Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-19

Ice in use today stands In need or
thorough investigation and reorganiza-
tlon. according to Miss Estellc Lauder,
of the Consumers League. Miss Lau-
der has made notable contributions In
the fields Of social work and indus
trial Investigation.
Important us is the matter of do
nestle service" said Miss Lauder, ''it
has never received that careful study
and attention which it deserves.
"As any one with a family can tell
you, there Is no more essential field
Of labor than that connected with the
multitudinous duties of the home. Al
the same time It has presented so many
unique problems and is governed by such
varying circumstances that a really
comprehensive examination of the
subject has not vet been undertaken.
I'm its present state, domestic serv-
lated trade. Although It Is labor In
any of the special legislation which
our civilization hos constructed for the
protection and regulation Of labor.
There Is no such thing as work
mems compensation in domestic serv =
ice, nor minimum hours or pay. The
legislation on that subject expressly
specifies domestic service excepted
Miss Lauder declined mt this point
to hazard on opinion as to whether or
not this clause had been introduced
through the influence Of legislators
wives, and continued:
'In fact, servants in this line Of work
are a class unto themselves, as com =
pared with other branches OF labor.
Their work has no standards, for
every household is different. They
have mo unions nor other centralizing
agencies through which they may
speak.
TO my mind. such a chaotic sys-
tenn, IT system 1t may be called. is one
that calls for a scientific study, con
Quoted along certain lines that will
lead in the end to some Standardization
in working conditions.
I'm a manufacturing plant today. II
there is continued trouble. either with
production, or labor. or any OF the ills
which attack business, the practice Is
TO call in an expert industrial engineer
who looks nt the problem from fresh
point Of view, and with scientific pre-
cision.
THAT is what is needed for the whole
field Of domestic service. The old con =
ditions have existed for years, and there
has been corresponding amount OF
trouble. about which there is much com
plant, but little action.
Zone rea son for that is that the work
OF the woman Of the house has never
been given any actual monetary value.
and by analogy this has been extended
in part to the work of the domesLics.
No Recognized Status
"As the housewives labor has never
had any hard money value, 1t has never
been treated as recognized branch OF
industry. Perhaps, too, having been
almost exclusively in the province OF
women, il has never occupied the at
tention of the men, who in the past
have done most of the organizing.
"What Is needed. and what we are
trying to get, is an exhaustive investi-
CATION into the whole matter. 1t will
take money, Of course, and time. That
is another reason why the problem has
never been approached along these lines.
THAT is the way that matters stand
now. Such n treatment is needed. lt
will take resources such as are avail
able only in certain places. ] have
tried to get the Russell Sage Founda- =
ton to undertake this work in the
past, but its alotments had been COM
plcted. We shall perSevere, however,
and j expect that it will come sooner or
later.
This investigation. It seems to me,
should certainly prove the inherent evil
OF the living-in system. Where girl
not only works, but actually lives,
under the superyiSion of one woman,
who all too often has little interest or
sympathy for her, her life is restricted
beyond the limits demanded for self
determination.
"The actual mechanics Of house,
work is another subject which should
be gone into very thoroughly. The
difference in the ease and efficiency with
which the work may be done.
why Is so much detailed attention
paid to the arrangement Of machinery,
the selection of tools and the routing
Of work in Industrial establishments
II great increase in efficiency is not
obtained thereby?
'It is no less reasonable to expect
a great improvement in the work Of the
kitchen and household through a scien-
tific study OF the implements with which
that work is done. The height of the
kitchen sink may have just as much
Importance to the woman who washes
the dishes as the weight of the shovel
has to the man in the construction gang
Cites Own Experience