Evening star., 1938-03-26
SESSION TUESDAY
ONLAUNDRY WAGE
T0SEEK DECISIONS
Public Hearings End After
Clashes Over Effect of
High Minimums.
SCALES IN OTHER CITIES
ARE CITED AT Meeting
Fears Expressed Outside Concerns
Will Invade Capital and
Ruin Local Firms.

employer and employe spokesmen on
the basic wage to be fixed for 4,500
or more women in the affected in
dustry.
Public hearings were concluded yes
terday, when much of the afternoons
session was occupied by clashes over
testimony as to the possible effects Of
the minimum wage which is to be
established.
Fears that too "high' minimum
rate would inspire Maryland and Vir-
ginia laundries to invade the District
and would drive some District plants
out of business were voiced by E. E.
Farran, employer conference member.
He offered evidence Of lower labor rates
In Fredericksburg. Va, and Baltimore
to support his arguments.
Arguments Secuted.
Arthur l.. Schoenthal, labor repre-
sentative on the board, secuted his
arguments, insisting repeatedly that
such fears had nothing to do with the
costs Of living which must be borne
by District workers.
Mr.. Farran called to the stand c.
Archer Smith, Fredericksburg laundry
owner, and John Horst of Baltimore,
both of whom said labor prices in those
places were lower than the District
now and that it was practical Ger
tainty that Maryland and Virginia
laundries would offer competition with
the fixing of high minimum rate
here.
Mr.. Smith said wage rates in Fred
ericksburg laundries ranged from 10
to 20 cents an hour and that women
in Virginia could work longer hours
per day than in the District, which
has an eight-hour day and a 48-hour
week.
Assails Condition.
While insisting that the testimony
was not pertinent to the case, Mr..
Schoenthal declared: IF we are to
assume that such wage conditions are
properly considered as proper, it is no
wonder that Congress and President
Roosevelt are striving for the adoption
OF national law for minimum wages
and maximum hours"
Mr.. Farran replied that District
wages now were higher and that Dis
trict plants had no intention Of pay
ing wages of 20 cents an hour or less.
Mr.. Schoenthal retorted that condi-
tions in Fredericksburg were in no
sense comparable with living or work.
ing conditions in the District.
The employers, however, insisted the
evidence should be considered on the
claim that District laundries could not
stand any appreciable increase in
wages without being driven out of
business by Maryland and Virginia
competitors.
Bucked by Miss Wheeler.
The workers claims for a weekly
budget allowance of $20.08 a week, as
against the employers offer of $1l.35,
was largely supported by Miss Frances
Wheeler, daughter of Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana, who testified
as director of the Research Committee
OF the Laundry Workers Organizing
Committee
Miss Wheeler insisted that no less
than $l.20 day is required by the
workers for properly balanced meals.
The employers budget plan allows
$3.50 a week for room and board, and
Mr.. Farran and other employer spokes-
men have insisted there are rooms
available at So per week, which would
leave $3.50 for food. The employees
claim So week is needed for food
and that proper rooms cost SIS a week.
Miss Wheeler said a balanced break
fast would require 80 cents, with fruit.
toast, cereal and beverage. She placed
the cost of lunch at 40 cents, for a
meal consisting of meat, two vege-
tables. bread, beverage and dessert;
and so cents for dinner, Of the same
general type.
Protests High Salaries.
Mrs. Julia Katz, spokesman for
the Women's Trade Union League, an
employees witness, protested that
owners OF large Washington laundries
had given themselves annual salaries
ranging from $4,000 to $50, 900 a year,
while maintaining low wages for their
workers. This was offered in reply to
employer testimony that District
laundries could not afford to pay
high" minimum wage and meet out
of-town competition.
Mr.. Farran retorted that if one
owner who takes a salary of $4,000
year granted an increase of sc cents
week to each of his TOO workers, it
would more than wipe out his total
annual salary. Mrs. Katz insisted
that the salary did not represent all
OF the employers profit" but only
what he took as salary.
Extended discussion along this line
was ended when members of the
board said they could subpoena records
Of the laundries if they wished to pur-
sue the subject.
Denies Forced Giving.
A charge that one laundry made
deductions of 81 or 50 from the pay
of employees, without their consent,
as contributions to the Community
Chest and the Red Cross was made
by Calvert Cousins, colored, a spokes-
man for the Laundry Workers Union
He testified he was positive" this was
done without the consent Of the
workers. He named the Arcade
Sunshine Laundry, in answer to ques-
tions by Clarence Phelps Dodge. con-
ference chairman, who has served as
president Of the Community Chest.
Later, Melvin Viner, vice president
OF the Arcade-Sunshine Laundry, took
the stand and made categorical denial
of the charge. He said mo pressure"
was exerted and added that some en-
ployes had never contributed to the
Chest. He said that roughly 80 per
cent Of his workers did contribute
willingly and that many of them gave
one days pay.
Insurance Bill Passes.
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