The Washington herald., 1922-06-24
MINIMUM WAGE
RREDUCIBLE, SAY
WOMEN EXPERTS
Cost of Living Higher
Than During 1919,
They Declare.
BASED ON SURVEY
Room Rents, Clothing and
Food Costly to Workers,
Conference Told.

Expert testimony tending to show
the present minimum wage for
shopgirls to be irreducibie was sub
mitted to the minimum wage con-
ference yesterday by DR.. Rachel
Yarros, an assistant in the United
States Public Health Service. and
by Mrs. Spencer Gordon, OF the
Women's Bureau. United states
Department OF Labor.
Following display of womcn's
apparel by representatives OF local
merchants and manufacturers. Mrs.
Gordon submitted report on
clothing and living conditions such
as she and an assistant had found
in a city-wide survey.
Contradicts Employers.
Mrs. Gordon's cost figures ran
much higher than those of employ
ers. In several instances her EVIL
dence was directly contradictory Of
that submitted by the merchants
representatives.
While Mrs. Gordon's investiga-
ton did not cover all the items OF
the budget, the figures reported in
dicats a higher cost OF living than
in 1919.
DR.. Yarros discussed the wage
problem from the viewpoint OF
health and the relation Of the work
ers to society. She emphasized the
imperative need for a living wage"
and not merely to provide for ex-
istence.
Urges Liberal Lunch Allowance.
She further urged a more liberal
allowance for lunch. in order that
the workers might be fortified for
their afternoons work. The need
for a proper outlet for the social
side Of the shop girls life was also
pointed out.
In the matter OF room. board. and
lunches the figures In the employ
ers' estimate and those set forth
in Mrs. Gordon's report are both
higher than the figures allowed in
the present wage. as set in 1919.
Mrs. Gordon places the cost Of
these items at ss.5s a week. while
the ngures of the employers is
$40. The present allowance Is
ss4o.
Mrs. Gordon found there were no
rooms available in southwest WASH
anu anu boeNh
east Washington there were places
only for family friends She further
intimated that a large section of
northwest Washington, near the
business section. was not entirely
suitable for the home life.
Conference Nesr End.
The conference finished the
greater portion Of its work and Is
expected to close It's public sessions
with the hearing scheduled for next
Thursday at 1870 p. m.
During yesterdays session mem
bers Of the conference stated that
II the present minimum wage was
cut, IL would not result in reduc-
tion OF wages for those now en-
ployed.
Extracts from Mrs. Gordon's re-
port indicating the situation in
Washington in regard TO living con-
ditions are quoted as follows:
NO rooms for white women found
under $40 per month. No accept
able rooms for colored women found
under sl2 a month. To find SIS
room that is clean and respectable
a girl must search diligently.
Find Rentals Higher.
Housewife after housewife spoke
Of increases in costs Of rent and
fuel over 1919. which made IT I'M
possible to reduce the price of their
rooms one penny. In fact several
found II easier to rent at SIS in
1919 than now.
"Six dollars per week seems to be
the absolute minimum for board
where two meals day are re-
quired. 1t cannot. however. be rec
commended as a health minimum.
After the minimum wage was set
In 1919 the cost of food rose for a
year and then for six months more
remained above the level of 1919
The minimum wage needs to rur
three months more before the
women will break even on board
"Rent has increased 31.3 per cent
since June, 1919. and fuel and lish,
have increased 51.3 per cent.
Clothing Prices High.
"A wool suit to last two years
will cost s39.75. A winter coat to
last the same period will cost as
much. A wool dress for two years
wear will cost s25. The "dress-up'
dress, of which the present wage al.
lows the worker one every two
years. will cost s25.
Summer dresses. two allowed a
year. cost 81 each; wool skirts "a
last one year. s7.s5; wash skirt, two
a year, $3.50 each; wash waist, six
year, 81 each; dress waist, one