The Washington herald., 1918-07-30
CAREY PLANS
TO PROBE ALL
EATING PLACES
Offers House Resolution
for Vigorous Inquiry Into
Sanitary Conditions.

Charging that the sanitary condl-
tions of many Of the hotels and
restaurants of the District are a
menace to health as well as a source
Of wealth to profiteer managers. Rep
resentatiye Carey. Of wisconsin. on
Thursday introduced a resolution In
the House Of Representatives askins
an investigation by a joint commit
tee Of Congress.
Representative Carey promises to
push the resolution with all his power
and believes many startling condi-
tions win be brought to light,
The resolution comes as a lat step
in the fight the Walters Union of
this city is making for better work
ing conditions and wages.
The Central Labor Union of WASH
ington and the Maryland State and
District Of Columbia Federation are
backing the investigation to the limit
of their powers. The Mattresses
Union, No. 500, and the Walters
Union. 81, are the most interested
parties.
Expect Strong Probe.
We expect the investigation to be
carried through with great force, :"
said 1. A. sterne, organizer OF the
walters. Yesterday. Together with
other labor leaders of the District,
We expect to prove that the sanitary
conditions are unbearahle in many
restaurants and hotels"
Mr.. Sterne said that IL Congress will
pass the resolution with a clause which
provides for the production of books,
papers and documents. no trouble will
be found in proving profiteering in
many cases.
The inquiry. Mr.. Sterne said. will
show that women mattresses are not
paid wage on which they can exist
respectfully, and women employed in
the culinary trades are forced to suf-
fer abuses
Waitresses' Needs.
In a number of cafes and restau-
rants. Mr.. Sterne said no decent
dressing rooms are provided for the
walters. The girls have no suffi-
cient place to change their clothes.
Neither are lockers provided or any
place where their garments may not
be stolen.
In one of the largest hotels in the
city. the 200 walters are provided
with a tiny locker room where there
Is no ventilation whatsoever. The
garments they must put on are full
OF germs and odors. yet they must
wear them.
A walkout of walters at the
Washington and the Willard hotels
was averted last week by a compro-
mise on a 81 per week increase in
wages.
The resolution introduced by Rem
resentative Cary follows:
Mr.. Cary's Resolution.
Whereas the sanitary conditions
under which the culinary trades ar.
employed in hotels and lunch rooms in
the District OF Columbia are said To
be deplorable and a menace to the
health Of the workers employed there
in; and
Whereas the crowded conditions of
the Washington hotels makes II nee
essary for the conservation of the
health Of the workers, and that every
safeguard be used in protecting per-
sons patronizing such hotels, and in
protecting all the people OF the Dis
trict of Columbia;
Therefore, be : II resolved by the
House of Representatives,, (the Senate
That a committee of ten. consisting
Of five members of the Senate and five
members of the House, to be named
by. the presiding officers thereof, be
APPOINTED to investigate the cOndi-
tions in the lunchrooms and hotels
of the District of Columbia and the
causes thereof. and make report Of
the same to Congress; that such COM
mittee shall have power and is hereby
authorized to issue process and en-
force the attendance Of witnesses. the
production Of papers and documents,
and all evidence which may shed any
light upon the cause. and to fix the
responsibility for the said conditions.
The expense of such investigation to
be paid out of the contingent fund of
each house In an equal sum"