The Washington herald., 1919-04-10
BOARD FINDING
AWARDS WOMEN
HIGHEST WAGES
Minimum Of $3.50 Per
Week Fixed for D. c.
Publishing Trade.
EMPLOYEES VICTORY
Report VIII Now Receive
Consideration Before
Order Is Issued.

The highest minimum wage for
women in trade ever established by
any labor conference was yesterday
f1ed az 1850 per week for women in
printing. publishing and allied trades
In Washington by the District mini
mum wage conference.
Within the week the minimum wage
board Of the District will meet to con-
slider the findings of this case. II
may or may not approve, according
TO It's own beliefs.
Victory for Women
The decision rendered yesterday In
considered decided victory for
woman In industry. 1t was stated
that the wages paid women in this
particular branch OF industry were
established at the discretion Of the
employer, depending on his needs and
attitude toward labor.
The union scale In the District was
set at 50 for less experienced work
erp. and 80 for the experienced book
binder and dnisher.
Il YVES said, however. that at the
time Of the Investigations, every en-
ployer IN the District had raised this
standard because OF war contracts ard
the need OF WOMEN WOrhcfS-
The women Of the Trades Union
League consider this q decided victory,
although we were expecting and be-
lieved that the standard OF a S16 mimi
mum ware as complied by the United
states Bureau of Labor Statistics was
a Just standard" Miss Ethel Smith,
secretary Of the women's Trade IN
ion Leaxse. said last night
"HUvever, the question OF clothes
n variable one, and the disputed
. osnts WAS deducted from that ne
cassfry." said Miss Smith.
In comparison to the wage scale
OF Baltimore, Miss Smith stated, the
minimum wage compared favoraoly
with the lowest wages paid by mer-
chants Of that city.
The findings OF the case. she said.
established the fact that Baltimore
printing establishments paid a higher
wage scale than those OF Washing
ton. although bidding and often un-
derbidding on Washington contracts.
She does not believe that much trade
will be lost to Baltimore contractors,
although Washington printers declare
they will have to charge higher prices
for work ir the new ruling is effective.
Expert. Testify.
Experts in every line have been in
weekly conmitation during the six
meetings Of the minimum wage con-
ference. Reports were heard on the
data supplied by the United States
Bureau of Labor Statistics and from
representatives from leading depart
ntent stores on the current prices of
women's wearing apparel.
q l.
to be paid to any woman of average
ability who has had one years ex-
perience-
Women who have had six months
apd less than nine months expert
ence in the trade will receive s11 a
week. Those with more than three
months and less than six months
experience will be paid SO a week.
No woman in any branch Of the in
dustry. though inexperienced, is to
receive less than ss per week.
More than 31S women in thirty-six
job printing and publishing plants
will be affected by this new ruling.
The findings of the investigating
committee established the fact that
only 11.3 per cent OF these women
were rated at SIS or over per week.
According 10 the IL" Ine Mlnl-
mum Wage Board must consider and
review the report submitted by the
conference and may approve or dis
approve OF any or all OF such recon-
mendations.
II IL approves of the report. it will
hold a public hearing at which all
persons in favor OF OF opposed to
the above recommendations will be
heard. Notice of this meeting will
be published in the newspapers
weekly for a month
Budget Fixed.
After the. hearing. the Minimum
Wage Board may, at its discretion,
issue an order making these recon-
mendations binding upon all en-
ployers in the industry. This order
would then become effective sixty
days after Issuance.
From the evidence secured during
many weeks OF investigation ana
the six weeks Of conference, the fol-