is made to bonuses.
 Under the head of Practices in Laun- ries Which Should Be Abolished the eport says in part:
 While treating of the, defects which 1 xist in Chinese laundries, note must
 few white which can scarcely re- eive unqualified endorsement. In- eed, when these were made known 1t vas hard to accept the statement; fn- est1gat1on showed 1t was based on act. It is that few 1aundries. scat cred throughout the state. are doing he work Of tuberculosis sanatoria The tatement was made by the older help, T. Tho mortally dislike to have anything D do with the clothing and other work.
 short time spent in one of the lt aundr1es on day on which the work ( anne from tuberculosis sanatoril1m f howed it delivered by a team which Id not belong to the laundry; carried I by man and a boy, the latter pos Ibly a volunteer helper, possibly one l the assistants or one of the laundry orces: dumped on the floor where a reat deal of other stuff was lying nd immediately the women and men 'ho handled the mess set to work citing 1t ready for the wash. It might ave been dfsinfected. and there Is a nance that 1t might not have been. s experience has proved that unless onstant vigilance is exercised over 1e attendants at all public institutions ome of them are likely to grow care ss and shirk as much work as they m. F
 "A few hospitals avail themselves the services of public laundries, l., 1t only when something happens to leir own or where they are small and s re trying to get along under irsuff1- s rec allowed the department are not .