The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-06
WOMEN IN CAPITAL
HISS ASSEMBLYMAN
Storm Breaks on Kennedy for
Opposition to Wage Work
ers' Bills.
COMMISSION FAVORS FOUR
League for Equal Opportunity
Parades Before Tilt-Ac-
ton Is Delayed.
COMMISSION FAvORS FOUR
Special pespntcA 10 rnr srN.


ALBANY, March 5.--The livelisst iesis-
lative committee hearing the State Capt.
toll has seen for long time developed
to-day when a small army Of women
trooped into town and bombarded the
Senate and Assembly Labor committees
with arguments for and against the So
called women's Legislative programme.
which includes bills that would provide
for women workers a minimum wage.
an eight hour day and regulation Of the
hourp OF employment in transportation
industries and In operating elevators
Before tho hearing was over person.
alities were INDUCED in and Assembly
man John Kennedy, a Queens Democrat.
heard remarks made by him greeted
with a storm OF hisses from the galleries
filled with women. Assemblyman ken
nedy found himself in trouble because Of
a question he flung back at Miss Ella
NJ. Sherwin, president Of the Women's
League for Equal Opportunity. She had
been asked by Mr.. Kennedy. following
her declaration that the women wanted
nothing that could not or would not be
given to men workers., whether she
thought an abbatoir was a At place for
women workers.
No Action This Week.
"But you haven't tried taking the
places OF nurses in operating rooms,
remarked Miss Sherwin. Then Assem-
blyman Kennedy came back with the
question that drew the misses, and Miss
Sherwin ended the tilt by remarking that
ut seems the gentleman has his answer.
nf hn nf
pected opposition to the legislative pro-
gramme It Was announced after the
hearing that no action will be taken on
the bills this week. Later II was said
about tho Capitol that there In little
Likelihood Of any Of tho bills being re-
ported out OF committee in their present
form.
Opposition to tho programme was
partly offset by announcement that tn,
State Industrial Commission met 20
day and unanimously approved tn
principles OF four Of the women'i
measures, all IL had considered. Tn,
commission meeting was the first at
tended by Mias Frances Perkins. recent
| ~ appointed an Industrial commissioner
The bills approved by the commission
were the minimum wage, the eight hou
day and those that would extend ad
| ditlonal protection to elevator opera
tors and conductorettes.
Women March with Banners.
| Women favoring the bills marched [,
the Capitol with a great display o
fags and banners Opposed to them
however, was Nora Stanton Blatch. VIII,
holds an engineers degree and
| working as a draughtsman in a stee
mill in New York city.
How long do YOU suppose woul
have been able TO hold my dob /
there had been a limitation upon tn
hours I might work." she asked. afte
explaining 1t frequently was necessar,
| for her to put In extra time durin,
rush periods. She said she was bos
Of twenty-six men.
| Anna Merritt, Brooklyn Rapi
| Transit corductorette. spoke for tn
! bills. and after a lively argument de
clared she sometimes had to work sew
enty, seventy-two and seventy-fou
hours a week. and frequently seve
days week. Miles, Amy wrenn,
lawyer, representing tho Brookly
! Women's Bar Association, said the bill
were put forward by well meanin
but misguided women"
Charles ]. Campbell OF the Ne1
York City and the New York stat
| Hotel Mems associations. and s I
Haig, general traffic manager OF th
Wesasrn Union Telegraph Company
also opposed the measures. Miss Mar
| e Drier. chairman OF the Women
Joint Legislative Conference, led IN
women who urged passage OF the bills.