The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-04-21
By A. N. WECKsLER

By A. N. WECKSLER
There are approximately $4,000
women working in the District to-
day whose occupations come
under the Jurisdiction Of the min
imum wage law, and Of this group
a large number will probably be
raised in pay to the minimum
wage" when active administration
of the law begins.
However, the mechanics OF
bringing the law to the point
where it. will function will delay
its operation.
First and finally to be decided
is the question of whether the old
law covering minimum wages Will
be permitted to stand, or whether
a new law will be enacted.
Present Law Valid
According to the Attorney Cen
erals office, the present law is
valid and is in effect at present.
The question for District officials
to decide is whether or not a new
law might be more adaptable TO
present-day conditions.
Conditions among certain groups
of women employees in the Dis
trict are identical with those which
prevailed at the time when the
wage law first became effective
in 1918, a period Of war when
women had displaced men IN IN
dustry and trade.
At that time a large number OF
women had flocked to Washington
for Government jobs and the
number of women employed IN
service trades here had increased
to an unprecedented total.
Prices were high, housing costs,
food and clothing costs had
jumped, but the salary Of women
workers in certain industries were
low, in some cases below a subsist-
ence standard.
Such is the case at present IN
certain branches Of local industry.
A survey being conducted by the
Women's Division of the Labor De
partment, reveals these facts.
Pay Rolls Sampled"
The pay rolls of local industries
are being sampled" to determine
the wages of working women in the
District.
Employers in various industries
are asked to fill out voluntarily
a QUESTIONABLE form giving the
details of salaries paid to women
workers. Officials Of the Wom-
ems Divisions are hesitant about
giving out information as to re-
suits of their survey, as it is still
in the process of tabulation.
The only information released
was to the effect that some Sala-
rieS being paid women here are
not sufficient to maintain a de-
cent living standard.
Although the 1880 United States
census indicates that there are
88,825 women employed in the Dis
trict, more than a third Of this
number are employed in the Gov
eminent service, and on this &C
count do not come under the juriS-
diction of the minimum wage law.
DOmeStics Excluded
Another large group excluded
from the provisions of the law are
domestics, who the law states
specifically are not to be affected
by the regulations. This group
represents more than 10000
women.
The third largest group which
are excluded from estimates as to
how many women will be affected,
are professional women, who in
1880 numbered more than 10000.
Laundry workers, mattresses,
saleSwomen and clerical workers
comprise the bulk of those who
come under the law.
The queStionuaires Of the Wom-
ems Division were sent out to
laundries, dry cleaning establish
ments, hotels, restaurants, depart
ment stores, ready-to-wear stores,
beauty parlorS and factories.
Preliminary Picture
The sample" survey will give a
preliminary picture of the number
of women who are working for
wages less than what may be con-
sidered a decent" living standard.
IJowavnY. the Study is not being