The Washington times., 1919-10-08
MINIMUM PAY
FOR MINORS
IS INDORSED
Hearings Called by Merchants
and Manufacturers AssOcia-
ton Bring Forth Hearty Ap-
prOYal.


Organized labor and welfare Organi-
cations Of Washington today repeat
ed their Endorsement Of the minimum
wage rates for minors in the District
as hxsd by the Minimum Wage Board,
ct an open hearing this morning be-
fore the board, called at the request
OF the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association.
The hearing, which was the result
Of q request by the Washington mer-
chants that their. arguments against
the wages fixed for minors might be
heard. developed before the end into
q wholesale Endorsement Of the recent
rulinE by the board that wage rates
for minors should be the same as
those for women-S12.5O for the first
three months, $3.50 for the next four
months. and $3.50 thereafter, with
the addition OF a fve-month pre-
apprenticeship period at SO week.
Propose so Minimum.
Charles J. Columbus, secretary Of
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, appeared in behalf Of the
merchants Of Washington, as pro-
posed. in brief form, q minimum wage
which would TX the salary OF chill
dren at $40, S11 and S13 q week; no
child to receive more than $40 a week
until he was more than seventeen
Together with the reasons submit
ted in behalf OF this proposed mini
mum wage, Mr.. Columbus pointed to-
ward the fact that high salary paid
children viii bring them out OF school
and put them 20 work too young.
faThe great danger" Mr. Columbus
rHnHnM child nrhnn1
realizing that ne can earn the money /
now that ne can earn when he grad /
uateE. viii quit school and go TO work. /
It is 3 great danger, and one which /
should be seen"
RefutinE his arguments that child /
rem would leave school. representa-
tIves OF organized labor pointed out i
that employers, when forced TO hire 4
children ct the same rates paid their \
women employees, would cease to OBJ
tain child labor; that 1t would tend 70
keep the children ia school ratehT
than offer them temptations TO quit,
and that &c would result in better
Rnd more efficient labor.
Say Age Sets Pay.
While the merchants pointed out
their argument that it was not the
age, but the skin Of the employe upon
which the wage was based, represen-
datfves OF organized labor who testi-
ned this morning, showed that an eX-
animation Of the pay rolls Of wash
fnrton employees would reveal the fact
that Sc was Just the opposite. The
age Of the employe and his experience
determined his salary and not his
skill, it was declared
Speaking in favor OF the minimum
wage fxed by the board, Mrs. Flor
euce Kelly, general secretary Of the
fT----rru--auz-n hWnmunr
out Arguments which were reiterated
by the other speakers who Endorsed
the wage scale
This frst minimum wage rate hLed
by the District OF Columbia board is
Of Tar more than local Importance"
aas stated, because Washington is
tie Capital OF the Nation and the law
IS one OF the most far-reaching yet
enacted fn its own field in this coun-
try. IL has received therefore CORE
spoudIngIy widespread attention"
NTrg- Kelly stated that the time
cbOseu BY the merchants TO present
their arrumeuts against the minimum
wage OF $3.50 70 young girls doing
the unsIrilled and less skilled work IN
their stores, and 20 messenger boys
and wagon boys below the age OF
eighteen years was inopportune-
This is a most unfortunate mo-
meut." she stated. "for the discussion
OF any reduction in proposed wage
rates. This applies especially 70 re-
ducinE a wage rate in the District OF
Columbia, where the value OF dollar
appears 70 be -conspicuOusly less than
IN Richmond, Va; Baltimore or Fhll-
adelphia-"
Mrs. Kelly stated that the minimum
wage Affects four classes
First, she said, the girls are AFFECT
e dbecause here there Is q minimum
wage, the tendency is to employ large
numbers OF young, inexperienced
minors at low rates, who quickly be-
come the competitors Of the older, ex-
Ierienced women and press heavily
Gpon their wage rate, only to be
themselves displaced as soon as they
demand q wage based on experience
and length OF service.
Affects Selection.
It effects the boys, she showed from
the point o. view OF the customer. be n
cause it IS important that the wagon q
boys apd messenger boys should be a
responsible persons honest, careful n
IN handing EOodh quick and civil Sc. a
lection, she pointed out. would ter5 :
90 give these qualifications 10 the bC,, =
employees and selection would resuIt
with the minimum wage proposed bv o.
the board. :,
The shopping public deserves Al n
tention she showed and the empIov- IT
ers viii be benefited IN the end nv
the increased efficiency which viii 70
result from the selection OF the en- III
ployes. -
Among the men and women who F
Nestified IN favor OF the minimum
wage fixed by the board were w. n
Carson Ryan, president OF the Fed y