El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-07

hHlhAuM WAGE legislation is Of recent conception.
4f4 Belgium started II IN 1857 with minimum wage for
public works Australia and Kew Zealand followed IN 1896
and later with far reaching laws affecting not only
pubic works but private industries and occupations. Eng
la1d mas had minimum wage law for ten years In this
country the first state law the subject that Of
Massachusetts, enacted IN 1912 Several other states haze
followed IN general the basis Of these American laws is
English practice and statutes
As in many other departments Of law making, this
movement has spread without much account being taken
Of general ecanomc principles without much thought Of
the ultimate effects Of the application Of such laws. In
general nay be said that the theory which such laws
based is that adult take Of themselves
Iue but that women and girls and boys under IS must
be guaranteed al least certain sum from any employer
Who engages them entirely without reference the indi
VIduaIs ability or earning capacity.
Advocates Of such laws hold that there
sry support life in health comfort and happiness and
provide margin for saving or misfortune; that this sum
must Be provided il way sustain each worker; that
the worker does not receive this from the employer,
society must make up the balance in way through
direct charity for instance through contributions from
relatives OF friends, perhaps through the consequences
Since realized that there are at least three classes
OF female Workers-those living at home, those @adrfH
and those with dependentshs question arises to how
the minimum is to apply. Advocates Of the laws
monty hold that the cost Of living for and girls
rsy dependent their oEn labor for support and not
Ewing with relatives should govern in all cases.
As one c0r0lsTy TO minimum wage law females and
minor males prohibited from working for less than the
minimum EEge' matter how willing they may be- how
des0us Of working for less how necessary even smaller
contribution may be TO the family income They are pro-
moed u effect because the employer would be peuszed
Tie Texas law makes provision for learners during
bret period and for detectives and part-me workers
special permits
Relative efficiency and productveness do not enter into
consideration nor do the varying conditions and standards
Of living among different In different communities
N the state Ihs theory Of the law il that the employer
the industry, VIII in to hear the burden Of
the difference between the lawful minimum and the wage be
may have been paying, but that this margin shifted
20 the public through adding the selling prices charges
tor service No account is taken Of competitive conditions
Il Is asserted b. advocates Of the law that any employer
Who cannot pay the minimum wage and keep his business
going ought to quit business.
From which It only be inferred that It is believed
70 be better that women and girls and boys should not
work at all than that they should work for less than tbs
awful minimum wage The theory Of advocates Of the
law Is that the very shortage Of workers that might thus
result would operate to increase the wages Of those that
and boys were unable to obtain work unless they could
become at least efficient enough minimum wage
and justify employers in paying that amount then they
oud5 20 get tood and clothing be compelled to render
themselves more efficient than the average under lower
wages.
It further coatenaed that workers are inefficient be-
ause they are uudered and compelled to live n Wong
onent BY reason of too low wages and that incress-
ng the lowest wages to certain minimum (n Texas So
week. would Of itself result in increased efficiency
through improved nuushueut and conditions Of existence
Employers Of ordinary Mexican help in industries say
nat the average efficiency measured for example bv the
Of production Of piece work Is very much lower than
hat Of Americans; aud that variety Of reasous there
hrte hope Of marked improvement. They further say
nat Americans are not to be had in sufficient numbers to
M me places that offer and that ezcans OF at any rate
spanish speaking Amercans Of Indifferent ability and de-
cTe education have 70 be used the rates Of nav being
lsted more OF less to productive ability as compared
tn rates regarded as standard N the particular industry
-AHe FaIlola points suggested merely
Indicate how complicated me question IS ana how far reach
ng TIE effects Of such law. ETsyb0dy win admit vixen
-a me question tat cut that every employer should