Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-09-17
D. c. WAGE SCALE
FIGHT INDICATED
Employers and Employees
Study Living Costs for
Arguments.

Squaring away for a contest over
minimum wages that may be fixed for
women employed in Washington's re-
tail stores, groups Of employees and
employers set to work today preparing
separate estimates of the costs of living
for these workers.
Indications of a conflict over what
wages now are paid arose last night at
the initial meeting of the Conference
Committee named by the District Min
imum Wage Board to recommend what
minimum wages should be fixed for
the clerks.
The Conference Committee, consist
ing OF three Representatives each for
employers. employees and the general
public, agreed without debate to pro-
coed with the investigation Dispute
developed, however, over the findings
made by the Women's Bureau of the
Labor Department as to wages paid
last Spring.
"1naccuracy" Charge Protested.
Speaking for employer members of
the conference, John H, Hanna said
they found the couclusiens were I'm
accurate" The assertion brought an
immediate reply from Mrs. William
Kittle, board chairman, who repre-
sents the general public. Agreeing
that the bureaus survey may not be
adequate" she objected to calling it
inaccurate.
The data compiled by the bureau
had been accepted by the board as
justification for ordering the confer
ence in minimum wage scales for
retail clerks and was made a part of
the boards record of the case.
Summing up the bureaus survey.
Mrs. Kittle related that it showed
that SO per cent of women employees
IN laundries here were paid last Spring
less than the SIS weekly minimum
wage fixed by the old Minimum Wage
Board 20 years ago. that 10 per cent
in the dry-cleaning businesses were
| paid less than the old SIS scale: that
employees in three classes of retail
stores were paid less than the $3.50
minimum fixed for them 20 years ago.
Percentages Shown.
The survey showed that the bureau
found that As per cent in department
stores, 80 per cent in ready-t o-wear
shops and 100 per cent of employees of
the iimited-price stores were being
paid less.
Speaking for the employer members
hanna said they wished him to state
they felt the wage reports did not
1airly represent actual conditions He
SAID that he thought all the board
needed was evidence that a "substan.
tlal number" of women were paid less
IMAM ~ years ago, to warrant the
conference investigation. He said he
naa not checked the bureaus figures
put added that some of them were
very startling"
questions raised as to the accuracy
OF the bureaus survey, he emphasized
old not mean the need for investipa.
tlon OF proper minimum wage fo]
the clerks had been denied.
Wage Needs Stressed.
Hanna said he interpreted the Law
TO mean that women should be assured
sufnclent wage to meet their need
TO 1--we properly, but that this did no
mean the minimum wages should b,
regarded as adequate" wages. HI
SAID he did not regard needs" =
meaning bare necessities of life.
| arthur l.. Schoenthal, labor repre-
!; sentative on the board, said the EN-
pioye spokesman intended to dea
Iairiy but firmly" with employers an,
, hoped that the committee could com
TO agreeable conclusions.
tentative schedule for cost O
hvlng study includes items for room
board, clothing and sundries. In tn
, last lsting are items for personal car
!, al beauty shops. transportation, ad
missions to movies and theaters. va
cations, the services of physicians
: dentists, optometrists: for self i'm
provement, including costs of news
:, papers. magazines. lectures an
! lessons; gifts to church and charities
: costs for social and occupational or
carnations, and insurance and saw
lngs. Figures are to be supplied at
second meeting next Thursday.
Public representatives on the Con
ference Committee are John j. Esci
: chairman, Mrs. Glen l.. Swiggett an
p MRS. S. Q. Brock. Employe repre-
: sentatlves are Miss Anna NJ Thorn
q hill, Mrs. Erma Ketchem and Mr.
e A. E. Milstead.
x Employer representatives are job
]. Hasley, general manager of Pala
h Royal; Jacob Hemminger. manager {
% Woolworth's. and Edwin Hahn {
Hahn d Co. shoe stores.
4 =