The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1920-07-13
WOMEN'S WORK UPHELD
BY REPUBLICAN SOL0NS
Seventy.fiye Thousand Appropriated
To Make Bureau in Labor
Department Permanent.

Washington, June 30.--In order that
the 100000 women engaged in in
dustry may be benefited, the Republi-
can party just before it adjourned
placed upon the statute books a law
providing for the maintenance Of a
permanent women's bureau in the De-
partment of Labor.
1--WE appropriate good deal more
for the hog cholera, the boil weevil
and all such things, annd 1t seems to
me we ought to take care of the wom-
en- who are employed" said Senator
Kenyon, chairman of the Labor COM
mittee, in explanation of his bill.
"This Is bureau to study the prob
lens of women wage earners. The
thought Of the women is that this leg
islation will give the bureau a status
and a dignity and standing which is
in keeping with their rights and con-
ditions in the country Representa-
tives were at the hearings who claimed
that they spoke for 100000 women in
this country The Woman's Voters
League, which has a tremendous mem
bership, were represented and they
felt that it would give the women an
advantage to have the bureau made
permanent"
Senator Kenyon was interrupted by
a declaration that the childrens bu-
reau had started out with an appropri-
alton of $4,000 each year and that it
had run up to 100000 year.
Does the Senator think" retorted
Kenyon, "that the work the children's
bureau is doing for the children of the
country can be estimated in money ?
We appropriate good deal more for
the hog cholera, the boil weevil and
all such things and it seems to be we
ought to take care Of the children.
1.-THE women's bureau will cost $751;
900 year. In explanation of the bill
let me quote the language of the bill,
which says: 1T shall be the duty of
said bureau to formulate standards
and policies which shall promote the
welfare of wage-earning women, i'm
prove their working conditions, in
crease their efficiency, and advance
their opportunities for profitable en-
ployment.'
THAT is the kernel of the bill
anything they can do to promote the
welfare of wage-earning women. Here
are some of the things they have
worked out The question of seats in
Industrial establishments, where there
are thousands of women working; the
question of toileets, of sanitation, of
rest rooms, of drinking facilities;
guarding against dangerous machin-
cry; protection against dust; fire
escapes, and hundreds of other things
which enter int othe welfare of the
wage-earning women.
"This bureau has made studies at
the request of various States, for in
stance, study on wages and condi-
tions of candy makers in Philadelphia;
also as to the eight-hour day in Fed
eral and state legislation; night work
for women in various factories; wom-
en- In the government service. They
made special investigation of the
wage-earning women in the factories
in Bridgeport, Conn. They also made
similar investigation at the request
Of the state of Virginia as to the hours
and conditions of work for women in
industries In Virginia. That is the
general line of work which they have
been doing. They have mott had very
large appropriation snthe past up to
this time; ! think they has had only
100000. The general purpose of the
bill Is to help In all the problems that
may affect at least 100000 wage
earning women In this country