The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1918-06-01
Want Minimum
-WACEF0R women
IN WISCONSIN
etition Is Filed Asking -
trial Commission to Fix .
Weekly Scale at $3.50

MADISON, Wis, May 30.-A fight
~ secure a minimum wage of $3.50
week for women and minors in Wis
nsin was opened before the Wiscon-
n Industrial commission this week,
tn the filing Of 'petition for the
ling of this wage. The petition is
ed in the name of the Wisconsin
,deration of Labor. the Consumers
'ague of Wisconsin and Central
'uncil of Social Agencies, Milwaukee.
-Four years ago an investigation was
ade by the Wisconsin Industrial
mmission and others, and it was
und that $3.50 would then be a liv-
wage for women and minors in
ilwaukee. No order was issued, be-
use the validity of the law was then
ing tested in a case from the state
Oregon. The United States supreme
urt over a year ago sustained the
1idity of the law. Nevertheless the
isconsin Industrial commission has
lde no effort to put living wage
o effect.
Typical Cases Probed.
At the suggestion of the petitioners
further investigation of conditions
Milwaukee and Madison, two typi-
cities, has been made, as to the in
eased cost Of living this year as
impaired with 1914. 1t is found that
$3.50 was a living wage now. This
It investigation was made under the
:ection of Miss Janet Van Hise,
,rrI,+
Sc of the University Of Wisconsin.
aries H. Crownhart is tho attorney
the present petitioners.
The petition declares that in. the
of Milwaukee the recent Janet
II. Hise investigation covered typi-
| cases in candy Industries, shoe fac
1es tobacco workers, knitting fac
lies and some 33 other work Places
owing general conditions
81 Per Cent Under $13 Wage.
Such investigation in Milwaukee" J."
clare> the petition, Indicates that
per cent of all the women wage
'ners in all industries get under $13
week, IS per cent are getting un-
- $40 per week, 81 per cent are get
g under 50 and AZ per cent are get
g under 81. Leaving out women
der ! I years of age, 88 per cent re-
We under SIS per week, 81 per cent
der $40, 81 per cent under 50 and
per cent under 81.
An early hearing on the matter will
ordered by the industrial commits
n, said Chairman George P. Ham,
,cht.
Law Passed In 1913.
the 1lght to secure a minimum wage
wisconsin for women and minors
been long and tedious. The law
enacted at the 1913 session df the
sconsin legislature. On OcA 10,
--"r,4, a petition for the fixing of a
1imum wage in Wisconsin was filed
Mrs. Carl G. Stern, Marie Juessen,
liter F.. Greenman, Helen w. Cham
lain, Fannie Wells Norris Kather-
L. Van Wyck and Frederick c.
rehouse, Milwaukee. An investi
ion was Immediately started by the
ustrial commission. This investi-
ion was conducted by the indus
commission through Emma Lund-
g, Tracy Copp, Mrs. William kittle
Katherine Lenroot
Inquiry Full and Accurate.
This investigation extended over 2
siderable period of time and was
complete and accurate" says the
--ition. "The facts found by such in
:igators indicated that at the time
he completion of such Investigation
1914, a living wage for women in
waukee was $3.50 per week; that
petitioners allege the fact to be
in 1914 a living wage in Milwau-
for women and minors was $780,
he decision in this matter, declares
. petition, was held up by the in
trial commission pending a deci-
in the United States supreme
rt in case testing the validity of
Oregon law, which is a complete
of the Wisconsin statute. The
ted States supreme court sustained
law by decision April 9, 1917.