Evening star., 1923-04-23
CHARGE GIRLS PAY
CUT TO So A WEEK
Union League Says Some
Women Here Reduced to
$6 by Wage Law Loss.

Direct reductions in womnn's
wages in District establishments
ranging from 80 to so per cent. have
resulted from the decision OF the
United States Supreme Court invali-
dating the minimum wage law, il was
charged today by the National Won
ems Trade Union League II was
further charged that other establish
ments are preparing to lay off hun
dreds of women. who will be replaced
later at lower wages.
These arbitrary salary cuts were
made, 1t was said, in the face of the
assurances of employers that such
action would not be taken.
Seek to Stem Tide.
To find some means of stemming
this alleged tide of reductions. which
the league fears may extend to all
states where minimum wage laws
are called in question by the Supreme
Courts decision. the organization an
ncunced today that it has called a
national conference of affiliated
bodies. state labor officials and other
groups interested in the situation to
be held in Washington May IA.
'As an immediate result of the de-
cis.on of the Supreme Court last
week. said a. letter sent to the vari-
Gus organizations asking them to
send delegates to the conference,
wages in some instances have been
cut to IS. ss and So a week Even
with the adverse decision of the lower
court last November. when the en-
forcement of the law was interfered
with by injunction. some hotels re-
duced wages. and now the reductions
are in full swing. by one method or
another. in mercantile esta blishments
as well. AS the decision of the Su-
preme Court is believed to fnvalidate g
the minimum wage laws of thirteen
states. the effect upon the wages of
the 100000 woman workers in those
states may be anticipated from the
effect in the District Of Columbia
The results will also bear downward
upon the wage standards of women
In all other states in future. The i'm
portance Of the problem. in our judg-
ment calls for the best thought of
every group of socially minded men
and women in the United States. By
conference of their representatives
we believe that some constructive
plan can be devised which would com
mand the support of all interested
groups"
Among the organizations that have
been asked to send representatives to
the conference in Washington are the
National League of Women Voters.
the Young Women's Christian Asso-
citation, the National Council of
Catholic Women, the Council of Jew
ish Women. the American Association
of University Women. the National
Congress. of Mothers and Parent
Teachers Associations. the National
Consumers League. Girls Friendly
Societies, National Federation of Bus
mess and Professional Women. Ma
tional Council of Women, Women's
Christian Temperance Union, Amer
lean Home Economics Association,
General Federation of Women's Clubs.
the American Federation of Labor,
Federal Council of Churches of Christ
in America, the National Catholic
Welfare Council, National Conference
tion for Labor Legislation. and others,
also the state labor officials Of min
imum wage states.
The National Women's Trade Union
League. which is calling the confer
ence, Is a federation of working
women and allies of the labor move
ment, with it's executive board COM
posed as follows: Mrs. Maud Swartz
of New York. president (member of
Schneiderman of New York, cap
maker, vice president; Miss Elisa
beth Christman of Chicago. glove
worker, secretary-treasurer Mrs
sarah Green of Kansas City, waitress
Miss Agnes Nestor of Chicago, glove
worker; Miss Pauline Newman of
Philadelphia, waistmaker; Miss Julia
operator; Mrs. Raymond Robins of
the Chicago Women's Trade Union
League; Miss Ethel NJ. Smith of the
Federal EmplOyeS' Union.