The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-06-26
WOULD GUARANTEE
WOMEN PROTECTION

WASHINGTON, June 22.-In order
that the IL, 700, 900 ONE engaged in
industry may be benefited, the Re-
publican party Just before il ad-
journed placed upon the statute
books a law providing for the main
tenance of a permanent women's
bureau in the department of labor.
I'VE appropriate a good deal more
for the hog cholera, the boil weevil
and all such things, and it seems to
me we ought to take are OF the wo-
men, who are employed" said Sena-
tor Kenyon, chairman of the labor
committee, in explanation of his bill.
This is a bureau to study the prob
lens of women wage The
thought of the ome is that this
legislation will give the bureau a
status and a dignity and a standing
which is in keeping with their rights
and conditions in the country. Rep
resentatives were at the hearings who
claimed that they spoke for 9,000.-
900 women in this country. The Wo-
mems Voters League, which has a
tremendous membership, was rep
resented and they felt that it would
give the ONE an advantage to have
the bureau made permanent"
Senator Kenyon was interrupted by
a declaration that the children's bu-
reau had started out with an appro-
priation of $25, 900 each year and that
it had run up to $4,000 a year.
Does the senator think" retorted
Kenyon, that the work the ehildren's
bureau is doing for the children Of
the country car be estimated in
money? We appropriate a good deal
more for the hog cholera, the boil
weevil and all such things and it
seems to men we ought to take care OF
the children.
THE women's bureau will cost So
600 a 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-
pigment
THAT is the kernel of the bill
anything they can do TO promote the
welfare of w-age-earning ome Here
are some of the things they have
worked out: The question of seats
IN industrial establishments, where
there are thousands of women work
ing; the question of toilets, of sani-
tation, of rest rooms, OF drinking IA
cilities; guarding against dangerous
machinery; protection against dust;
fire capes and hundreds of other
things which enter into the welfare
of the wage-earning women.
This bureau has made studies at
The request OF various states, for in
stance, a study of wages and condi-
tons of candy makers in Philadel-
phia; also as to the eight-hour day
in federal and state legislation; night
work for women in various factories;
women in the government service.
They made a special investigation of
the wage-earning women in the fac
tories in Bridgeport. Conn. They
also made a similar investigation at
the request of the state of Virginia
as TO the hours and conditions of
work for women in industries in Vir-
ginia. That is the general line of
work which they have been doing.
They have not had very large appro-
priations in the past up to this time;
| think they have only $40,0 900. The
general purpose of the bill is to help
in all the problems that may effect
at least IL, 0 900 wage-earning wo-
men in this country and to provide
a bureau having in view their well
fare"