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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
2_,
U. S. Department of Labor
WOMEN'S BUREAU
Was
March 15, 1921.
News Letter No. 2.
STATE ACTIVITIES AFFECTING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
---00-
LEGISLATION.
Connecticut.
The Consumers' League of Connecticut has introduced in the State legislatUre a bill to create a minimum wage commission, a bill limiting the hours
of - women factory workers to 48 a week and 9 a day, the hours of children in
factories to 8 a day, and those of women store workers to 50 a week and 10 a
day. Numbers of women's organizations and the Department of Labor are backing
these bills. A bill regulating the installation and maintenance of toilets
for employees has been heard and is now under consideration by the labor committee.
Delaware.
Two hour laws have been presented in Delaware. A bill submitted by the
Labor Commission provides for 10 hours a day, 55 hours a week and a•6-day week,
and limits the hours to 8 in any 24 if any part of the daily employment is perAnother bill sponsored by the Consumers'
formed between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Both bills
League limits the hours te 8 a day, 44 a week with a 6-day week.
ion
mechanical,
transportat
prohibit employment between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., in any
nt,
office,
or manufacturing establishment, laundry, baking or printing establishme
bill
a
also
introduced
has
Commission
Labor
The
nt.
establishme
dressmaking
or
for the establishment of certain sanitary regulations, and the Consumers' League
a maternity protection bill prohibiting the employment of women for two weeks
before and five weeks after childbirth and providing for aid ($10.00 a week for
not more than seven weeks) in the maintenance of the woman and her child in certain cases.
The 6th Annual Report of the Labor Commission of Delaware states that
1,344 establishments have employed 10,385 women during 1920 as compared with
9,752 women employed in 1,361 establishments in 1919. There have been no prosecutions of violations of the Ten Hour Law or the Sanitary Law.
Massachusetts.
Three of the measures introduced by the Department of Labor and IndusThese are
tries have been reported favorably and will probably be enacted.
in
factories
bills (1) relating to the health and safety of certain employees
mechanical
estabin
chests
surgical
and
medical
providing
(2)
and workshops,
to
employees
wages
of
of
payment
weekly
the
for
providing
lishments, and (3)
the
for
illegal
penalty
the
increasing
bill
A
transportation companies.
employment of minors has been defeated.
Measuresintroduced by private organizations, of special interest to
women, are those extending the scope of the 48-hour law, raising the age of
working children from 14 to 16, requiring completion of the sixth grade as
educational requirement for children leaving school to go to work, providing
for maternity benefits, and providing for extending the age for dependent
minors under the Mothers' Aid Law from 14 to 16 years. Other bills provide
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-2for equal guardianship of children, and opening all offices to women, and for
and
making mandatory the representation of women in the Department of Labor
Industries.
Michigan.
An 8-hour bill for both men and women has been introduced in the legislature. The Michigan League of Women Voters reports an 8-hour day - 48 hour
week bill for women under consideration but not yet introduced.
Minnesota.
A bill providing that women shall not be permitted to lift a weight of
more than 25 pounds has been indefinitely postponed in the Senate.
Nebraska.
Among the 53 bills presented by the Children's Code Commission and now
before the legislature are the following affecting women in industry: (1) a
bill limiting the hours of labor for women in industry to 9 hours a day, 54
hours a week, and prohibiting employment after 10 o'clock p.m.; (2) a bill prohibiting the employment of women for a period of 8 weeks before and 12 weeks
after childbirth; (3) a bill to provide for a minimum wage commission to regulate the wages of women and children; (4) a bill to amend the Mothers' Pension
Law; (5) a bill to regulate maternity homes throughout the State.
The first of these bills would amend the present law to apply throughout the State instead of only in cities of 5,000 population or over, and to
include many new occupations - theaters, concert halls, places of amusement,
stores, apartment, office and other public buildings, newspaper publishing
establishments, bowling alleys, pool and billiard halls, garages, elevators.
The third would create a minimum wage commission in the Department of Labor to
consist of 3 persons appointed by the head of the department, with power to
fix a minimum wage for any occupation in any locality, for women, for minors
under 16 years of age, for learners and apprentices, and to fix special rates
of wages for workers partially incapacitated in any occupation, the number so
affected not to exceed one-tenth of the employees in any one establishment.
The fourth changes the length of residence required in the county in order to
receive benefits of the law, from 2 years to I year, allows no assistance to
a divorced or a deserted woman unless the husband has been absent for one year,
raises the age under which children may receive benefits from 14 to 16 years,
changes the maximum amount which one family may receive from ,;50 to 05, strikes
out the provision that a mother shall not receive the benefits of the law if the
children have relatives legally required to contribute to their support, and
requires monthly reports in writing from the supervising probation officer.
New Jersey.
A bill prohibiting night work after 10 p.m., affecting almost entirely
mercantile work (candy stores, etc.), and a bill providing a 9-hour day, within
10 consecutive hours, and a 48-hour week have been introduced in the legislature
by New Jersey's first two Assembly women. These bills are sponsored by the Consumers' League of New Jersey. The 9-hour bill as introduced, applies to factories, mercantile shops, bakeries, laundries, and restaurants, but exempts canneries and handlers of perishable products. It provides also for a 6-day week
and allows no exemption for the 6 working days before Christmas in mercantile
shops. A recent press clipping states that the bill has passed the House but in
amended form eliminating from its restrictions seaside hotels and raising the
weekly hours to 54. The present law in New Jersey provides a 10-hour day and a
6-day week.
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Pennsylvania.
The following new rulings pertaining to women in industry have been
adopted by the Industrial Board of Pennsylvania: (1) prohibiting the use of
the mouth in banding cigars; (2) providing a day of rest in hotels and institutions employing 10 women or less in single depal..tments where the work is
specialized and not interchangeable with that of other departments (laundry
workers excepted).
Tennessee.
The Department of Workshop and Factory Inspection is sponsoring a
number of bills now before the legislature - an act to promote and protect
the health, comfort and safety of emp)eyees in all places of employment (including a section on seats for women), which has received the indorsement of the
League of Women Voters, the W.C.T.U., Y.W.C.A. Boards and other organizations;
a bill crea6ing a minimum wage commission; an 8-hour law for women; amendments
All of these
to the Child Labor Law; and nmendments to the Fire Escape Law.
The
have passed the second reading and now are in the hands of committees.
Health, Comfort and Safety Act and the Child Labor amendments are expected to
pass.
Vermont.
A bill providing for a woman deputy on the Commission of Industries
has passed the House but is meeting with opposition in the Senate. It is supported by the Vermont Federation of Women's Clubs and has the indorsemxt of
the Governor of the State.
REORGANIZATION OF LABOR DEPARTMENTS.
Delaware.
The Labor Commission has introduced an amendatory act relating to
and duties. This act provides that the members of the commission
powers
its
shall receive no salary, that they shall annually appoint one of their number
chairman, and may appoint as secretary a person not a member of the commission
who shall receive a salary to be determined by the commission; that $12,000
shall be appropriated for salaries and expenses of officers and employees;
that the commission shall formulate and have Printed certificates and papers
required in the issuing of employment certificates and the abstracts of the
•
law relating to the hours of child labor and the conditions and hours of
emand
inspectors
all
shall
appoint
commission
the
that
female labor; and
ployees for the enforcement of the Ten Hour Law for women, the Child Labor
Law and the Sanitary Law for women.
Kansas.
Acts have passed the House abolishing the office of Commissioner
of Labor and Industry and the Industrial Welfare Commission and all boards
The jurisdiction and duties of both are conferred
organized thereunder.
by these acts upon the Court of Industrial Relations.
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I
-4Minnesota.
,
Bilit have been introduced in both Houset Of the legislature providing
that an industial cdtmissior of i,hree meMbefl Shall direct the work of the Labor
DepartmenL i The bilia it paJabd the Senate places the Minimum Wage Commission
uhder the tureau of diberi arc' Children and continues that Bureau as a division
under the IiidUstrial Commission. The bill provides further that Civil Service
shall apply only to the clerical and stenographic force of the Department of
Labor.
The interim commission appointed to investigate and consider the entire
subject of a state industrial accident compensation and a state industrial fund
recommended the creation of a State Board of three members to administer the
workmen's compensation law instead of continuing the present system of administration by the judges of the district court.
Pennsylvania.
During the present session of the legislature the Department of Labor and
Industry will sponsor a bill to create a Bureau of Women and Children in Industry,
this bureau to be a part of the Department of Labor and Industry.
Texas.
The Minimum Wage Bill as finally engrossed in the House contains so many
vicious amendments that its former advocates feel that it is now worse than no
bill at all. The administration of the law has been placed in the Industrial
Accidents Board which is so busy with its own affairs it is clamoring for relief
and can not give sufficient time to this. One amendment exempts communities of
5,000 population and less thereby exempting all of the Texas cotton mills and
many other low wage industries which to avoid city taxes are located in suburban
towns. Another amendment reads "Said Commission shall divide the State into
Zones or Districts, according to the kind of employees therein, their living conditions and living costs* After the creation and designation of said zones or
districts the commission shall further fix in each of said zones: A minimum wage
to be paid women and minors according to the kind of employees
provided however that there shall be - a different minimum wage fixed in said occupation, trade
or industry for the employees therein of different classes, according to the
actual minimum living costs of each of said classes."
This of course permits
further exploitation of Mexican women and children.
Other amendments provide that the county judge may issue unlimited permits
to apprentices and to the infirm, defectives, etc., to work at less than the minimum wage; allows a different minimum to be fixed for the employee not living at
home; provides that the court, after setting aside the findings of the commission,
shall enter such judgment as the Court shall find should have been originally made
by the Commission, thus' allowing the Court to 'supersede the Commission in the determination of the wage; and provides that a quorum shall be the full membership,
thereby opening the way to prevent any functioning of the Commission in case one
member chooses to absent himself.
The Joint Legislative Committee of Women's organizations, including the
Texas Federation of Women's Clubs, the League of Women Voters and the Congress
of Mothers have led the fight against these amendments.
Washirlgton.
If the Administrative Code Bill which has passed both the Senate and the
House is sustained by the Supreme Court the Industrial Welfare Commission is to
be reorganized and will serve under a member of the Governor's Cabinet known as
the Director of Labor and Industries.
This code was to be argued before the
Supreme Court on February 25 and if a favorable decision was made will become
effective April 1, 1921.
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MINIMUM WAGE.
North Dakota.
Orders Nos. 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 and 12 of the Minimum Wage Department of
the Torkmen's Compensation Bureau have been held up since September by injunction proceedings brought by the Northwestern Telephone Exchange Company, the
North Dakota Independent Telephone Company, and the North Dakota Laundrymen's
Association. The case comes before the Supreme Court in March. It is an interesting fact that the minimum wage of $16.50 for the telephone industry
which has be7n so bitterly attacked in North Dakota, is 50 cents less than the
wage for learners advertised by the telephone company in the District of Columbia. This wage was announced following the decree by the Minimum Wage Board of
the District of Columbia of a $16.50 minimum in the mercantile industry. This
$17.00 wage for learners consists of $13.00 basic pay plus $4.00 bonus. After
fouremonths and advancement to the central room the basic pay is increased to
$14.00, the bonus continuing the same.
Texas.
A Chamber of Commerce investigation attempted to show that a Mexican
laboring family of four in El Paso on November 1, 1920, could live on 0545 a
week. An analysis of this "budget" made by the Domestic Science Department of
the University of Texas to determine whether the nutritive value of the focd
purchased is sufficient in quality and quantity to maintain health Itandards,
shows that the food given in the estimate provides enly 76,045 calories, or a
deficiency of 32,455 calories for the week. This means that there is a deficiency of 1,160 calories per person per day, or that the father will receive just
about three-fourths of the food he actually needs and the mother and two working girls will receive only twb-thirds of the food needed to maintain health.
Not only is the quantity of food found to be insufficient to provide adequate
energy, but the diet was found deficient in minerals and vitamines. In this
budget carfare is provided for but one mereber of the family although all are
presumed to be working, and a clothing budget of but 0.00 per week for four
persons is allowed.
Canada, Alberta.
A bill now pending in Parliament provides for the forrration of a permanent Minimum Wage Board to set a minimum wage for women and boys under 18,
various trades or groups of trades to have different allotments.
Budgets for women employed in mercantile, mechanical or other industrial establishments recently sent in by employers and employees varied from
$17.00 to $25,00 per week, with an average of $20.00.
Blank forms were sent
to employers, employees, and various women's clubs.
Canada, British Columbia.
The Minimum Wage Board is asking for an amendment providing a "learning" or "inexperienced" period in place of only a term of "apprenticeship."
No set length of time is designated but the Board is suggesting a 30 per cent
limit of inexperienced workers and those under 18.
The Beard is also asking
that the publication of its Orders in the provincial Official Gazette shall
be not only evidence of such Orders but of all steps leading up to them. This
will help in remote parts of the province where cases are brought up in the
Supreme or County Courts. At present it is necessary to produce the original
Order which is considered dangerous and inexpedient as the Order may easily
be lost in the mails.
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-6-
APPRENTICESHIP.
Orspon.
The Secretary of the Industrial Welfare Commission Writes as fellows: "I am
Particularly dnxious to secure material and.to have the women discuss the apprenticeship prcblem. It is the test exaeterating thing with which we have to deal so
if you will take out of that particular part of my report such matter as your news
letter would carry, it might bring to us some suggestions."
The report referred to is the Furth Biennial Report of the Industrial Welfare Commission of Oregon, 1919-1920,
The report shows apprenticeship schedules
in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia and discusses the difficulties encountered in factory occupations and the mercantile occupation where the
same degree of specialization is not found. It further discusses the "far more
important questions of irresponsibility of the average apprentice," and the methods
of licensing apprentices, and shows divisions or processes in three typical industries - woolen mill, candy factory, and laundry. "One fact stands out clearly,"
the report states, "the apprenticeship periods of the Oregon Industrial Welfare
Orders are too long, and changes are earnestly recommended to future conferences.
CHANGFS IN PERSONNEL IN LIIBCR LEPARTMENTS.
Washimton.
Mrs. Leonore M. Raeder has succeeded Mrs. W. H. Udall as Sccretary of tha
State Industrial Welfare Commission.
NEW PUBLICkTIONS.
U. S. apartment of Labor,
Women's Bureau.
Women street car conductors and ticket agents.
Feb„ 1921.
90 p.
(Bulletin No. 11)
A physiological basis for the shorter working day for women. By Dr.
George W. Webster. 20 p,
Feb., 1921.
(Bulletin No. 14)
The wage section of a report on conditions of women's labor in Kansas has
just been prepared by the Woments Bureau. Based on the wages paid to more than
4,000 women in various industries throughout the State the report shows that
nearly one-fifth of-the women are being paid less than $9.00 a week and over onehalf less than $12.00 a week. Meat -packing is cited as the best paid industry
with one-half of its women workers receiving more than $17,00 a week and 5-and-10cent stores as the lowest paid with 97 per cent of their women employees receiving
less than $12.00 a week. This report, which is preliminary and will not be printed
until another section on dependency is ready for publication, is the result of a
survey made by the Women's Bureau and the Industrial Welfare Commission of Kansas.
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f
-7-
the
A report of an investigation in Iowa conducted in cooperation with
State Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that of the 223 establishments visited
but 110 worked a nine-hour day or less and but 24 worked 8 hours or less.
Piecework was done by 30 per cent of the women in the survey, the percentage
cent.
being highest in cigars, 90 per cent, and lowest in restaurants, 0.3 per
,
facilities
heating
space,
air,
s,
General working conditions such as cleanlines
estab74
In
plants.
many
in
tory
and lighting, were found to be very unsatisfac
not
lishments the cleaning was done by the workers themselves, in 86 seats were
164
were
There
provided for all the workers in accordance with the Iowa law.
establishments which provided no resting places for women, compelling them to
of workers
spend their noon hour at their benches or in the street. The number
covered in the survey was over 22,000 and the total number of women was over
the
10,000. The report is now in typewritten form only but will be printed in
near future.
Division of Ne rgLo_Ac_onomics.
U. S. Department of Labor.
The negro at work during the world war and during reconstruction.
1921.
144 p.
Second study on negro labor.
Chapter XIX (p. 124-133): Negro women in industry. Summary of
reports made by Mrs. Helen B. Irvin, special agent of the Women's
Bureau in 1918-19.
Ohio Council of Women and Children _in Industry.
Study based on figures collected and tabulated by the Industrial
Wages.
29 p. :1921D
Report for year ending 1919.
Commission of Ohio.
Study of wages and cost of living. Made by the
Supplement
7 p. t,1921z
'consumers' League of Cincinnati,
(106)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
U. S. Depa
WOYE
(112)
ent of Labor
BUREAU
gton
pril 16
News Letter No.
921.
STATE ACTIVITIES AfFECTING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
LEGISLATION.
Connecticut.
Nine bills relating to wage earning women and children have been
introduced in this session of the Legislature. Of these bills five have
not yet been reported and four have been rejected. Those not yet reported
are: (1) to establish an 8-hour day and a 6-day week for child laborers
and to prohibit their employment between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.; (2) to establish a 9-hour day and a 50-hour week for minors and women in manufacturing
and mechanical establishments and a maximum of 54 hours per calendar week
in mercantile establishments other than manufacturing and mechanical, providing that employers who give 7 holidays with pay each year may be exempt
from the provisions of the bill during the period from the 17th to the 25th
of December; (3) to provide toilets in every manufacturing, mechanical or
mercantile establishment, repealing Chapter 273 of the Public Acts of 1919;
(4) to raise the age limit for the employment of children to 16 years; (5)
to provide that a bowling alley be considered a mercantile establishment
under provisions of Chapter 195, Public Acts, 1919, concerning the employment of women and minors.
The four bills rejected are: (1) to provide a 10-hour day and a
50-hour week for women and minors in mercantile establishments; (2) to provide a 9-hour day and a 48-hour week for women and children in factories;
(3) to establish a minimum wage commission; (4) to provide an 8-hour day
and a 48-hour week for women and minors in mechanical and manufacturing
establishments and a 55-hour week in other mercantile establishments; to
prohibit the employment of minors under 15 years in manufacturing and
mechanical establishments between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., and to prohibit employment in mercantile establishments of girls under 16 years after 6 p.m.,
and of women over 16 years after 9 p.m.
Other bills introduced in the Legislature this year deal with
lighting, protection against gases, extension of lunch hours, strikes,
employment on public works.
Delaware.
Only one of the four bills presented by the Labor Commission of
Delaware to the Legislature has been passed. This bill provides for three
changes in the sanitary law for female employees---adds the word "transportation" to the list of establishments covered by the law, requires owners
to make permanent changes in compliance with the law, and empowers the
Labor Commission to make rules and regulations for effectively carrying
out the provisions of the act.
which
The Mothers' Pension Commission bill passed with an amendment
appropriaState
the
materially cuts down the appropriation asked. In fact
apportioned
tion for pensions is the same as before, $25,000, but differently
on a
contribute
among the three counties. The State and the three counties
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I
-250750 basis. Gains in the law are: (1) increasing the annual administration
child
fund from $3,000 to $5,000; (2) making it permissive to grant $12 to first
includand $8 for each additional child (instead of $9 and $5 as at present); (3)
standing
ing among women who may receive a pension, a prisoner's wife and a woman
in loco parentis, as an aunt or grandmother.
d by the
The Eight Hour Bill and the Maternity Protection Bill presente
Senate.
Consumers' League of Delaware were both killed in the
State of
A bill has been passed which provides for cooperation by the
passed the
have
shall
Delaware with the Federal Government as soon as the latter
Sheppard Towner bill.
Florida.
for
The State Labor Inspector in his sixth and seventh annual reports
ure,
Legislat
the
1919 and 1920 (published jointly) recommends to the Governor and
nt of Labor
that a woman assistant inspector be provided and that a Departme
Statistics be established.
Indiana.
been defeated.
The bill to establish a 9-hour day and a 48-hour week has
it was first
Senate,
the
in
ed
introduc
Submitted by the League of Women Voters and
It
6
days.
of
week
each
in
day
amended to allow a 50-hour week and one 10-hour
days
10-hour
five
allow
to
amended
finally passed the Senate by a vote of 51 to 5,
52
of
a
total
and
week,
each
in weeks having legal holidays, one day of 12 hours
service in the provihours a week. An amendment to include office and domestic
d bill reached
engrosse
sions of the bill failed to pass the Senate but when the
the amendment
contain
to
the House and was referred to the Committee it was found
was re-enwhich
bill
regarding domestic service. The Senate then recalled the
a motion
by
killed
to be
grossed in correct form and returned to the House only
debate.
of
to postpone further discussion, thus cutting off any chance
signed by the Govand
passed
Law,
Labor
ce-Child
The new School Attendan
The old law covered
ernor, extends the 8-hour day to girls between 16 and 18.
1899 having been
since
18
and
16
girls between 14 and 16 only, those between
was really a 9-hour
day
8-hour
d
so-calle
allowed to work 10 hours a day. The old
eliminated.
been
has
also
This
day with the written consent of the parents.
sponsored an
also
Voters
Women
Besides these two bills, the League of
equal guardianship bill and secured its passage.
Iowa.
been defeated
The bill providing a 9-hour day and a 50-hour week has
for indefinreport
through the acceptance by the Senate of the Labor Committee's
ite postponement.
The minimum wage commission bill has been withdrawn.
Kansas •
of Labor
The Industrial Welfare Commission and the office of Commissioner
being
duties
and
tion
jurisdic
their
ure,
have been abolished by Act of the Legislat
in
to
employ
ed
authoriz
is
conferred upon the Court of Industrial Relations, which
be
to
is
whom
of
one
rs,
the Department of Labor and Industry four factory inspecto
infactory
woman
a
to
a woman. The old form of organization provided, in addition
secretary who in
spector, a woman member of the Commission and a woman executive
on.
turn could employ other women to conduct the work of the Commissi
form so that
The Mothers' Pension bill passed the Legislature in amended
the age was
it is not mandatory and while the amount was raised from $25 to ,:50
lowered from 16 to 14..
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-3a.
_Louisian
..
in
An ordinance has been introduced in the constitutional convention, now
fix
to
right
the
have
shall
ure
session in Baton Rouge, providing that the legislat
with
armed
on
commissi
wage
and regulate the hours of labor and to create a minimum
authority to provide for the comfort, health, safety and general welfare of women
and minors, the commission to be appointed by the Governor and to be composed of
three members representing labor, capital, and the public. The ordinance was draTn
up by the Social Workers Conference of New Orleans and was introduced by one of the
three women members of the convention. It is supported by the Louisiana Federa.don
of Women's Clubs, the Consumer' League of Louisiana, and other women's organiza
a
LolEisian
of
tions, and is said to be necessary because the present Constitution
For two
makes• it rather impossible to enact legislation creating a wage board.
women
legislative sessions the women have worked for a minimum wage commission for
of a
and children in industry with the result that in the last session, in spite
d by refusal of a
favorable report from the labor committee, the bill was smothere
of hearings
favorable report by the committee on appropriations and postponement
until too late to accomplish anything.
the part of
The Federation of Women's Clubs reports bitter opposition on
ay hearing on the ordiemployers' organizations but nevertheless a successful all-d
nance. They hope for a favorable report.
Massachusetts.
es
The following recommendations of the Department of Labor and Industri
hoods
covering
the
that
g
have been enacted by the Legislature; The bill requirin
extending the
of grinding machines shall be approved by the Department; the bill
s
of transportaemployee
provisions of the weekly payment of wages law to include
-aid
equipmente
first
tion companies; and the bill extending the requirements for
to mechanical establishments which include laundries.
include women employed
The bill extending the scope of the 48-hour law to
motion picture
in hotels, laundries, manicuring and hairdressing establishments,
been amended permitti.ng
theaters and on elevators and private switchboards has
one day, but keeping
women in hotels to be employed not more than 10 hours in any
d in both
engrosse
been
has
bill
the weekly limit - 48 hours - the same. The
. It will
expected
is
e
signatur
branches of the Legislature and the Governor's
covered vr'3er
now
not
are
who
probably bring something like 20,000 or 25,000 women
Voters proWomen
of
League
the protection of the law. The recommendation of the
session.
annual
next
the
viding for an equal guardianship law has been referred to
for the
guardian
a
Under the present law the father has the sole right to appoint
appoints
father
the
minor children. The mother can act as guardian only in case
reported adher as such. The bill to provide equal pay for equal work has been
Another bill
ure.
Legislat
versely and this report accepted in both branches of the
investito
on
commissi
introduced by the Women's Trade Union League provides for a
alth.
Commonwe
the
gate the question of compensation of men and women employees in
sex.
of
tive
irrespec
Recommendation has also been made for equal pay for teachers
rate
salary
minimum
The Department of Education has introduced a bill providing a
of $800 for teachers in the public schools.
Minnesota.
interim commisOn i,arch 15, in accordance with the recommeniation of the
now at the
oners
commissi
sion, the Commissioner of Labor was replaced by three
a part. The
is
Labor
of
head of an Industrial Commission of which the Department
Commission
al
Industri
Secretary of the Minimum WaT:e Commission is now uoder the
June 1 it
function
and it is thought probable that when the Commission begins to
ng to
pertaini
may create a division of women and children to enforce all laws
commisthe
es of
women and children, hours, wages, sanitation, etc. The activiti
ation is made,
sion however can not be determined definitely until the appropri
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-4The bill for an 8-hour day and a 48-hour week, submitted to the Legislature by the Bureau of Women and Children, has been changed to provide a 9-hour
day and a 54-hour week. The provisions are not to apply to "domestics in the
home or to persons engaged in the care of the sick or injured, or to cases of
emergency in which the safety, health, morals or welfare of the public may otherwise be affected, or to cases in which employees may be at the place of employment
for not more than 12 hours during the night, and shall have opportunity for at
apportionleast four hours of sleep." The bill further provides that a different
work for
day's
shorter
ment of hours may be made for the sole purpose of giving a
6 o'clock
after
one day of the week, and specifies 20 minutes for lunch if overtime
Labor
of
is required, and 1 hour for the noonday meal unless the Commissioner
revoked
shall permit a shorter time. Such permit must be in writing and may be
at any time.
that
A bill has been introduced to amend the minimum wage law to provide
employ
any order of the commission increasing the wages of women or minors in the
of public utility or public service corporations whose pay is regulated through
the Railroad and Warehouse Commission shall not become effective until 6 months
reafter the signing of the order; that the commission "shall upon the written
estaboccupation"
any
in
quest of three or more employers or 30 or more employees
while
incurred
expenses
lish in that occupation an advisory board, and that actual
board.
advisory
the
of
in the performance of their duties shall be paid the members
New Hampshire.
A bill to provide a woman factory inspector has been introduced in the
House and, of two bills to establish a 48-hour week, one was reported inexpedient
to legislate and the other was defeated in the House of Representatives regardless
of the fact that a majority of the Committee on Labor reported that the bill ought
to pass.
New York,
On March 10th Governor Miller signed the bill reorganizing the State Industrial Commission. In spite of much opposition the bill passed as an "economy measure." The new law abolishes the old five-headed commission and establishe: a
single-headed Department of Labor.
Upon this Commissioner rests the responsibility for the administrative ond
of the department. In addition there is created an Industrial Board who are given
the dequasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers. The administrative head of
effidepartment
partment is given a lump sum of one million dollars to run the
less
0,000
ciently for the fiscal year July 1, 1921, to July 1, 1922. This is $90
"transthan the appropriation for the present fiscal year. He is given power to
fer officers or employees from their positions to other positions in the departfrom
ment, or abolish or consolidate such positions. The commissioner may remove
office any officer or employee in the department."
who
The State Federation of Labor and the social and civic organizations
repreopposed this bill did so on the ground that a five-headed commission which
organian
such
that
sents the- employer and the employee is vitally important and
zation is preferable to a one-headed commission, open to the charge of partisansuch
ship. They opposed it further on the ground that the commissioner is given
the
in
bureaus
wide power to abolish or consolidate bureaus. The majority of the
Commission
Industrial
State Department of Labor have been made a part of the State
as a result of the demand from the public and to meet a certain industrial need
within the State.
The reorganization has not yet taken place and the bureaus and the personnel of the department are to continue to function until such time as they are advised differently by the Commissioner. The fate of the Bureau of Women in Industry is unknown.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
1
-5The Betts bill to repeal the 54-hour law and the Smith bill to repeal the
night work law have been killed in committee. The minimum wage and 48-hour bills
met with the same fate. A 1)4.11 to permit waitresses in restaurants and women
clerks to work until 1 a.m. was also killed in committee. The bill amending the
night work law so as to exempt women linotypists, monotypists, and proof readers
over twenty-one has been reported out of committee favorably and is tlitxmxxk thought
likely to pass. These women are said to compose a comparatively small group and
to be members of one of the most highly organized unions. A bill has been introduced to permit women over twenty-one to be employed in operating polishing or
buffing wheels for wet grinding under conditions specified by the Industrial Board.
North Carolina.
An act creating and maintaining a free employment service is the only bill
affecting labor that passed the General Assembly. Three different bills providing
workmen's compensation were not approved and a bill for an 8-hour day also failed
of passage.
Ohio.
The Minimum Wage Commission bill has passed the House by a vote of 77 to
17. In the Senate the bill has been referred by a vote of 24 to 5 to the Committee
on Manufactures and Commerce. This bill which is championed by the Governor of the
State provides for a commission of 3 members, one to be a woman, representing employers, empleyees, and the public, and wage boards of 9 members, representing the.
same groups,
Pennsylvania.
The bill to create a Bureau of Women and Children in the Department of
Labor and Industry has passed the Senate and is now in the house with a reasonable
chance for success. A bill to provide an 8-hour day and a 44-hour week and a
Minimum Wage Commission bill have been introduced. Hearings on these bills were
held on March 29. A bill to create a Department of Public Welfare has also been
introduced.
South Carolina.
A bill to fix a minimum wage for women was introduced in the Legislature
but failed of passage. A newspaper clipping states that this bill provided a minimum wage of ,$12 a week or $2 a day for girls and women over 14 years of age, and
covered only towns of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Texas.
The bill abolishing the Industrial Welfare Commission was passed by the
Legislature and is now a law, while the Minimum Wage bill which also passed the
Legislature was vetoed by the Governor on the grounds that it was unconstitutional,
Utah.
An act creating a State Welfare Commission has been signed by the Governor
and the members of the Commission named. The law provides that the Commission
"shall consist of the governor, the state superintendent of public instruction,
the secretary of the state board of health, andAight other members to be ap,ointed
by the governor, at least five of whom shall be women." The duties of the Commission are "to study and investigate the laws, conditions, practices and the institutions of this and other states and counties, relating to public health and to
the dependents, neglected, delinquent and defective classes, and upon the basis of
such a study to prepare amendments to a codification of the laws of Utah pertaining to health, to the dependent, neglected, delinquent and defective classes."
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TT
—6—
The Commission also "shall have authority to inquire into the conduct, management,
and organization of all public institutions and agencies doing welfare work within
the states
shall file a report of its findings and recommendations with the
governor not later than November 30, 1922, and shall draft such bills as may be
necessary to embrace and carry out its recommendations and submit them to the next
session of the legislature."
The Minimum Wage Commission bill was reported out of committee with no
recommendation and was killed on the floor of the Senate,
MINIMUM WAGE.
District of Columbia.
The Minimum Wage Board of the District of Columbia has just issued its
third annual report. Besides a review of the year's work the report contains
budgets submitted to the various conferences, an analysis of the information obtained from applicants for learners' certificates as to school-leaving age, last
grade attended at school, and reason for leaving school, text of the Minimum Wage
Law, and text of the orders issued.
A statement as to the operation of the Minimum Wage Law recently submitted
to the New York State Senate Committee on Labor and Industries by the woman membe,
of the Minimum Wage Board is of general interest. The facts given are as follow
"1. Minimum wage orders in force to date in the District of Columbia have
increased the wages of about 12,000 women to the amount of 38 per cent on the
average. That is to say, about three-fourths of the total 17,000 women in private
employ in the District of Columbia are now receiving $15.00, $15.50 and ,16.,50 a
week, where about half of the women in these industries formerly received $12 a
week or lees,
2. About 40 per cent of the women affected by the Minimum Wage orders in
effect thus far are now receiving more than the minimum. Before the orders were
Issued, 67 to 82 per cent of these women were receiving less than the present
minimum. It is clear, therefore, that the minimum wage has not become the maximum,
3. These wage increases have not hurt business. Employers claim, publicly,
that business is better in the District of Columbia than in other parts of the
United States, where there are no minimum wage laws.
4. Although the Minimum Wage orders appily to the mercantile industry, the
largest in the District, and to the hotels and restaurants, they have not affected
the cost of living. This statement is made on the basis of official reports of
the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, which show the same fluctuations in
the cost of living in the District of Columbia that appear in the communities
where no minimum wage law exists.
5, The Minimum Wage orders have not reduced the number of women employed...
,.. the number ,., employed by the business houses of Washington in its three
largest industries, mercantile, hotels and restaurants, and printing, is barely
4 per cent less than at the peak of the war work.
6. The Minimum Wage Law has not caused the displacement of women by men.
On the contrary, one group of employers who announced that they would dismiss
their women employees and substitute men are now employing practically 100 more
women than they employed at the time the Minimum Wage order went into effect.
Likewise a large hotel whose management announced that the law would necessitate
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U
U
-7dismissals in their establishment, did actually dismiss 11 girls at the time the
order was issued, but that was 3 months before the order went into effect. That
hotel is now employing 14 girls where formerly it had 11. In one small group of
workers, constituting less than 4 per cent of the total, some women employed during the war in place of men on elevators have given place to men who have returned
to the jobs. This is the only group where there has been removal of women in
favor of men, and there it can not justly be charged to the Minimum Wage law."
The constitutionality of the Minimum Wage law has been questioned and is
now before the court in two cases, one brought by the Children's Hospital and the
other by a hotel employee. Pending a decision numbers of employers are refusing
to pay the minimum wage set for both the hotel and restaurant industries and the
laundry industry. Injunction was first asked May 25, 1920.
Massachusetts.
The Division of Minimum Wage has been engaged during the past month in
reinspecting under the Canning and Preserving and Corset Occupation Decrees, and
is now inspecting under the Office and Other Building Cleaners Occupations Decree
which became effective February 1st of this year,
The field work in the study of the employment of women in laundries has
been completed and the report is now being written.
An investigation of home work in the jewelry trades has been authorized.
Two boards are in session at the present time, those for men's furnishings industry reconvened, and the minor lines of confectionery industry.
A preliminary hearing with respect to establishing a wage board for the
Druggists Compounds and Proprietary Medicines Industry was held on December 7,
1920. No action has been taken as yet by the Commission with respect to establishing a wage board.
The tables based on investigations made by the Commission of wages of
women employed in the preparation of druggists' compounds and proprietary medicines and in tkx stationery goods and envelopes have been completed. These will
not be published as it is the policy of the present commission not to publish any
of the wage data collected from investigations or inspections. The material, however, is available in the office of the Commission and may be secured by anyone
interested.
Advance sheets from the 8th Annual Report of the Minimum Wage Commission
are available for distribution.
North Dakota.
In the case of the telephone companies and the Laundrymen's Association
against the Minimum Wage Department, the Supreme Court of North Dakota has upheld
the District Court in granting an injunction against enforcement of cartnin wage
orders. The case has still to be tried on its merits.
Wisconsin.
The Industrial Commission hold its first meeting with the Advisory Wage
Board the middle of March relative to the proposed increase in the minimum wage
scab o for women in the State
No unanimous recommendation was made to the CommisBien by the Board but three recommendations were made -- one to leave the wage as
it is, another to increase the wage for experienced workers to 27 cents an hour,
and annther to increase it to 25 cents an hour, with a possible modification of
the order so that there will be a distinction made between the smaller and the
larger towns. The Commission is to hold public meetings throughout the State
before making any findings.
L
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I
-8NOTES.
Bryn Mawr College is to open a summer school for women workers in
industry. An eight weeks course is planned to run from June 15 to August 10,
1921, and the tentative list of subjects to be taught covers English, written
and spoken, including public speaking, history, economics, government, labor
movements and problems, industrial organization, elementary (private) law,
parl:lamentary law, physiology and hygiene, community life, origin and evolution of the earth and of life, appreciation of art, general psychology, stressing psychology of behavior.
Instructors (lecturers and tutors) will be appointed with a view to
their special fitness and the school will "not be committed to any dogma or
theory but shall conduct its teachingsin a broad spirit of impartial inquiry
with absolute freedom of discussion and academic freedom of teaching."
Th3 school will be open to 70 ,students to whom scholarships of $200
each may be awarded, this expense to to met by contributions from interested
individuals and organizations. Any woman worker over 18 years but preferably
between 20 and 35 years of age who gives satisfactory evidence of character,
health and ability to read and write English and a common school education
if possible, or its equivalent, may be admitted. Residence halls, lecture
halls, gymnasium and athletic fields and the library will be open to the
students.
Scholarships are to bp awarded to each of the seven regional districts
of the Bryn Mawr Alumnae Associations five additional scholarships are to be
assigned to large industrial centers such as Chicago, Philadelphia, New York,
and Boston, and 15 additional scholarships are to be unassigned and therefore
awarded in any district. Also, unless scholarships assigned to regions and
cities are awarded by the middle of May, these scholarships may be open to candidates from any section of the country. Local Summer School Committees for
the selection of students will be composed of one or more alumnae of Bryn Mawr,
a practicing woman physician, a representative of the organizations of women
workers and one or more women workers in industry.
The management of the school is in the hands of a joint committee consisting of the President and the Dean of the College, the Director of the
Department of Social Economy, representatives of the Carola Woerishoffer Department and of the directors, the faculty and the alumnae of the College, representatives of the women workers, and an advisory committee.
PERSONNEL.
Kansas.
Miss Alice K. McFarland has been appointed Factory Inspector under the
Court of Industrial Relations.
New York.
Mr. Henry D. Sayer, member of the former State Industrial Commission,
has been appointed Commissioner of Labor.
U. S. Department of Labor.
Miss Mary Anderson has been reappointed Director of the Women's Bureau,
The appointment has still to be confirmed by the Senate.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
7
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Clark.
, Lindley
Minimum wage laws of the United States. Monthly Labor Review,
v. 12, No. 3, March 1921. p. 1-20, 1 chart.
Brief summary of a report to be published as Bulletin 285,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor.
District of Columbia Minimum Ware Board.
Third annual report for the year ending December 31, 1920,
Washington, D. C., 1921. 64 p.
Frankfurter, Felix, and Dewson, Mary W.
District of Columbia minimum wage cases. Court of appeals of the
District of Columbia, October term, 1920. No. 3438 and No. 3467.
The Children's Hospital of the District of Columbia, a corporation,
appellant, vs ... the Minimum Wage Board ... Willie A. Lyons,
appellant, vs ... the Minimum Wage Board ... Brief for appellees.
0.921z
453 p.
Swartz, Nelle
Do women stay on their jobs a shorter time than men? Bulletin,
New York State Industrial Commission, v. 6, No, 6, March 1921.
p. 116.
Report of a study made by the Bureau of Women and Children
of turnover records in firms employing both men and women.
U. S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Labor legislation of 1919. Jand 1921. 409 p. (Bulletin 277)
U. S. Department of Labor. Women's Bureau.
Some effects of legislation limiting hours of work for women.
1921. 26 p. (Bulletin 15)
Minimum wage legislation in the United States -- December 31, 1920.
c:192171
(Chart 9)
112
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
4111..,,,snO•
U. S. Department of Labor
WOMEN'S BUREAU
Was
May 24, 1921.
News Letter No. 4.
STATE ACTIVITIES AFFECTING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
LEGISLATION.
Colorado.
A number of bills on child welfare were introduced in this session of
the Legislature but instantly killed when they were brought to a vote. The
child labor bill which has been before every Legislature for a number of
sessions was not reported out of committee.
Bills were also introduced to repeal the minimum wage law and to transfer the State Labor Department from the office of the Secretary of State to
thc Industrial Commission. This transfer was opposed by the women's organizations of the State. Both of these measures were defeated. The Legislature also failed to make any appropriation for the Children's Bureau, created
two years ago.
District of Columbia.
Hearings are now being held before a sub-committee of the House District
of Columbia committee on a workmen's compensation bill for workers in private
employ in the District of Columbia. The bill has been introduced in the house
by Representative Fitzgerald of Ohio, chairman of the sub-committee, and in the
Senate by Senator Wesley M. Jones of Washington. The bill provides for an exclusive State fund and the administration of such fund by the existing United
proStates Employees' Compensation Commission. An appropriation of i;50,000 is
inare
occupations
All
act.
the
vided to put into effect the provisions of
cluded, not excepting domestic service. The waiting period is three days, and
the .compensation allowed is 66 2/3 per cent of the weekly wage but not more
than (25 or less than ;!,;7 a week. No direct mention is made of occupational
diseases but the bill is interpreted to include them. The bill provides that
the Commission shall assist industrial cripples to obtain appropriate training,
education, and employment, and that it may cooperate with the Federal Board for
Vocational Education for this purpose.
The bill is advocated by the American Association for Labor Legislation,
Labor Union of the District of Columbia, the National Women's Trade
Central
the
and the National Catholic Welfare Council through its Social
League,
Union
Action Department. Certain features of the bill are opposed by the Stock Casualty Insurance Companies through their Workmen's Compensation Publicity Bureau,
the National Fraternal Congress, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, the Washington
Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade, and the Civitan Club. There is no
oppositbn to the principle of workmen's compensation and one of the opposing
The
organizations advocates a higher maximum amount of weekly compensation.
feature
constitutionality of the law is questioned but the exclusive State fund
of the bill draws most of the fire of the opponents. There is also objection
to including all employments, and local organizations object to the administration of a strictly local law by any but a commission whose members are residents
of the District of Columbia.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-2-
Illinois.
The 8-hour bill has been reported out of the Senate Committee but without recommendation.
It is expected to pass, however, if amended to leave employees of stores as they are under the existing law.
The bill provides an 8-hour day and a 48-hour week, and includes in its
provisions women employed in "any" office and in hospitals, but exempts graduate nurses or nurses while in service in operating rooms or on obstetrical
cases. Minimum penalties provided for first, second, third and subsequent
failures to comply with the law are 010, $50 and 0.00, and maximum penalties
are 35, $100 and 0500, or for second and subsequent offenses, in the discretion of the court, imprisonment in the county jail for not less than one month
or more than six months, or both fines and imprisonment. The Department of
Labor is charged with the enforcement of the law.
The minimum wage bill and the one-day-rest-in-seven bill have been reported out of committee with favorable recommendations.
Maine.
The bill to amend the law limiting the hours of labor for women and minors
to provide a 48-hour week with not more than 9 hours in any one day has been
defeated in both Houses.
Important amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Act, which becomes effective about July 10, 1021, are: reduction of the waiting period from 10 to
7 days, increase of the weekly compensation from three-fifths to two-thirds of
the average weekly wages for the year immediately preceding the injury, increase
of the maximum amount of weekly compensation from 015 to 016, increase in the
total maximum amount in case of death from $3,500 to 0,000, and increase in the
maximum amount in case of permanent total disability from 04,200 to 06,000.
Massachusetts.
A bill providing that the assistant commissioner of the Department of Labor
and Industries "shall" be a woman has passed the Legislature.
The bill extending the scope of the 48-hour law has been enacted and signed
by the Governor. One change was made permitting women employed in hotels not
connected with manufacturing, mercantile or mechanical establishments to be
employed not more than 10 hours in any one day, the weekly limit, however, remaining 48 hours.
Minnesota.
The hour bill, which as introduced provided an 8-hour day and a 48-hour
week, was first amended to 9 hours a day and 54 hours a week, and later amended
to read 56 hours a week with no daily limitation. In this form the bill passed
both houses of the Legislature but the necessary substitution of the House bill
for that of the Senate failed to be made in the last minutes of the session.
A mothers' pension bill was passed which allows the maximum of
a month
to a mother with one child not over 15 years of age and the maximum of $15 a
month for each additional child not over 16 years of age. In order to receive
this compensation the mother must be a widow, or her husband must be in a penal
institution, insane asylum or hospital, or unable to work because of physical
disability, or for one year under indictment for abandoning his child.
A street trades bill also was passed. Under its provision boys under 16
and girls under 18 are prohibited from engaging in peddling, bootblacking, and
distributing and selling newspapers unless they have permits and badges to do
so. A boy between the ages of 14 and 16, however, may engage in any of these
occupations during school hours if he passes the requirements for the regular
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-3-
employment certificate and also obtains a badge from the school authorities.
A boy over 12 may engage in any of these occupations outside of school hours
between the hours of 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. if he receives permission and a badge
from the school authorities. After much opposition from the newspapers the
bill was made to exclude carriers on their regular routes. This law is to
be enforced by the truant officers.
Nevada.
Several bills were introduced to limit the hours of labor and to fix a
minimum wage but all failed of passage.
New Jersey.
The bill limiting the hours of work for women was mended to provide a
54-hour week with 9 hours a day within 10 consecutive hours, and a 6-day week.
It was passed in this form and signed by the Governor. The limitation under
the old law was 60 hours a week.
A bill was passed giving women having the same qualifications as men the
same opportunity for appointment to State positions.
A joint resolution to
equalize the laws of guardianship failed of passage, and the night work
law was
not reported out of committee.
New Mexico.
An 8-hour day was secured in this session of the Legislature for
women
not employed in drug stores, or at manual labor, or as telephone
operators
where the shifts come between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Legislation was enacted to meet the provisions of the SheppardTowner
Maternity and Infancy Bill as soon as that bill is passed by the Federal
Congress.
Because of controversy as to what agency should administer this
law - the Child
Welfare Board or the Health Department - there has been established
a Public
Welfare Board which comprises the former State Board of Health, the State
Department of Health, the Child Welfare Service, and the Sbate Child Welfare
Board.
This new board is composed of 5 members appointed by the Governo
r.
A child labor law was passed which provides that no child under
14 shall
be employed in specified industries and occupations or in any place
whatsoever
during the hours that public schools are in session.
A certificate of exemption may be issued by the district court upon application
of a parent or guardian if it can be shown that it is necessary for the child
to work and if the
education, physical and moral welfare of the child be
fully provided for. The
bill further provides that no child under 16 shall
be employed between 9 p. m.
and 6 a. m. or for more than 48 hours in one week
or more than 8 hours in any
one day. The penalty for violation of this act
is not less than 45 nor more
than $100 for every offense.
Another bill which was passed provides for
joint guardianship of a minor
child. In case the parents live apart the court may
award the custody and education of the child to either parent or to some
other person.
The first recommendation of the Governor and one
of the first bills passed
by the Senate provides for a consitutional
amendment to the effect that the
right to hold office in New Mexico shall not be
abridged or denied on account
of sex, provided that the payment of poll taxes
or service on juries shall nct
be made a prerequisite to the right of a woman
to vote or hold office.
Another law of interest to women is that
whereby judges of the District
Court are made judges of the Juvenile Courts
with an additional salary of 4750,
with power to appoint and remove probation
officers, their duties defined by
the court to whom they report.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
New York.
Three bills affecting the employment of women have passed both houses
These hills
of the Legislature and are now in the hands of the Governor.
(1) exempt from the night work law monotypists, linotypists, and proofreaders; (2) add hotel employees to the list of workers exempt from the oneday-rest-in-seven law, thus affecting women elevator operators and women
selling newspapers, candy, etc., in hotels; (3) and give the Industrial
Board power to make rules and regulations governing the employment of women
over 21 years of age at wet grinding.
Because of a decreased appropriation the Labor Department has been
obliged to abolish 8 employment offices throughout the State.
The bill creating a Bureau of Women and Children was passed by the
The minimum
Legislature and is now waiting to be signed by the Governor.
week
never rewere
48-hour
and
a
day
wage bill and the bill for an 8-hour
the
-seven
bill
has
passed
ported out of committee. The one-day-rest-in
House.
Tennessee.
A state-wide mothers' pension bill was passed and also an amendment to
the factory inspection law adding one deputy inspector, increasing salaries
and providing additional appropriations. The health, comfort and safety
act failed to pass but the Supreme Court of Tennessee has declared constitutional a former law which carries with it many features provided in that
bill.
West Virginia.
A child welfare commission law was secured in this session of the Legislature without a dissenting vote in either House. Other measures championed
by the women of West Virginia it is expected will be enacted into law.
Canada, British Columbia.
Five bills passed at this session of the Legislature are in accordance
with the requirements of the Treaty of Versailles and in compliance with the
Draft Conventions passed by the International Labor Conference in Washington,
D. C., in November, 1919. They all apply to employees in "industrial undertakings" which include mines, quarries and other works for the extraction of
minerals from the earth; industries in which articles are manufactured, altered,
cleaned, repaired, ornamented, finished, adapted for sale, broken up or demolished, or in which materials are transformed; construction, reconstruction,
maintenance, repair, alteration, or demoi5tion of any building, railway, tramway, harbour, dock, pier, canal, inland waterway, road, tunnel, bridge, viaduct,
sewer, drain, well, telegraphic or telephonic installation, electrical undertaking, gas work, water work or other work of construction as well as the preparation for or laying the foundations of any such work or structure; bu the
term "industrial undertaking" shall not include any branch of the agricultural,
horticultural or dairying indv_stry.
The penalty provided for violation in each of these five acts is not to
exceed $1,000, and none of the acts is to become operative until a day to be
fixed by the Lieutenant-Governor by proclamation concurrently with or after
the coming into operation in other Provinces of the Dominion of similar laws
enacted by the Legislatures of these Provinces.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-5,.
The five acts are as follows:
(1) Prohibits night work for women between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m, except when
(a) there occurs an interruption of work which it was impossible to foresee and
which is not of recurring character; or (b) in cases where the work has to do
with raw materials or materials in course of treatment which are subject to
rapid deterioration, when such night work is necessary to preserve the said
materials from certain loss. In seasonal occupations and all exceptional cases
where circumstances demand it the night period may be reduced by the regulations
to 10 hours on 60 days of the year.
(2) Limits the hours of work to 8 a day and 48 a week except (a) where by
custom or agreement between employers and workers on one or more days of the
week less than 8 hours are worked, more them 8 hours may be worked the remaining days of the week, provided that in no case shall a daily limit of 9 hours
or a weekly limit of 48 be exceeded; (b) where persons are employed in shifts
more than 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week may be worked if the average number
of hours over a period of 3 weeks does not exceed 8 per day and 48 per week;
(c) in case of accident, of urgent work to be done to machincry or plant, of
force majeure, but only so far as may be necessary to avoid serous interference
with the ordinary working of the undertaking; (d) in continuous processes, subject to the conditions that the working hours shall not exceed 56 in the week
on the average. The regulations made by the Lieutenant-Governor in Covncil
shall determine the exceptions that may be allowed for work beyond the limits
of 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week but these regulations shall be made only
after consultation with the employers' and workers' organizations who shall fix
the maximum of additional hours in each case, and the rate of pay for overtime
shall not be less than one and one-quarter times the regular rate.
(3) Prohibits the employment of a woman during the six weeks following confinement, gives her the right to leave her work six weeks before confinement if
she produces a medical certificate, and allows her half an hour twice a day during working hours for nursing her child; makes it unlawful for an employer to
give her notice of dismissal until her absence shall have exceeded the maximum
period to be fixed by the regulations even if she remains absent from her work
for a longer period as a result of illness medically certified to arise out of
pregnancy or confinement and reneering her unfit for work.
(4) Prohibits the employment of bus under 14 and girls under 15 years of
age.
(5) Prohibits night work. for any person under 18 years of age except that
by regulation persons between 16 and 19 years may be employed at night where by
reason, of serious emergency, the public interest demands it, or where by reason
of the nature of the process work is required to be carried on continuously day
and night.
Three other laws enacted are as follows:
(1) Amends the Minimum Wage Act to provide that where by any order a minimum wage for inexperienced workers is fixed at a rate less than the minimum
wage for experienced workers, no employer in that occupation, trade or industry
shall employ any one over 18 years of age at that lower wage unless the employee
holds a license. A special licerse shall be issued only in the discretion of
the Board and the number of employees in any one establishment holding licenses
shall not exceed one-seventh of the whole number of employees, and the aggregate number of emplcyees holding special licenses and employees under 18 years
of age employed in any one establishment shall not exceed 357. of the whole
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-6-
number in that establishment. Another section eliminates entirely all technicalities that may be used by counsel in court proceedings concerning the validity of orders in cases of prosecution for violation of the imc Act by providing
that "evidence of any Order of the Board may be given by the production of a
copy of The British Columbia Gazette purporting to contain a copy of the order....
(2) Requires every employment bureau or agency to furnish monthly to the
General Superintendent of the Provincial Government Branch of the Employment
Service of Canada a record of the names of all employers for whom persons seeking work are obtained, or to whom they are directed, the name, occupation, rate
of wages, and nationality of every person for whom work is obtained, and the
name, occupation, and nationality of every person who is directed to any employer
for the purpose of procuring work.
(3) Provides for the superannuation of provincial government employees,
municipal employees, school board employees, and that any employer not within
these classifications may enter into an agreement with all or any one or more
groups of his employees for the purpose of securing the benefits of this Act.
PERSONNEL
Kansas.
Miss Linna Bresette, formerly Secretary of the Industrial Commission, has
been appointed Director of Women's Work under the Court of Industrial Relations.
Mr. J. H. Crawford, formerly chairman of the Industrial Commission, has
been appointed Judge of the Court of Industrial Relations.
New York.
Mrs. Rosalie Loew Whitney, a lawyer and a prominent suffrage worker, Mr.
John D. Higgins, a lawyer and formerly Vice-President of the Oswego Starch
Company, and Mr. Richal.d. Curran, a representative of labor, have been appointect
members of the Industrial Commission of which Mr. Henry D. Sayer is Commissioner.
U.S. Department of Labor.
The appointment of Miss Mary Anderson as Director of the Women's Bureau
has been confirmed by the United States Senate.
(120)
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U. S. DFPARTMENT OF LABOR
Women/0 Bureau
Washington
June 22, 1921,
News Letter No. 5.
ACTIVITIll An-7MM
mom
IN INDUSTRY
MINIMUM !ATE LAW ONtP MORP UPWLD.
The most important event of the month occurred em itme 6 when
d deen its
the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia hande
Not only
emml.
decision declaring the minimum wage law oonstituti
the opin,
but
oints
is the decision an important ene from all viewp
best
ts
the
ion of the Court is considered by minimum mg' exper
ever rendered.
In summing up the Court says:
real
"It appears to us, conolusively, that a minimum wage has a
minor
and
ani substantial relation to the health and morals of women
establishment
girls who work, and that Congress by providing for the
not acted
of subh a wage in the manner outlined in the statute has
of the police
limit
the
n
withi
ly
clear
arbitrarily or spoliatively but
.
power with which it is intrusted.
ict
In his concurring opinion Mr. Justioe Stafford of the Distr
says,
Robb,
ce
Justi
Mt.
of
of Coluibia Supreme Court who sat in place
ted right of the
"In adiition it need only be said that the asser
work for him, and
to
ng
employer to be served by anyone who is willi
be subordinate to
at an, wage the worker is willing to accept, must
women who are obliged to
the right of the public to see that these
for less than a living."
work for a living shall not be Obliged to work
can be only
The opinion of the Court whioh is a lengthy one and
the Children's
summarised here and quoted in part says that the plaintiff,
at not less than
Hospital, stated that it employed a large number of women
of the Minimum Wage
$22.50 per month and. board, and that if the order
cted as now within its
condu
be
not
Board were enforced the hospital could
deprived of its
be
would
It
income. And, therefore, it averred that
Fifth Amendment to
the
of
ion
property without due .,recess, in contravent
the Constitution of the United States.
nableness of the
"Apellant" the Court svs, "does not deny the reaso
yees were not able ecause of
wage established by the Board. If its emclo
could have procured permisage or of anything else to earn that wage, it
y them for less; but it made no
sion under Section 13 of the Act to emplo
is, as we understand it,
application for this permission. Its b.rgument
for a smaller wage --- a
that since its employees are willing to work
in them in good health in accordance
wage less than is necessary to susta
it has a right to contract with them
with the findings of the Board,
them of that right it interon that basis; and )ecause the act deprives
thereby ieprives it of its property
feres with its liberty of contract and
it argues that Congress has no power
without Aue process. In other words,
sonable, for women and minors.
to fix any wigs, reasonable or unrea
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-2first inquire whether or not the Act has any real or
substantial relation to its declared object. For Answer we
may resort
to our common knowledge... We think says the Supreme
Court, 'that
the trial court might well take judicial notice that
the public health
is deeply concerned in the reclamation of swamp and overfl
owed lanas.
If there is any fact which may be furposed to be known
by everybody,
and, therefore, by the Courts, it is that swamps and stagna
nt waters are
the cause of malaria and malignant fevers, anA that the police
power is
never more legitimate4 exercised than in removing such
nuisances. . .
It is equally well known that if a working women does not receiv
e a
sufficient mg* to supply her with necessary food, shelte
r, and clothing,
and she is compelled to subsist upon less than nor requir
ements demand,
the result must be that her health would be injuriously
affecteA.6
Reference is male to the Rouse Committee's report
on the Minimum
"Inge Bill, which shows that the Merchants and Manufacturer
s. Association of
the District of Columbia representing 33 different busine
sses and employing
about 5,000 persons, approved the bill and that no one
appeared to oppose it.
'Thirteen states ... eight provinces of Canada
, Argentina, Francs, Great
Britain, Norway and Austria. . . . have provided
for a minimum wage for
women on the theory that it tends to safeguard their
health. Students of
the subject and public boards in different parts of
the world have found and
declared as a result of thorough investigation that
minim gage stimulates
industrial efficiency and aids industrial peace.
These things we learn fres
the brief and oral arruments of the appell
ees. If they he true, and their
truth is tacitly admitted by the appellant Gino* it did
not 4uestion it, than
it would appear that in the judgment of a large part
of the "'rid, there is
an intimate relation between the minimum wage and
the public welfare. Minimum wage statutes have been assailed several times in
the courts but no
court has held one invalid . . . But resting only on
wht everyone knows
our oemmon knowledge -- we can not dbubt that this act
has a substantial
relation to its express object.
That the act intorferes with freedom of contract, the
Court says
must be conceded, 'but that is not fatal. Very
statute exerting police
power interferes with freedom of contract. ... If
it be correct that the
statute is void on that ground, there would be no room for
the play of the
police power. But, obviously, it can not be correc
t. 'There is no absolute freedom to do as one wills or to contract as
ono chooses. The guaranty of liberty toes not withdraw from legislative
sul)srvision that wide
department of activity Which consists of the making of contra
cts, or deny
to the Government the cower to provide restrictive safegu
ards. Liberty implies the absence of arbitrary restraint not immuni
ty from reasonable regulations and prohibitions imposed in the intere
sts of the cemwunity.. The
right to make contracts 'is subject also, in the field of
State Aotion, to
the essential authority of Goverment to maintain peace anti securi
ty, and
to enact laws for the promotion of toe health, safety, morals and
welfare
of those subject to its jurisdiction.... Many are the instances
In which
the court has sustained statutes involving a restriction upon freedom of
contract; It rrts approved an act limiting the hours of employment in mines
and wetter* ... forbidding the sale of oigarettes without license
requiring the redemption in cash or store orders issued in payment of
wages ... prohibiting contracts for options to sell or buy grain ... permit*
ing an individual to condemn property for the purpose of cbtaining water
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
and forbidding the employment of women in laundries more
for his land
than ten hours a day. In each of these oases the right of private contract
was involved, but that did not deter the court from sustaining the statutes.
*Repeatedly the Supreme Court nas upheld statutes limiting the hours
of labor on the footing that excessive hours interfere injuriously with the
not a wasp which
health of those who are compelled to practice them
as hours of
to
nealth
will provide sufficient fool have aa aloe° a relation
labor? 10 think so. If we mar acoept the House Comiwittaels report, an evil
existed. The workers, by reason of the law of competition, were unable to
remove it. They were compelled to submit or go without work. 'Necessitous
men,' says Lord Chancellor Nethington, 'are not, truly speaking, free men
Congrass alone oopld apply the remedy.
"Itaoh was said during the argument at the bar to tna effect that if
this statutJ is sustained it will lead to sovietism, general price fixing, and
so forth. Men 3tattlso having that effect come up for judgment we shall deal
with them. It is no part of our duty to engage in speculation concerning them
now ... Concerning sovietism, however, we may say that we do not think the
upholding of the Act will have the temiency claimed. On the contrary, 1,:e are
convinced the oppoaLte effect will be produced, because this daeision will demonstrate that this Government, as framed by the Bathers, has ample power, and
those inveated with that power have the aisp(,sition, to protect the weak against
the strong by administering justice to both. If the power aia not exist and the
Govornment could not interfere but woula have to stand supinely by while mremg
dominated right, there might be some basis %or the contention that a change is
necessary in aur institutions; but with the recognition of the power, virile and
efficient, the uontention loses all force it mikiht otherwise nave."
In sentrast to the opinion of the court, as stated by Chief
Justiee Smith, and the concurring opinion of Mr. Justiee Stafford, is the lisa.
seating opinion of Mr. Justice Van Credal, itAo eaye that if the power exists
to fix wages in the interest o good morals an the promotion of the general
welfare, the poAer must likewise me oonoeded to fix the prices of all oommodittos entering into the determination of a living wage. H. declares that
a fixed minimum wage molt,ns a fixed wage, and denies that "high" wages tend to
good morals or the promotion of the general welfi.%re.
In support of this Last statement no cites a case wIthin his own observation of three bricklayers, the first of whom was motored to and fres his
work by his son ("Who oculd have 6011347114./00. as A common laborer a wage of 500 ler
house"), and laid ;480 bricks during his 8-hour day, the second bricklayer rode to
and from his work en a bicycle and laid L70 bricks a day, whila the third bricklayer walked to amt from his work, & distance of two miles each way, carried his
dinner pail, eat down under a tree at noon and ate his dinner, and laid 900
bricks a lay. All three received the &Jogai) daily wage. "Any system, whether
it be a labor union regtlatiou or a law, that lifts bricklayer No. 1 to the
level of bricklayer No.3, or drags No. 3 down to the level of No. 1, is unfair,
unjust and vicious. It destroys all ambition to become highly skilled since it
offers no reward for efficieney but plaoes a premium upon inefficiency. But
No. 1
Again, does an unearned wage assure gooa morals? The son of bricklayer
who chauffeured his indolent father to aria from work , during the same season
motored with two associates to a neighboring village, burglarised the store,
friends...
and only escaped the penitentiary by the interposition of InflueLtial
the
in
ameme,
wage
minimum
"Experienoe has demonstrated that a fixed
some
almonde
to
oompelled
last analysis, a fixed wage; since the employer, being
of
cost
the
equalise
to a wage higher than their earning capacity, will, to
Nonce, the
operation, lower the wage of the more eompetent to the co,mon basis.
situation of the bricklayers is inevitable...
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Federal
Reserve Bank of St. Louis
0
-4"The tendency of tne times to socialize property rights under the
subterfnce of policy regulation is dangerous, and if continued will prove
destructive of our free institutians. It should be remeMbered that of
the
three fundamental principles which underlie government, and for which governwent exists -- the protection of life, liberty and nroperty, -- the chief
of
these is ..roperty, -- not that any amount of property is more valuable than
the life or liberty of the citizen, but the history of civilization canclusively groves thut when the citizen is deprived of the free Use and enjoyment of his property, anarchy t,nd revolution follow, and life and liberty
are without protection...
No greater calamity could befall the wage-eerners of this Gauntry
than to have the legislative parlor to fix wages upheld. It would deprive
them of the most sacred safeguard which the Constitution affords. Take from
the citizen the right to freely contract and sell his labor for the highest
wage %hive his individual skill and efficiency will somrand, e.nd the laborer
would be reduced to an automaton, e-- & mere creature of the state. It is
paternalise in the highest degree and the struggle of the centuri
es to establish the . rinciple that the state exists for the citizen and not the citizen
for the state would be lost.
°If in the exercise of the police power for the general welfare, power
lies in the legislature to fix the wage which the citizen must accept
fee
choose idleness or ... be deprived of the means of earning a living, it is
but a step to a legal reqvirement that the industrious, frugal, economi
cal
citizen met divide his earnings eithhis indolent, worthless
neighbor. These
are but the Logical result e of this modern legislative ant& judieia
l jugglery
wita great fundamental principles of free government. Let no one imagine
for
a moment that our civilisation is such that :ropsrty rights can thus be
socialized without the grossest abuse of the orivileee granted, or
that the restraint
of the abuses wan be left lith s.)fety to legislative or judicia discrel
tion.e
Injunction was asked in the District of Columhia Supreme Court on May
25,
1920, restraining the Minimum *go Board from enforcing its order Which
established a minimum wage for all women employel in hotels, reetemrants,
apartment
houses, clubs, and hospitals. On Jens 22, 1920, the court handed. /wen
its
decision in favor of the board. The ease vas then appealed and rending
the
decision of tha Court of weals the liege of $15. ordered by the board
for the
laundry and :try cleaning industry, to become effectiee March 19, 1921, has
not been paid except by a few of the smaller laundries and two
hotels.
Therefore book pay for the eeriori 1)et,esen Wrch 19 and June 6 is dee np,-roximately 1,b00 women.
Arkansas.
nrough an amendment to the mimimum wage and maximum hour law enacted by
this legislature of 1921 an industrial welfare commission has been established.
This commission consists of the Commissioner of Labor and Statistics as exofficio chairman, and two men and two women, one each to represent employers,
and one each to represent employees. One man and one woman must be a:pointed
by the Governor, and one man and one eomen.by the Coreissioner of ',caber and
Statistics. All members are to serve without salary for a term of two years.
The act was approved lebruary 17 and beoame effective ieeediately.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-6California.
--1,17
-1-iendustrial
Welfare Commission has issued Order No. 3 amended 1921,
for the fruit and vegetable canning industry to beoome effective June 21, 1921.
This order rescinhiOrder No. 3, amended 1920, dated April 27, 1920, and Amendment to Order No. 3$ amended 1920, dated Marsh 14, 1921.
Connecticut.
The General Assembly has passed laws giving the Labor Comissioner power
to inspect pay rolls And to require adequate and sanitary toilets for employees
in manufacturing, mechanical and mercantile establishments, and providing that be
shall investigate complaints, refer violations to the proper prosecuting officers
and report annually to the governor. Another bill passed brings Chinese laundries under the law limiting hours of labor to 55 a week and 10 a day, and prohibits the employment in a public laundry of any person who is affected with
pulmonary tuberculosis, scrofulous or venereal disease, or a communiodble skin
affection.
District of Columbia.
The workmen's compensation bill on Which hearings were held recently before the House Committee on the District of Columbia has been endorsed by the
Housekeepers' Alliance. As the bill reads at present all houleekeepers who imply
one or more domestic servants daily or at regular intervals will be obliged to
carry insurance for such employees.
Illinois.
The 8-hour bill has been rejected in th4 Senate by a vote of 21 to 10.
-----,58 mothers' pension law passed at
this session of the legislature has
been found to be eempulsory instead of as at first reported, !net mandatory."
Massachusetts.
In reply to a request fres the Commissioner of Labor and Industries for
an opinion as to the meaning of the word *week" as used in the Act relating to
the hours of employment of women and children the Attorney General has stated
as his opinion that 'in the abeam* of an express declaration that the term
'weeks in the statute shall moan any consecutive seven days, it moat be given
its ummal meaning and be considered equivalent to the phrase "in any calendar
week.19
Inquiry was made became in a certain case =Aga consideration a schedule of hours was established which limited the employment of women in any oalender week to 48 but did not limit the employment to 48 hours in certain 7-day
periods. Ror instance beginning with a Sunday when a woman employee does not
work, she is employed during the remainder of the week for 8 hours a day. or a
total of 48 hours. Beginning with the next Sunday she is employed for 7i
hours on that day and for 6 hours on eh of the following 6 days, or a total
of 43i hours, but if the computation begins on the first Monday for a period of
7 lays the actual hours of employment are 55i. The Attorney General says, 'the
purpose of this statute is to prevent injury to health by permitting women engaged in certain occupations to work for unreasonable periods. The ground upon
which the courts have sustained regulations limiting the hours of labor of
women and children is that continuous strain tends to lower the vitality of
such persons and makes them more liable to physical or mental breakdown. Under
the schedule as outlined above the hours of freedom from work would seem to
prevent such evil effects for during the period of two calendar weeks a woman
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
thaw employed works four and one-half hours less than the limitation imposed
by the statute. It is to be observed that in any event the hours of labor
are limited to not more than nine hours in any one day, giving evidence of an
intention on the part of the Legislature to permit some elasticity in the
arrangement of schedules".
A law has been enacted making women eligib4e1 to all state offices and
appointments except those from which they may be excluded by the constitution.
The petition that women be given equal oompensation for the same work was rejected and a similar bill asking that pelt() school teachers receive equal pay
for the same grede and kind of work irrespective of sex was referred to the next
annual session of the legislature. The request of the *omen's Trade Union Limos
for the appointment of a joint special legislative oemmittee to study the rates
of mew being paid by the state to women performing anbstantially the stme work
as men vas reported *leave to withdraw." Another
asure, however, providing
for the investigation of state departments was enacted. This includes some of
the provisions of the former bill. Several bills providing for maternity benefits were introduced at this session of the legislature, but all were defeated.
Michigan.
On March 17, a bill was submitted to the legislature by the League of
Woman Voters, amending the law regulating the hours of labor for women to provide a maximum week of 50 hears instead of 54 and a maximum day of 9 hours instead of 10. This bill was not reported out of the House Labor CoPmittee to
Which it was referred.
Tha Libor Department and the Industrial Accident Board have been combined
under a new plan and completely reorganized.
Minnesota.
On June 1, in aecordanoe with the law enacted at this
legislature, the Minimum lege Commission as such *eased to
iuties are to be exercised and performed by the Industrial
subordinates as a part of the functions of the Division of
the Department of Labor and Industries.
session of the
exist. Its powers and
Commission and its
Women and Children in
New kLimpshire.
The factory inspection law has been amInded to provide for a
tory inspector,
an fah-
New Terki,
A 1w exempting hotel employees from the one-day-rest-in-seven law, was
thought at first to exempt all women elevator operators and women selling news,-)apere, candy, etc. The Industrial Commissioner has held, however, that these
women are protected ender toe mercantile and elevator laws and the now law does
not affect them.
A law affecting both men and women relates to the payment of wages. Formerly employers in INImr York State were compelled to pay their employees in oash.
This law has been amended to allow payment by check if thesmployer furnishes sae'
isfactory proof to the Industrial Commissioner of his financial responsibility
and gives reasonable assurance that such checks may be cashed by emyloyees
without difficulty and for the full amount for which they are iraw.n.
North Dakota.
An aot creating !..4. Children's oode ooarlission has been passed by the legisa
latura and the commission of 7 members - 4 women and 3 men has been arpointed.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-.7..
Ohio.
----the minimum wage bill has bean defeated and Ohio retains its place among
those States whose laws do not insure working women a living ease. The Consumers, League of Ohio conducted the complabra for minimum wage legislation and their
printed pamphlets are the taithority for the report as given hero,
The Schrimper bill, after passing the House by a largo majority, was reu.
tarred by tha Senate to the Committee on Manufacture and Conmeros. This oommittee delayed for more than a month calling a meeting and, when they finIally met
on April 2G, voted to report out a measure known as the Chatfield subttitute.
At this mooting no ono was allowed to be heard but members of the Committee and
those members of the committee Who favored the Schrimper bill were not advised
before that meetin6 of the existence of a sUbatitute bill nor werJ any of the
loboyists consulted Shout it in aoaordance with customary procedure. The Commit4
tee voted 4 to 3 to report out the Chatfield substit-Ite and this report and a
minority report on the Schrimper bill were both made to the Senate, the Linority
report being defeated by a vote of 29 to 8. The Chatfield subttitute was thus
automatically accepted but the legislature adjourned without taking final action.
Minimum wage advocates felt that the Chatfield wibstitate was pernicious
legislation and if enacted would be worse than no law at all. They, therefore,
opposed it. Although claimed by its proponents to be a copy of the Massaohu3ett6
law it was, the supporters of the Schrimper bill said, only a caricature of that
law - it provided that the Lioutenant4Govenlor, the Secretary of State, the
Treasurer, the Auditor, and the Attorney-General, should constitute the minim=
wage com.ission instead of providimg a representative commission; it did not insure thai; there would ever be a woman on the commission; it provided that wage
boards coula take into account the financial condition of the individual employer,
thus penalising the working girl for the inability of her employer to manage his
business efficiently; it provided that the legal maximum week should be the baste
of the minimum wage - for instance, a girl who works in an industry operating 44
hours a week would gut only 44/50 of the minimum wage set for that industry; it
crippled the commission by withholding from it the right of publishing the names
of those employers who do not comply with the law; in the section relating to the
licensing of persons mentally or physically incapable of earning the 'age of a
normal person no provision was mate to limit the number of such persons who con
be employed in any one establishment in that industry.
Oklahoma.
-----373111 to create a bureau for 'women anti children in the Department of
Labor passel the Senate, was favorably reported by the Rouse Committee on leiber
and Albitration but failed to be brought to a vote. An amendatory act having
for its main purpose reducing the hours of work for women from 9 to 8 a day, also
passed the Senate but died in the house during the closing hours of the session.
Another act, also amendatory, intended to increase the amount of money avail33le
for the support of indigent women and to increase the amount of their allowance
from $12 to $15 received a favor4b1e committee retort but diadon the Senate
calendar.
Pennqlvania.
-The act to c....1-07.1.te a bureau of women and children in the Department of
Labor and Inaastry has been vetoed by Governor Sproul. His veto reads as foalows:
"There is already reasonably complete provision for such work as is contemplated
under the terms of this measure, and the Department of Labor and Industry has a
ammber of women insptictors charged with the Enforcement of the laws relating to
the particular subjects which would be within the scope of this Bureau. la have
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
.8seeds such progress in the development of the activities of the Department of
Labor and Industry, ma *idle certain extensions may be more or less desirable,
not, in view of the pressing necosiity for economy in State expentiitures
my way clear to approve this bill."
United States.
The Sheppard-Towner bill for the protection of maternity and infancy
was favorably reported by the Senate Committee on Education and Libor on May 20.
At the request of Senator Kamyon it has been made a special order of business
for Tuesday, June 28.
In the House the bill is still in the hands of the Committee on Interstate ani ForAgn Commerce, of whloh Representative Winslow of VassL6chusetts
is chairman. No data has yet been fixed by the Committee for the consideration
of this bill. The National League of Weaken Voters resorts that most of the membars of the Committee, of both partias, have expressed themselves as in favor
of the bill.
Canada, British Columbia.
At the last slssion of the legislature the
amnded to eliminate from the provisions of the
casetin the opinion of the 3up,3rintemLsnt, is a
the 1-,rovisions of this Act." Under the old law
and even from other countries were claiming the
within their rights in doing so.
mothers, pension act was
act early other person whose
proper one for assistance unier
widows from other provinces
benefit of the act and were
YERSONWL.
U. S. Derartment of Labor,
Miss Agnes L. Peterson 11-is been appointed Assistant Director of
the Toments Bureaus her appointment taking effect May 15.
Miss Mary Stewart has been appointed Chief of the Junior Division
St the Miployment Service.
Ohio.
Visa Rose Moriarty has been appointed a member of the State Industrial Comwission, her appointwent to take effect July 1, She is the first
woman to hold this )osition in Ohio.
Members of the Industrial Welfare Commission appointed in accordRnoe
with the action of the legislature of 1921 are Mrs. M.A.P. McCrary, Mrs. J.O.
Spurgeon, Vs. T.E. Bayless, and Mr. E. O. *awes, The Commissioner of LAbor
and Statistics Mr. T. A. Wilson, serves as ex-officio chairman of the
Commission.
Texas.
Mn, Lena Gardner has been appointed iireotor of the %weenie
Division of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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samori.
Mrs. Ali. Curti* Moyer ling has been appointed tastily, irw,,ct(
in th* Bureau of Labor Statistic*.
aporligagold re.
Mrs. E. C. Chagnon has been appointed factory inspeoter in the Duro**
of Labor, tha appoIntoont to ta'e effect July 1.,
inia.
Mre. Vary Dille Zacry hos been appointed factory inspector In the
Tier :*1 of Lb or.
West Ti
NPW PUB
CATIONS.
Yet-. 3erartmont of Labor, Burns* _of Women and Children.
no,qtri..1 postura .1214 aw.itini;.
1. So p. (*postal ioulletin
Culifornia InIastrial Welfare Commission.
lhat C.lifornia h
tone to protect its women workers.
nal.
11
P.
A repOrt of the invsatigations 3n:t Iroceedings of the Inftstrial
-. Commission for the biennia.% T,eriod 1g19•1920.
Association of Govern-914al Lb or Offiatala of the United States eat Cansidet.
At the convention hold in New Orleans Mkty 2 to 6, 1914„ the following
officers for tha owing yea: were elected: Frank LSlood, president. C. 3.
Conn,lley, let vice-presiLtent; lth4,1 K. Johnson, 24 viae-preeidant; N. V.
Staley, 3r1 vioe-prealdent; nunaisoo Trireme, 4th vise-preeidenti J. N.
,IfctLeed, 5th viNse•preeidelit; Lim, Z. ireeette, seoretary-trosetwer.
!ha ninth anuwi comontion of ths Association will be hold in
kiirri*hurg, Penney1va44a, in may, 1946
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
128
U. S. Department of Labor
WOMENIS BUREAU
Was
July 28, 1921,
News Letter No. 6.
ACTIVITIES AFFECTING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
District of Columbia.
A rehearing of the minimum wage case has been granted by the Court of Appeals
which only recently rendered a decision declaring the law constitutional. Immediately following that decision a rehearing of the case was asked and refused. However, because in the absence of Mr. Justice Robb, a member of the regularly constituted Court of Appeals, Mr. Justice Stafford of the District Supreme Court, had
sat in his place on this case, it was claimed and the claim upheld, that only the
regularly constituted Court could grant or refuse the rehearing of a case. Therefore, with the return to the bench of Mr. Justice Robb, a rehearing has been
granted and a decision in the case is thus postponed until the fall term of the
Court. Meanwhile, in the absence of any decision by the Court, the Minimum Wage
Board is prosecuting cases of violation of its orders.
Massachusetts.
The law passed at the last session of the legislature which provides that the
assistant commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industries shall be a woman,
while it gives no specific duties to the position authorizes the assistant commissioner to vote with the other members in all matters requiring joint action.
One
of the most important provisions of the act is that permitting the assistant commissioner to inspect industrial establishments to determine compliance with the
labor laws and to make investigations concerning the conditions of employment of
women and children,
The Department of Labor and Industries has recently completed a study of working conditions in mattress factories with special reference to the health of the
employees. A study of the use of translucent glass in factories also has been
recently completed.
New Mexico.
The hour law which was passed at the recent session of the legislature provides that not more than 8 hours shall be worked by women employed in any mechanical establishment, factory, laundry, hotel, restaurant, cafe or eating house, or in
any place of amusement. It does not apply to women employed in offices as stenographers, bookkeepers, clerks, or in other clerical work, and not required to do
manual labor. Canneries and other establishments for caring for perishable goods
are also excepted. The law also provides for not more than 9 hours a day in
mercantile establishments, except drug stores, and not more than eleven hours on
Saturday nor more than 56 hours in any one week; not more than nine hours in any
express, transportation, or public utility business or on any common carriert with
a weekly limitation of 56 hours; not more than 60 hours in any emergency and time
and a half for all time over 56 hours; not more than 8 hours a day and 43 hours a
week in telephone establishments employing more than 5 operators, where the shift
worked is from 7 a, m. to 9 p. m. and not more than 10 hours a day and 60 hours a
week where the shift worked is between 9 p. m. and 7 a. m. The penalty provided
for violation of the act is not less than $100 nor more than $500.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
..4
mir
-2New York.
Under the reorganized Department of Labor, five bureaus have been established-Inspection, Workmen's Compensation, State Insurance Fund, Industrial Relations, and
Research and Codes--with several divisions under each. The Bureau of Inspection
includes (1) the Division of Factory Inspection under the direction of a chief factory inspector with an assistant chief factory inspector and seven supervising inspection districts; (2) the Division of Mercantile Inspection under the direction
of a chief mercantile inspector to inspect all mercantile establishments and to
enforce the child labor law outside of faCtories and the elevator law in apartment
houses, hotels and business offices; (3) the Division of Home Work Inspection to inspect tenement houses in which work for a factory is done, to issue licenses therefor, and, in cooperation with the chief of the Alien Division, to have charge of
the inspection of immigrant lodging houses; (4) the Division of Boiler Inspection
which supersedes the Bureau of Boilers and Explosives.
In the Bureau of Workmen's Compensation are provided ten referees to hear and
determine claims for compensation, their work to be of a judicial nature only and
not administrative. There are under the Bureau a Division of Claims Examination,
a Medical Division, and a Division of Self Insurance.
The Bureau of State Insurance Fund is placed under the supervision of the
Manager of the State Insurance Fund, with an Assistant Manager. In the Bureau of
Industrial Relations are three divisions—Mediation and Arbitration, Employm
ent,
and Aliens. The Director of this Bureau is also authorized to supervise the
work
of investigation of public contracts with reference to payment of the prevail
ing
rate of wages, hours of labor and alien labor.
The Bureau of Research and Codes is for the present under the immediate supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of the Department and
has three divisions-Industrial Codes, Women in Industry, and Industrial Hygiene
, The Division of
Women in Industry is to carry forward the work of
the former Bureau of Women in
Industry, and to investigate the conditions of women
workers and make reports of
such special investigations as in the judgment of
the Commissioner may require
rules or mcdifications of existing rules,
such reports then to be considered by
the Division of Industrial Codes.
The Division of Industrial Codes with two industr
ial referees has charge of
preparing proposed rules and regulations relativ
e to industry and industrial processes and any amendment or repeal of
existing rules. Such rules must be submitted
to the Commissioner for consideration by
him to be proposed by him to the Industrial Board for action. The Division also has charge
of the preliminary investigation and hearing of variations from the
provision of the Labor Law with respect
to new factory buildings. The Divisio
n of Industrial Hygiene is to make investigations of industrial processes and special
conditions in order to determine the
hazards of such processes and make reports to
be used as a basis for new rules or
changes in existing rules. This Division is
also to cooperate with the Bureauof
Inspection in making special investigations and
in the examination of plans for
new buildings and plans of special install
ation which may be ordered by the commissioner,
Besides the Industrial Commissioner there is
a Deputy Commissioner, a Secretary,
a Chief Statistician and Assistants
to the Commissioner to be assigned to cities in
which there are offices of more than one
bureau of the Department, as direct representatives of the Commissioner to correlate
and coordinate the work of the different offices. The office of Counsel
to the Department is abolished, the legal work
of the Department to be conducted
by the Attorney General or in such manner as he
indicates.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-3Pennsylvania.
A petition received by the Industrial Board from a large corporation requeste a ruling as to whether, in view of the law prohibiting the employment of
women under 21 after 9 p. m., under the daylight saving ordinance of Philadelphia,
they might work until 10 p. m. daylight saving time but 9 p. m. eastern standard
time. The Board decided "that if daylight saving time is observed at the beginning of a day, it must be observed at the end of the day; also that the time generally observed in the locality in question shall be observed in conforming to.
the law."
. A ruling of the Industrial Board applying to telephone companies, adopted
Juno 14, 1921, is as follows:
Where a private home, through contract with a telephone company, is used as
a telephone exchange for the convenience and profit of a telephone company, that
home becomes an "establishment" under the law, and the employment of fnroles
therein shall conform to the requirements of the law.
Recognizing, however, the wide range of conditions under which such contract
relations may exist, and the need of guidance to the inspectors of the Department
of Labor and Industry in applying the law under such varying conditions, the
Industrial Board rules as fallows:
1. Where the telephone service in contract exchanges is such that operators
are employed from outside the family or bona fide household of the contractors,
for either day or night service, the provisions of the Woman's Law shall be literally observed, including the posting of schedules.
2. Macre the night service in contract exchanges is such that no definite
assignment of hours is necessary, but the business may be cared for by members
of
the contracting family or bona fide household without the necessity for
instituting
a special routine of hours of duty, the literal Observance of
the provisions of the
Woman's Law may be waived, except insofar as they apply to the service
of minors.
In determining this point, the actual peg count of the exchange taken during
the
period last selected for securing engineering data shall
be reviewed and shall show
a general average of at least six hours' rest during the
night period.
3. These rulings shall not be considered to apply to contract exchanges which
are not located in their bona fide home. The
provision of a sleeping couch in an
ordinary exchange shall not bring that exchange
under the provision of these rules.
Due cognizance shall be taken of the cases where
living quarters located in a business building but constituting a bona fide
home are provided by the Telephone Company.
4. The fact that an operator must leave her
awn home for service, day or
night, shall automatically bring her under the
full provisions of the Woman's Law
regardless of any sleeping arrangements that
may be made for her in her place of
employment.
A petition to the Industrial Board calling
attention to home work in connection with the custom tailoring industry
in Philadelphia resulted in an investigation being made in which the services
of six post-graduate students of Bryn Mawr
College were utilized under the
supervision of the Department of Labor and Industry. A summarized report of the
investigation is given in the June Bulletin of
Information issued by the Industrial Board.
Wisconsin.
As a result of state-wide hearings looking
to a revision of the minimum wage
rate, the Industrial Commission has ordered
a minimum wage of 25 cents an hour for
experienced employees in cities with a population of 5,000 or more, and of 22 cents
an hour elsewhere. For inexperienced
employees, during the first three months in
industry, the rate fixed is 16 cents an hour, and for the second three months,
20
cents an hour. Boys and girls of 14 and 15 years of age must
be paid not less than
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-416 cents an hour during the first year of employment in any occupation, trade, or
industry, not a seasonal industry, and 20 cunts an hour thereafter.
To minors
between 16 and 17 years of age 20 cents an hour must be paid if they have been
employed in the industry six months or more and 16 cents an hour if employed less
than six months.
Minors, however, producing the same output as employees in a
higher wage classification, must be paid not less than the minimum wage for that
class. Learners in any establishment must not exceed 25 per cent of the total
number of women and minors normally employed.
The allowance for board and lodging, if furnished by the employer, is fixed
at not more than $5.25 per week for board and $2.50 for lodging in cities with a
population of 5,000 or more and at 04.50 and $2.00 in other parts of the state.
Under the old order of the Industrial Commission employers paying on a piece
rate basis were required to make good any deficit between the earnings of any
women employed at the piece rates and the hourly rates prescribed by the commission. Under the new order, if 75 per cent of the experienced employees earn three
cents more than a living wage, the commission believes "it can fairly be said that
the piece rates are adequate and an employer paying such piece rates should not be
required to make good deficits to inefficient employees."
The petition filed with the Industrial Commission which has resulted in the
revised minimum wage rates and which was filed by the Wisconsin State Federation
of Labor, the Milwaukee Council of Social Agencies and the Msconsin Consumers'
League requested also that the commission issue orders to limit the hours of work
for women and minors to not more than 8 a day and 44 a week. Concerning this, the
commission says "Upon this aspect of the petition, the evidence before the commission is very scant. Practically all of the testimony represents merely general
impressions and not accurate investigations as to the effect of varying hours of
labor upon the life, health, safety and welfare of women employes. This commission
must dispose of this aspect of the petition upon the record which has been made;
and upon this record no change in the present maximum hours of labor of women and
minor employes is warranted. Section 1728-2 of the statutes makes it the duty of
this commission 'to investigate, ascertain, determine and fix such reasonable
classification, and to issue general or special orders fixing a period or periods
of time, or hours of beginning and ending work during any day, night or week,
which shall be necessary to protect the life, health, safety or welfare of any
female.' There is a duty of the commission regardless of whether any petition is
pending in which a change in the hours of labor is requested. This duty the commission must and will discnarge by making investigations in various industries in
which the present regulations may be unsatisfactory or injurious to the health of
women employes. We believe, however, that it will be most fruitful to take up
industry by industry rather than to consider further whether a general reduction
in hours of labor is required under the provisions of section 1728-2 of the
Statutes."
Laws affecting labor which were passed at the last session of the legislature
provide as follows: (1) that any factory
giving out home work must secure from
the Industrial Commission a permit which may be revoked in case of violation of
this law, the minimum wage law, or the child labor law. Such a factory must also
secure a license from the local health department before work is given out to any
particular home worker, and this license which must designate the rooms in which
home work manufacture may be carried on may be granted only after inspection of
the premises by the health department and the payment of a fee of $1.00; (2) that
no machinery, boiler or mechanical device may be used or installed in the state
which does not comply with the safety orders of the Industrial Commission.
The
use of such machinery has always been illegal, but not the installation; (3) that
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the local board or labor representatives on locel boards of vocational educati
on
may not be foremen or superintendents; (4) that village boards may appoint building inspectors and may designate fire limits; (5) that building inspectors in
second class cities may condemn old and dilapidated buildings. Heretofore, only
the building inspectors in cities of the first class and the Industr
ial Commission
have had this power; (6) that no girl under 21 may be employed as a
bell-hop in
any hotel; (7) that payment of rages must be made under the semi-mo
nthly rage payment law precisely on the 15th and last day of the month; (8) that
in all public
schools one-half hour per month shall be devoted to instruction in fire
prevention.
The course of study in fire prevention is to be prepared by the Industr
ial Commission and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction is to see that all
schools
comply with the law.
There was appropriated for the Industrial Commission $285,00° per annum, of
which not more than 050,000 may be used for the employment offices. The fees collected for boiler and elevator inspections, from employment agency license
s, from
the sale of transcripts, and fire department dues withheld where the commiss
ion
is Obliged to make inspection are also appropriated. The total appropriation
is
estimated at 3292,725 per annum.
The statutes which heretofore have made it the duty of the Industrial Commission to collect liquor statistics and to conduct investigations of employm
ent contracts alleged to be unfair have been repealed.
Amendments to the workmen's compensation act increase the maximum weekly
indemnity to $16.90 and provide that emplloyers must furnish a panel
of physicians
from which the injured empD.oyees may select their doctors
, except in communities
where there is only one doctor. This panel need not exceed
5 doctors in Milwaukee
or 3 doctors elsewhere. Another amendment provides
for the rehabilitation of industrial and other cripples under supervision of the
State Board of Vocational Education. Persons injured in industry who are entitled
to the benefits of this law
are to receive as additional compensation a
mnintenance allowance not to exceed
$10.00 per week for more than 20 weeks.
United States.
The Sheppard-Towner maternity and infancy bill was favorab
ly acted upon by the
Senate July 23 by a vote of 63 to 7. An amendme
nt to transfer the administration of
the Act from the Children's Bureau to the Public
Health Service was defeated 61 to
9. Hearings on the bill before the House
Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce were concluded Saturday, July 23, but no
report to the House is expected for
another month as three weeks are required
for printing the hearings.
The Sweet bill passed by the House of Represe
ntatives to establish a Veterans'
Bureau under the Treasury Department has been
passed by the Senate with amendments
added by the Committee on Finance which
reported the bill to the Senate.
These
amendments abolish the federal Board for
Vocational Education and transfer all its
powers and duties to a Veterans' Bureau to
be established as an independent institution, whose director would be appointed by
the President. The bills are now in conference. The conferees are reported to have
held one :meting and failed to agree,
the House members being unwilling to accept
the Senate amendments.
The House bill is intended to combine the
work of all government agencies
dealing with matters affecting war veteran
s and to that and would transfer to a
Veterans' Bureau the functions, powers, and
duties of the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance, of that part of the Public Health
Service relating to the examination,
care and welfare of persons who served in
the World War, and of the Soldiers'
Rehabilitation Division of the Federal Board
for Vocational Education. The bill
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-6-
as amended by the Senate, however, specifically abolishes the Federal Board for
Vocational Education and transfers all its functions to the Veterans' Bureau,
including not only the rehabilitation of wolanded soldiers but vocational training for boys and girls, the rchabintation of civiliar men and women disabled
in industry, and home economics for mmln.
The Act establishing the Federal Board for Vocational Education and providing for the promotion of education in agriculture an4 the trades and industries
and for the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects was approved in February, 1917. In Jure, 1913, Corgi-ass added to the original duties of the Board
by the passage of the Act providing for %ocational rehabilitation and return to
civil employment of disabled persons discharged from the military or naval forces
of the United States.
PE1SS(.)1.!3;..L.
:innesota.
Miss Louise E. Schutz, rho was formerly Superintendent of the Bureau of
Women and Children in the Department of Labor and Industries, has been appointed
Chief of the Division of 'b-len and Children under the Industrial Commission.
Her now duties include the aaministration of the minimum wage act.
Wisconsin.
Mr. Knutson has boon appointed a muter of the industrial Commission to
succeed Mr. Hambrecht. Mr. Fred M. Wilcox has been chosen by the Commissioners
to act as chairman.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
••••••••..
U. S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau.
Preliminary report of a survey of wages, hours, and conditions of work of
the women in industry in Georgia - 1920-21.
63 p.
1921.
128
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
U. S. Department of Labor
WOMEN /S BUREAU
Washington
September 24, 1921.
News Letter No, 7.
ACTIVITIES AFFECTING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
California.
_.. _
The Industrial Welfare Commission reports the passage by the Legislature of
1921 of two amendments affecting minimum wage legislation.
One amendment provides for the compulsory holding of wage boards prior to the
issuance or amendment of the Commission's orders, The Commission has always been
opposed to the principle of making mandatory the acceptance of reco.emendations of
wage boards but it feels that making the calling of wage boards mandatory protects
both the workers and employers from snap action by a. Commission.
An amendment added to the Polj.tieal Code provides for the establishment of a
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to be cgEposed of four divisions:The Division of Workmen's Compensation Insurance, the Division of Immigration and
Housing, the Division of Industrial Welfare and the Division of Labor. These divisions are to be administered by the Industrial Accident Commission, the Immigration
and Housing Commission; the Industrial Welfare Commission,and the Commissioner of
Labor Statistics, respectively, and are to succeed to and be vested with all the
duties, powers, responsibilities and jurisdiction vested by law in those departments.
A council of four members is to be formed consisting of one member elected by each
of the first three named commissions and the labor comissioner, to act upon all matters involving conflict of authority or duplication of activities of two or more
divisions. This council is to hold its meetings monthly or oftener at the call of
ary two members. Provision is made for making available to each of the four divisions the funds of the pre-existent commission or department and it is further provided :that the Department of Industrial Relations may, by a majority vote and with
the consent of the State Board of Control, transfer money from one division to
another to cover the cost of any duty or activity transferred from one division to
another.
The Department of Labor and Irdustrial Relations is required, in addition to
making regulations that will prevent overlapping, to submit to the Governor and.
the next Legislature, a complete plan of reorganization and departmentalization of
the activities of the four divisions,
The Governor, it is stated, made it known to the Legislature that no consolidation scheme that curtailed the work of the several industrial departments would
receive his commendation. The present bill is expected to prevent any overlapping
of jurisdiction and inspections and make for a cocrdinated'department.
A
Georgia.
a 50-heur week for women was introduced in this session of
A bill providing
the Legislature. This bill was referred to the Committee on Labor and Statistics and
a substitute bill providing a 54-hour week reported by them to the House, In the
'original bill the only women exempted were those in the home and on the farm. The
substitute bill exempts in addition all women who work in offices and in charitable
Institutions and those who do stenographic work. The sanitary provisions in the
bill
substitute are the same as in the original bill but the clause in the original
The
involved.
expense
tailing for a woman inspector was striken out because of the
Assembly
General
substitute bill is now ready to be put before the house when the
meets again next summer, It is expected to pass without serious opposition,
Federation of
This bill is sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the State
Clubs, and the
Women's Clubs, The Federation of Business and Professional Women's
Women's Christian Temperance Union.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-2.
Louisiana.
An enabling act written into the new State constitution reads as
follows:
No law shall bc passed fixing the price of manual labor, but the .
Legislature, through
commission or otherwise, may establish minimum wages for and regulate the hours and working conditions of women
and girls except those engaged in agricultural pursuits or domestic
service.
This article was prcposed by Mrs. T. B. Inlkinson of Caddo Parish, one of the
three women delegates to the constitutional convention.
Massachusetts.
Acting under the authority of a. measure passed list year, permitting the Minimum Wage Commission to reconvene wage boards whenever in its opinion such action is
necessary to meet changes in the cost of living, the Commission is reconvening the
wage boards for six occupations. These are the Brush, Laundry, Retail Store, iAlslin
Underwear, and the Men's Cothing and Women's Clothing wage boards, This is the second time that the two boards last mentioned have been reconvened. The rates now in
effect for these branches of the clothing trades, 315 and 015.25 respectively, were
entered when the cost of living had nearly reached the peak. The rates for the other
occupations, however, were entorQg several years ago and mean little at the present
time. The decree for the brush industry was the first to be entered by the Commission, It went into effect in August 1914) and provided a minimum rate of 14 per
hour, The minimum rate for laundries, $6 per week, has been in effect since September 1915; the 38.50 for retail stores, since January 1916; and the $9 minimum
for muslin underwear since August 1918.
The wide difference in minimum rates, varying from the 1571/ an hour for women
in brush factories to 37/ an hour for women office cleaners, has caused dissatisfaction among both employers and employees. By far the groater part of the existing
difference is due to delay in revising decrees that are out of date. Prior to 1920
the Commission could reconvene its wage boards only on petition from employers or
employees in the occupation covered by the decree, As the provision of the law peri_tting such action on petition was not generally known it was seldom exercised. During
the eight years that the Commission has been in operation only three of the fifteell
wage boards have been reconvened on such petitions. These are the Women's Clothing,
%he Men's Clothing and the Men's Furnishing Wage Boards, The last mentioned board
is still in session. The Wage Board for Office and other Building Cleaners was
the first to be reconvened under the now law. Thz revised rates for this occupation became effectiveFtbruary I, 1921,
The Minor Lines of Confectionery and Food Preparations Wage Board has submitted
a report of its determinations, The Board finds the cost of living for a self-supporting woman in the occupAtion to be $13.50 a week, but on account of the financial condition of the industry, a minimum wage of 012 is recommended The Massachusetts law makes it possible for boards to take into consideration the financial
condition of theindustry and recommend rates below the amount fixed as the cost of
Jiving. The Commission has not yet acted upon these recommendations,
Dr.Wade Wright of the Department of Labor and Industries is assisting in making
a survey of East Boston, The work is under the direction of the Boston Health League
which comprises the principal agencies of this city interested in community health
problems. It will be similar to the Cleveland survey published last year on which
Dr. Wright was engaged. He will have charge of the industrial part of the study
thich will be largely concerned with the employment of women and children.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-3..
Commission Required to Advertise Firms not Complyinc; with Decrees.
The Minimum Wage Commission is advertising the paper box firms that have refused to comply with the decree for this occupation. This action is based on the
Opinion of the Attorney General that it is mandatory upon the Commission to publish
the names of all employers failing to comply with the decrees of the Commission.
Organizations to Assist Department of Labor and Industries,
A council on women and children in industry is being formed to assist the
Department of Labor and Industries in an unofficial capacity in matters concerning
women and children in industry. The council will consist of representatives of organizations and individuals sympathetically interefted in these problems.
Philippine ISlands.
A bill to regulate hours of labor was prepared by the Bureau of Labor and presented to the last session of the 5th Philippine Legislature. This bill limited
the daily hours of work of any laborer of either sex to eight, those of women during
the sixth month of pregnaney and thoze of minors under 16 to seven. It also provided
that no male laborer after working in the day time should be admitted into any . center
of labor to work in the night of the same day, and that no women .or men over 60
years of age, or minors under 16 years of age, should be adncitted to work at Aighte
This bill and another to create a court of industrial relations patterned after the
Kansas Court with certain modifications, both failed of passage, although the latter
bill was acted upon favorably by the Senate.
A measure is still pending in the House of Representatives to fix a minimum
daily wage scale,' The scale recommended by the Bureau of Labor is one peso (50 cents)
for men; 90 centavos (45 cents) for women and men over 60 years of age; and 50 centavos (25 cents) for minors under 16 years.
Wisconsin.
The Attorney General has rendered an opinion upon hotel restaurants which
brings them within the provisions of the law relating to hours of work. This law
does not cover hotels. The Attorney General states as his opinion that "Sections
1723-1 to 1728-4 , inclusive of the statutes and the orders of your commission made
pursuant thereto apply to a restaurant conducted with a hotel where that restaurant
ceters to the general public and not merely to the guests of the hotel. Whether
the dining facilities of a hotel corducted on the European plan are such as to make
it subject to these sections and the orders issued pursuant thereto would necessarily be a question of fact to be determined upon the situation in the individual case."
Germany.
In Saxony, the work of women factory inspectors has been organized by the
Ministry of Labour on the following lines:
The Women factory inspactors are to aupervise the observance of Acts and De.,
crees, particularly in respect to tho work of women., children and young people,
home work and domestic work. They are to note, in particular, the injurious effects
which certain kinds of industrial work may have on maternity and on the health of
married women workers.
Women factory inspectors are endowed with authority to intervene in all questions relating to woreents work, but they will endeavour to win the respect and
confidence of women workers and to keep them informed of all legislative tetasures
for their protection and occupational training. The inspectors will keep in constant
touch with all women engaged in any form of supervisory work and with women trade
union leaders.
list
Women factory inspectors will forward to the Ministry of Labour a complete
they
and
contact
of the women in responsible positions with whom they have come into
in
cases
will continue to keep in contact with such persons by correspondence in
which personal contact is impossible.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
•11411.
By means of popular lectures or private interviews, women factory inspectors
will endeavour to promote friendly relations between the various branches of womenle
work, and will maintain increesingly close and cordial relations with all women who
enjoy the confidence of women workers. It •tould also be desirable for women inspectors to work in collaboration with other women engaged in social work, such as
protection of children or care of the sick. ;With support of the chief factory inspector, the women inspectors will convene at least two conferences a year which the
factory health inspectors will be invited to attend; all women workers, supervisors,
etc.,with whom factory inspectors have come in contact will meet at those conferences, which will discuss the best means for developing and extending the work of
women f4ctory inspectors.
(Gewerkschaftsstimme, 14 July, 1921; International Labour Office, Raily intelligence, v. 3, no. 7, p. 3C-31. July 26, 1921.)
PERSONNEL.
S. Department of Labor.
Miss Grace Abbott has been appointed Chief of the Children's Bureeu to succeed
Liss Julia Lathrop.
U.
Illinois.
Mr. Richard L. Dye, of Jacksonville, has been appointed chief factory inspector
to succeed James A. Short, of Chicago.
Wisconsin.
Miss Alba Roach, Deputy in the Women's Department of the Industrial Commission,
has been transferred to the Rehabilitation Division of the Federal Board for Vocational Education. She is succeeded by Miss Alice Smith, formerly employment manager
of the A. George Schultz Box Factory.
Liss Myra Emory, also a Deputy in the Women's Department, has resigned to go
into business for herself in Madison.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
2Jassachusetts DePartment of Labor and Industries.
Annual report Tor the year ending November 30, 1920. (1921.) 132 p.
.iew York Department of Labor.
Court decisions on workmen's compensation law. January, 1920-June,1921. Constitutionality and coverage. July, 1921. 302 p. (Special bulletin 106.)
New York labor laws enacted in 1921. July, 1921. 68 p.(Special bulletin 107.)
Sickness among New York State factory workers in 1919. Aug.1921. 29 p.
(special bulletin 108.)
U. S. Department of Labor Women's Bureau.
Woments wages in Kansas. 1921. 104 p. (Bulletin 17.)
U.
S. Federal Board for Vocational Education.
Vocational education in the hotel business. A report to the American Hotel
Association of the United States and Canada. By L. S. Hawkins representing the
Federal Board for Vocational Education. (1921.) 128 p.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
I
—133
U. S. Departmehl of Labor
WOMEN'S BUREAU
Washington
September 24, 1921.
News Letter No. 7.
ACTIVITIES AFFECTING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
California.
The Industrial Welfare Commission reports the passage by the Legislature of
1921 of two amendments affecting minimum wage legislation.
One amendment provides for the compulsory holding of wage boards prior to the
issuance or amendment of the Commission's orders, The Commission has always been
Spposed to the principle of making mandatory the acceptance of recommendations of
wage boards but it feels that making the calling of wage boards mandatory protects
both the workers and empld/yers from snap action by 2- Commission.
An amendment added to the Pooal Code provides for the establishment of a
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to be composed of four divisions:The Division of Workmen's Compensation Insurance, the Division of Immigration and
Housing, the Division of Industrial Welfare and the Division of Labor. These divons aeI be administered by the Industrial Accident Commission, the Immigration
and Housing Commission, the Industrial Welfare Commission,and the Commissioner of
Labor Statistics, respectively, and are to succeed to and be vested with all the
S uties, powers, responsibes and jurisdiction vested by law in those departments.
A council of four members is to be formed consisting of one member elected by each
of the first three named co=eissions and the labor commissioner, to act upon all matters involving conflict of authority or duplication of actives of two or more
Sivisions, This council is to hold its meetings monthly or oftener at the call of
any two mombers. Provj.sion is made for making available to each of the four
ons the funds of the pre-existent commission or department and it is fUrther provided that the Department of Industrial Relations may, by a majority vote and with
the consent of the State Board of Control, transfer money from one division to
another to cover the cost of any duty or activity transferred from ono division to
another,
The Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is required, in adon to
making regulations that will prevent overlapping, to submit to the Governor and,
the next Legislature, a complete plan of reorganization and departmentalization of
the activities of the four divisions.
The Governor, it is stated, made it known to the Legislature that no consolidation scheme that curtailed the work of the several industrial departments would
receive his commendation. The present bill is expected to prevent any overlapping
of jurisdiction and inspections and make for a coordinated'department.
Georgia.
a 50-hour week for women was introduced in this session of
A bill providing
the Legislature. This bill was referred to the Committee on Labor and Statistics and
a substitute bill providing a 54-hour week reported by them to the House. In the
t only women exempted were those in the home and on the farm. The
original bill the
substitute bill exempts in addition all women who work in offices and in charitable
T who do stenographic work. The sanitary provisions in the
II
those
institutions and
IRI!L bill
substitute are the same as in the original bill but the clause in the original
i
was striken out because of the cxpense involved. Thc
calling for a woman inspector
substitute bill is now ready to be put before the House when the General Assembly
noets again next summer. It is expected to pass without serious opposition,
This bill is sponsored by the League of Women Voters, the State Federation of
':omen's Clubs, The Federation of Business and Professional Woments Clubs, and the
- Arlon's Christian Temperance Union.
.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-2Louisiana.
An enabling act written into the new State
constitution reads as follows:
No law shall bc passed fixing the price of
manual labor, but the .
Legislature, through a commission or otherwise, may
establish minimum wages for and regulate the hours and working
conditions of women
and girls except those engaged in agricultural
pursuits or domestic
service.
This article was prcposed by Mrs. T. B. Wilkinson of
Caddo Parish, one of the
three women delegates to the constitutional conventi
on.
E'essachusetts.
Acting under the authority of a measure passed last
year, permitting the Minimum Wage Commission to reconvene wage boards
whenever in its opinion such action is
necessary to meet changes in the cost of living, the
Commission is reconvening the
'.rage boards for six occupations. These are the Brush,
Laundry, Retail Store, 1A:slin
underwear, and the Men's C]ething and Women's Clothing wage
boards. This is the second time that the two boards last mentioned have been
reconvened. The rates now in
effect for these branches of the clothing trades, $15
and 315.25 respectively, were
entered when the cost of living had nearly reached the
peak, The rates for the other
occupations, however, were enter
several years ago and mean little at the present
time
The decree for the brush industry was the first
to be entered by the Commission. It went into effect in August 1914, and provided a
minimum rate of 1511 per
hour* The minimum rate for laundries, 38 per week, has
been in effect since September 1915; the $8.50 for retail stores, since January
1916; and the $9 minimum
for muslin underwear since August 1910.
The wide difference in minimum rates, varying from the 1571,-/
an hour for women
in brush factories to 37/ an hour for women office cleaners
, has caused dissatisfac.
,
tion among both employers and employees. By far the greater
part of the existing
(lifference is due to delay in revising decrees that are out
of date. Prior to 1920
the Commission could reconvene its wage boards only on petition
from employers or
employees in the occupation covered by the decree, As the provision of the law per:itting such action on petition was not generally known
it was seldom exorcised. During
the eight years that the Commission has been in operation only three of the fifteeil
rage boards have been reconvened on such petitions. These are the Women's Clothing,
the Men's Clothing and thG MCII I S Furnishing Wage Boards. The last mentioned board
is still in session. The Wage Board for Office and other Building Cleaners was
tho first to be reconvened under the new law. Th: revised rates for this occupation became effectiveFre:-ua7 1, l92e.
The Minor Lines of Confeetionery and Food Preparations Wage Board has submitted
a report of its determinations, The Board finds the cost of living for a self-supporting woman in the occupation to be $13.50 a week, but on account of the financj.al condition of the industry, a minimum wage of 312 is recommended The Massachusetts law makes it possible fcr boards to take into consideration the financial
condition of theindustry and recommend rates below the amount fixed as the cost of
3iving. The Commission has not yet acted upon those recommendations,
Dr.Wade Wright of the Department of Labor and industries is assisting in making'
e. survey of East Boston, The work is under the direction of the Boston Health League
which comprises the principal agencies of this city interested in community health
problems. It will be similar to the Cleveland survey published last year on which
Dr. Wright was engaged. Ho will have charge of the industrial part of the study
vhich will be largely concerned with the employment of women and children.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
e
.43se.
Commission Required to Advertise Firms not Complyinel with Decrees.
have reThe Minimum Wage Commission is advertising the paper box firms that
on the
based
is
fused to comply with the decree for this occupation. This action
to
publish
opinion of the Attorney General that it is mandatory upon the Commission
iou.
Commiss
the
of
decrees
the
with
comply
the names of all employers failing to
Organizations to Assist Leeartment of Labor and Industries.
the
A council on women and children in industry is being formed to assist
ing
concern
matters
in
Department of Labor and Industries in an unofficial capacity
°Is
of
ntative
women and children in industry, The council will consist of represe
ganizations and individuals sympathetically interobted in these problems.
Philippine Mends.
A bill to regulate hours of labor was prepared by the Bureau of Labor and prebill limited
sented to the last session of the 5th Philippine . Legislature. This
of women during
those
eight,
to
sex
either
of
laborer
the daily hours of work of any
It
also provided
seven.
to
16
under
minors
the sixth month of pregnaney and those of
any . center
d
into
admitte
be
should
time
that no male laborer after working in the day
60
over
men
-or
women
no
of labor to work in the night of the same day, and that
at
work
to
r4ight.
d
years of age, or minors under 16 years of age, should be admitte
the
after
ed
This bill and another to create e court of industrial relations pattern
latter
Kansas Court with certain mod:ifications, both failed of passage, although the
bill was acted upon favorably by the Senate.
A measure is still pending in the House of Representatives to fix a minimym
daily wage scale4 The scale recommended by the Bureau of Labor is one peso (50 cents)
cenfor men; 90 centavos (45 cents) for women and men over 60 years of age; and 50
tavos (25 cents) for minors under 16 years.
W5sconsins
which
The, Attorney General has rendered an opinion upon hotel restaurants
law
This
work.
of
hours
g
to
relatin
of
law
the
ons
provisi
brings them witlyin the
ns
"Sectio
that
opinion
his
as
y
does not cover hotels. The Attorne General states
made
ion
commiss
your
of
1723-1 to 1728-4 , inclusive of the statutes and the orders
ant
restaur
that
pursuant thereto apply to a restaurant conducted with a hotel where
Whether
c.ters to the general public and not merely to the guests of the hotel.
such as to make
the dining facilities of a hotel norducted on the European plan are
would necessarit subject to these sections end the orders issued pursuant thereto
individual case."
ily be a question of fact to be determined upon the situation in the
Germany.
ed by the
In Saxony, the work of women factory inspectors has been organiz
anistry of Labour on the following lines:
Acts and Des.
The Women factory insp3ctors are to supervise the observance of
people,
young
crees, particularly in respect to tlee woek of women, children and
us effects
injurio
the
home work and donee-tic work. They are to note, in particular,
of
health
the
on
which eertain kinds of industrial work may have on maternity and
married women woekers.
intervene in all quesWomen factory inspectors are endowed with authority to
win the respect and
tions relating to womenls work, but they will endeavour to
legislative teasures
confidence of women workers and to keep them informed of all
inspectors will keep in constant
for their protection and occupational training. The
work and with women trade
touch with all women engaged in any form of supervisory
union leaders.
y of Labour a complete list
Women factory inspectors will forward to the Ministr
they have come into contact and they
of the women in responsible positions with whom
by correspondence in capes in
will continue to keep in contaet with such persons
which personal contact is impossible.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-4ry inspectors
By means of popular lectures or private interviews, women facto
hes of women's
branc
us
vario
will endeavour to promote friendly relations between the
women who
all
with
work, and will maintain increasingly close and cordial relations
inwomen
for
desirable
enjoy the confidence of women workers. It - tould disc) be
as
such
work,
in social
spectors to work in collaboration with other worsen engaged
inry
of the chief facto
protection of children or care of the sick. ,With support
rences a year which the
confe
two
least
speetor, the women inspectors will convene at
workers, supervisors,
factory health inspectors will be invited to attend; all women
meet at these conferetc.,with whom factory inspectors have come in contact will
extending the work of
and
ences, which will discuss the best means for developing
women f4ctory inspectors.
r Office, Uaily intelli(Gewerkschaftsstimme, 14 July, 1921; International Labou
gence, v. 3, no. 7, p. 30-31. July 26, 1921.)
PER3ONI1EL.
S. Department of Labor.
Children's Bureau to succeed
Miss Grace Abbott has been appointed Chief of the
Liss Julia Lathrop.
U.
Illinois.
nted chief factory inspector
Mr. Richard L. Dye, of Jacksonville, has been appoi
to succeed James A. Short, of Chicago.
Wisconsin.
's Department of the Industrial Commission,
Miss Melba Roach, Deputy in the Women
tion Division of the Federal Board for Vocahas been transferred to the Rehabilita
Miss Alice Smith, formerly employment manager
tional Education. She is succeeded by
of the A. George Schultz Box Factory.
Women's Department, has resigned to go
:AL's Lyra Emery, also a Deputy in the
into business for herself in Madison.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Industries.
_assachusetts Department of Labor and
ber 30, 1920. (1921.) 132 P.
Annual report or the year ending Novem
New York Department of Labor.
nsation law. January, 1920-Junc,1921. ConCourt decisions on workmen's compe
1921. 302 p. (Special bulletin 106.)
stitutionality and coverage. July,
1921. July, 1921. 68 p.(Special bulletin 107.
Now York labor laws enacted in
p.
factory workers in 1919. Aug.1921. 29
Sickness amonz New York State
(special bulletin 108.)
's Bureau.
7. S. Department of Labor Women
104 p. (Bulletin 17.)
1921.
s.
Women's wages in Kansa
Education.
S. Federal Board for Vocational
hotel business. A report to the American Hotel
Vocational education in the
and Canada. By L. S. Hawkins representing the
Association of the United States
Education. (1921.) 128 p.
Federal Board for Vocational
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
147
U. S. Department of Labor
WO:.1`'S BUREAU
Washington
News Letter No. 8.
October 27, 1921.
ACTIVITIES AFFECTING WOMEN IN INDUSTRY.
Arkansas.
An amendment to the minimum wage and maximum hour law, Act 140, Acts 1921,
provides that "all females employed in any industry in this State who are
paid upon
a piece-work basis, bonus system, or any other manner than by the day, shall
be
paid not less than the rate per day herein specified for female employees
who are
working on the day rate system, and the Industrial Welfare Commission shall
investigate, upon complaint, any line of industry wherein females are employed
and if
in their judgment said system of piece-work is working an injury to the general
health of the employees, they may, after hearing, duly held, issue an order
compelling said firm to abolish piece-work or any other injurious system, and establish
a
daily rate of wages for all female employees, said rate not to be less than the
rate specified in Section 7 of this Act."
A petition for a modification of the order of the Minimum Wage and Maximum
Hour Commission regulating employment of women in hotels and restaurants has
been
denied by the Industrial Welfare CoLmission. The petitioners asked that the order
be modified, or amended to permit the employment of women 54 hours per week of
seven days. After the public hearings held in compliance with and by authority
conferred by law the Industrial Welfare Commission found that the petitioners failed
to show cause why the order should be modified or amended, and the Commission therefore denied the petition and re-enacted and continued in force the order in
question.
This order states that no woman "shall be employed or be permitted to work in
any
hotel or restaurant, more than nine hours in any one day, nor more than six
days in
any one week."
District of Columbia.
The rehearing of the minimum wage case by the District Court of Appeals
occurred October 11. The Court has not yet rendered its opinion. The members
of the
Court now considering the case are Chief Justice Smyth, Justice van Orsdel,
who
rendered the dissenting opinion after the first hearing of the case, and Justice
Robb, who was absent from the bench when the case was heard previousl
y. It was
after Justice Robb returned to the bench that the rehearing of the case
was asked
and granted.
An eight-hour day, the minimum wage, and no tipping are standards of the only
hotel in Washington owned and operated by women for women. This, the Grace Dodge
Hotel, is a new enterprise of the rational Young Women's Christian Association.
The building, which is new and conveniently located near the Capitol and the Union
Station, is attractively equipped and the management is rendering excellent
service.
The hotel opened October 12.
The staff of employees includes both women and men, no women being employed
for scrubbing or for heavy work in the kitchen or elsewhere. A cafeteria is operated for the employees with meals at cost, and training classes for the dining
room staff are conducted daily.
Massachusetts.
The first general meeting of the Council on Women and Children in Industry was
held October 7. At this meeting a plan of organization was drawn up and officers
were elected. The Council is made up of individuals and representatives of organizations interested in the protection of working women and children and its purpose
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-t
is to assist the Department of Labor and Industries in an advisory capacity; to
support the Department's work in the interest of women and children; to make suggestions and recommendations regarding the development of this work; and to
interpret this branch of the work to the public.
The organization of the Council includes an executive committee, three vice-chairmen, a secretary, and the chairmen
of the standing committees. Initial standing committees are as follows: Employment of women and children, Minimum Wage, Standards for Children in Industry, and
Public Information.
The functions of the Council are to determine policies, formulate plans, decide
upon a program, and act upon recommendations from the executive committee.
The
functions of the executive committee are to carry out the program in accordance
with
the general policy of the Council, to submit plans and recommendations to the
Council for action, and to determine standing committees and designate their membership. In carrying out the program adopted the executive committee is authorized to
cooperate with organizations and individuals outside the Council.
The officers elected at the first general meeting are as follows:
Chairman,
Mrs. Frederick P. Bagley, Massachusetts League of Women Voters; First vice-chairman,
Mrs. Arthur G. Retch, Boston Consumers' League; Second vice-chairman, Mrs. Francis
Slattery, League of Catholic Women; Secretary, Mrs. Madeleine H. Appel, Massachusetts Child Labor Committee.
Besides the organizations represented through the officers, the membership of
the Council thus far includes representatives of the Council of Jewish Women, the
State Federation of Women's Clubs, the Republican State Committee, the City Federation of Women's Clubs, the National League of Women Voters, Wm. Filene's Sons Co.,
the Girls' City Club, the Women's Educational and Industrial Union, the Democratic
State Committee, Boston Women's Trade Union League, Boston Placement Bureau, League
of Girls' Clubs, Boston Society for Care of Girls, Department of Public Health,
Parent Teachers Association, National Civic Federation, Young Women's Christian
Association, Women's Auxiliary of the Civil Service Reform Association, Girl Scouts
of Massachusetts, Boston Tuberculosis Association, Junior League, and the Plimpton
Press.
Following a public hearing held at the State House on Saturday, September 24,
Minimum
Wage Commission of the Department of Labor and Industries, finally apthe
proved the determinations of the wage board established to recommend minimum rates
of vmges for women and girls employed in the manufacture of minor lines of confectionery and food preparations. A decree based on these determinations was entered
on October 4 to become effective November 1, 1921.
Although the wage board found that the cost of living for a self-supporting
girl in Massachusetts under present conditions is 013.50 a week, on account of the
financial condition in the occupation, the board recommended a minimum rate of
31.50 a week less than the amount fixed as the minimum cost of living. This action
is tai7:en in accordance with the provisions of the Massachusetts law which requires
wage boards to consider not only the amount required to maintain employees in health
but the financial condition of the occupation in question, and the effect of any
increase in the minimum waga rate of wages paid. Massachusetts is the only State
with minimum wage legislation having this provision.
Following is the decree based upon the determinations of the wage boards:
1. For experienced employees 16 years of age or over, not less than $12
a week.
2. For learners and apprentices 16 years of age or over, not less than
310 a week.
3. For experienced employees under 16 years of age, not less than 09 a
week.
4. For all others, not less than 36 a week.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-3-
5. An employee 16 years of age or over shall be deemed experienced in
a particular line after three months' employment in that line.
An employee under 16 years of age shall be deemed experienced in
a particular line after 9 months' employment in that line.
6. These rates are based on full-time work, by which is meant the full
number of hours per week required by the employers and permitted
by the laws of the Commonwealth.
7. An employee of less than ordinary ability may be paid less than the
prescribed minimum wage, provided that a special license is obtained from the Commission in accordance with the law.
8. These recommendations shall take effect on November 1, 1921, and
shall apply to all females then or thereafter employed.
This decree is the sixth entered since the reorganization of the labor department, December 1, 1919, and the nineteenth entered since the enactment of the minimum wage law in 1912. Sixteen occupations are now covered by decrees. Three of the
nineteen are for the same occupation.
Pennsylvania.
The Industrial Relations Conference, arranged by the Department of Labor and
Industry is now in session in Harrisburg. The meetings are being held in the Hall
of the House of Representatives in the Capitol Building under the general chairmanship of Dr. Clifford B. Connelly, Commissioner of the Department of Labor and
Industry.
•
The subjects included in the program are industrial cooperation, the foreign
outlook, women and children in industry, stabilizing industry and employment, industrial waste, industrial education, industrial publicity, medical supervision in
industry, and workmen's compensation. Held in conjunction with the conference is
an industrial welfare exhibit. at the Penn Harris Hotel.
The Museum of Safety Appliances of the Department of Labor and Industry is now
open to the public for the first time. This exhibit includes over three hundred
safety appliances of all types that have been approved by the State Industrial
Board.
Washington.
According to newspaper clippings re-ostablishment of the war time minimum wage
of 13.20 a week for women employed in mercantile houses was recommended October 13
by a vote of 5 to 4 of conferees representing the employees, employers and the public. The conferees suggested also that stores be required to provide women with
rest and lunch rooms.
Great Britain.
The Laundry Trade Board issued August 17, 1921, its proposal to vary the minimum rates of wages for female workers employed in Great Britain, excluding the
Administrative County of Cornwall and the Orkney and Shetland Islands where similar
orders have already become effective.
The minimum time rates set forth in the schedule range from 12s. per 48-hour
week ( 3 d. per hour) for workers under 15 years of age to 32s. (74 d. per hour)
for workers 18 years of age and over. The proposed variation of piece-work basis
time-rates for women of all ages is from 94 d. to 9 d. per hour; of guaranteed time
rates for piece workers from 12 s. per 48-hour week for workers under 15 years of
age to 28 s. (6i d. per hour) for workers 18 years of age and over.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
The Trade Board has declared the normal number of hours of work in the laundry
trade to be 43 hours in any week and 5 hours on Saturday, the proposed minimum
rates for overtime to be as follows:
(a) For all hours worked in excess of 5 on Saturday, the Overtime Rate shall
be One-and-a-Quarter times the General Minimum Time-Rate otherwise applicable, i.e.,
TIME-AND-A-QUARTER, for the first two hours, and One-and-a-Half Times the General
Minimum Time-Ilate otherwise applicable, i.e., TIME-AND-A-HALF thereafter, notwithstanding that the total number of hours worked in the week does not exceed 48.
(b) For all time worked on Sundays and Statutory Holidays, the Overtime Rate
shall be Twice the General Minimum Time-Rate otherwise applicable, i.e., DOUBLE
TIME, notwithstanding that the total number of hours worked in the week does not
exceed 43.
(c) For all hours worked in excess of 48 in any week, the Overtime Rate shall
bo TIME-AND-A-QUARTER for the first two hours and TIME-AND-A-HALF thereafter except
in so far as higher Overtime Rates are payable under the provisions of Sub-Sections
(a) and (b) of this Section.
(d) The Overtime Rates shall not apply to Piece-workers.
For women specially employed for emergency work, or whose employment is of a
casual nature the proposed variations of general minimum time rates range from 71 ds
per hour for workers under 18 years of age to a4 d. per hour for workers 18 years
and over. The proposed variations of piece-work basis time-rates for women of all
ages are 10 d. to 971
0 d. per hour.
The normal number of hours of work for the emergency or casual workers as for
regular workers is 48 hours per week and 5 hours on Saturday and for this group the
proposed minimum rates for overtime are as follows:
(a) For all hours worked in excess of 5 on Saturday the Overtime Rate shall be
One-and-a-Quarter Times the General Minimum Time-Rate otherwise applicable, i.e.,
TIME-AND-A-QUARTER, notwithstanding that the total number of hours worked in the
week does not exceed 48.
(b) For all hours worked on Sundays and Statutory Holidays the Overtime Rate
shall be One-and-a-Half Times the General Minimum Time-Rate otherwise applicable,
1.0,, TIME-AND-A-HALF, notwithstanding in both cases that the total number of hours
worked in the week does not exceed 43.
(c) For all hours worked in excess of 48 in any week, the Overtime Rate shall
be TIME-AND-A-QUARTER for the first two hours and TIME-AND-A-HALF thereafter except
in so far as higher Overtime Rates are payable under the provisions of Subsection
(b) of this Section.
(d) The Overtime Rates shall not apply to Piece -workers.
Provision is made in the case of all workers to whom the Shops Act applies,
that, where "the day which under that Act constitutes the weekly short day (half
holiday) is a day other than Saturday) and in the case of other workers another day
is substituted for Saturday .. the above provisions shall apply as though such
half holiday or short day were substituted for Saturday and Saturday were substituted for such half holiday or short day."
Objections to these proposals arc considered by the Trade Board if submitted
in writing and lodged with them within two months from the date the order is signed.
NOTES.
League of Nations.
The Minister of the Czecho-Slovak Republic at Berne has communicated to the
Secretary-General of the League of Nations the Czecho-Slovak Government's formal
ratification of the following Labour conventions adopted by the International Labour
Conference at ':iashington in November, 1919:
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-5
(1) Draft Convention limiting the hours of work in industrial undertakings to
eight in the day and forty-eight in the week.
(2) Draft convention concerning the employment of women during the night.
(3) Draft convention fixing the minimum ago for the admission of children to
industrial employment adopted at Washington on November 28, 1919.
International Congress of Working Women.
The Second International Congress of Working Women opened in Geneva October 17.
News has just been received of the re-election of Mrs. Raymond Rebins as president
of the Congress. Dr. Marion Phillips of England has been elected secretary and the
vice-presidents elected are Miss Margaret Bondfield (England), Mlle. Bouvier (France),
Mme. Kjelsberg (Norway), Mme. Casartelli (Italy), Mlle. Dobryzanska (Poland), Mme.
Stychova (Czechoslovakia), and Mrs. Maud Swarts (United States). Miss Kate Manicom
of the Workers' Union of England has been elected delegate to the disarmament demonstration to be held in Washington and will come with a message for total disarmament.
The four delegates from the United States to the Congress were Mrs. Robins, and
Mrs. Maud Swartz, president and secretary of the International Congress of Working
Women, Miss Emma Steghagon, formerly secretary-treasurer of the National
Women's Trade Union League, and Mrs. Sarah Green, of the Waitresses' Union of
Kansas City.
PERSONNEL.
Tennessee,
Mrs. H, L. Fox has been appointed special inspector in the Bureau of Workshop
and Factory Inspection of which Mr. Y. F. Nicholson is now chief inspector.
Washington,
Mrs. Dolphin° M. Johnson has been appointed supervisor of women in industry
under the Department of Labor and Industries.
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
New York De artment of Labor, Division of Women in Industry,.
The employment of women in •5-and-10-cent stores. Sept., 1921.
68 p. (Special bulletin 109).
U. S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau.
Health problems of women in industry. 1921. 11 p., illus. (BulletiA 18).
Reprint of article published in the Nation's Health, May, 1921.
Preliminary report on the working conditions and hours of labor for
women in industry in Maryland. (Oct. 22, 1921) 16 p. mimeographed.
The following colored maps showing the status of the States in regard to
laws affecting working women have been brought up to date and are ready
for distribution;
Mothers' pensions laws.
Status of women as state labor officials.
Legal working hours for women - Daily,
Legal working hours for women - Weekly.
Night work laws for women.
Minimum wage laws for women.
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-5Second Int. Cong.of Working Women - Cont.
Since substitutes for white lend in industry and painting are now available,
the Congress demanded the prohibition of the use of white lead in industry, and
pending the accomplishment of this end, the Congress recommended the use of wellknown preventive devices by which workers can be protected from lend poisoning.
The Congress recommended that in order to prevent the spreed of anthrax among
textile workers governments should require the proper disinfection of all wool at
the ports of embarkation, and that scientific methods for dealing with the animals
themselves should be discovered.
Reports on the adoption of the Washington Conventions by the Governments were
presented by delegates. These were later summarized by :4r. Albert Thomas, Director
of the International Labour Office who said that during the 18 months since their
adoption, 27 ratifications had come in. This nay seem slow, but when you considered
that it had taken 15 years to secure 9 and 11 ratifications of two conventions
which had been voted in 1906, it could be seen that progress is being mrde.
As important, however, as the fornal discussions and resolutions, WEIS the feeling of respect and friendship which developed, and this in spite of the frightful
barrier of the different languages. The French delegates who were particularly insistent upon understanding every word that WS said were also the most insistent that
all delegates to a future Congress must be able to speak Esperanto, That great advocate of real internationalism, Lime, Chevenard, never lost an opportunity to show
her support for any measure which she felt would help to bring about a better understanding between the nations of the world and she showed by her generous cooperation
that she would carry out in the spirit as well as the letter, those ideals of comradeship which are considered by all so necessary today.
Altogether the Congress was a great success in edition to the concrete results
obtained, it gave new courage to those who were feeling oppressed with the trials of
the world today and the delegates went home with new faith in the new world that is
to come.
NEW PUBLIOATIOYJS.
International Labour Office.
The international protection of women workers.
14 p. (Studies and reports, ser, 1, no41.)
15 October, 1021.
International Labour Review. v. 4, no.2, November, 1021,
Linimum wage legislation for low-paid industries in Europe.
Workers' education in Great Britain, p. 152-170.
National Consumers' Leave,
The unstandardized iathAstry;
November, 1021. 7 p.
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Hotels.
p. 108-138.
How to standardize it. By 14:ary IJ. Dewson,
'J. 5. Dopnrtment of Labor
WOliEN%-3 BUREAU
Uashin7ton
Noverber 26, 1921.
News Letter No. 9.
ACTIVITIES AFFECTING ViMEN IN IADUSTRY.
Crlifornia.
Commission
In accordance with the statutes of California, the Industrial Welfare
of
considering
purpose
the
for
21st
NoveMber
held a public herring in Sen Francisco
canning
the alteration and amundment of Order No.3 amended 1921, fruit and vegetable
No.5
industries,
ng
manufacturi
Pnd
industry, 10,4 amended, senitary order for laundry
No.?
industry,
canning
amnded 1920, mrcentile industry, No.6 amended 1920, fish
and vegeamended 1920, lriandry tnd dry cleaning industry, No.0 al:ended 1920, fruit
1;0.10
offices,
l
table pecking industry, No.9 amended 192,0, general and professiona
industry,
ng
emended 1920, unclassified occupations, No.11 amended 1920, manufacturi
for mercantile
No.12 amended 1920, hotels and restrurrnts, No.13, sanitary order
Welfare Commission
Industrial
the
of
,
occupations
establishments, No.14, agricultural
acting upon end
considering
of
purpose
the
of the State of California, end for
minors,
and
women
to
1 - A minimum wage to be peid
2 - The mEximum hours of work consistent with the health and welfare of
women and minors,
3 - The standard conditions of labor demanded by the health and welfare
of women and minors,
in all other industries in which women and minors are enployed in the State of
California.
Minnesota.
That the Industrial Cormission can not enforce a minimum wage order unless it
can be proved that the employer has received r copy of the order is the opinion of
the Supreme Court of Minnesota in a decision handed down in the case of the State of
Minnesota vs. George W. Allyn. It is also the opinion of the court that "the
statute is silent e.g to the power of the commission to determine and define who shell
be deemed workers of ordin; ry ability. It leaves those natters for the courts, especially in a criminal proceeding like this. It was therefore error on the part of
the trial court to exclude testiilony bearing upon that phase of the cese. For these
reasons n new trial should be granted."
The complaint brouht by the Commission was that the defendant had employed a
minor of ordinary ability as a clerk in a mercantile establishment at a wag-0 less
than the minimum set by the Industrial Commission. The defendant offered proof that
he had never received copies of the orders in question nor heard of them by mail or
otherwise. The case was appealed by the defendant after adverse decision by the
lower court. The opinion of the Supreme Court here given was rendered October 14th.
Oregon.
In an opinion rendered to W. hillio R. Trumbull, secretary and inspector of
the Industrial Welfare Commission, Attorney-General Van 'Ankle holds that the commission has authority to denAnd of any employer in the State, erploying women and
minors, a showing of books, pry rolls end records having a bearing upon the question
of wages or hours of labor or conditions of labor of any women or minor vrployees.
(Christian Science -.;.onitor).
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Pennsylvanir.
The Pennsylvania Advisory Council on Women and Children in Industry was organized November 16th by representrtive women of the state, their purpose being to assist
the Department of Labor and Industry in enforcing employmnt laws. Mrs. Samuel
Semple, member of the Industrirl Board, 'Pres made permanent chairman, Mrs. Welter K.
Sharpe, of the Chrmbersburg Civic Club, vice chairman, Mrs. Agnes Scarlett of the
Department of Lrbor and Industry, Secretary, and Miss Theodora S. Butcher, of Philadelphia, associate secretery. The executive committee includes Liss Anna Bezanson
and Miss Dorothea de Schweinitz, Philadelphia, Mrs. R. L. Sackett, Strte College, ne.
James I. Chamberlain, Haerisburg, rnd krs. Teresa aolnmphy, Pittsburgh.
Washington.
The Industrial Welfare Committee through Order No.23, effective October 24th,
has established a minielum wage of 0.4.50 for a 48-hour week in the public housekeeping industry. The daily wage set is .2.50 for 8 hours and the hourly minimum is 35
cents. The order of the Committee provides for a six day week, a hrlf-hour rest
period after five hours of lrbor, uniforns to be furnished and laundered by the errp.
player, that when board is furnished 95 cents per day may be deducted, that for a
room furnished s 2.00 per week may be deducted, and that 20 cents may be deducted for
breakfast, 30 cents for lunch and 45 cents for dinner. The order also prohibits
employment of women as elevator operators after 12:00 midnight, and as"bell hops".
Order No. 24 of the Industrial Welfare Committee, etablishes in the same industry a minimum wage rate of 42.00 for minors of either sex under 18 yerrs of age,
this rate to be increased 0..00 per week after erch four months'service until the
adult minimum is reached. The ordEr prohibits the employment of any minor more than
8 hours in any one day and more than 6 days in any one week, and before 7 a.m., and
except when a permit is issued by the Committee. In that case girls over 16 years of
age may be employed not later than 9 p.m., rnd boys over 16 not later than 10 p.m.,
or subject to the decision of the Committee, It is prohibited also to employ a
female minor RS a "bell hop", elevator operator, to sell cigars and tobecco, as a
Alessenger, a bus girl, or R cabaret performer. Employment of all minors in bowling
lleys is prohibited.
(After 7
Un.l.ted States.
The Shepperd-Towner maternity and infancy bill passed the House of Representn'Ayes November 19 by a VAL of 179 to 33. One hundred and thirteen members were not
voting rnd one answered present. The bill passed the Senate July 23 by R vote of 63
Lo 7. It was signed by the President November 23d,
Canada.
Saskatchewan.
The Minimum Wage Board of this province issued October 6th, revised and emended
orders affecting conditions of labor, hours, rid wages of women employed in shops and
stores (Order No.1), laundries and factories (Order No.2), rail order houses (Order
4o.3), and hotels, restaurants and refreshment rooms (Order No.4). Order No.1 establishes a 48-hour week and a 0.5 minirium wage and includes millinery, dressmaking,
tailoring and fur sewing; Order No.2 establishes a 48-hour week with work prohibited
rfter 6:30 p.m. and a minimum wege of 414.00; Order No.3 establishes R 48-hour week
end a minimum 0.4.00 wage; and Order No.4 says that no woman (a) shall be employed
in "any hotel," restaurant or refreshment room or in more than one establishment of
kielt class for a greater number or combined number of hours than ten (10) in any one
Jay or forty-eight (48) in any one week, unless n special permit in writing has been
ubtained from the secretary of the board: Provided, however, that where the hotel,
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401•0111
Canada, Sask. Cont.
restaurant or refreshment room is open to the public for seven drys per week, fernier
miry be employed not more than fifty-six (56) hours in any one week upon condition
that all time worked in excess of forty-eight(48) hours per week shell be regarded
as overtime; (b) the hours shell be so arranged thrt no work period shall end between
12 o'clock midnight and 7 a.m." The minimum wage set for this industry is 314.00 per
week of 48 hours except for kitchen employees, in which c-se a ,12.00 minimum is set
for a 48-hour week, For a full week's board of 21 meals .5.25 may be deducted by thL
employer and ,g.50 may be deducted for P full week's lodging of 7 days.
SECOND IATEliNATIONAL CONGRESS OF V.TORKING WOIVEN
Summery of Proceedings. Oct. 17th to 25th.
(Reprinted.)
The International Congress of Working Women which held sessions in Geneva.,
Switzerland, from Oct. 17 to 25, closed its proceedings after the rdoption of a broad
program dealing with social and economic crises before the world today. Delegates
were present from Belgium, Cuba, Czecho-Slovakia, Frence, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States, and from Chine ceme
Miss W. T. Zung, as a visitor to the Congress. There were many visitors and guests
from various countries.
This was the second meeting of the Internrtionel Congress of Working Women,
which first met in Washington, D.C., U.S.A., in Oct. 1919, but during the intervening two years the delegates became so convinced of the need for some such organisation, that a permanent constitution WRS adopted on Oct. 22d.
The objects of the Internationnl Federation of Working Wor.aun (new name adopted),
are threefold; (1) to promote trade union orgrmisation among women; (2) to develop
an international policy giving special considemtiori to the needs of women and children and to examine all projects for legislation proposed by the International. Labour
Conference of the League of Nations; (3) and to promote the appointment of working
women on organisations affecting tAe welfare of workers,
Only national trade union organisations who are either affiliated with the International Federation of Trade Unions (Amsterdam) or whose alms agree in
the spirit to follow "Ansterdae will be admitted so that the underlying principle
of the new organisation is in sympathy with whet is known as the
middle ground of the
great trade union movement of the —orld., This rule 17ould make it impossible
to admit
all trade unions organised on a religious basis, as well
as organisations which have
become affiliated with the international of loscow,
In order to bring ebout closer cooperation between the working women of Europe
the Secretariat will be located in London, England, for the next two
years. The new
executive board is RS follows; Mrs. Relq:iond Robbins, United States, president; Miss
1.,urniaux, Belgiurl, Mrs, Laura de Zayas lezan, Cuba, Mrs. Lozena Kubickova, CzechoSlovakia, Miss Jeanne Bouvier, France, Miss Largaret Londfield, Great Britain,
Signora Cabrini Cnsartelli, Italy, Mrs. Betzy Kjelsberg, Norway, Miss Sophie
DonrzanskR, Poland, Miss Fitzgerald, South Africa, lass i4onnier, Switzerland, Mrs.
:.ieud Swartz, United States, vice presidents; Lr. Marion Phillips, Great Britain,
oecretary; 1 rs. Harrison Bell, Great Britain, treasurer.
It shall be the duty oi the vice presidents to act as representatives of the
iederRtion, and to maintain ocnmunication between the organisations in their own
countries and the officers of the Federation.
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Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
-4Second Int. Cong. of Working .;.:omen - Cont.
The delegates gave the resolutions on disarmament end unemployment careful consideration, for these two questions rre in their minds closely connected, since one
of the chief ceuses of unemployment is the disruption of industry following a great
war. Working women do not need to be convinced of the useless waste involved in
competitive armaments, but the delegates desired to find an effective way in which
to press their points of view upon those chosen to govern them.
The disarmament resolution of the Congress was e pronouncement in favor of a
policy of total disarLank.nt, end the Congress urged the powers convening at Washington, on Nov. 11, to hold their deliberations in open session and to take steps to
bring about total disarmament. In order to give added force to this decision, the
Congress voted to send a representative to Washington, and kiss Kate Manicom, of the
Workers' Union of Great Britain, was chosen to carry to Washington and to President
Harding a message from the working women of the world. kiss Manicom had made a courageous speech during the discussion on disare:ament, in the name of the young Toren
of England, in which she said: "In France lie today the potential fathers of our
children. Many of us may never have children of our oern, but this has not embittered
us. Instead we shall try to becoix mothers of the world, in order to see that never
again shall women be so cruelly denied the possibilities of marriage and motherhood."
Miss Baer, fraternal delegete from the Women's International League for Peace and
Freedom, told of the reduction of the nrmy in Gerrany to 100,000, for defense only.
A reduction on the some proportion to population in other countries would result in
an army of 68,000 in Frence, 74,000 in England, 50,000 in Itely, and 193,000 in the
United Status.
The Congress expressed its conviction that the present unemployment crisis is
mainly due to international causes, and that the problem can only be solved by the reestablishment of world trade, and it calls upon all the countries to take concerted
action for the stabilization of the exchanges and the extension of credits, It pointed out that reductions in wages have only aggravated the difficulties, by decreasing
the purchasing power of the workers in the various countries.
kiss Margaret Bondfield, of Great Britain, pointed out that, while there is the
largest gold reserve in America, yet at the same time America has the largest percentage of unemployed. Meanwhile in the so-called conquered countries there is little
unemployment, but at what a price: They are dragging down the standards of living of
the conquering countries. She seid Great Britain ws absolutely unprepared to meet
the present situation, but is being forced to recognize that the old capitanstic
attitude of self-interest is driving the world to destruction, and that nothing can
save the world but the motto of international cooperation and goodwill.
The Congress took issue with the Governments of France and Switzerland, which
have decided that workers in agriculture do not come under the corpetence of the International Labor Organization of the League of Nations, but voted that all workers
in offices, factories, shops and agriculture, should benefit from all social laws
without distinction as to colour, race, religion or sex.
The Congress further stfted its belief thet it is possible to regulate the working day in agriculture to 8 hours, to cause unemployment to disappear thru land improvementp afforestation, etc., and to protect women end children under the application of the Washington Conventions.
Ladame Cesartelli (Italy) presented the following dditional recommendations for
the Committee on living conditions, which were adopted: (1) that agriculture workers
must not sleep in stables; (2!) Each worker should have one bed; (3) This must be
properly aired and ,ehere necessary the room must be properly heated; (4) Separate accommodation must be provided for both sexes under sanitary conditions. The Congress
was shocked at the conditions described by Madame Gasertelli under which men and
women work in kriculture in Italy.
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