Evening star., 1921-01-20
SENATOR JOHNSON
CHAMPIONS CAUSE
Of: j. s. EMPLOYEES
Makes Plea in Senate for
Passage of Minimum
Wage Measure.
CITES FIGURES ON LIVING
COST IN DEBATE ON BILL
Declares Sloths and Drones Should
Not Be Allowed to Stay
in Service.

The Johnson-Nolan minimum wage
bill for employees of the federal gov
ernment and of the District of Co
lumbia was taken up for considera-
tion in the Senate today, at the re-
quest Of Senator Hiram Johnson of
California. Senator Johnson made an
earnest plea for the passage of the
bill without further delay.
The minimum wage bill fixes the
lowest salary for an empioye of the
government at 81 day. $50 a month
ployes who work part of the time it
fixes a minimum wage of 37k cents
an hour. The bill has passed the
House twice and at the last session
of Congress it was passed by the
Senate, but reconsidered' and final
action not obtained.
Wages Unchanged Since 1854.
81 want to impress one fact upon
the senator's" said Senator Johnson.
opening the debate on the bill today.
TT is the ordinary people who deter
mine the necessary cost of living. and
the ordinary man whose standard OF
living determines what is the living
wage. Some of the employees of the
government, whose wages will be at
fected by this bill, are wording at
the same wages that were fixed in
1854.
forms an efficient days work in these
times entitled to minimum wage
Of 50 a day?"
Senator johnson said that the bill
should pass both on ethical and eco
nomic grounds. No man, he said,
ought to wish his fellow man to work
20 wi and
government on earth. particularly
democracy. should wish its employees
to work for less than living wage.
Only by giving a living wage. he said,
is it possible to obtain the efficiency
which is so important to any govern
ment.
II present the appeal t6day Of those
who are unable to help themselves. to
those who have the final determining
authority" said Senator johnson.
$4,000 Workers Affected.
Senator johnson said that accord
ing to the latest estimates furnished
him UP to last night, about 1000
government employees would be az.
fected by the pending legislgt zion. The
cost, he said, had been variously e1-
3. ,istss s1s az fran so 2. eos ss nipims
Measured IN dollars, the ,pAssaEe 81
this minimum vase Inv Ahua e0nle-
thing between I'VE million And ten
million dollars additional expendf-
lures By the government" said sena.
Is without limit and measured in hu-
man happiness, no man can say how
far 1t will reach"
Senator johnson read to the Senate
the estimates Of a family budget in
various communities in this country,
the family consisting Of husband and
o,,A SvafnnP rhf1dPQn These
figures, he said, were the results of
investigation made by experts who
might be considered favorable and
unfavorable to the proposed legisla-
ton.
In Washington. D. c.. the estimated
ploye of the government was $3.50.
he said. The estimated budget in
ladelphia was 1880; in Fall River.
Mass, 81, $40; in San Francisco. 2.440.
and in the bituminous coal regions Of
Pennsylvania and Illinois. $2.119.
Living Cost for Women. $3.50.
The California senator added that
it had been estimated that the cost Of
living of a single woman IN Washing-
ton was $1,000.
'Is it necessary to argue before men
who know what has been going on in
this country in recent years thai 20
day should be minimum wage? ask
ed Senator johnson.
He said that the argument had been
advanced against the bill that there
are sloths and drones who are not en-
titled to 50 day. This is no argu-
ment at all, Senator Johnson said,
since sloths and drones have no place
in the government service, and If they
are there, it is a matter OF maiadmln-
istration.'
When Senator johnson concluded his
remarks, Senator Sherman OF Illinois
took the floor, to deliver a speech in
opposition to the so-called packers
bill. Senator Johnson hoped to press
for action on the minimum wage bill