The Washington herald., 1920-01-06
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

AsOh hoS O-NAN-
sass. exclusive Of the bonus in both
cases. Seventy per cent of the 1000
women working in the bureau have
dependents, ranging from one to
seven. Not one is getting in salary
what the Bureau of Labor Statistics
contends is the living cost for a
single woman - $1.037.20. Conse-
quently they are found. after work
ing hours, in stores, offices and be-
hind soda fountains, for from two
to four hours and a half trying to
add to the scant pay provided by a
government which can afford to go
into debt $4,000, ,OOo,O 900 and still
continue to be a creditor nation.
Some of the women do expert
work, requiring skill. which would
seem to be worth more in the open
market. Why are they still there
The answer might be found in the
query and reply brought out at the
hearing on the minimum wage bill
before the Senate committee in Oc-
tober.
The question has been asked why
do you not get some other work
that would give you better pay?'
asked Senator Kenyon. chairman OF
the committee.
Il never could get anything else
because 1 never had anyone to speak
for me-" was the answer OF the
witness.
Uncle Sam Her One Boss.
1t was patent to her hearers that
the witness did not possess the ini-
tiatlve to look for something better
and she was positive that no one
else would take the trouble to make
any efforts in her behalf. She only
knew one boss-Uncle Sam, and she
had worked for him for twenty
years. She had started in the SER
( vice while single and continued il
after being married. She had beer
deserted by her husband who had
/ left her with six children to sup.
port. She was getting S2.62 a day
Before. July 16 she had been in re-
ceipt of sz.24. Senator Kenyon ask.
| ed:
Are there a good many over
there, married women and Widows
There are great many" was the
answer. You would be surprised
at the number of people who are II
the same position that am, work
ing"
1t was not recorded in the min.
utes whether or not the committed
was surprised but, anyway, the Sen
ate did not permit itself to be start
Aha
Bare Necessities Bought.
Another witness appeared from
the Bureau of Engraving. Sho was
an examiner at. $3.50 a day. She
supports three children, the Oldest
13 years of age.
How do you manage to gel
along?" asked Senator Kenyon.
sI cannot get along" was the
| challenge direct to a penurious gov
crnment.
! Then the testimony ran like this
| O. You cannot get along?
A. No sir. never go to movie
or a theater or anything like. S~
| O. Do you do extra work?
! A. No, only at home. was sup.
posed to put the two girls in school
Q. Do you subscribe to any
! churches?
A. Very seldom.
O. Do the children go to school
A. Yes, sir, the children go tt
school.
O. And how do you find it posi-.
BILE to get along on that wage?
A. 1 only get those things thai
are absolutely necessary for me.
never get anything else; / never
get anything for myself, very much
OF course, a mother will always dc
without for her children. you know
Tells of Struggles.
Still another. In answer to q
question. she said:
My salary is $2.37 a day. / have
two children and very age . meth
er-in-law $50 years Of age) who
looks after the children while ! an
at work. In order to make my ex-
penses 1 work four hours, nom
o'clock until half past 10 at night.
The witness detailed about sick.
ness and doctor bills and told how
she had to pay Sc and $3.50 fol-
shoes for the children. She said she
had been working extra for three
years. six days a week.
II assume that you must feel very
much fatigued from these long
hours2' suggested the chairman.
II do feel very much fatigued al
ways" she answered. "On Sundays