Evening journal., 1919-02-15
news HAPPENINGS
ABOUT new CASTLE
Century Club Members Hear
Minimum Wage Bill
Explained
TOWN FOLK HAVE
SOME VISITORS
special to The Evening Journal.

Century Club yesterday, Mrs. Lewis 2.
Eliason presented the case for the mini
mum wage bill now before the Della
ware State Legislature. Mrs. Elisson
Is a member Of the legislation commit
tee OF the Consumers League, which is
backing the bill.
There Is no question so vital TO the
working girl" said Mns. Elisson, "as
that OF wages. for on her earnings de-
pend her standard OF living and whether
she can use her leisure for real rec
,eation, or whether she must be con-
stantly worried or harassed In her at
tempt at making both ends meet" Mrs.
Eliason explained that in a recent in
dustrial study Of the earnings, home
life and conditions OF work OF SO wo-
men employed in 2S, establishments in
Or near Wilmington during the ~
months Immediately preceding the
signing OF the armistice, II was dem
onstrated as in other places il had
been demonstrated in studies on a
larger scale, that no genuine standard
izati0n Of wOmen's wages existed. In
TACT, the only States having a definite
meaning attached TO the Idea "living
wage" were the minimum wage States
~ in number, mad the District OF Co
lumbia, where minimum determinations
Of a living wage had been made.
1t Is very interesting indeed 10 COM
pare the average weekly earnings OF
our SS Delaware women for the 70 war
months before the signing OF the armi-
stice. SiXty-one or near 20 per cent,
received under sii a week, averaged
for the 50 weeks; sixteen likewise re-
ceived from Sii to $500 a week; eight
had a weekly average Of from 1890
10 SIC, and only three had SIC or over.
In other words, taking Sii suggestive
ly as a possible living wage, only q
out Of the So typical industrial women
and girls earned this figure.
Some people think that because VII
.nington and New Castle do not COM
pare with Philadelphia and other great
centres that the cost Of living is some
how not comparable either. The re-
verse IS true. Il is said by those who
know that Wilmington district is cost
lier in food expenses than Philadelphia
and costlier in clothing costs probably
than Washington; and food and cloth
ing are always the costliest items in
any Impressed cost Of living expenses.
All but five OF our SO women and girl
wage earners were native Americans,
and 62 were born in Delaware, educat-
ed n our schools with our American
standards 10 live up to. No relation
whatever was found between age and
earnings or between wages and expert
ence. Considered on an age basis IS
OF the S8 should be at the height OF
their earning power for they were be-
tween eighteen years and twenty-five
years OF age, yet 2i OF them earned
under s572 for the whole year, while
six Of those under is years OF age earn
ed over the s572. All but II had been
in Industry more than a year, the ma
jOrity beginning 10 work at fl. Not
only beginners have small wages and
not only the inexperienced; for one girl
with t3 years experience at silk wind
ing was found TO average 5000 a week
another workers Of eight years expert
ence had s7S3 week; while a worker
in a textile mill with II years expert
ense averaged $40.
1--WE know from our own housekeep-
ing how far wages like these will 60
The minimum wage principle states
that 10 is not.risht that the girl should
meet the difference between her wages
and the cost Of living by deprivatlons
which sooner or later make her de-
pendent on society's charitable expedi-
ents Of one kind or another. nor
should her relatives be burdened in
this way. but that wages should be a
legitimate cost on industry which pro-
hts by the girls labor. Some alarm
lists say that this will be a friehtful
tax on the consumer In the enc In
practice it turns ous to be nothing Of
the kind. After all we have had some
experience Of all kinds Of prices for
sver conceivable thing in the last few
years and one shock more OF less won't |
hurt usl Increased costs have in one
concern in a minimum wage State. been |
computed and lt was found TO be Just |
three mills on the dollar, that is three /
Of a dollar on the dollar. |
and ! think we consumers would be
very glad to pay even more than that
for the comforting knowledge that the
products we handle and wear and the
services we receive every day have been
compensated on a basis Of not less than
a living wage for the workers"
For Sale-Eight room house, all mod
ern convenlences: Sixth and fremont
streets, New Castle, Del. Apply S. S.
Deener.-Adv.
Many out OF town people attended
the dance given by the Pastime A. c.
last evening".
On March 1 there viii be an election
for three members Of the Board Of
Education. The term OF DR.. Julius
Dodd, Jacob Speicher and George Tobin
Jr, having expired. These men will be
candidates for election.
In the Baptist Church tomorrow the
Rev. George T. Street win preach at
the usual hours.
Services In the NJ. Z. Church win be
as usual. Beginning Monday evening
revival campaign will be conducted
mere with Professor William n. Thom-
as In charge Of the singing.
Regular services will be held i'm Pres
byterian Churches throughout the day.
The regular meeting OF the Penn Lit |
erary Society Of the n. c.. II. 5. was
held yesterday afternoon. After the
session the following program
was given: Song, when the Great red
Dawn is Shining;" letters from Over
There, Helen Seward; impromptu
speech, Helen Hayes; reading. Elsie /
Walls; song by school, ''The Long Long
Trail" debate Resolved, That an agri- /
cultural course should be established in |
the High School; Affirmative. Brokaw |
5entman, Joseph Weer; negative. Mar
tha Bryson, Helen Davidson. Original |
lokes, Bling" King; recitation, Eliza
beth Roberts.
I'D u