Evening star., 1937-08-05
WOMEN ASSURED
Of PROTECTION IN
H|CHERPAyF
Wage Board Member Tells
Workers. Meeting of
Teeth in Law.
INTIMIDATION CHARGES
AGAINST FIRMS INVITED
Mrs. Kttle, Chairman, Disap.
pointed as Only 275 Attend
Session-Another Slated.

Stern warning that any employer
who attempts to discourage women
employees from active participation in
efforts to increase their minimum
wages was voiced last night by Arthur
L. Schoenthal, labor representative on
the District Minimum Wage Board,
at meeting Of workers in retail mer-
camille establishments at the Depart
mental Auditorium.
Only 275 persons appeared at the
auditorium in response to requests Of
the Minimum Wage Board for the
10000 women in retail stores who will
be affected by its ruling to turn out in
force.
One youth who said he spoke for
several girl retail clerks who were too
tinlid to attend the meeting, asked
if the board could guarantee the safety
OF jobs Of workers participating in
efforts to increase their wage scales
Police Powers Cited.
Schoenthal replied that police pow
ers in the minimum wage act, which
WAS held unconstitutional in 1923 and
revived by Supreme Court ruling last
Spring, contains ample authority for
the board to deal with employers who
attempt to defeat its objectives.
we would like to hear Of some
cases where employees are being in
Inundated or Disseminated against"
Schoenthal declared. He pointed out
that employers who in any way at
tempt to prevent their employees from
taking full advantage of the act could
be arrested and arraigned in Police
Court.
Mrs. William Kittle, chairman of
the board and its representative OF
the general public made no attempt
to conceal her disappointment over
the small attendance at last nights
meeting. She pointed out that 20
years ago when the Minimum Wage
Board held its first public meeting
which later resulted in establishment
OF minimum wage Of $3.50 q week
for women retail store employees, more
than 600 women attended.
Another Meeting Slated.
Another meeting Of women employed
in retail establishments will be held
next Wednesday in the Departmental
Auditorium, Mrs. Kittie said. At that
session. the employees will be asked to
nominate candidates to be their repre-
sentatives at the conference which will
fx the first minimum wage under the
act since its resurrection, Mrs. Kittle
said.
Because of the lack of organization
among women in the retail industry
and their lack Of familiarity with each
other. Mrs, Kittle said, there is a
possibility that the board might call
for nominations from employees of large
establishments at individual meetings,
Both Schoenthal and Mrs. Kittle
stressed the importance to the women
workers Of selecting representatives
who will be capable OF fighting for
higher wage scales at the wage con-
ference. They pointed out that the
board has no power to fix wages. but
must either accept or reject the scale
recommended by the conference which
would comprise three representatives
OF employees, three Of labor and three
representing employers. The board
Will appoint the conference members
Active Interest Advised.
If you get three representa- tives
whom you later think don't suit you.
remember it's not our fault" Mrs.
kittle warned. 1T Is the duty OF
every retail store employe to take an
active interest In seeing that they
have able representation at the meet
ing"
Schoenthal and Miss Gwen Geach,
secretary OF the board, emphasized
that the minimum wage would be de-
rived from. the model budget of a
woman worker based upon the cost Of
living. Both said they believed the
budget should be based upon the needs
OF an unmarried woman, or a woman
who depended solely upon her wages
Tor the support of herself and her de-
pendents.
A recent survey by the Women's
Bureau Of the Department of Labor
revealed that approximately IS per
cent OF the women employed in the
retail industry in Washington are re-
celVng less than $3.50 a week, Mrs,
Kittle said,