Evening star., 1937-09-29
WAGE BOARD HEARS.
DISPUTE ON COSTS
Employers Contend Living
Expenses Down From
Level of 1919,

Conflicting evidence of the prices
that Washington's retail clerks must
pay for room and board, in order to
live in healthful and moral conditions,
again was spread on the records of
the District Minimum Wage Board
last night as it moved a step closer to
decision on the lowest wage rates that
may be paid to these workers.
Indications that the employers will
place special emphasis on surveys
showing there has been 20 per cent
reduction in the general cost of living
since 1919 came from a statement by
w. H. Press. assistant secretary of the
Board of Trade, which made a board
and room study for their use
survey showing higher costs of
rooms than was indicated by the trade
body survey was submitted by Miss
Eunice E. Broyles. an Inspector for
the Minimum Wage Board. There
was no decision on any point, and the
conference group. representing en-
ployers. employees and the general
public, will resume its study tomor-
row night
81 Gap on Figures.
At the previous meeting Press Of
fered a minimum budget requirement
for the retail trade clerks of sl4.57
per week, or nearly 81 less than the
minimum fixed by the old wage board
nearly 20 years ago; and spokesmen
for the workers claimed the minimum
eh tn
week. The trade body survey placed
room rent at SO week and board at
SIS week, but employer spokesmen
have insisted that most girls take
room and board at one place The
workers spokesmen placed the mini
mum standard of room alone at IS a
week.
Press said every effort had been
made to provide as generously as pos
sible" for the lowest salaried groups
of retail trade workers, and that in all
cases of uncertainty the benefit of
doubt was given to the workers. He
insisted there was very MALI per-
centage of workers getting less than
SIS per week. He said the trade body
investigators were able to locate but
81 women getting such salaries out of
about $500 in the business
To support his estimates Of budget
requirements, he said The order
setting up the $3.50 wage for the
mercantile industry became effective
on october %, 1919. The index num-
Der (of the cost of living) was 175.5
in November of 1919, against 1415 in
June of 1887, This indicates de-
cline in costs of living of approx
mately 20 per cent.
Food Index Down.
"The reduction of wages in our
budget is only IL per cent. In No.
vember. 1919, the food index was
1919; in June, 1887, it was 1855.
There has been, therefore. a reduction
Of over 20 per cent in the cost of food
in this period
1T is tru that the housing index
has risen, but other factors which
contribute toward the establishment
Of rents, such as fuel, household fur
nishings, have shown substantial de-
creases. When you consider the fur
ther fact that the food item amounts
to about IS per cent of the allow
ance for room and board, it becomes
apparent that the reduction in its cost
is probably about rs per cent The
reduction which we have made in our
suggested budget for room and board
amounts to only II per cent"
The trade body survey also offered
figures showing prices of clothing had
declined since 1919.
Inspection Figures Submitted.
The survey reported by Miss Broyles
indicated that from an inspection of
80 rooming houses, selected at ram
dom, there were single rooms having
an average price of SAB per week;
and double rooms having an average
price of $719 per week.
Boarding and rooming houses, Of
fering three meals per day, showed
an average monthly price Of 1858
for single rooms and double rooms,
1868 per person. Those offering two
meals per day showed an average price
of $40.98 for single rooms and an
average price of $39.77 for double
rooms, per person.
John H. Hanna, employer represent
ative on the board, declared he hoped
some one would be able to show if any
of the clerks getting SIS a week or
less, and not dependent on family or
friends, we're being forced to live un-
der conditions that were unhealthful
or Immoral.