The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-11-22
Irs. Lydia Maxi Testifies at Industrial Com
mission Hearing at the City Hall
Here This Morning
LAIlNS LONG HOURS WITH Low PAY
fitness Alleges That She Worked Sometimes Twelve
Hours Day and Averaged Seven Dollars
a Week as Salary.

sought on the cross examination of
the witness to show that her attitude
was hostile and that her credibility as
ia witness was thereby affected.
Tells of Long Hours.
Mrs Maxi testified that she had
commenced work for the Standard
Garment company in January, 1920,
and that she worked for them more or
less continuously until August 20, 1928,
when she was discharged.
"To begin with" she said, 81 got
$14 week; that included bonus of
81 if l worked all week. After three
months / received $14 a week and So
a week bonus, making SIS a week
About nine months after starting |
was placed upon piece work. At that
time working twelve hours day, /
sometimes made $40 a week"
"Did you punch the time=clock when
you worked twelve hours?" asked a
member of the industrial commission.
Il punched it when / came at seven,
when / went out at noon and when /
returned. l usually came back about
twenty-five minutes to one. But when
we worked until eight o'clock we did
not punch the clock. The boss told
us that when we did not punch it at
six o'clock we shouldn't punch it. He
didn't want it punched when we work
ed until eight"
when was it that you worked
twelve hours day."
During the busy season in spring,
usually April. There were five or six
weeks of the busy season. After the
rush season worked nine or ten hours
day, about sixty hours week. We
worked Saturdays after six o'clock.
Then when the slack season came
didn't work every day."
Took Work Home, Too.
The worker testified that sometimes
after working until eight o'clock she
took work home in addition These
were garments usually which had to
be embroidered. She said that her
part of the work was finishing and
sometimes embroidery. Mrs. Maxi
said that Itzkowitz asked her to take
the work home. This was at the rush
time, she said, and then after taking
the garments home she would work
upon them sometimes until midnight
to get them finished.
did member of the local health
department ever make an inspection of
your home with regard to its sanitary
condition." was asked
NO." answered the witness.
Mrs. Make said she lived in flat
of four rooms and has three children.
in your affidavit you say that your
average wage amounted to $3.50 or 81
week."
''Yes, for the year 1922. When 1
worked twelve hours l got $19 a week
That was my highest pay. Ny lowest
was So and Sc up to S12 During 1922
| made 1887. The timekeeper figured
it up for me. That was for ten months
work.
Attorney Drury asked the witness
when she Joined the union and she re-
piled, II think the first part of Au-
gust, about two weeks before 1 was
discharged"
did you ever tell Itzkowitz that YOU
had Joined the union?" Drury asked.
mo. He listened to us talking
about the union"
ibid you from May, 1928, until Au-
gust %, 1923, work more than ten
hours day?''
Yes, two weeks before l left /
worked a couple of times util seven
O'Clock.
Only those two times from May
until August 29?"
YES"