The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-25
B. R.T. WOMEN FAIL
IN PLEA TO SMITH
Governor Admits Night Ban
Soon May Affect Actresses
and Cabaret Singers.
WIDOWS WEEP FOR JOBS
John Mitchell Indicates He Is
in Favor Of Regula-
tory Laws.

1t was with anxious and discouraged
hearts that the women street railway
workers came away yesterday from the
hearing at City Hall to which they went.
$50 strong. TO ask Gov. Smith TO cali
the Legislature together to repeal the
Lockwood-Cauineld law and give them
back the good Jobs from which that law
is ousting them. While the Goyernor
assured them that he would try hard
to do the right thing and even seemed
moved by the tales of two widowed
mothers who broke down and cried over
the loss OF their weekly pay envelope Il
seemed evident from his manner that
he stood with John Mitchell, chairman
OF the State Industrial Commission. who
sat by him, and all Of whose words in
dicated that he was strong for regula-
tory laws for women workers. As one
tall and plump conductorette murmured
coming down the steps after the hear
ing:
Sure we might as well have stayed
at home"
The wave OF concern for women which
has hit Albany may even take under
its aegts actresses, cabaret singers, &C,
The Governor admitted as much. Il
was during one OF the rather acrid runs
in that Miss Amy Wren. attorney for
the women. had with him that she asked
him. following his statement that New
York State had passed several rerula-
tory laws for women and that there had
always been opposition to them:
"Will your Excellency pass a bill that
women shall not act in the theatres at
nightr"
That may come" said Gov. Smith.
and II the medical authorities certified
that acting at night was bad for women
would say it ought to be passed" T.
Ten Hour Plea Refused.
After the hearing was over and Mr..
Mitchell had made a short speech saying
that the state Industrial Commission
was now looking into the Lockwood
probation might not be 80 prohibitive as
the women supposed-in the mean time
they must be patient-they pressed close
to the railing which separated them from,
the two men who they felt controlled
their fate and asked IL they might not
while the commissions decision was
pending ask Receiver Garrison of the
B. R r to give them day swing runs.
These runs would keep them out on duty
would not be working all the time the
new law would not be broken. Mr..
Mitchell told them he could not author
lie the railway company to break the
law" and reluctantly the uniformed
women turned away. the bravest among
them calling back to him:
do you think we should starve. then7
How shall we be after buying food for
the children"
To ~. ,hAIA an ma fn -
n women that faced the Governor when
he came to his appointment, and they
made out their cases well when they
came forward to bear personal testi-
mony to the fact that although working
at night, many of them. they are in
good health and good morals. They
plunged right into the subject and went
straight to the point-as did Mrs. ,Anas-
tssia Maloney; for instance. a dark
eyed woman with despair in her face.
Your Honor" she said, II have three
children my husband deserted me when
the baby was week old. i put the
children in the Guardian Home and
went to work in a kitchen. where I
worked from s In the morning TIL 10
at night When the war came on and
l got the job with the B. r. T. Ijmade
enough to bring my children home with
me. and to pay a woman for mindinG
lNem Wnlle Il m OH on my TuHh, Which,
/ leave home at $50 in the morning.
and am back at 10. and stay there till
4:51 in the afternoon, when I work till
S30. My God. your Honor. must I
put the children away in home again
three beautiful children such as you'd
be glad to see? Your Honor likes to
Rave your children home with you. So
do I. And II you could see the young
fellows that's taking US wonnen's places
on the cars-a throwing their money
around. And us with our children to
support"
She burst into sobs, covering her face
with her hands, and the Governor. soft
en!ng his voice, said soothingly:
There, there there-we are here to
help you-don't make II any more dis
tressing than 1t must be-"
Woman Prefers Might Work.
Mrs. Maloney was conductorette.
Mrs. Mary A. Murray, representing the
ticket sellers Of the 3. r. T., neatly
dressed. dignifed little woman. said she
had worked nineteen years handing out
tickets for nickels, and twelve years OF
that was night work.
Il prefer night work." she said. Be
cause / can then be at home to get