Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-10
Minimum Wage Hearings Bring Out
Interesting Facts In Connection
49, With Girls Income And Expenses

been picked from among those inter.
viewed; that once or twice during the
hearings thus far conducted she had
gone on the suggestion, of employers:
but. that. as a. igeneral rule, she had
picked those who were representa-
tive of the type we were interested
in" to quote her own language.
Cross-examination Of the, first two
or three witnesses was permitted at
Bismarck, but that privilege was
thereupon denied, the reasons given
being that it took up too much time,
and that the commission did not de-
sire to have the witnesses rintimidat-
ed in any way.
SO Girls Appear al Fargo Session.
At Fargo there were SO girls called
to testify by the commission; I'll OF
these were thoroughly questioned
with respect to their expenditures fol-
rent. board, clothing. in%cidentals, med
ical and dental care and savings. The
others were questioned only. hap
hazardly, and hence could not be. in
Guided. in-.the analytical summarize
tions hereafter given.
1t was particularly noticeable, that
all testimony went in according to
that method of questioning, viz: ask
ing for expenditures; after which
the girl was usually asked If she had
bought any more than she needed,
and If she could have gotten along
with any less; and the fact that this
method of inquiry was followed,
makes the analysis appear all the
more striking.
1t nay be said in passing, that
blank qu~estionnaires had beer pre-
-a~4I L1y az eo4p4<o q -~P thu A cun-
ciated Industries. Of North Dakota,
which lent themselves quite readily
without much alteration to the TAX
ing of this testimony as it was pre-
scented by the witnesses. In aualyz
ing the same no reference will be
made. to the names of the particular
witnesses. however.
The Fl girls above referred to,
testified to the, total expenditures for
the past twelve months, including 3
medical and hospital expenses Of
$3.50, 5000 and $3.50 respectively, ag-
gregating $12,131. The total wages
received by them during that period
amounted to $18.6S4. In this con-
nection it may be noted that in all
cases where testimony was given. Of
recent reductions. the reduced wage
was USED as g. basis for. figuring the
total for. the year, so that the amount
as given is somewhat less than the
amount which vas actually paid dur
ing hat time.
Average Wages Ssse.7o.
The savings of these Fl girls for
that same period. according to the
testimony was $845. .se
The average wages, therefore, re-
ceived by these 81 girls. which in
cludes 2 who received respectively
$40 and $25 per week, were $sS9.70
per year, or a little over $17.10 per
week. Leaving the 2 just mentioned
out Of consideration, the average
weekly wage was $685..
The cost Of the living Of these Fl
girls for the twelve-month period, on
the basis of their expenditures again,
was S577.67 per year each, or an av-
erage. Of Sill per week Their saw
ings indicated an average Of $40 per
year.. or less than 81 per week. q
OF the wages of these 81 girls,
therefore, there was unaccounted for
the sum Of more than IS per week
each, for a total of about $272 each
per year, or a grand total Of $5,712.
That is to say: assuming and. accept
ing their testimony with reference to
expenditures a correct, necessary and
proper, assuming that they bought no
more than was necessary to appear
~"decently and respectfully dressed"
as Mr.. Mcdonald put it. assuming