Evening star., 1919-10-11

W|LLF|X MINIMUM
OF PAY FOR WOMEN
Wage Board to Consider
Workers in Hotels, Restau-
rants and Hospitals.
SOON TO TAKE UP TASK

The District minimum wage board
announced today that 1t soon will
start upon the task of fixing wages
of women in hotels, restaurants,
apartment houses and hospitals.
In making the announcement the
board stated that survey made re-
Gently in 1913 establishments employ.
ing a total Of 2.209 women disclosed
the fact that substantial number
supply them with the necessary cost
Of living and maintain them in health
and protect their morals.
Policy to Be Pursued.
It was decided in this case to con-
tinue the policy of allowing the en-
ployes and the employers to /select
their own representatives to appear
before the board. The nrst step IN
fixing the minimum w4Ees IN tnese
to call mass meetings. both tor the
workers and the proprietoTs, at which
each group will select its representa-
tives for the hearing.
Among the interesting facts which
the board says 1t brought out In the
hotel maids that their tips average
only about 81 q week and that wait
resses, who the board believes are In
the best position to collect tips, re-
ceived more in wages than any other
group, with the exception OF office
employees and housekeepers.
Board Makes Statement.
Referring to the survey made a
statement from the board reads in
part as follows:
''It was found that 1913 per cent
of all the women employed received
compensation in the form of room and
board, or meals alone, in addition to
wages-6.2 per cent, both room and
board; 65.1 per cent, three meals; 8.9
per cent, two meals, and 2.6 per cent
one meal. In order to ascertain the
wage actually received by these wom-
en- some valuation must be placed on
these items. Although it was evil
dent that the accommodates re-
ceived were not up to the standard
contemplated by the conferences on
the printing and publishing and mer-
camille industries. nevertheless, in
order to have a working basis. 50 per
week was allowed where room and
board were provided and Sc where
board alone was provided at the place
of work. Making these additions to
the money wage itIwas found that
$50 per cent of the women received
less than SIS a week or its equiva-
lent. The percentage of women re-
ceiving less than SIG a week was 72.2
per cent in the hotels. 42.6 per, cent
iE restaurants, 82.3 per cent in hos
pitals and, 100 per cent in apartment
houses.
''The women who received straigh,
hA Nof -
S5.3 per cent of them receiving less
| than SIC a week, and 55.7 per cent less
than so week.
Analysis of Wage Rates.
"An analysis Of wage rates by occu.
| patton gives a clearer picture Of tn.
| real situation. Using as a base tn.
| assumption that wage of less thar
| 81 week in addition to room an(
/ board, of less than SO week II
than $12 week in addition to tive
meals day. and of less than $16 q
| week with no other compensation /!
| insufficient to secure the necessities O.
| life to self-supporting woman ii
the District of Columbia, it was founf
that in the hotels approximately 5 pc
| cent of the housekeepers, SO per cen
!
the maids, 81 per cent Of the cleaners
So per cent of the dishwashers ant
| general pantry help, SO per cent of tn,
kitchen girls, 20 per cent of tn,
pantry servers. 72 per cent of tn,
| mattresses, per cent of the Office EN-
ployes. 35 per cent of the telephon,
operators, SO per cent OF the elevate
operators and so per cent of the mis-
cellaneous employees were receivin,
less than a living wage. Using tn
same base it was found that in tn
restaurants approximately 81 per cen
OF the mattresses. 46 per cent of tn
counter girls. Is per cent of the bu
girls, II per cent of the cashiers an,
checkers. 56 per cent OF the pantr,
girls, IS per cent of the dishwasherf
1 IL per cent Of the cooks, 76 per cen
OF the kitchen girls and A per cen
OF the miscellaneous employees wer
receiving less than a living wage.
Earnings Not Augmented.
These low wages were not on tn
whole augmented by tips. Investiga
tion showed that the women wit
the least opportunity to increase thei
earnings by this means. the dish
washers, pantry girls. kitchen girl
wages. Moreover, the maids in tn
large hotels testified that their tip
were negligible, amounting to 2
cents to 81 a week. averaging abou
81; these women also were very poor
ly paid. On the other hand the wait
resses. the only woman employees ii
position to receive appreciable tips
received more In wages than an
other group. with the exception of tn
J ers." q
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