Evening journal., 1919-03-01
DeIa,core and the Minimum Wage Bill
BY AGNES de LIMA.

, fluenzs epidemic accounts Cor e good
share Of these prolonged weeks OF III
ness, but there was much chronic or
recurring sickness due 10 q general lack
OF physical stamina, which must be
laid directly ct the door OF low wages,
lack OF sufloient food and bad work
ing conditions.
Since nearly two-thirds Of the girls
earned less than the Massachusetts,
minimum, 10 is obvious that they had
TO be subsidized by their homes in or
der to get through the year. Most OF
them handed their pay envelopes over
70 their mothers, and received back
small sum for petty expenses. The
largest items OF course went for board
and clothing, but IN the majority OF
cases, the girls spent less for these
essentials than the amount flxed as
minimum cost Of living IN Baltimore
based on government estimates, in the
flrst two months Of 1918 These costs,
while high. were not so high as at the
end Of the year. The minimum flxed
for food, room and laundry was $500
per week Fifty-hve or almost two
thirds Of the Wilmington girls paid
less than this amount Fifteen paid
S. Q week, which seemed TO be q gen
eral rate, although II was not suflcient
for self support. Only two girls paid
nothing for board. The others paid
sums amounting in some instances to
over 80 per cent OF their income.
AS for clothing, this Wilmington
group certainly disproved the common
tradition that q working girl puts ell
,. ~ Il ar1r furFH
thirds-59-spent less than the Balti-
more minimum Of Si4750, an admittedly
conservative estimate in the face OF
an increase in clothing costs OF ttS per
cent OF this number 32 spent less than
sio0 and six less than $50. At the other
end OF the scale were flve who spent
more than $500 for clothing, and six
who spent between $500 and $500.
IN each OF these eleven cases the
home surroundings were OF the more
and occasionally indulg snt
kind; while some OF the less fortunate
OF tho main 81 per cent had home rs
OF . formidable kind. Two
sisters were found supporting e Wild
owed mother and. eight children includ-
ing themselves; two other sisters were
sole bread winners for an assorted |
group OF SIX relatives. Indeed, repeated |
made by Federal and |
state governments have proved that |
,nly g negligible proportion OF wage
earning women are working for pin
money" II indeed the working girl OF
oday knows what the term means
rhe great-maiority work TO support
themselves or assist substantially IN the
support Of their families.
Delaware has undoubtedly the usual
quota OF these brave, honest women.
md as the average woman, married or
without other means OF
IS potentially a worker IN
'actory, school, shop or once, IS u
loo much TO ask that ct least each and
everyone shall receive q days support |
FOR e days work2 That IS the essen |
tial idea al the back OF the minimum !
wage bill recently introduced into the !
Delaware Legislature.
"The very preservation Of the State"
declared Professor Felix Frankfurter
before the United states Supreme Court
when arguing the case Tor the mini
mum wage law, depends upon the et-
flciency OF its industries 10 carry the
cost OF living. That IS the primary
function Of industry. No industry
which fails to supply even the bsre
minimum living requirements OF its
own workers can possibly be sound. !
such en- industry instead Of aiding n |
ho work OF supporting life can be only |
burden upon It by precisely the |
mount Of subsidy which 10 draws
rom other industries"
In upholding the Oregon law as con-
Iitutional the Supreme Court Of the
nited States upheld also the arguments
ke the foregoing on which the very
itegrisy Of minimum wage legislation
spends. .