El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-11-20

smoke it indifferently. C. n. Idar. an
! organizer OF the American Federation
OF Labor. who has been here In con-
nectiou with the recent laundry wom-
ems strike. was sworn in as interpre-
ter he explained, at the request OF
chairman Jennings, the intention OF
the law and the commission 70 pro-
rect all employees from any possible
resentment any employer might have
at any testimony given BY any en-
7 ploye. Mr. Jennings stated that moth
/ ing OF the kind was anticipated, but
such protection would be given n
found necessary.
Americans Get More.
The first witness called was Miss
: 1Ianuela Hernandez, who testlueo
substantially as follows i have bees
working at the Acme laundry for sew
D en- years. I an q marker and get 81
a week. I commenced at s. at other
work, have been raised gradually 70
my present wages. Ny last raise was
] about six weeks ago Ny wages are
l in the Acme The American women
get much more than the Mexican
women. the minimum OF the former
being SO and the latter set generally
a TO SIS a week Mexican girls at the
machines get $3.50 per week. I find 10
I difficult 20 live on my ages, which
I turn IN to the family budget think
I could live comfortably on SIS a
7 week"
/ Maria Wales testified: 4 have
{ been working at the Elite On the man
gle at $3.50 week. the regular wages
at that particular work I live with
my family and have nine year old
{ girl dependent on me- / have to sup
port her and myself but 7 have 70
make great sacrifice. some DAYS going
without food. for lack Of means. 1
have worked 10 or u hours in q day.
six days a week. I think I would re-
Quire SIS a week 20 live comfortably
Maria Santos. Epignia Silva and FL
dencia Garcia had al been working
at the FL PasO laundry Up to three
3 weeks ago, when they quit because 81
a week the wages, were too low. they
] testified. All lived at home with their
[ families and contributed, they said,
70 the general support The first
named thought SIS enough to live on
I comfortably alone. the second thought
I IS and the third thought SO would do.
Denies Herself Comforts.
Teresa Aleman said she had been
working at the FL Paso laundry at SIS
a week and left. she said. because
gave her family part OF her wages.
She also said she had 70 deny herself
many comforts, but thought she could
live comfortably on SIS a week.
Guadalupe Espejo said: Il an get
ting 81 a week at the American laun-
dry on a collar machine. I have one
dependent. Ny room rent is IS
month; groceries cost $3.50 a week
and cannot buy coat a year OF one
IN two years. Ny clothing costs SO
a year cost $3.50 a pair. The coat
have on I bought 10 years ago on the
instalment plan I think SIS a week
would be needed 20 live on comforta-
bly,"
Doniciana Panaies and Guadalupe
hra al "a
Elite laundry up to three weeks ago
at IS and $3.50 a week, respectively.
Both live at home. The former
thought 10 would 1equirs SIS OF SIC a
week to live on and the latter thought
SIS little enough for a woman alone
Cristela serda. who had been at the
Acme laundry and lived with her mar
ried sister and was helped financially
by her brotherinlaw. thought SIS was
needed FOR a girl alone Sara Alvides,
who had also been at the Acme.
thought It would require S19 Prac-
ticaIiy all OF this class OF workers
said they lived at home and had had
no experience in trying to make their
own living Independently.
Practically all the women employees
OF the FL Paso Overalls company and
the FL Paso Manufacturing company.
occupied in making clothing. testified
that they were working by the piece
Chairman Jennings asked these wit
nesses particularly regarding the
strain on the health when doing piece
work with the anxiety 20 make more
as compared with regular wages per
day or week. They admitted they
worked harder under ths former
method
Cannot Keep ChIIdren-
Mrs. Julia Reade testified. IN sub
stance: I make overalls for the II
Paso Overa1ls company by the piece I
and make SO 70 So s week It takes
all I make to live on alone I owe
money. 7 have three children, whom
I cannot have with me because can
not care for them and work, nor can I
support them. Only two OF three
women make more at the factory than
do. Many complain that they cannot I
live on the pay. pay SO month |
rent for two rooms, and my grocery Z
bill Is S35 a month. I cannot afford I
eEes and fresh meat often. but ] do
have milk 7 cannot get money enough |
ahead to buy clothing. I do my own
washing and ironing. I think a lone
woman needs $40 = week 20 Iva on