The Washington times., 1919-10-09
SPEED URGED
IN MINIMUM
WAGE FIGHT
Nolan and Representatives Of
$4,000 D. S. Workers Voice
Plea for Living Wage.

Pleas for q living wage on behalf
Of $4,000 Federal employees were made
before the Senate Committee on Edu-
cation and Labor today by Congress
man Nolan OF California and repre-
reBtatives OF Government bureaus,
who urged speedy passage Of the 50
q DAY minimum wage law.
one Of the women witnesses exc
pressed the sentiments Of advocates
az the bill when she declared IL was
a burnfnE shame" that the United
states. OF ali. Governments should pay
its employees wages that can hardly
keep body and soul together. sena-
tor Kenyon OF Iowa chairman OF the
COMMITTEES. himself expressed the
tDinion that So a day is hardly liV-
ing wage IN view Of the fact that Ihe
cost OF living has more than oouDleo
since the beginning Of the war
Relate PItIfuI Tales.
some pIfffuI tales were related by
sron1ove- n the simple statement Of
facts concerning their linving condi-
tions. In addition TO CONGRESSMAN
Nolan. these were the principal VIZ
nesses: Miss Florence Mortimer vice
president Of the grade teAenet1
union. Miss Nora ,. James OF the
vvoueu1e Union OF the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing; =. ~. Nor
rigs. OF the Board Of Charities; Ed
win ]. Robb. Of the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing; J. A. H Har-
gstt, special policeman Of the POST
Office Department; Mrs. Myrtle Nc
Avov Of the Government Printing
Onice, and Mrs. Elizabeth Nuttrill, OF
the Bureau OF Engraving and Print
ing.
Conrressman Nolan emphasized
that ia washington alone out Of lOl,-
600 Government employees, 1900 re-
csived less than So day, which, ne
declared. IS not sufficient 70 main
tain family expenses.
Compued by COmmiEsion.
These figures were compiled by the
naturalization commission
Senator Kenyon, who ordered hear I
ing 1n the Nolan bill opened ia the
hope Of reporting out the measure
with the least possible delay, ex-
pressed a belief that Congress should
pay especial attention to the needs OF
worthy employees, since salaries have
been virtually at a standstill
Some opposition was voiced by
Senator Wolcott, OF Delaware, who
protested that on a recent visit TO
the War Department he saw able
ing, smoking cigarettes and reading
newspapers.
ESQ long as such conditions exist,
shah never support this bill" he
Eaid- II believe there ought to be
IN amendment that would safeguard
3 the Government and the people
against such abuses.
Cau sucE Cases aAbuses.D
Congressman Nolan and Senator
Kenyon both took the position that
such cases were administrative
abuses" which members Of Congress
are not able 20 prevent even in the
Capitol offices. It was the opinion
OF Senator Kenyon that deserving
employees should not be Disseminated
against IN the matter OF pay because
Ef superannuated messengers.
The Government cannot throw out
into the streets its superannUated
employees" declared Mr.. Nolan, "and
after ali, Il is a question OF admins
tration."
Mr.. Nolan said the bill would ar
feet about 66.oOO employees throughout
the United States. These include Gus
todians OF public buildings, laborers,
custom house employees, skilled librar-
lans, and grade school teachers in the
District Of Columbia.
for years" Ar. Nolan said, "and il is
only right that Congress should grant
them at least a minimum OF So a day. 4"
Bonus Only Afd New.
Mr. Nolan said that when the ques-
ton was first agitated there were
10000 employees in washington get
ting less than IS a day whose salaries /
have never been adjusted except
through application Of the bonus.
The committee evinced keen inter-
est In the living conditions Of Govern
ment employees in Washington. Mrs.
Myrtle McAvOy, Of the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing, said she rep
resented 200 women in that office who
were getting less than 50 a day.
4ost OF lnem1 she said, were getting
#z-eD a oay' her own pay, she de-
With milk at IS cents a quart she
declared, IL was only with the great 1
est difficulty she is able 10 keen her /
three children properly supplied.
Senator Kenyon asked If she he
ueved 50 a day was sufficient nav eft /
certainly IS not" she replied. aand I /
might add that IL is q BURNING shame
for the Government 20 pay less fban
= living wage. It Is a disgrace 10 any
Government
--E-~s ~ nav NolIS lAelE QuLE \
20 the Government, and ] think il is
time the Government began doing its
duty BY the employees she concluded. /
Wives Compelled 20 Work.
Federal employees told how married /
women were compelled TO work be-
cause their husbands in the Govern
ment Service were not earning enough
20 meet expenses. Miss Nora r 4
James, Of the WOmcns' Union Of the
Bureau OF Engraving and Printing
said 20 per cent OF the 2.eOO women
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