Evening journal., 1919-02-11
HEARING TODAY ON
MINIKUN wage BILL
Members OF Consumers
League Advocate Measure
at Dover
TOMATO PACKERS
VOICE OBJECTION
stan Correspondent

stan Correspondent
/ DOVER, Del. Feb. ii.--senaior James
w. Robertsons bin to create a mini
mum wage commission and providing
for a minimum wage for womeu work
ers OF Delaware met with some opposi-
lion when those advocating the bill had
/ a public hearing this morning in the
I supreme Court chamber before the
labor committee OF the Senate. which
committee has the bill. The bill has
net been reported out OF committee.
4 The hearing was arranged by the
Consumers League and a delegation
i from that body appeared before the
committee % advocate passage Of the
bill. Those 10 the delegation were the
Rev. C L. Candec. Miss Clara South
wick. executive secretary OF the Con-
sumers League OF Delaware; William
T. Smalley the Rev. A. Rahlnowitz.
JSmes Okane Miss Margaret n shear
man. Miss Ruth McC0mb, all members
OF the legislation committee Of the Con-
sumers' League; Miss Mary Gawth op.
and Miss Blanche Swayne, legislative
and assistant secretaries; Miss Mar
caret Mckay, Miss Edith Spruance and
Mrs. Lewis r. Ellison OF New Castle
Mr. Candee, chairman OF the legisla-
tive committee Of the League. intro
duced Miss Southwick as the nrst
speaker She spoke OF the necessity OF
passing such a measure Tor the pro-
tect.on Of the working girls az Della
ware Taking the sum OF sii ne a
minimum wage scale In Wilmington,
she explained that 70 would cost eve y
cent OF that sum for actual living
expenses OF the average woman. 81 a
week for board 81 so for clothing
while incidentals more than account for
The remainder
She also stated that girls who did not
make that much were compelled Co
economic by wearing cheap clothes.
eating cheap food and working after
hours TO make both ends meet, which
caused many Of them to break down
Miss Gawthrop. one OF the legisla-
tive secretaries. analyzed the bill. eX-
planning each section as she came to lt.
She pointed ont that 10 was not q new
thlng, as there are already twelve states
in the Union that have such a law.
Some opposition developed 10 the bill
BY. Senators Alice and Bennett, who are
In the packing business. they taking
the stand that to enact such q law ln.
this state night work disadvantage TO
Delaware hackers.
+ senator Alice pointed out that ihe to-
-mato packers OF Indiana can purchase
their raw material much cheaper than
delaware packers. as the land IN mat
state produces a larger tonnage OF to-
matoes 10 the acre. Senator Bennett
pointed out that some women workers
Eare not as edcient as others and. be-
lieyed the bill might prove beneficial 70
lloaiers and shirkers al the expense 0i
the employers.
Both Senator Alice and Senator Ben
nett objected 90 that section OF the bin
which authO-izes the commission 10 ex-
anime books and accounts and pay
rolls Of business concerns.
Miss Gawth0rpe defended The various
sections objected to and declared that
II enacted the bin would work a hard
ship upon no one, but would be a great
Dement, TO humanity.
Rabbi -Rabinowitz made strong
plea for the bill. declaring that 1t was
splendid piece OF social legislation.
He pointed out that the enactment Of
such legislation for the benefit or the
working men. women and children Of
the nation would be the best way 10
solve the problems that now confront
the country.
Senator Bennett wanted TO know II
the League would be willing 10 give -
a trial in New Castle county and TO
leave out Kent and sussex and also TO
exempt the canning industry in New
Castle county.
Dr.. Candee declared that such a
proposition would be considered II in /
sisted upon, but he had confidence In /
the employers OF Kent and Sussex /
would Join In and help solve the prob /
lem for the whole State. Mr.. Okane, /
who was the last speaker, declared that /
the Central Labor Union Is back OF |
the bill a telegram was received from /
Charles Tonkis advoo9Nrg the bill.
League Members.
Delaware women who are members /
Of the Consumers League, which In
itiated the campaisn for the minimum .
wage bill for women and minors, In
clude the following Mrs. Julian Adair
Mrs. T. w Bacchus, Mrs Arthur L.
Bailey. Mrs. William Bancroft, Mrs /
Thomas F. Bayard. Miss Emily Bissell. /
Mrs. Frederic Brinshurst, Mrs. H.
Fletcher Brown. Mrs w D. Bush. Mrs !
r. r. N. Carpenter. Mrs. Martha Gran /
ston. Miss Elizabeth Draper, Mrs R II. /
Dunham. Mrs T. Coleman dupont, Mrs. /
e. Paul dupont. Ms. Francis ]. du- |
pont Mrs Pierre s dupont. Mrs. IT. I
vine VI. Finn. Miss Helen Garrett, Mrs. /
James n. Ginns. Mrs. Joseph Hamilton, |
Mrs. w. E. Hawkins. Mrs. w S. Hilles. 1
Mrs. C. /. Hepnins Mrs Joseph F. /
Holland Of Milford. Mrs. Robert L. Hol- /
.iday Of Dover. Mrs j. Mont'iih Jack Z
son. Mrs. Willard Jackson. Mrs H. IT,
Krebs. Mrs. William w. Laird. Mrs w.
H. Laird, Mrs. Preston Lea. Miss Mary
r. A. Mithsr. Mrs. Charles r. Miller. |
Mrs. George 3. Miller. Mrs L. w Mus
.ard OF Lewes, Mrs John Nields. Ms.
E. S. Nesbitt. Mrs. Ohio Nowand Mrs.
James O'Kane. Mrs Willard II. POr' er.
Mrs. w. S. Prlckett. Miss Sarah Pyle,
Mrs. John J Raskob Mrs Charles Ill
Reese. Mrs. George B. Rhoads. Mrs. Ed
gar Rhoads. Miss Winifred J. Robinson
Of Newa k. Mrs. II. p. Scott. Mrs. VIII
liam sellers, Mrs. H. Rodney Sharp,
Miss Margaret H shearman, Mrs. ]. E.
smith. Mrs. David Snellenburs. Mrs. A.
R. Spottswood Of New Castle, Mrs. VIII
liam Staniar. Mrs. Frank G. Tallman.
Mrs. Henry B. Thompson, Mrs Richard
w. Trapnell, Ms A. D Warner. Mrs.
Charles Warner, Mrs. J. Harvey White
man. Mrs. Frank Whltlock. Mrs. WI
liam H. .Whltten. Mrs. Victor B. Wool
lev Miss Emma Worrell, Mrs. Paul E.
Wilson Mrs. josiah o Wolcott OF
Dover, Mrs James Penniwel OF Dover,