The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-06
ID PUT WAGES OF MEN AND WOMEN
 ON EQUAL BASIS.
Federal Bureau Works to Show FaIIacy of "Pin Money" Theory for
 Women
By RALPH BURTON
special Correspondent Of The Age Heral
 Copyright, 1921. by The Age-HerafdJ

special Correspondent of The Age Herald
 Copyright. 1921. by The Age-Herafd.)
 Washington, November 5.-The women's bureau of the department of labor is out to demolish for all time the pin money fallacy," which Is held responsible for womans inferior position in industry. The resources of this organization will be devoted, in the coming months toward accu- mulating mass of material designed to show that women ordinarily have responsibilities quite equal to those of men, and that their wages ought not to be subject to discrimination.
 The woman worker is provider not only for herself but frequently for dependents as we'll a fact not sufficiently recognized by the gem eral public. Every investigation into the condition of wage earning women piles up evidence that women are working more often than not to eke out husbands or fathers made quate income, or to earn the wage formerly earned By husband or father who has died or been incapaci- tated.
 Whether the inquiry the bureau VIII lhHC up lHC DOSSlDillty ludl women may be competing with their husbands for the same jobs, thereby tending to depress wages generally, has not been announced. In general. however, there Is q tendency in in- dustry to pay men more than women for the same character of work on the theory that man Is the bread win ner. Women are constantly faced with the business hypothesis-deter- mined fallacy by the bureau-that they are working for pin money.
 Woman may and often does have a burden of dependents equally heavy with that of a man bureaus officials contend. Although 1t admits that it's thesis Is not proved, there has all ready been gathered a great deal of evidence that women's responsibil- ities are much greater and more uni versal than is generally supposed.
 Insistenee on the eight-hour day and payment of living wage are the keynotes of policy of the bureau. One of the great handicaps In its work Is the existence of certain industries which cannot, or at least do not pay q living wage. In many cases. the living wage carefully worked out on the basis of the needs of a single woman, considerably higher than the dtlud IllHiHiuIl wage III SOlle l1uuS- tries, for reason that the man. agement of those industries assert they cannot pay a living wage and make the business profitable. The bu- reau contends also that the living wage ought to be based on occupa- tion, not on sex. and that the mini mum wage ought to be sufficient not merely for the individual but to cover the cost of living dependents.
 The tendency of many establish ments to pay women on a piecework basis is also attracting the attention of the bureau, not alone because rates for such work are likely to be fixed on the basis of the single woman without dependents, but be- cause the effect of such work on the health is likely to be detrimental. at least in some occupations. Speeding up of pieceworkers on some jobs is held by the bureau to be so obvious as to constitute serious menace.
 The bureau has also taken a stand for good working conditions, prohibi- tion of employment of women in oc- equations involving the use of poi sons proved to be more injurious to woman than to man, prohibition of home work, establishment of systems of employment. management. and CO., operation of workers In establishing standards. It is pointed out by the bureau that these standards are not designed wholly for women workers but that they are of special impor- tance to women,