New-York tribune., 1918-10-01
Working Women
Not Given Square
Deal, Is Charge
Woman's Trade Union
League Blames Some
Department Heads
Opposes Vote Ruling
Men Given More Power on
Community Labor Boards,
Leaders Declare
spsclal pispntch to The 7ribHnsl

NASHlNGTON. Sept. 30.--That gov
srnment departments are not living
IN to the governments announced
policy of equal pay for equal work Tor
men and women is the accusation
made bv the Woman's Trade Union
League.
Messages condemning the recent
order from the United States En-
olovment Service which limits the
vote Of women members of community
labor boards are flowing into the De
nsrtment of Labor. These protests
come not only from individual women
leaders and from women's organiza-
lions. but include protests from the
Middle West conference of the de-
nartment OF women IN industry of the
voman's committee Of the Council of
National Defence, which was held in
Chicago recently.
criticism is especially directed
against Assistant Director General n.
4 Smyth. of the United States En-
nloyment Service. who recently issued
the order prescribing the powers of
women members to be appointed on the
local
.ablshed all over the country.
The Objectionable Paragraph
The paragraph referred to reads as
follows:
Upon questions concerning the
utilization Of women in industry the
Two women members of the community
labor board shall have full voting
powers. They shall be eX-otficio mem
5ers of the community labor board and
non-votng members of the board in re-
Spect to other matters, but shall be
invited TO attend all meetings of the
board"
Woman are to be added to the re-
Gently created community labor
boards of the United States Employ
mcnt Service. because the question of
replacing men with women is one of
he immediate problems Of the SER
1icc.
The community labor boards, as
Is they are now constituted, are com
posed of three men. 1t is understood q
that when the women members arc
added the men will have power Of
voting on ali questions that come be-
fore the board, while the women will
De limited to questions conce ming
women
IN its practical applcation,' said
fional Woman's Trade Union League
in Washington, yesterday, refusal 80
erart women members a voice in Sc
iecting The personnel of the local en-
ployment Offices is the chief objection.
We fear that the result will be both
he neglect Of women's interests, if
left entirely in the hands of men, and
the abuse of the community labor
boards for Political ends
Mr.. Smyth is quoted by the league
as saying, III defence Of the order that
the vote was limited on the part OF the
employment service so that the women
on the boards would not be obliged to
give time to matters OF detail and
routine business, but could devote
their entire time and attention to the
needs of women in industry.
The women of the country have ac-
cepted the Labor Departments recent
recognition Of women in administra-
tive capacities as an expression o. the
Administration attitude both on suf-
rage and labor issues" continued Miss
Ethel Smith. Tf Mr.. smyth is sus-
taned in his order in the face Of our
protests he will have disturbed, to a
very serious extent. the confidence OF
me organized women of this country in
me governments professcd intention
70 give them square deal"
Civil Service Determinations
Although several departments OF the
government have declared thcmselve@
III favor of the policy of equal pay fol
equal work. the Women's Trade Unior
eague has been protesting for some
time that too much discretion has
ncen left TO the department heads il
choosing candidates for civil service
position, and that many of them are
preludiced against specially
IN selecting applicants for tho places
mat pay high salaries.
Another protest IS against tho
method Of computing minimum wage
Tor women and for men. which has
oeen undertaken in connection with tn,
cost OF living survey by the United
states Bureau of Labor Statistics. The
minimum wage is computed for {
woman or the basis Of the needs of
single individual The minimum wag,
Tor man covers the needs Of famil.
Of five.
Miss Mary Van Klecck, director o
me women III industry service of th'
Lappr Department, announced las
week that meeting of women member
ol trade unions would be held in Wash
ington, October and 5. to confer witt
iHD women IN ivJ,cfyv corvicn