Evening star., 1918-04-16
WELFARE WORKERS
URGE KEAT|NG BILL
Merchants and Manufacturers
Also Support Woman's
Wage Measure.
STORES TO INCREASE PAY

The Retail Merchants Association, re-
named the Merchants and Manufactur
ers' Association, will not oppose the
Keating minimum wage bill pending in
Congress, but Is heartily IN favor Of
the measure, and urges its prompt enact
ment. according to q statement Of
Charles J. Columbus, secretary Of the
organization, at hearing in the caucus
room Of the House Office building today.
Others who spoke at the hearing were
Representative Keating of Colorado.
author of the bill; Mrs. Florence Kelley,
who introduced the speakers; Felix
Frankfurter. secretary of President
wilson's mediation commission, who
discussed the constftutionality Of the
measure; Arthur N. Holcomb Of the
Massachusetts, minimum wage commits
sion and a member of the United States
efficiency commission, who told OF the
successful operation. Of law on SIM
liar lines in his own state.
The view expressed by all OF the
speakers was that the Keating bill, as
war measure. should be enacted
promptly. In view of dtsarranged con-
ditions and at a time when the ma
children into every branch of industry.
Each of the speakers emphasized the
need of q law fixing a minimum wage
for women and children in the District
Of Columbia.
Business Men Favor Bill.
Secretary Columbus stated that as rep
resentative of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association. an organization
representing thirty three lines Of trade. he
was authorized to say that not only would
the business men Of Washington not op-
work in support Of it. as they had for other
measures in their ambition to keep busi-
Mr.. Columbus said that department
en- in the District. having more than
5000 on their pay rolls.
1.-THE business men," he said, realize
that their own best interests lie in the
welfare of their employees.
ITO prove this we have decided that
after the first of the month discounts
of every character will be eliminated.
so that the employers instead of favor
ing a few with special privileges will
be in position to increase the salaries
of their employees"
He said that twelve Of the largest
laundries in the city and the cigar
trade had strongly Endorsed the mini
mum wage legislation. He approved
tion, stating that the arbitration sys-
tenn appeals to the business men of
Washington as the best method Of set
tling disputes.
Mrs. Baker Speaks.
Testimony by DR.. Royal Meeker.
United States bureau of labor statfs-
tics, contained figures on women's
wages and cost of living in washing
ton. Mrs. Newton D. Baker. wife of the
Secretary of War, discussed the present
cost of board and rooms in Washing
ton. Dr. w. C. Woodward. District
health Office, told how the health sta
tistics respond to improved conditions
where women and children are en-
ployed.
Miss Mary OSuuivan narrated expert
ences of a former salesgirl in Washing
ton. Dr. John A. Ryan of the Catholic
University described the operation of
the minimum wage law in Oregon and
Minnesota, and H. NJ. McLarin spoke as
president Of the Federal Employees
Union.
Further testimony regarding the sue
cessful operation Of the minimum wage
law was given by Edward A. Filene of
Boston. proprietor of a large depart
ment store. who is a director of the
United States Chamber Of c. mmerce.
Massachusetts, Telephone Operators
Union and a member of the women's
Trade Union League. the brushmakers'
wage board and the retail store wage
boards of Massachusetts,, also spoke on
her aYner1encea IN thesa boards