Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-09

A State department which affects
directly or indirectly, nearly every
home in the city is the branch OF the
Labor Commission, which works,
without undue publicity. but with end
less patience and faith. to bring about
better working conditions for women.
Delaware has a. problem different
from many States. for outside Of VIII
mington. manufacturing Is minor in
dustry. The work is largely season.
al, depending on fruit crops. The law
does not limit working hours for wo-
men who tend TO gathering or canning
perishsble fruits and vegetables, but
tho sanitary laws must be compiled
with. AS the living quarters and
even the factories must of necessity
often be temporary structures, the
inspector cannot insist on the same
plumbing conveniences as in the city.
At present she can only see that con-
ditions are clean and sanitary and
hope that sympathetic employers will
live up to the spirit of the law.
Another problem Is found in all
towns that observe Saturday night as
the gala time OF the week. Many OF
the farmers, who come in for miles
around. leave their shopping until
after the movies, so that the stores
must remain open until after II
o'clock. II is possible to synlpatrize
with tho employer in this violation
| for often the women clerks do no
come on until afternoon and other
nights they are free very early
Moreover the girls have leisure time
during the week and on Saturday
nights they have a chance to see theil
friends and have a social time. Ever
so, the Labor Commission hopes L
succeed in having the law fully en-
| forced. This can come only through
the joint action OF the proprietors. 70
one merchant cannot afford TO los
trade by closing earlier than his rivals
II is a question Of education Of publi
opinion.
Another difficulty is found in tn
hotels in small towns. The seasid
places and resorts are open only dur
ing the summer and then the fennal
employees are often worked overtim
in an effort TO cater to all the guests
The times when travelling men crow
the hotels while they are purchssin
berry and other fruit crops again com
plicate the question of women EN-
lployes in restaurants and hotels.
p A good side to the question of in
Idustries In the smaller town is th
fact that the women employed ar
given a full hour at noon. Many {
them go homo for their luncheon an
the power Is completely shut off s
that they cannot work. This extra re'
at noon compensates in a way fc
the full So hours a week that many
: them must work.
!, In Wilmington tho labor inspectc
finds that only few establishment
, require the full 55-hour week. Man
OF them require only 81 or SO hour
A. least one large establishment hs
/. an eight-hour day. At the last Sc,
sion of the Legislature, the eigh
hour law for women was voted dow
but it will probably be brought u
again at the next session. Those IL
terested in II believe that It Will ever
tually be passed. They are confldel
that an eight-hour day Is suffacie,
for women, as many women ha,
household duties. More than one w
man, the wage Garner for the fanil
finds her days work only halt dol
when she leaves the store or factor
: Work is scarce, however. and WON,
= will work. overtime rather than ri.
. losing their jobs.
: From the first Of the year only
= complaints have come in to the cor
mission. These indicate that outside