The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1919-07-15
81 $50 MINIMUM
WAGE FIXED FOR
DC. SH0PWOMEN
Worlds Highest Standard
In Legislation Fixed
By Conference Here.
EFFECTIVE ON NOV. l
Result Achieved by Genuine
Collective Bargaining
Following Probe.

IOtlCNlllS ioks
j. --
with the placing Of the minimum
ware for women employed IN NOR
camille establishments Of tho District
at s16D a week by the twelve rep
resentattves Of the 1000 workmen so
eruuloyed. the 100 merchants Of the
District and representatives Of the
general public IN conference with the
Minimum Wage Board yesterday. the
highest standard ever reached In the
world minimum wage legislation was
set,
The neu highest wage Is $3.50 a
week, fixed for the women IN the
printing and publishing Industry Of
tia District Of Columbia. and the
s13-so fxed b. the Minimum Wage
Board OF Washington State
TIE order viii 60 into effect No
peuaber / after which time women
With seven months experience must
receive at least s165o, beginners must
receive for the frst three months 81
and for the naxf four months S1A5o
Collective Baryatntns.
Under the policy adopted BY the
District Of Columbia Minimum Wage
Board. this $3.50 wage agreement has
been arrived at through Q genuine
collective bargain The sa1eswomen's
REPRESENTATIVES who were nominated
by ballot, verez Miss Ina Courtney.
Mis- Mary Sullivan and Miss Mae
Dobktn- No employers represents
tfvss who were nominated by the
Merchants and Manufactuers' Assoc
ciaton OF the District, were George
a. q
Co, Louis Meyer, Of woodward d
Palace, all department stores
MRS. Newton d. Baker. wife of the
SECRETARY OF War; Judge Kathryn
Sellers Of the District Juvenile Court
and Clarence R Wilson. formerly Dis
tho public, Mr.. Wilson serving as
chairman of the conference
The members Of the permanent
Mintmum Wage Board, who called
thu cnference and also sat as mem
bers Of 1t. are Jesse c. Adkins. attor-
neS representing the public; for the
employers, Joseph A Berberich, presi-
dert of the Merchants and Manufac-
tur krs' Association, and for the work
ing, women. Miss Ethel NJ. Smith.
executive secretary Of the Washington
Branch of the National Women's
Trade Union League.
Result of Probe.
TIE conference was called as a re-
suit OF investigations by the board.
through its secretary. Miss Clara
Mortenson, which showed that Of the
ZOO women employed in the stores
of Washington more than g. per cent
ares receiving 81 per week and less,
and 10 per cent are paid as little
as IS per week.
The minimum budget represented in
the. conference agreement allots 50 80
for board and room. 81 for clothing.
and $50 for sundries. these items
incpding laundry, health insurance.
savings and life insurance, amuse-
NETS, vacation. church and charity.
organization dues, self-improvement,
carfare and other tncidentals.
The women's original demand was
originally offered 1850 With five
votes in the conference, Mrs. Baker
voting with the three workers and
the slabor member OF the board two
votes of 81 and one of 1850 from
the sother representatives OF the pub
lic:- and the employers with four
votes for s16 as their top figure, the
rate of 1850 was finally reached.
Mrs Robbins Wants SIS.
The s1650 rate is not adequate. IN
thes opinion of Mrs. Raymond Rob
ms. president Of The National
wotnen's Trade Union League, who
recommends IS per week as the
minimum upon which a working
woman can maintain herself at a
proper standard of health and Ell
cheney.
The Merchants & Manufacturers
Association of the District, through
its secretary. Charles j. Columbus.
has declared itself well pleased with
the, finding of $3.50. which. 1t Is esti-
mated by the Wage Board. will add
$3.50 to $50 per week to the wages
OF about 1000 Of their employees.
1T Is q happy circumstance he
said. that the conferees in the mat
ter of the minimum wage for the mer-
camille industry in the District Of Co
lunbia reached a unanimous agree
ment. The Merchants and Manufac-
tIrers' Association not only indorsed
and helped to bring the minimum
wage law into existence, but is natu-
rally taking a keen interest in its in
terpretation and will be none the less
vfglant in its enforcement In my
contact with the merchants of Wash
ington, big and little, find a unan-
unity Of sentiment and interest in re-
gard to the employees, and the idea of
a minimum wage appealed to them,
and I am sure there will be no serious
differences of opinion on the part of
auy merchant as to the equity of the
present finding"