Evening star., 1920-03-05
WOMEN'S BUREAU
COMMITTEE
Functions in Department of
Labor Set Forth by
Speakers.

How the woman's bureau in the
Department of Labor. If made per-
manent government organization by
statute, would perform its particular
function for women in industry with
out overlapping any of the work done
by organizations already established
by statute, was emphasized today by
speakers at the joint hearing before
the Senate and House committees on
labor.
Detailed explanations of the way
in which this bureau would work in
harmony with the states also were
given in support of the argument
showing the necessity for such dls-
tinct bureau to deal sympa heucaily
with the problems affecting women
in industry.
Today's Speakers.
The principal speakers today were
Representative Baker of California,
Miss Mary Anderson, chief of the
wonan's bureau: Miss Mary Van
Kleeck, former director Of the wom-
ans bureau and now in charge of sta
tistioal studies for the Russell Sage
Foundation: Henry Sterling. iegisia-
tive representative of the A. F. of L.;
Miss Mary Stuart of Washington. Of
the woman's division of the national
republican committee. and Mrs. Helen
Gardner Of the National League Of
Woman Voters.
Women Back Demand.
Organized woman consumers and
organized women in politics united
at the hearing yesterday afternoon
ganized women Of the United States
for law to establish on a perma-
nent statutory basis the woman's
bureau of the United States Depart
ment OF Labor. Two mere men,,
representing the bureau of labor sta
tistics OF the Department of Labor
and the American Federation of La
Dor. also were on the list OF advo-
Gates.
Permanence Of the existing bureau
was urged. but the speakers want an
Increased appropriation-S150,0 900. The
existing bureau, created under the
war powers of the Secretary of La
Dor. has been getting along on $4,000
year.
Mrs. George Bass, speaking for the
woman's bureau of the democratic
national committee. argued that, as
Congress has been appropriating
SIS. 100000 for the animal industry.
s150,000 easily could be given for
the bureau. Spokeswomen FOR the
republican woman's executive COM
committee were Mrs. Rosalie Loew
Whitney of Brooklyn. N. Y. and Miss
Mary Stewart of Washington, who
pointed to the fact that the repub-
lican women in three interstate con-
ferences had adopted a set OF planks
one of which planks was for the es-
tablishment of the woman's bureau
on q permanent statutory basis. The
women Of both parties declared they
would look to their congressman to
meet this demand Of the new voters.
Non-Partisans Represented.
The big non-partiean organisation
was the National League Of Women
American Woman Suffrage Assocla-
ton, with two and half million
members in all states. which recently
to establish a woman's bureau
For this organization tho spokes-
women were Mrs. Helen Gardener and
Mrs. Edward p. Costigan. Tho Ma
tional women's Trade Union League.
Campbell introduced the bill. was rep-
resented by Miss Agnea Nestor. chair
man OF tho legislative committee OF
tho league: the National ConsuH1ers'
League by Miss Jessie Haver. its leg,
ot rsprs'sYntav. ahs the SS Mrs
Elisa beth Cotton of New York,
That women only onn bring to INC
study Of industrial questions the
woman's point of Wow was insisted
upon by several speakers in reply
to questions by Representative John
NacCrate OF New York, mem
Dor of tho House committee, VINO
wished to know why there should %
any spsoiai Agency to deal with woM-
ems problems. ~.
1t was urged Try Miss Mary van
Kleeck. former director of the ealH.-
Ing bureaul by DR., noyai MeeHer'
chief of the bureau OF labor statistics,
and by Mise Julia Lathrep, ch,nI d,rse. O.
tho ohiidren's bureau, that the aisees
tor Of this bureau should be a Wenl.ath
of coordinate ranh and salary WItn
other bureau chiefs in the papa
ment of Labor, because of the neoos
sity of securing a woman OF the eest
equipment, as we'll as mater
fairness, Miss Van Kleeek uFgea LII Wv.
Importance of g weman's bureau ~
only IN its special field, hut as pss .ier,
ing women in to the adnintstrat..Sta
OF the Department Of Labor ana ens
consideration OF industrial aues''on0
upon an equal footing with men,
Miss Agnes NsstoF, a glove WORKER
by trade, spoke OF the Jack Of seana. no.
aFdisataon Of working eondit,onas. e,a.eis, d
women IN ,factoyies and eomnssa comm oa =
occupations, and the usefulness y.
federal agency which could ~ os,k.
gate those conditions and ~ P"'