New-York tribune., 1918-05-11

Motorwomcn on the surface cars and
female ticket choppers in the subway
may make their appearance soon be-
cause of the scarcity of male labor.
according to a statement made yester-
day by a representative of Frank He'd
ley, vice president and general mana
ger of the New \ ork Railways Com
pany.
Mr.. Hedley, replying to the report
of the Department of Labor opposing
the employment of women as con-
ductors and guards. declared that the
use of conductresses was forced on
the company by their inability to get
men for the Jobs, and offered to put
to work the first four hundred able
bodied men who should apply to-day.
Mr. Hedley admitted that both the
men and the women of the lines were
poorly paid, but pointed to the fact
that the traction company was getting
a return of only 2 per cent on it's
appraised property valuation of $685.
100000 and could not afford higher
wages. soaring in tune to the inflated
cost of living.
He declared, however, that the
women were getting exactly the same
pay as the men, that an Independent
survey undertaken by woman physl-
clan of the State Industrial Commis-
sion, DR.. Rosalie Bell, had shown that
their physical welfare was safe
that the women themselves were
highly satisfied with the conditions and
hours Of work imposed.
The Federal report criticising the
employment Of women on transporta-
tion systems was made by Benjamin
Souires of the Bureau of Labor Sta
tistics. following an investigation made
in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Mr..
Squires reported that the employment
was injurious to the health of the
women because of alleged unsanitary
conditions and long hours Of work. and
prevented a raise of wages among the
men employees commensurate with that
in other trades.
Unsuited for the Work
From the facts brought out, it must
be evident to any thinking person that
it is practically impossible to make
the conditions of street railway en-
ployment even tolerably endurable to
women employees. and that the opera
tion of streetcars is one of the last
occupations into which women should
be lured or forced"
"Mr. Squires submits no facts to
prove that the employment on the cars
is injurious to women," said Mr.. He'd
ley, through his representative. GAS
to his second point. that the women
keep down the mems wages, l merely
have to point to the fact that we pay
women just as we'll as we do men.
GAS for the injury to the health of
women. the State Industrial Commits
sion. at the behest Of the Central Fed
Grated Union of Manhattan and the
Central Labor Union of Brooklyn, two
months ago made thorough investiga-
tion of their conditions OF work DR..
Bell then made a report, stating that
the company had furnished women en-
ployes with rest rooms, proper relief
facilities, dispensary and physician and
nurse at one of the large car barns.
Women Seem Satisfied
Gas we'll as l can judge, all the en-
ployes are we'll and kindly treated,
said DR.. Bells report. The women
seem to be in god physical condition
and satisfied with their work. They
were enabled to take off four days a
month for minor physical ailments
According to Vice-President Hedley,
Dr. Bells report made two recommen-
dations-one, that relief facilities be
provided at intervals of an hour and q
half, and second, that women be en-
ployed six days a week, allowing them
one day Of rest out of seven. Mr.. He'd
ley said that the first recommendation