Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-05-27
Hearings on Minimum Wage Rate.

The industrial commission an
nounced hearings to be held through
out the state in the first week in June
on the petition of the Wisconsin State
Federation of Labor, the Milwaukee
Council of Social Agencies, and the
Wisconsin Consumers league, for an
increase in the minimum wage rates
and a decrease in the hours of labor
of women and minors, which has been
pending before the commission since
last fall. On June / hearings will be
held at Superior, Green Bay, La
Crosse, and Sheboygan; on June at
Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Amigo
and Kenosha and Fond du Lac; and
on June at GAINESVILLE Wausaw, Mill
waukee and Madison. No conclusions
have been reached as yet by the COM
mission or the advisory wage board
upon this petition. Reports which
have appeared that a rate of 27 cents
an hour has been agreed upon are
without foundation. Not even tenta-
tive conclusions have as yet been
reached. In the notices being sent
out by the commission the statement
is made that information, is desired
upon the cost of living to self-support-
recent surveys, and also upon whether
there is a difference in the minimum
cost of living in large and small towns
and, if so, what is a. fair differential.
Information is also sought upon Wheth-
er a reduction in the hours OF labor
of women is necessary for their health
and safety, and particularly whether
there are industries and occupations
in which the work is such that an I'M
usual strain is produced, rendering
shorter hours more necessary than in
most lines of work. The commission
also desires information upon any re-
spect in which the minimum wage
law as at present administered does
not work out satisfactorily. The pres
ent minimum rate is % cents an hour,
having been established at that figure
in 1919 This rate allows $40 per
week for board, So per week for room
rent, $3.50 per week for clothing, and
50 for incidentals. The petitioners
who seek an increase in the rate
claim that these allowances are too
small, and that, despite decreases, the
minimum cost of living Of self-support-
ing women is still higher than it was
two years ago, and that rents in par
ticular have increased. On the other
hand, it is contended that the present
time is inappropriate for an increase
in the minimum wage rates, and that
living costs are coming down rapidly.
Awaits Decision on Bigger Bills.
The Dahl taxation bill has been
given a hearing by the joint finance
committee. 1t is not expected that
this bill will be reported out of COM
mittee until some of the large appro-
priation measures have been disposed
of. The big drive against the bill was
made by Max W. Babb of the Allis-
Chalmers Of Milwaukee. The Dahl
bill seeks a reimbursement of income
tax rates; provides for the repeal Of
the personal property offset; for the
repeal of the secrecy clause and for
taxation of incomes on banks.
Senators Exposed to Smallpox.
Members of the Wisconsin state SEN
ate have been exposed to smallpox for
the second time this session. A. r.
Millet, senate state affairs committee
clerk, who attended to his work for a
week, though i'll, was taken to the hos
pital a few days ago suffering from
smallpox. State board health officials
are investigating the case. If any de-
gree of exposure is found because uf
Millet's working around the capitol
with his case of smallpox the entire
legislature, solons, clerks and messen-
gers will be ordered vaccinated.