Evening star., 1937-10-12
ACTION DUE SOON
ON MINIMUM PAY
|. FOR WOMEN HERE
Wage Board Explains e.
fectS of Law to Council
of Social Agencies.
SCALE IS EXPECTED
TO BE SUBMITTED SOON
Federal Workers and Domestics
Will Be Among Exempted Un-
der the Laws Provisions.

The first step in answering the
question uppermost in the minds of
Washington woman workers-what
effect will the decision of the revived
District Minimum Wage Board have
on their salaries for l938?-may be
taken early next week.
This was made known yesterday
when members of the board and its
executive secretary who have been
Sitting in" on conferences to deter
mine satisfactory minimum wage
scale, appeared before the Council Of
Social Agencies to explain the pur-
pose and work of the board and an
swer questions regarding its functions.
With all scheduled meetings ended
and only the possibility of special
conference Friday night standing in
the way Of completion of their wage
study, the nine conferees, equally rep
resenting the employer, employe and
the public, are expected to place be-
fore the board early in the week. for
rejection or approval, the minimum
wage scale arrived at as a result of the
conference, it was stated.
Reviews History of Law.
Mrs. William Kittle, chairman of the
board, related the history of the Dis
trict's minimum wage law before the
council, meeting for the first time this
season.
The employers representative, John
H. Hanna, commented that the pur-
pose OF the law is not merely to
provide a minimum living wage but
to assure women of enough to prop
erly live on"
I know Of no one who particu-
larly regrets the change OF attitude
by the Supreme Court in declaring
the law constitutional" he remarked.
Sees Effect on Council.
Quoting portion of Chief .Justice
Hughes opinion when the law was
declared constitutional last Spring.
Arthur L. Schoenthal, third member Of
the board, representing the employe,
declared the minimum wage law will
have direct effect on such organiza-
tions as the Council Of Social Agencies
in that "if wages are not high enough
to provide proper living conditions for
the worker, the public is called upon
to make up the difference"
Miss Gwen Geach, executive secre-
tary Of the board, explained that,
though q minimum wage scale may be
put before the board by the conference
within the next few days, it must
be approved by the board, released
in the final draft for publication and
discussed at open hearings before it
begins functioning. The law itself
requires such procedure, she said, and
1t will be next year before enforcement
starts.
Questioned on Exemptions.
A few Of the questions asked fro,
the audience after the talks were co.,
cluded, and the answers follow:
What are some typical exemptions
under the law?
Miss Geach-Government workers.
domestics, minors. employed in farm
jobs and minors in street trades such
as newsboys.
What will be the action Of the board
in cases of employment of ones daugh-
ter or near relative as secretary or
some such position?
Miss Geach-In cases Of that ma
ture the board will use common sense.
However, We intend to see that len
iency in such instances is not abused.
What will be the means of enforce
ment of the minimum wage law?
Mrs. Kettle-We will have all the
means of law enforcement in the Dis
trict at our disposal, but We hardly
think it will be necessary to resort to
them. We hope not. anyway.
Are hospitals and other social agen-
cies such as the Y. w. c. A. affected
by the law?
Mrs. Kettle-Every social agency
employing women comes under the law.
Nevada's Minimum Highest.
What is the highest minimum wage
in the country?
Miss Geach-Nevada has the highest
at $18 per week for all workers coming
under the law.
Can the law be changed after 1t
goes into effect?
Mrs. Kettle-The board can approve
a change in the minimum wage after
the law starts functioning, but such a
change will have to come from a con-
ference similar to the one in existence
now.
At the outset of the luncheon meet
ing, held at the Y. w. c. A., DR.. Rus
sell j. Clinchy, president of the council,
announced speakers at meetings dur
ing the coming year would represent
local problems and discussion would
center around topics of direct interest
to the District in contrast to the gen.
eralized programs last year.
a.