UC-NRLF >^ CJ / 2 -t-rta $B Mb Sfl0 A7>5# J 1 /^/5 mUMENTS I DEFT. OF nur^ ii F r IITU i A r i I\T f i i ! [) Or IMj! . ~*j y ^S AND TilL CONDI': OF LABOR FOR WOMEN AND THE T )V1S,-BTL) PY OF r..-;TA3- SHIN' 1 A LlINlMtJi- WAGE jj^^V, , ! x^H^ WY: 1915 EXCHANGE DOCUMENTS DEFT. REPORT OF THE STATE OF IIJOIRY INTO WAGES AND THE CONDITIONS OF LABOR FOR WOMEN AND THE ADVISABILITY OF ESTAB- LISHING A MINIMUM WAGE BY AUTHORITY LANSING, MICHIGAN WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO., STATE PRINTERS 1915 MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION JUDSON GRENELL, Chairman. CHARLES S. BEADLE. MYRON H. WALKER. LUELLA M. BURTON, Secretary. > I ) ACT AUTHORIZING MICHIGAN STATE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. PUBLIC ACTS 1913. No. 290. An Act to create a commission of inquiry to make the necessary investigation and to prepare and submit a report to the next Legislature, or to any special session of the present Legislature, setting forth a comprehensive plan and recommending legislative action, providing for minimum wages for female employes; and to appropriate the necessary moneys for the expense thereof. The People of the State of Michigan enact: SECTION 1. There shall be a commission of inquiry to consist of three members to be appointed by the Governor from among the citizens of this State, to investi- gate conditions and problems involved in the question of wages paid to female employes with special reference to whether such wages paid are adequate for the necessary cost of living and to maintain the worker in health, and whether the conditions of labor are prejudicial to the health or morals of the workers in the several occupations, trades and industries in this State employing women. SEC. 2. The members of said commission shall serve without pay and shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties while traveling within this State. SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of said commission to fully investigate matters men- tioned in section one, and for the purpose of the investigation, said commission is hereby authorized to hold sessions in various parts of the State if necessary, to summon witnesses and require the production of books and papers relating to said subject, to administer oaths and to employ such clerical and other assistance as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this act. SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of said commission to prepare and submit to the next Legislature, or to any special session of the present Legislature, a full report of their findings together with such proposed legislation as will in their opinion remedy such conditions as they may find. SEC. 5. Said commission shall as soon as practicable after its appointment, meet at the capitol and organize by electing one of its members as chairman and shall have use of suitable quarters to be provided by the Board of State Auditors. SEC. 6. Said commission shall have power to purchase books, stationery and other materials and the expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in- cluding the cost of the publication of such a number of copies of their report as in their judgment shall be advisable, shall be audited and allowed by the Board of State Auditors upon vouchers and bills properly sworn to and duly certified by the chairman and shall be paid from the general fund of the State. SEC. 7. It is hereby declared that this act is immediately necessary for the preservation of the public health and safety. Approved May 13, 1913. PARTS. I. Review, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. II. Tentative Minimum Wage Bill. III. Secretary's Report and Tabulations of Information obtained from Women Wage-Earners. IV. Tabulations of Wage Figures Supplied by Employers. V. Wage Showing from Investigation of Pay Rolls. VI. Estimates by Women's Clubs and Wage-Earning Women of Cost of Living. ATT. Minimum Wage Legislation to Date. VIII.- -Tour! Decisions on Minimum Wage Legislation. ACT AUTHORIZING MICHIGAN STATE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. PUBLIC ACTS 1913. No. 290. An Act to create a commission of inquiry to make the necessary investigation and to prepare and submit a report to the next Legislature, or to any special session of the present Legislature, setting forth a comprehensive plan and recommending legislative action, providing for minimum wages for female employes; and to appropriate the necessary moneys for the expense thereof. The People of the State of Michigan enact: SECTION 1. There shall be a commission of inquiry to consist of three members to be appointed by the Governor from among the citizens of this State, to investi- gate conditions and problems involved in the question of wages paid to female employes with special reference to whether such wages paid are adequate for the necessary cost of living and to maintain the worker in health, and whether the conditions of labor are prejudicial to the health or morals of the workers in the several occupations, trades and industries in this State employing women. SEC. 2. The members of said commission shall serve without pay and shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties while traveling within this State. SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of said commission to fully investigate matters men- tioned in section one, and for the purpose of the investigation, said commission is hereby authorized to hold sessions in various parts of the State if necessary, to summon witnesses and require the production of books and papers relating to said subject, to administer oaths and to employ such clerical and other assistance as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this act. SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of said commission to prepare and submit to the next Legislature, or to any special session of the present Legislature, a full report of their findings together with such proposed legislation as will in their opinion remedy such conditions as they may find. SEC. 5. Said commission shall as soon as practicable after its appointment, meet at the capitol and organize by electing one of its members as chairman and shall have use of suitable quarters to be provided by the Board of State Auditors. SEC. 6. Said commission shall have power to purchase books, stationery and other materials and the expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in- cluding the cost of the publication of such a number of copies of their report as in their judgment shall be advisable, shall be audited and allowed by the Board of State Auditors upon vouchers and bills properly sworn to and duly certified by the chairman and shall be paid from the general fund of the State. SEC. 7. It is hereby declared that this act is immediately necessary for the preservation of the public health and safety. Approved May 13, 1913. PARTS. I. Review, Conclusions and Recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. II. Tentative Minimum Wage Bill. III. Secretary's Report and Tabulations of Information obtained from Women Wage-Earners. IV. Tabulations of Wage Figures Supplied by Employers. V. Wage Showing from Investigation of Pay Rolls. VI. Ksi iniaies by Women's Clubs and Wage-Earning Women of Cost of Living. YII. Minimum Wage Legislation to Date. VIII. Courl Decisions on Minimum Wage Legislalion. PART I. REPORT OF THE MICHIGAN MINIMUM WAGE COMMISSION ON THIS ADVISABILITY OF ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM WAGE FOR MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN. TO THE HON. WOODBRIDGE N. FERRIS, Governor of Michigan. The Commissioners, appointed by you as provided by Act 290 of the Public Acts of 1913, to investigate the conditions and wages of women wage-earners, and to report upon the advisability of establishing a minimum wage for women, herewith respectfully submit to you, and through you to the legislature, their report. The Commission appointed in October, 1913, immediately organized by selecting Commissioner Judson Grenell as Chairman, and Luella M. Burton, long connected with the Michigan Labor Bureau, as Secretary. The subject of a minimum wage law was entirely new in Michigan, and largely new in the United States, and it became necessary for the Commission to make an original and independent investigation at first hand into the whole matter. To this end three different blanks were prepared with great care and used for the purpose of securing the facts as to wages paid and conditions of employment of women, their ex- penditures, and 'manner and cost of living in detail. A printed copy of each of these forms is contained in this report. Early in 1914 com- petent women investigators were employed to personally interview and obtain this data from women wage-earners themselves. This was a long and difficult, but the Commissioners believe, most important work. SOURCES OF INFORMATION. Altogether the Commission has gathered information under oath from 1,348 employers in 200 different occupations in 159 localities em- ploying a daily average of 50,351 women; from 8,512 women wage-earn- ers in 18 different occupations, personally seen and interrogated by the Commission's investigators, and working in 535 different establishments ; 8 ' "REPORT : OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON and from 62 women's clubs in almost as many different localities, repre- senting hundreds of members. Bound, table discussions and meetings were also .held with college professors and others interested in the problem both academically and practically. Not all of those interrogated answered every question. The women wage-earners were asked how they spent their wages and in this and some other respects the questions were more personal than have here- tofore been put by State investigators, at least in Michigan; but the Commission was of the opinion that this information would shed needed light on the life and needs of working women earning their own living in whole or in part. It is necessary to know how wages are spent, and I lie cost of living, as well as the wages received, before the real economic con- dition of this or any other class of wealth producers can be shown. It is almost needless to say that few of the women interviewed had kept close track of their expenditures. Only a small number could state, offhand, how much wages they had received the past year, or even how much time they had lost through sickness, lack of work, or from other causes. Thus there was required on the part of the investigators much painstaking effort in order to discover the actual financial condi- tion of these wage-earning women. PAY ROLLS AND PUBLIC HEARINGS. In addition to the sources already stated, of the Commission's infor- mation, the pay rolls of seven establishments for an entire year were copied by the Commission's investigators. (See Part V.) These pay rolls alone ought to settle beyond dispute the question of wage rates, if there is any dispute to settle. They also disclose the large number who shift employment, a fact that has an important bearing on the yearly wage of the ordinary woman wage-earner. Public hearings of the Commission were held in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Saginaw and Bay City. And the Commission, upon invitation, attended, in Bay City, the annual convention of the Sta-te Laundrymen's Association, and in Grand Rapids one session of the Conference of Cor- rections and Charities. This latter was addressed by Mrs. Florence Kelley, who later, in a private conference with the Commissioners, gave valuable advice drawn from her own experience as a state factory in- spector and the active head of the National Consumers' League. The labor organizations of Michigan were also asked for their opinion as to the advisability and practicability of a minimum wage for women. Finally the representatives of the economic departments of the colleges of the State were invited to Lansing to hold a round table discussion on the minimum wage, in the endeavor to discover if the academic and practical sides of the problem would harmonize. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 9 The result of all these meetings will be found in appendices in this report. The full and free discussions, which were held, always in a friendly and inquiring spirit, have aided the Commission in arriving at its conclusions. . FIXING THE STATUS. The aim of the Commission was to interview only a sufficient number to fix the economic status of all women wage-earners in the particular factory, store or establishment visited by the investigators. In some cases this necessitated interviewing a large percentage of the workers; in other cases, especially where the work was similar for all employed, and the nationality of the workers the same, or where the prevailing custom of the workers was to take all their wages home, a smaller percentage of interviews sufficed. In 1910 Massachusetts had 445,301 women employed in gainful occu- pations; yet the reliable and valuable conclusions of the Minimum Wage Commission of that State, and in which it advises the creation of minimum wage Jboards, were based on wage and other schedules gathered from 0,900 persons and a certain amount of personal and domestic data from 4,G72 others. This was the total number directly interrogated by the Massachusetts Commission, but from a federal report the wages and a limited amount of information as to present and domestic con- ditions was learned from 8,378 women cotton operatives, including domestic data from 438 families. Altogether the Massachusetts infor- mation was gathered from four different occupations in 18 localities and 118 establishments. ADEQUACY OF THESE SOURCES OF INFORMATION. In 1910, there were, according to the U. S. census report of that year, 186,183 women engaged in gainful occupations in Michigan. This was an increase of 59,660 over the census figures of 1900. There is evidence that a proportionate gain has been made since 1910, so that it is presumable that approximately 225,000 women in Michigan are today employed in gainful occupations, and earning their own living in whole or in part. Of the 186,183 women in Michigan in 1910 working for a living, 10,467 were engaged in agriculture, forestry and animal husbandry; 61,958 were in domestic and personal service; 28,845 were engaged profession- ally; 34,567 followed trade and clerical occupations; 40,011 were ab- sorbed in the manufacturing and mechanical industries. To this latter division the major part of the attention of the Commission has been given, for here, if anywhere, would the necessity for a minimum wage he lliosi ;ipl lo he found. 10 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON At first glance it might seem presumptuous to conclude that the num- ber reached by the Commission, compared to the number of wage-earning women in the State, could settle the social status and economic condition of the entire body of wage-earning women. The Commission has not attempted to investigate all industries. The endeavor has been to select a few occupations, in the belief that the conditions thus disclosed would show the general conditions. Beside, there was not the time to cover the entire industrial field. And the expense would have been much greater than any State has thus far thought advisable in this direction. Women's labor, like other labor, is in considerable measure mobile. Women are continually passing from poorly paid to better paid, or at least to more agreeable, occupations. They change from occupation to occupation, from factory to factory; from machine work to hand work, and back again to machine work of the same or a different character; from the store to the factory, and back again to the store; from house- work to factory and vice versa. Factories and stores are continually being depleted, by marriage, of the more experienced help, though eventually a considerable percentage of these again find employment, driven to it through misfortune, or bad judgment in contracting marital relations, or from the pressure of living expenses on the wages of the husband. Thus interrogating a comparatively few, if these few were carefully selected, will tend to show the social and economic status of most, if not all. CUSTOM AND A LIVING WAGE. There can always be found in any industry of any considerable size, two classes of employers. There is the fair-minded composing the larger class, who "want to do the fair thing'' both by employes and the public. There is the other and smaller class whose members have no hesitation in making the hardest possible bargains with employes. With them the wage is not regulated by value received. It is fixed by supply and demand plus the ability of the employer to obtain the services of women below both a living wage and a fair wage. And, in a strictly competitive market, the fair-minded employer sometimes feels com- pelled to follow the lead, in wages paid, of the hard-minded who con- tinually "bear" the labor market and never mix humanity with their dealings with women employes. Wages, like living, is a matter of custom. Whether they are "good" or "bad," depends in a measure on the standard of living of the indi- vidual. It is true that the sum of all wages can never be less 1han it costs workers to live; otherwise there would be starvation. Nor can wages be more than the workers' products will bring in a competitive market, else capital would disappear. J>u( the standard of living MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 11 differs with nationalities, with classes and in localities in the same country. What may seem princely wages to one class may be starvation wages for another class. But notwithstanding these conflicting stand- ards, the^public is concerned to see that the lowest wage is high enough to keep up the physical strength of the workers and to provide them with sanitary surroundings. In fact, there is a sufficient margin between the cost of services and the price of the commodities produced by the services to enable employers to considerably raise the wages of employes without materially affecting prices. Cheap production at the expense of women wage-earners is not good economy. THOSE LIVING AT HOME AND THOSE "ADRIFT." Wage-earning women may be divided into two classes; those living at home and those "adrift." This latter term means those whose only sources of livelihood are their own exertions, and who do not live at home. The percentage of those living at home is very large sufficiently large to show why a self-supporting woman "adrift" has such a hard time securing a living wage ; for she is competing with those who do not support themselves and are willing to work for just enough to enable them to dress well and to have a little money for recreation. When an employer puts the question to the woman applying for a position : "Do you live at home?" it may mean concern over the morals of the appli- cant, but it more likely means a basis for a wage to be offered, not measured by the value of the services. The competition between women at home and women "adrift" has had the effect of sharpening the wits of those "adrift." They attend to business better, lose less time, and are generally of more value to them- selves and their employers. So the pay envelope of the woman "adrift" is apt to be somewhat fatter than the pay envelope of her home-living sister. WAGES NOT UNIFORM. An examination of the pay rolls of the seven establishments given in this report, shows that wages are not uniform in establishments in the same industry. There is little, if any, difference in these industries in the grade of work performed, yet there is considerable variation in the amount paid women employes. This seems to show that establishments paying the lower wage, if controlled by efficient employers and with everything else equal, can afford to increase the compensation without imperiling financial integrity. In some instances coming under the observation of the Commission the most prosperous establishments are paying \\ }G lowest wage. These are prosperous not because, but in spile of the low wage paid, for their employes continually shift, and oilier 12 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON establishments obtain their more experienced employes by offering better pay. It may be said indeed it has been said that some industries in Michigan could not exist if compelled to pay a higher wage. If this be true it raises the question, whether any State can afford to have within its borders a business that can exist only by exploiting women labor. Such an industry compels others to support its inade- quately paid workers. It takes more than it gives. Is it not, then, a "parasitic institution," reflecting no credit on its owners, and increasing the community's sum total of misery ? Just how far the State can go in defending society against such a condition has not yet been fully determined by any court; but the power of a State to protect its citizens from industrial maladjustments is continually being broadened by judicial decisions. NECESSITY FOR FACTORY REFORM. The Commission desires to call attention to the information herewith presented of sanitary conditions in many establishments employing women. Too few factories have scientific ventilation. Something more is needed than windows, which may or may not be opened in summer, but which are always kept closed in winter, to save the expense of fur- nishing both heat and ventilation. As a rule laundries were provided with good ventilating apparatus, but most other factories as yet do not appear to realize how closely related to efficiency is an abundance of pure air. Of the 8,283 women wage-earners reporting on toilet facilities 58.1 per cent stated that in their apinion they were "good"; 29.7 per cent said they were "fair," which means much or little; 12.2 per cent insisted they were "bad" so much so as to be a menace to the health of the workers, if not of the community. Too much stress cannot be placed upon the necessity of factory reform in this direction. The factory toilet should be so constructed as to make it impossible to overflow or stop up. It should be clean, neat, sweet smelling and cheerful. To have toilets for men and women separated only by a board partition reaching neither to the floor nor the ceiling; to have the toilet paper hung outside the door of the toilet room, or the toilet so located that all in the factory can see who enter or depart, simply to save waste of paper or the expense of plumbing, to neglect to keep the toilets clean and to have them inadequate, in number, is in- decent and immoral, not up to the 20th century. demands, and not in harmony with the intent of the State to safeguard the health and morals of its wage earning population. There is also the matter of lire protection, especially for women, MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOiMKX. 13 which still seems In he in an embryonic state. Sonic lire escapes are inadequate or badly located. Fire drills are neglected, as interfering with the work of the factory, and in this employes are more neglectful than employers. While the modern built factory is generally provided with lire escapes, the fire drill is too seldom insisted on. UNEQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK. That women should be paid less than men for the same grade and amount of work, and for even better work, as is admittedly done by some employers, is one of the anomalies of the present -system of industry. It is evidence that running parallel with the law of demand and supply there is the law of the cost of living regulating Avages. Women need work as well as men, but they are willing to work for less because they can live on less and because they can live at home. Nowhere has the present phase of minimum wage legislation attempted to cope with this industrial condition, yet the condition is a matter for profound thought. It wage earn ing men, in order to eke out an inadequate wage, were com- pelled to do as many things as women do outside their employment, they too might show still more inefficiency. Table No. J. EMPLOYERS' FIGURES OF NUMBER EMPLOYED AND WAGES PAID PER WEEK. Establishments, women employed, pay and ages. Number. Percentages. Establishments reporting 1 348 Average number of women employed daily 50,351 Receiving less than $6 per week, (50,230 reporting) 10,898 21.7 Receiving less than $8 per week, (50,230 reporting) 25,810 51.4 Receiving $8 per week and over, (50,230 reporting) 24,420 48.0 Employed under 16 years of age 1,105 2.2 The tabulations of the employers' wage figures, in Part IV., of Ihis report, from which the above is taken, must be examined in connection with the tables in Part III, showing lost time, to arrive at the real tin uncial status of women wage-earners. Tew of these 50,351 women worked 52 weeks in any one year. A large number of them lost as much as ten weeks in the year from various causes, mainly because of "seasonal" work. The seed industry is an example. In the fall the business requires a full force; in the spring and summer the number employed is much less. Sickness also claims a considerable percentage. Thus the $0-a-week woman, who if she worked continuously, would re- ceive s:U:! a year for the 52 weeks, provided she is paid for holidays, loses perhaps 10 weeks' work, or fUO. making her wage for the year $253, or a 11 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON little less than $5 a week. And likewise the woman receiving as high as $9 a week, if she loses 10 weeks, has to support herself on $7.50 a week or run in debt. ANNUAL PAY ROLL FIGURES. The figures from the annual pay rolls show a lower wage rate than do either the figures in the same establishments from employers' blanks or from the wage-earning women directly interrogated. Undoubtedly pay rolls show wage facts more correctly than "averages" by employers or the uncertain memories of the workers, who are more likely to remember a few weeks of abnormal wages than the many weeks when slack work, sickness or time lost from any other cause snipped what could be earned under favorable conditions anywhere from ten to twenty-five per cent. If wages alone are to be taken as determining the economic condition of wage-earning women, then these seasonal pay rolls indicate a very high percentage of workers receiving less than a living wage. Talle No. 2. PAY ROLLS SHOWING NUMBER EMPLOYED WITHIN THE YEAR IN 7 ESTABLISHMENTS, AVERAGE NUMBER EMPLOYED DAILY, AND WAGES PAID. Pay rolls, number employed and wages. Number. Percentages. Pay rolls examined 7 Names on pay rolls 2,569 Number of women employed each day 418 16 2 Working less than 4 weeks 1,577 61.4 Working 4 weeks and over 992 38 6 Working 4 weeks and over who received less than $6 per week for the time employed . . . 672 67.7 Working 4 weeks and over who received less than $8 per week for the time employed . . 877 88 4 Working four weeks and over who received $8 per week or over for the time employed . 115 11 6 EMPLOYES' FIGURES AND STATEMENTS. The Commission's investigators interrogated 8,512 wage-earning women in 535 establishments as to their financial and social status and en- vironment. Each one interrogated answered not far from a hundred questions. These figures will be found in full in Part III of this report. That the figures of wages agree with neither those of employers nor the pay rolls, is to be expected. They were obtained under different condi- tions. While they are lower than the figures furnished by the em- ployers, they are higher than those disclosed by the pay rolls. The em- ployers reported on an average week, the women wage workers reported MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. what they received when they worked a full week, and what they received "last week"; the pay rolls disclose the actual pay per week for the time employed. Whatever errors there may be in the matter of wages reported by these 8,512 women wage-earners, the likelihood is that the wages reported are more, on the average, rather than less than the amount actually received. The question answered was : "How much do you earn a week full time?" As shown in Part III, lost time makes a not inconsiderable hole in the total of wages earned in the year compared to what would have been received had there been no lost time because of lack of em- ployment, sickness or from other causes. Table No. 3. EMPLOYES' FIGURES AS TO WAGES RECEIVED WHEN WORKING A FULL WEEK, NUMBER LIVING AT HOME AND ADRIFT, AGES OF THE WORKERS, AND MARITAL RELATIONS. Character of information. Number. Percentages. Localities visited 30 Establishments investigated 535 Employes interrogated 8 512 Living at home . . 6 355 74 7 Adrift 2 157 25 3 Receiving less than $6 a week (8,424 reporting) , 2,048 24 3 Receiving less than $8 a week (ft ,424 reporting) 4 751 56 4 Receiving $8 per week or over (8,424 reporting) .... 3 673 43 6 Under 16 years of age. . . 305 3 6 Under 20 years of age . . . 3 320 40 1 Under 25 years of age . . . 5 919 69 5 25 years of age or over 2 477 29 1 Not reporting age 116 1 4 Single *7 036 82 7 Married 842 9 9 Widowed, divorced or separated . . . 628 7 4 *Not including 6 who did not report marital relations. As bearing on the problem as to whether present wages are adequate to meet family expenses, it is of interest to know that 842, or ten per cent, of the women wage-earners interrogated and reporting are mar ried, with many of them supporting others besides themselves. If this figure holds good with the total number of Michigan women employed in gainful occupations, it shows that 22,500 married women are working for a living outside their homes. With the number of divorced and widowed added to these figures, the percentage of such women depending on their own exertions for a living is still further increased. 10 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON The fact that 75 per cent of Michigan's wage-earning women live at home, and that an exceedingly large percentage of these give all their earn- ings to their parents for family expenses, and are- ignorant of how much their living costs, is among the reasons why so many are satisfied to work for less than a living wage. Table No. J f . COMPARISON OP EMPLOYER, EMPLOYE AND PAY ROLL FIGURES AS TO WAGES. As per 1,348 employers' As per 8,512 employes' blank. As per 7 pay rolls. Per cent of women wage-earners receiving less than $6 per week I Per cent of women wage-earners receiving less than $8 per week I Per cent of women wage-earners receiving over $8 per week . . 51.4 48. G 24.3 50.4 43.6 07.7 88.4 11.6 WAGES AND THE COST OP LIVING. In confirmation of the Commission's opinion that today a large pro- portion of the wage-earning women of Michigan are not receiving suf- ficient to meet the necessary cost of living, there is presented the state- ments of 57 Michigan Women's Clubs well distributed throughout the Commonwealth and of 5,673 women employed in 535 establishments in 30 localities as to just how much is really needed in order that a wage- earning woman may live decently. But independent of these figures, the fact of an inadequate wage for a large proportion of Michigan's women wage-earners is a matter of common knowledge. Table No. 5. THE WEEKLY WAGES 57 WOMEN'S CLUBS AND 5,673 WAGE-EARNI.V; WOMEN CONSIDER NECESSARY IN ORDER TO LIVE DECENTLY. Sources of information. Number reporting. Under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Women's Clubs Wage-earning women 57 5 67.'t 15 047 in 1 ,250 9 854 14 2,916 In order that the importance of these figures may be more easily com- prehended, they are repeated in the form of percentages. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 17 T.ihlt: No. 6. TABLE BY PERCENTAGES OP Till-: \V10KKLY WAGES f.7 WOMEN'S < I.II'.S AND r..(M.-{ WAGE-EAKNING WOMEN CONSIDER NECESSARY IN ORDER TO LIVE UK*' FATLY. Sources of information. Number reporting. Under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Women's Clubs 57 26.3 33.3 15.8 24.6 Wage-earning women 5,673 11.4 22.2 15.0 51.4 These estimates very much exceed the actual wages of 5,673 Michigan wage-earning women, as shown in the table of wages and expenses in Part III, as prepared by the Secretary of the Commission. Only when wages exceeded f S a week, did they meet living expenses. With more than half of these Michigan women wage-earners interrogated receiving less (haii |8 a week and with over half of them insisting that at least flO a week is necessary in order to live as they should, the fact of an inad- equate wage is established. The gap between wages and reasonable living expenses is clear. This must necessitate either a considerable direct expenditure by others, or the women run into debt, to the disadvantage of merchants, of them- selves and of the public. In Part VI will be found the figures, in detail, as supplied by the Women's Clubs of the State, of the necessary living expenses of the average self-respecting wage-earning woman. ECONOMIC IMPEDIMENTS. In the judgment of the Commissioners some of the unnatural economic conditions that tend to make necessary wage legislation for women should be briefly mentioned. There is a natural wage. Adam Smith speaks of it in his "Wealth of Nations' 7 when he says: "The produce of labor constitutes the natural recompense or wages of labor." It is only when artificial barriers interfere that wages become less than the entire produce of the laborer. When employers and employes are on an equality in bargaining, wages will hardly represent less than the value of the services performed. The constant endeavor of organized labor to put employes on an equality with employers in bargaining for wages, has in a measure increased wages and reduced the inequality in bar- gaining power, yet employers themselves are subject to conditions that restrict their freedom and ability. Unjust taxation causes economic maladjustment and the consequent necessity for employers to cut wages. And such taxation forces labor to take what is offered. Employers oftentimes "oppress labor" only because they themselves are oppressed. 3 IS REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Much of this economic maladjustment and distress among both em- ployers and employes, in the judgment of the Commissioners, could be eliminated by making it possible and easy for labor to employ itself and thereby give to industry and enterprise an opportunity to reap their full fruits. Relieving productive human activities from tax exactions and obtaining the needed revenue for the State by the taxation only of the wealth created by the community collectively, would go far to remedy this condition. If idle acres were free to be tilled by those needing work there would be little or no industrial distress. The wage limit would then tend to become what the worker could earn working for himself, for he would work for no one for less. When it is made unprofitable to hold land out of use there will be less demand and certainly less necessity for minimum wage laws. INEFFICIENCY. The Commission is convinced that lasting equitable conditions in Michigan, or elsewhere, will never prevail until there is a clearer ap- preciation of the duty of the individual, of the family, of employers and of the State toward all the units of society. Inefficiency is a crying evil ; more, it is a crime. Much of it which is now plaguing employers, im- poverishing employes and hindering the production of wealth can and must be remedied. Today, the ordinary girl leaves school, her "education finished," un- prepared to take up life's burdens, either as a wage worker or as a home maker. Scarcely grounded in the "three Rs," she steps from the school room to the floor of the factory, or behind the counter, so ignorant of industrial methods that she is immediately a financial burden to any- one who may employ her. She must be taught to co-ordinate hand and brain, must be introduced to the complexities of what is to her a new world. Of course she is inefficient, and whether or not she will ever become a profit-making factor in the business can be determined only after the employer has expended considerable capital in her training. This inefficiency in the girl is the fault of society. It may be true that the right place for her is presiding over a home of her own; but the march of invention has taken to the factory much of the home work formerly done by women. To keep her idle is a sin, so she follows her work; yet to thrust her into insanitary buildings and demoralizing in- dustry and push her to the limit of her physical endurance, is a menace to present and future society, and a still greater sin. As to the morals of wage-earning women, factory employes are not subject to such temptation as are saleswomen or office clerks. And this is particularly true where the factory force is almost exclusively women. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 19 1 1 is unfortunate Ilia! the girl who works in a factory is placed by society on a lower plane than the one who is "helping mother." There is no reason for (his. While staying at home may, to some, imply the ability to live without work, yet that "working" should lower the girl's social status is illogical and demoralizing. In fact, it is the industrious woman, rather than the idle one, who should be esteemed and placed on the higher plane. But so long as the "habit of thought" is in the direction of doing homage to idleness, industry, among women, will be at a social discount and idleness at a premium. As the girl's hope is that she may soon step out of the "working girl class," her interest in her work is too often zero. Yet for no class in the community is the matter of efficiency more necessary than the working girl who is looking forward to a happy married life. If self-respecting and self-supporting, her chances of con- tracting a happy and permanent marriage are much greater. And if efficient in the factory or in the office, or behind the counter, there is much greater probability that she will carry efficiency into the home, even though, at ILi'st, she may be a stranger to housework. And, too, the efficient woman is in great part relieved of the fear of being left helpless because of family misfortune or bad judgment in contracting a marriage. If obliged to once more become a wage-earner, the old-time efficiency will be helpful in obtaining employment at an adequate wage. These and other considerations will readily occur to those who have studied the problem of inefficiency and society's duty is to impress them upon this class of workers. ) VOCATIONAL TRAINING. The prime remedy for industrial inefficiency is vocational training at the expense and under the control of the State. This brings once more to the fore the objection that the public school system already has too many "fads." But it is also a reminder that not so very long ago the public school system was itself denounced as a fad, and as attempting to do something that would better be left with the family. The forward march of the human race has overthrown much of the op- position to education at the expense of the State; yet conservatism still looks with suspicion on anything that enlarges the activities of the collective body. Vocational training would enable young women when they leave school, to become almost immediately self-supporting. It would save employers the cost of training beginners in simple fundamentals connected with business, which is no small sum when the matter of spoiled material and capital put to inadequate use is taken into account. And it would enable the wage-earner to more quickly and easily "find herself." There 20 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON would be fewer ''square pegs in round holes." This would at once raise the minimum wage limit without burdening employer or consumer, for an efficient worker is always more economical than an inefficient one. Vocational education will be found fully explained in Appendix K. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION NEEDED. Education is a slow process. As the woman must eat today if she is to live tomorrow, it becomes necessary to bridge that period separating present inefficiency from future efficiency by State supervision for those economically unable to protect themselves. To do this, minimum wage legislation is needed. While economic conditions with women wage-earners in Michigan are not so bad as some have believed, the figures presented in this report show that many are receiving for their services, less than a living wage even less than a just minimum wage. Employers are not solely to blame for this. The demand for cheap production is insistent, and the low wage is reflected in the price of the product; so the consumer must share in the responsibility for low wages and "cheap" production. If a minimum wage higher than the average now paid should be deemed necessary by a competent wage board in order that women may live decently, without being subject to temptation to wrongdoing, even though it necessitates an increase in the retail cost of the article manu- factured, would it not be more economical, after all, to help support wage- earning women in this way than in breaking down self-respect through charitable contributions necessitated by low wages? A LEGAL MINIMUM WAGE NOT A UNIFORM AMOUNT. A minimum wage is a matter of detail. It will vary with environment and other economic conditions. And it will also vary with occupations. To make a common rate for all is economically impossible. If the local cost of living is in great part the foundation for the wage, it is not even possible to establish an equitable minimum wage for any one occupation that will fit all localties, or for one locality that will fit all occupations. Each case must be decided on its own merits, according to the economic conditions of each particular area and of each particular industry. Nor does this wage variation present any insuperable obstacle. The same variation can now be seen, not only in different, but in the same localities and industries. The average wage now paid in Detroit laundries, for example, vary considerably, as they do in the Detroit box factories, and as they do between laundries and box factories. If employers are able to prosper under present varying wage conditions, it is likely they will find less, rather than more, difficulty, when a minimum wage is fixed MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 21 for all iii a given occupation and locality, after a careful and impar- tial investigation. PARASITIC INDUSTRIES. It is possible that a parasitic industry might suffer from a legal minimum wage, even to the extent of having to go out of business. Yet in no instance in the history of wage board decisions in other nations and states, coining to the attention of this Commission, has a useful in- dustry been thus legislated out of existence. An industry that, under normal conditions, is not self-supporting, not able to pay its employes a living wage, has no just claim for existence. Such an industry is parasitic. One that pays its employes only a bare living wage during the active life of the worker, leaving the worker to be maintained by the State for the balance of life, might also be said to be parasitic. An in- dustry that pays even less than a minimum wage, necessitating finan- cial aid to the workers from the poor fund, is most certainly parasitic. Worst of all, an industry is parasitic which lives only because it pays such low wages to women employes that they believe themselves com- pelled to accept financial aid from an unattached companion of the opposite sex. Investigation shows, however, that this latter class of women wage-earners is either an unknown or an exceedingly small per- centage of the entire number of women in the mechanical industries. APPLYING THE MINIMUM WAGE LAW. It is generally recognized that to apply the minimum wage principle, Wage Boards are necessary. These boards should be appointed by the Minimum Wage Commission, and be composed of both employers and employes, and of members to represent the consuming public. It is possible that the establishment of a minimum wage by those boards might compel employers to use improved machinery and sound business methods, for inefficiency is not always confined to the employe; and it certainly would demand that employes give value received for the wage that might be determined. It is neither expected nor desired that a minimum wage law would compel the payment of the full minimum wage to beginners and ap- prentices. The fear of such a result seems to be the basis for most employers' objections to the minimum wage. It would be necessary to establish only the proportion that apprentices' and beginners' wages should bear to the minimum wage, and a stated period of probation for each occupation. This proportion and probation period would vary in justice io both employer and employe. A staled increase in wage until Hie regular minimum wage is attained, might be provided. Vocational training should and would materially shorten I he period of probation. 22 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Working certificates to the crippled, the aged and those who are mentally or physically incapable of performing what might be con- sidered a full day's work, should be issued by the Minimum Wage Com- mission or other proper authority. Such certificate would allow the holder to work for a certain proportion of the minimum wage, and could be renewed or cancelled as circumstances required, but in no case should it run for a long period, nor should any employer be permitted more than a small proportion of certificate holding workers. CONSTITUTIONALITY OF MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION. The constitutionality of State legislation for the protection of women and children is no longer in doubt. Court decisions upholding this kind of legislation are now numerous. The economic proposition is that health is imperiled by either too low wages, insanitary surround ings or too long hours of labor; and that working conditions that injure women, harm the State. Social and economic progress lies in the direction of good health. At the least, proper shelter, the necessary amount of clothes for protection against the elements and sufficient food to keep up the worker's labor strength, are requisite. A living wage perhaps even a minimum wage must be enough to provide, in addition, a minimum of innocent and healthful recreation. European governments have seen this need of amuse- ment at a nominal cost, more plainly than have American communities, for there some amusements are subsidized by the State. And our own com- munities, in education, parks, playgrounds and otherwise, are minister- ing to. the physical and moral well-being of the individual. What the community does for the individual in education, recreation and amuse- ment, may be properly considered as a part of the worker's real wages. A 'State can rest on no more just foundation than that the wealth- creating class shall be paid all it earns. It will thus be enabled to buy as much as it produces. State legislatures will do no injustice in enacting a minimum wage law, and providing for a Minimum Wage Commission that will protect wage-earning women against exploitation CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. The Commission concludes : 1 That a large percentage of the women wage-earners of Michigan are today receiving less than a living wage ; 2 That this constitutes a menace to the social welfare of society that is within the power of the legislature to prevent; 3 That a considerable number of women are working under' insani- tary conditions that proper leirislaiion will remedy; MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. L>:J 4 That any industry that cannot pay a living wage to its employes is a burden and not an asset, and if it moves away or goes out of business society will suffer no loss; 5 That the causes of social maladjustment are not the fault of any one class, but rest with all classes, and it remains with society, through its legislative power, as far as possible, to remove these causes. 6 That the tendency of minimum wage legislation will be toward the elimination of inefficiency on the part of both employers and employes, and the suppression of parasitic industries. It will make relations be- tween employers and employes more secure, better understood, and therefore more cordial; will stimulate employes to greater industry and more regard to the interest of their employers ; will prevent wage cutting below a minimum by less humane employers; 'will reduce the number of strikes and disagreements, and will compel employers to use the latest aids to production. 7 That no material interests of the State would be injured by such a law. The Commission recommends: 1 Immediate provision for vocational training in public schools, to be supplemented by instruction and training in schools under the direction of employers, and by other methods of overcoming inefficiency, as of first importance. 2 The enactment of a minimum wage law for women. This law should provide : (a) For a properly constituted Minimum Wage Commission with a maximum of power in the direction of publicity, and a minimum of power in the direction of coercion. (b) For Minimum Wage Boards, composed of both employers and em- ployes, and of representatives of the consuming public, to be ap- pointed by the Commission. (c) For a proper review by the Minimum Wage Commission of any decision by a Wage Board as to the necessity for, or the sum that should constitute a minimum wage, with the added right by the parties in interest to bring the review into court upon questions of law. i (d) For working certificates to be issued by the Commission to ap- prentices and beginners, to the crippled, and to those who are men- tally or physically unable to do a full day's work, which shall permit the employer to pay, as wages, certain proportions of the minimum wage. In furtherance of these suggestions, a tentative Minimum Wage bill has been drawn, and will be found as Part II of this report. 24 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION. In conclusion the Commission wishes to express its appreciation of the work of Luella M. Burton, its Secretary, in collecting the statistics, compiling the interrogations and preparing the report. Miss Burton's many years of experience in the Michigan Labor Bureau enabled her to bring to the task of this investigation a fund of knowledge of labor con- ditions in Michigan, without which the work of the Commission would have been much more arduous. The Commission also thanks the field workers and the office force for the conscientious work done and the enthusiasm shown; the Pro- fessors for valuable suggestions in the Round Table discussion held in Lansing; the employers and others who participated in public discussions of the minimum wage, and the labor organizations in appointing com- mittees to give the Commission their views on the minimum wage. The Governor has given the Commission an absolutely free hand in pursuing the inquiry, and the Commissioners thank him for his counsel and gratefully reciprocate his confidence. The Commission has en- deavored that no dollar of expenditure should be wasted, and the State Board of Auditors has interposed no objection to the incurring of any expense the Commission thought necessary. JUDSON GRENELL, C. S. BEADLE, MYRON H. WALKER, Commissioners. LUELLA M. BURTON,, Secretary. Dated, Lansing, Michigan, January 27, 1915. PART II. TENTATIVE BILL FOR THE CREATION OF A MICHIGAN MINI MUM WAGE COMMISSION. A BILL To Protect the Lives, Health and Morals of Women Workers; to Estab- lish a Minimum Wage Commission therefor, and to Define its Powers and Duties; to Provide for the Fixing of Minimum Wages for such Workers; and to Provide Penalties for the Violation of the same; for Publicity; and to make an Appropriation therefor. The People of the State of Michigan enact : SECTION 1. The welfare of the State of Michigan requires that women workers should be protected from conditions of labor which have a pernicious effect on their health and morals, and the State of Michigan, in the exercise of its police and sovereign power, hereby declares that inadequate wages have such pernicious effect. SECTION 2. It shall be unlawful to employ women in any industry or occupation within the State of Michigan at a wage inadequate to meet the necessary cost of living and to maintain the worker in health. SECTION 3. There is hereby created a Commission to be known as the "Minimum Wage Commission." It shall be composed of three persons, to be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of Hie Senate; at least one of whom shall be a woman, and all of whom will be fair and impartial between employers and employes, and work for the best interests of the public as a whole. The Governor shall make the first appointment of such Commissioners within GO days after this act takes effect; one for the term ending January 1, 191G; one for the term ending January 1, 1917; and one for the term ending January 1, 1918; and at the expiration of each of said terms the successor shall be appointed for the full term of three years. Any vacancy shall be filled by the Governor in like manner for the unexpired term. The Com- missioner whose term will soonest expire shall be the Chairman. Two members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum at all regular meetings and public hearings. 20 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF< INQUIRY ON SECTION 4. Each Commissioner shall be paid ten dollars for each day's and five dollars for each half -day's actual service; Provided: That the total per diem of the Commissioners as a whole shall not ex- ceed three thousand dollars in any one year. The Commission may ap- point a Secretary, who shall be the executive officer of the Commission, and whose salary, not to exceed eighteen hundred dollars a year, shall be determined by the Commission. The Commission shall be provided by the Board of State Auditors with a suitable office in the Capitol, or in some other suitable building in the city of Lansing. SECTION 5. The Commission shall ascertain the wages of women workers in the various occupations employing women in Michigan. And for that purpose said Commission shall have full power and au- thority to call for statements, and either through a Commissioner, its Secretary, or any authorized representative, to examine all books, pay rolls, and other records of any employer of women as to any matter that would bear upon wages paid such women workers. And every such employer shall keep a record of the names, addresses and occu- pation of all women employed by him, which shall show therein, or by direct reference, the wages paid and number of hours employed per day or week. The Commission may prescribe the form in which such record shall be kept. SECTION 6. The Commission may hold public meetings at such times and places as it shall specify, at which meetings employers, em- ployes and other interested persons may appear and testify as to the matter under consideration. The Commission shall have power to sub- poena witnesses, and to compel the production of books, papers and other evidence as to such matter. Witnesses attending upon subpoena, when discharged, shall be entitled to the same mileage as is provided by law for witnesses attending before the circuit courts of this State. SECTION 7. If the Commission, upon such investigation, shall find that in any occupation, the wages paid to a substantial number of women employed are inadequate to meet the necessary cost of living and to main- tain the worker in health, the Commission shall thereupon establish and convene a Wage Board of not less than three nor more than six eni- v ployers in the occupation in question, an equal number of women em- ployes therein, or of persons to represent them, and an equal number of disinterested persons to represent the public ; and a member of the Com- mission if present, otherwise one of the representatives of the public, shall be designated to act as chairman thereof. The employers and employes shall each have the right, within 30 days after notice, to select their members of such board, and thereafter the Commission may ap- point. The Commission shall make rules for the selection of members, and for the procedure of such boards, and shall have exclusive jurisdic- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 27 tioii over all questions as to the validity of procedure and of the recom- mendations of such board. The members shall serve without pay, but shall be allowed the actual necessary traveling expenses in attendance upon such board. SECTION 8. The Commission may submit all pertinent information in its control relating to the subject of inquiry of any such board; and such board may compel the production of books, papers and other perti- nent evidence. Such board shall consider the needs of the women em- ployes, the financial condition of the occupation, and the probable effect thereon of any proposed change in wages; and shall endeavor to deter- mine a just minimum wage, whether by time rate or piece rate or lolh, adequate to meet the necessary cost of living and to maintain in health the women employes of ordinary ability; and also a just min- imum wage for beginners and apprentices proportioned to the full minimum wage determined upon. The findings and determination of such board, or of a majority of the members thereof, together with the reasons therefor, and the facts relating thereto, shall be reported to the Commission. SECTION 9. Upon receipt of any such report the Commission shall review the same and may approve or disapprove the determinations in whole or in part, or may recommit the subject to the same or a new board. If the Commission approve any determination of such board, it shall make an order, to be effective in 60 days from its date, unless the Commission shall fix a longer period because unusual conditions make it necessary, which order shall specify the minimum wage for women, be- ginners and apprentices, if any, in the occupation, affected. And after such order is effective it shall be unlawful for any employer in such occupation to employ women, beginners or apprentices for less than the prescribed rate of wages. The Commission, so far as practicable, shall send by registered mail to each employer, in the occupation affected, a copy of such order, and such employer thereupon is required to keep posted a plain copy of such order in some conspicuous place in each room in his establishment in which women are employed. The minimum wage thus specified shall not be changed for one year from the date of such order, except as provided in Section 10. SECTION 10. Upon petition of either employers or employes, specifying grounds, and made not less than six months after such order becomes effective, the Commission may reopen the question and reconsider such rates, and change or modify the same. It may also reconvene the former or call a new wage board to hear, determine and report thereon, as above provided. SECTION 11. The Commission, within sixty days from the date of any such order, shall publish in at least one newspaper in each county 28 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON of the State in which any establishment affected by such order is lo- cated, a summary of such findings and order. At such times, and in such manner thereafter as it shall deem advisable, it shall also publish the facts, as it finds them, as to the acceptance of its order by the em- ployers affected thereby, including the names of the employers whom it finds to be following or refusing to follow such order. The type in which the employers' names are printed shall not be smaller than the type in which the news matter is printed. Such matter shall be at- tested by the signature of a majority of the Commission; Provided, however, that such publication last provided shall not be made as to any employer as to whom a court review is pending, until after the deter-, mination thereof. SECTION 12. For any occupation in which a minimum wage rate has been established, the Commission may issue to a woman physically or mentally defective or crippled by age or otherwise, and to any beginner or apprentice, a special permit for her employment at a wage specified therein, not less than the special minimum wage determined for such class of persons. Such permits may be issued by the Secretary, in the absence of a majority of the Commission, but shall be reported to the Commission at its first meeting thereafter and be subject to its approval. And such permit shall issue only when the Commission is satisfied it is applied for in good faith; and such permit for beginners and appren- tices shall be in force for such period of time not exceeding one year, as the Commission shall specify; and the Commission may therein provide for a graduated increase of wages at stated periods; Provided, that no employer shall have more than 20 per cent of women employes at any time working under such special permits. SECTION 13. All findings and determinations of fact made by the Commission under this act, in absence of fraud, shall be conclusive; but the Supreme Court shall have the power to review questions of law involved in any final determination of said Commission, and to make such further orders in reference thereto as justice may require; Provided, that within thirty days after the date of the order of such determination, application is made therefor by a party in interest by certiorari or other proper writ. In any such proceeding the Attorney General shall represent, and act in behalf of, the Commission. SECTION 14. Upon request of the Commission, the Commissioner of Labor of the State of Michigan shall furnish to the Commission such in- formation and statistics as it may require. SECTION 15. Any employer who shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employe because such employe has testified, or is by said employer believed to be about to testify, in any inves- tigation or proceedings under lliis act; or because said employer be- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 29 lieves or claims, or lias been informed, that said employe has been or may be instrumental in such investigation or proceedings, or in bring- ing the same about, or who shall permit the same to be done, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof -shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars. SECTION 16. Any person who after thirty days from the time of the first publication of the order of the Commission in the county in which his establishment is located as provided in Section 11 of this act, shall employ any woman at less than the minimum wage determined as afore- said, or shall employ any person physically or mentally defective or crippled by age or otherwise, or any beginner, or apprentice, except in strict compliance with the order of the Commission and the permit issued as aforesaid, or w r ho shall violate any of the other provisions of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon con- viction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars. SECTION 17. Any worker, or the parent or guardian of any minor, to whom this act applies, may complain to the Commission that the wages paid to the workers are less than the minimum rate; such com- plaint shall be a confidential communication and treated as such, and the Commission shall investigate the same and take any proper action in behalf of the workers. SECTION 18. If any employe shall receive less than the legal mini- mum wage, or, in case of special permit, less than the wage therein specified, such employe shall be entitled to recover in a civil action the full amount of the legal minimum wage provided for, or specified in such permit, together with costs and attorney's fees to be fixed by the court, not exceeding the amount recovered, notwithstanding any agree- ment to work for such lesser wage. In any such action, however, the employer shall be credited with all wages which have been paid upon account. SECTION 19. The Commission may from time to time determine whether employers in each occupation investigated are obeying its orders and shall publish in the manner provided in Section 11 the names of any employers whom it finds to be violating such order. SECTION 20. Any newspaper refusing or neglecting to publish the limliugs, orders and notices of the Commission, at its regular rates for the space taken, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars for each offence. SECTION 21. No member of the Commission, and no newspaper pub- lisher, proprietor, editor or employe thereof, shall be liable to an action for damages for publishing the names of any employers in accordance 30 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. with the provisions of this act, unless such publication contains some wil- ful misrepresentation. SECTION 22. The Commission shall biennially make a succinct report to the Governor and State legislature of its investigations, proceedings and determinations, with such recommendations as it deems proper. SECTION 23. The prosecuting attorney of any county of this State, upon complaint upon oath of the Secretary or any member of such Commission or of any authorized representative thereof, shall institute and prosecute to an end, proceedings in any court of competent jurisdic- tion against any person, firm or corporation for the violation of any of the provisions of this act. SECTION 24. There is hereby appropriated annually the sum of six thousand dollars to meet the per diem and other expenses herein pro- vided and authorized, the same to be audited and allowed by the Board of State Auditors upon vouchers properly sworn to or certified by the chairman of the Commission, and to be paid out of the general fund of the State. PART III. INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY 8,512 MICHIGAN WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS. BY THE SECRETARY. The investigation of the environment of Michigan's women wage- on rners, their wages, their cost of living, covers the inspection of 535 establishments in 30 localities following 14 separate industries, and the interrogation of 8,512 employes. There will also be found in this report fragmentary information concerning four other occupations. Acknowledgment is due manufacturers, merchants and other employ- ers of women workers for many courtesies shown the Commission's in- vestigators; for their co-operation; for the opportunities given to in- terview their employes personally and for permission to inspect their establishments, the better to determine the exact environment of their respective employes. Almost without exception, when it was deemed necessary to see or copy pay rolls for purposes of comparison with the statements furnished by the women wage-earners themselves, this was graciously permitted. The Secretary was assisted in the field work by Mrs. Margaret Adams, Mrs. Marion Comfort, Anne E. Huber, Agnes Inglis, Mrs. Helen Worthington and Mrs. Ida Marsh. Mrs. Marsh and Mrs. Worthington later resigned. Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Comfort, Miss Huber, Amaryllis Bathe, Miss Inglis, and Helen Youngman assisted in the preparation of the tabulations. BOTH LOW AND HIGH PAID OCCUPATIONS INVESTIGATED. No attempt was made to cover only low-paid industries; rather the aim was to make a general survey of conditions of employment of women wage-earners in the State in the occupations selected. To know these conditions intimately it was necessary to look into the hygienic surroundings of the workers; to study the relationship one industry bears to another; to ascertain, if possible, the reason why two industries in the same locality had different wage rates for the same class of work; to note what proportion of the women were employed in 32 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON the lower-paid occupations; to compare weekly earnings with weekly expenditures; to study the relation of experience to wages received; to ascertain the continuity or irregularity of employment; to find the causes for lost time and the reasons for the shifting of employment; to ascertain the number living at home and what proportion of these were contributing all or part of their income for maintenance of the home; to learn the number who were adrift, their nationality and its relation to occupation, the number of married women working and the effect of their employment upon the wages paid the workers. The investigation covered some of those industries in which women are chiefly employed; only a relative attention was paid to the ex- ceptional occupations of women wage-workers such as core-makers, since only a few were affected. The candy, cigar, corset, hosiery and knit goods, overall, cigar and paper box, seed, tobacco, shoe, women's garment industries, the laun- dries, retail stores, and telephone exchanges were decided upon at the outset. Later on, when it was found impossible to cover all these in- dustries in the time at the command .of the Commission, it was de- cided to drop the investigation of the shoe industry. One of the investi- gators visited a woolen goods factory, and also a factory where wood fibre is converted into pulp for the manufacture of paper. INFORMATION FROM WOMEN'S CLUBS. Besides the blanks prepared containing questions pertinent to the in- vestigation and used by the Commission's investigators in obtaining first hand information from the women wage-earners, the club women of the Slate were sent "Cost of Living" blanks, and were also asked to assist the Commission by visiting establishments and interviewing those women and girls working in cities and towns, not visited by the Commission's investigators. This was not a satisfactory plan, since the girls em- ployed in these smaller cities and towns objected to answering personal questions to those with whom they were daily associated either in a business or social way. The term "adrift" as applied in this report primarily refers to the woman without the environment of a home. She may be boarding; she may be doing light housekeeping and in some instances, she may, in a measure, have some of the advantages of "home" life. Practically, she is without a home. WAGES AND AGES. The following tables, Nos. 7 and 7%, give the wages by ages of 8,358 women and girls in 18 different occupations. Four of the occupations were not fully investigated. A study of these tables enables the reader to MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 33 note the rise of wages with the increasing age, and as well the fall of wages when the worker, by reason of advancing years, "slows down," and so becomes of less value to her employer. The cigar industry con- tains the largest percentage of workers under 20 years of age, while those working in offices show the smallest percentage. But with in- creasing experience, the cigar making girl in time surpasses the average received by office girls, though on the other hand an office girl who has mastered the intricacies and technicalities of some specialized business will be paid a salary that the woman following a mechanical trade cannot hope to reach. It will be noted that in the seed industry only 2 per cent receive $10 a week or over ; in candy manufacturing, the percentage is 4 per cent; in hosiery and knit goods, 8 per cent; in telephone exchanges, 13 per cent; in laundries, 9 per cent; in stores, 22 per cent ; in cigar making, 35 per cent ; and in overalls, 40 per cent. The percentages, according to wages in the other industries, can be seen at a glance. 5 34 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON ' J3C l J9J -ran^j J9J }U90 C5(5O5 '^'* -O OO CO 00 05 CN 0> J9J -ran^ co T-I eq OO i- CO >O - 1 SS5 . '% ' 1O e aaq -* 3. ^ CO CO TJ n '% ^ S g ? CM s |1- aaq -ranjsi TH co t^- ec CO 55 1JU aaj ^ c^ S g CO . sl aaq ^H oo -* v . 2 6 1-Soo juao aaj J2 ^H c^ Ol ec - s < aaq CM M * v . C1 ^ ? m " aaq -rantf c- * e^ co CO - in 1,0 aaj *. ^ j (M 8 aaq -ranjsf ^ - | f ajui-oN ev s ^5 s ;: 2 w 8 4 tc c 1 3 S S ? 1 | 1 1 3 3 = g "g "g 1 a -, s -ran^ C, 00 JO 0, CO S g ^ llo '^9J C OS M CO "S CO > " tf jgq ' N OS CO O b". rH d S g 1 . J9J "'^ggS^SS 3 55 H W- 1 s^ 'S N tOOJC^rHOTtt^d I s .1 i R S . J9J gSSSrHS^rH S i ^ C ^ *JdO J U 3 -UTON "'~' g H 11* J9J ^^gSr^^^^S CO g s" -ranN CO C^l C^ TH g |zs 8 . ^090 J9J S OO^rH S OO o s? -mn N ^COCOCOrH^rH^ s w ^t-oN -SrlSS-S- 00 ^d J9J ; eo d ^.1 rH CO * i 11^ jaj rHrHMC^'' rHCOCO 2 H s** -mn^ dtOCOrHd.CCOC, s i ll* J9J OCOO^O.^rH^ 2 ^ ^ a '% COdOCO^drnrH M * J9J rH 3 ^ I ,_, g 3 w > tD SN CO JO rH CO rH I rH CO s I rHSSgg^^^- i o fes O s g 1 S3 S3 fe S3 fc fc : S 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ||1|1|1|| I MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 37 J3J aoq H- - aaq J3J joq aaq aaq aaq CO O O CO f-H CO CO * Tfl 00 CNJ t- t>- O CO ^-1 jaq IF -um^ (M OO O O CO -ran^. J3J ja q co J3J j-ranj^ J9J -ran^ # r- J3J CO 00 ^ uaq jaq i-H . CO CO aaq ^ : 8 S uaq -ranjsi S 1 | . '4 1 1 ti 1 flflPlCc3t>*- ( 333330 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 30 1 U "a S3 CST5 00 ~ . F fOM JOJ -ran^j -um^ J8J aaq -ran^ -ran^j ~ IH e> eq 10 00 CO CO g -ran N iocooooco -^ t^ CM r* S SB . aaj 2 3 S 3 CO " aaq -ran^ '. CM CO ^ CO t^ CO 1 - . aaj CO CO CO CO O O OO 53 1 ft* -S N CO ~ 00 <0 0, 00 S g ' g B . aaj s g s a. s^g S * 1* -ran^ CM^^-O-OOCO 8 !l-l CO T-I O " aaq -rantf * C-1 rt T-I 00 1 aa,j O "H TM OO O >O 00 t- CO CM CO p*^ 'S N 05 g 2 S "* " ^ nm-oN 2lBSg|gS^ # i 8 TJ aaj j ! ! aaq -UlU^J TJ ib '% S g 5! S :S 3 -m2 N b- CO Ol CO TH CO llo aaj : 5 S * aaq -ran^ I 1C "* r-< T-I s l'j aaj 10 >0 CO t- CM rH CN >O TH J5 IF - N TH CM 00 CO M CM CM 8 1 la % aaj lO O t>- t 1 1^ O s 1 -|8 -ran^ t-l CO O >fl CO rH g l . '% 3 S^ - 2 S 00 ~ aaq -ran^ CO CM CM O TH rH T-I g "O u C o . aaj CO CO CO CM f- 51 s aaq CO t ^< T-I 00 CM % . aoj CO CM |4 aaq CO CO jojui -ON ? 5 8 J5 ^ " - 1 t 53 g a S S g S3 S3 S S fc 8 > 1 1 1 1 1 \ 1 1 1 1 *! ,! 1 OJ C9 03 03 C9 cd c J^cooOOiOOOC p ,H T^ CM CM CO ** u 2 : i 3 -i S 5- i s 5 1 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 41 Table No. 7. WEEKLY WAGES BY AGES AND OCCUPATION OF 8,358 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN FOR A FULL WEEK. Concluded. Age. No. interrogated. Other occupations. (Shoes, woolen goods, fibre works and metal specialties.) Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. S10 and over. Wages not reported. u 55 |l Ifyi U 55 $ II 55 |1 II |I li 55 +; & " M 55 |l JJ *1 Under 16 16 and under 18 7 6 21 \ 5 4 3 72 67 15 i i 3 14 17 14 1 14 18 and under 20 1 1 1 16 5 25 10 20 and under 25 6 1 3 29 25 30 4 19 2 1 1 9 25 10 2 1 4 3 q 25 40 75 .... .... 25 and under 30 30 and under 40 , 10 4 3 1 10 40 and under 50 50 and over Not reported 1 25 2 67 1 33 Total 55 15 28 5 9 10 18 5 9 6 11 4 7 10 18 .... 42 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 7 1-2. RECAPITULATION OF OCCUPATIONS AND Age. Occupations. Candy. Cigars. Cores. Corsets. Hosiery and knit goods. Laundries. 1 I M ^ I* II fc| M fc i b| PH II $ II fc ftj jj |i Under 16 305 1,306 1,667 2,558 1,104 873 21 70 74 78 22 18 7.0 24.0 25.0 26.3 7.4 6.0 106 194 182 199 65 47 13.1 24.1 22.4 25.0 8.0 5.8 3 15 27 25 15 12 3.0 15.2 27.3 25.3 15.1 12.1 16 110 209 294 96 77 1.9 13.2 25.0 35.2 11.5 9.2 17 91 103 142 59 34 3.7 19.7 22.3 30.8 12.8 7.4 11 116 135 213 106 77 1.5 15.7 18.3 28.9 14.3 10.4 16 and under 18 years 18 and under 20 years 20 and under 25 years 25 and under 30 years. 30 and under 40 years 40 and under 50 years 50 years and over Not reported 333 138 74 12 1 4.0 0.3 7 6 1 0.9 0.7 2 2.0 19 14 2.3 1.7 9 6 1 2.0 1.3 50 30 8 6.8 4.1 Total and per cent of whole number 8,358 296 3.5 807 9.7 99 1.2 835 10.0 462 5.5 746 8.9 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 43 AGES OF 8,358 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN. Occupations. Other occupations ( MIkvs. Overalls. Paper and cigar boxes. Seeds. Stores. Telephone exchanges. Tobacco. Women's garments. (shoes, woolen goods, fibre works and metal specialties.) M M | |l nl II ,1 |j - a iJi n S II h | iJi ^ a II -1 II X fc & u 8 PH !z; * " fc PH & " K & % & v 5 9 3 34 10 s 1 4 48 2 3 8 1 7 21 13 13 2 1 8.3 73 10.7 93 26.0 60 28.4 254 12.1 80 16.9 44 27.1 67 10.9 7 12.7 82 21.3 131 19.2 71 19.6 44 20.9 329 15.6 153 32.3 30 18.5 91 14.8 6 10.9 171 45.1 265 38.8 104 29.2 60 28.4 582 27.6 176 37.2 47 29.0 178 28.8 21 38.2 50 13.0 118 17.3 35 10.0 22 10.4 353 16.7 41 8.7 11 6.8 107 17.3 4 7.3 38 9.9 59 8.7 15 4.2 17 8.1 362 17.2 14 3.0 4 2.5 89 14.4 10 18.2 a 1.6 24 3.5 3 0.8 3 1.4 137 6.5 1 0.2 5 3.1 51 8.3 4 7.3 i 0.3 10 1.5 1 0.2 ?( 1.0 43 2.0 21 3 4 3 5 4 11 3 4 J 40 1 4 396 4.7 685 8.2 360 4.3 212 2.5 2,148 25.7 474 5.7 162 2.0 621 7.4 55 0.7 44 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON WAGES ACCORDING TO EXPERIENCE. Advancing wages with increasing experience is shown in the follow- ing table, No. 8. This advance is in great measure dependent upon the amount of skill required to follow each particular occupation. In the candy industry, of the 296 interrogated, 110, or 37.2 per cent, had under a year's experience, and of these 110, some 64 per cent received less than $6 per week. Only a few with even as much as three to five years' expe- rience reached a $10 wage. In cigar making, while 75 per cent with less than a year's experience received under $6 per week, 53 per cent of those with six years' experience earned $10 or over per week. Core-making, a skilled trade, shows without variation, a steadily increasing wage with increasing experience. Kegardless of length of experience, 107 of the 474 telephone workers received less than $6 a week; and even with in- creasing experience, only 13 per cent rose to the dignity of a $10 wage, these being either chief operators, supervisors, or otherwise engaged in clerical work. Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Length of service. Number interrogated. Candy. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. I 1 4* fc I 34 18 5 4 M & 34 17 13 4 1 2 $ 30 30 38 15 4 13 s| 3-& j *g PH U 4 4 4 7 5 2 2 3 1 1 |1 U c $ |i *5 *i M ft 3 ii 3 M *1 Under 1 year 110 56 37 26 23 37 10 2 1 25 19 8 8 8 2 23 34 22 31 35 7 20 4 7 11 27 22 13 20 38 25 100 7 4 6 5 6 4 4 4 1 6 7 16 19 26 27 40 50 25 1 and under 2 years 2 2 2 4 2 1 4 5 9 27 20 12 2 and under 3 years 1 1 1 2 3 4 4 13 1 .... 3 and under 4 years 5 and under 6 years 15 10 Q 8 and under 9 years 4 1 1 25 1 25 6 1 17 2 33 3 50 17 Total 296 50 72 25 71 24 33 11 42 14 15 5 12 4 1 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 45 Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. Number interrogated. Cigars. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under 8. $8 and under ?9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wa n repc II ^ ges ot rted. $ M & *1 M & |1 u 52; ** iJ 5 i |I M & ^ JJJ *1 M ^ |1 Under 1 year . 202 114 82 70 63 ' 60 42 123 6 2 1 63 5 3 1 24 10 4 2 12 9 5 3 19 26 6 7 4 3 2 1 , 1 10 23 7 10 6 5 4 3 4 4 13 21 15 12 4 8 3 1 1 1 6 7 19 18 17 6 13 7 3 4 5 fi 9 16 19 11 10 6 4 4 ,3 5 14 23 16 16 10 10 13 13 4 19 14 12 12 10 4 5 3 5 9 2 17 17 17 19 17 10 16 13 27 9 3 14 22 25 33 32 28 19 15 13 72 1 13 27 36 53 53 67 62 66 68 73 7 2 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years 1 1 2 2 6 and under 7 years 2 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 v^ars . . . 31 23 19 101 1 3 9 and under 10 years 10 years and over. ... 1 1 4 7 7 Not reported Total 807 133 17 43 5 73 9 85 It 89 11 97 12 276 35 11 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESKXT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. "3 1 & Cores. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. II Sz; i% M s fl fc fii II 2; $ II Jz; &% s fc 3- & I 1 gfc iJg & *! iS Under 1 year 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 18 24 20 10 9 4 3 1 5 2 3 1 1 4 5 7 8 41 33 2 1 12 4 4 3 4 1 1 23 13 20 10 11 2 5 4 2 1 1 12 21 20 20 11 25 1 1 5 1 2 1 2 2 8 4 25 10 22 25 66 20 50 67 1 5 6 5 5 2 1 1 4 1 6 21 30 50 56 50 34 100 80 50 i 1 10 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 years 10 years and over Not reported 1 33 .... Total 99 2 2 15 15 4 4 13 13 16 16 17 18 31 32 i MINIMUM WAOE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued . Length of service. Number interrogated. Corsets. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under ft $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. |J o; ^ -k JJ $ JJi M' Sj J5*!- |8 M 55 +> i -M u S3- 55 4J |I M & s| n IJ 55 & I'nder 1 year 337 146 94 85 44 38 25 14 3 1 1 1 4 2 i i 2 51 6 5 W 4 5 117 24 11 10 35 16 12 12 2 97 51 25 19 13 7 3 1 2 2 3 29 35 27 22 30 18 12 8 13 23 10 37 35 29 19 14 14 7 2 5 3 3 n 24 31 22 32 37 28 17 33 33 10 11 17 14 20 6 9 7 5 4 3 6 3 12 15 24 14 24 28 42 27 33 20 6 10 8 16 9 8 7 4 4 1 15 2 7 9 19 20 21 28 33 27 11 50 4 1 1 and under 2 years . . 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 1 4 7 and under 8 years 12 15 9 30 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 10 years and over .... .... 2 7 1 3 Not reported Total 835 20 2 65 8 164 20 223 27 168 20 102 12 88 11 5 48 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. Number interrogated. Hosiery and knit goods. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. JJ $ M iz; i% JP $ ii ~J a Ji |i M & $ M K $ il ^ Under 1 year 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 97 113 67 43 39 34 21 35 21 5 38 19 7 23 20 11 5 5 2 1 25 18 16 12 13 6 11 18 28 19 6 4 4 4 1 20 24 28 14 10 12 19 11 8 18 14 10 12 7 G 3 3 4 2 9 16 21 24 31 20 29 38 34 27 13 5 18 8 10 6 11 5 1 2 3 1 6 16 12 24 15 33 24 12 22 20 6 1 7 7 8 5 3 3 2 2 3 6 1 6 11 19 13 9 14 25 22 20 37 i i 3 3 6 7 3 1 1 1 5 7 15 20 14 13 6 .... 3 and under 4 years 1 .... 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 1 3 12 7 and under 8 years S 9 15 1 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 5 7 33 44 .... 10 years and over 16 Not reported ... ...... 63 14 37 Total 462 67 15 84 19 87 19 70 15 47 10 8 7 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WACES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. Number interrogated. Laundries. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under IT. $7 and under $8. 18 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. jj $ JJ .g a* II a |l U S5 4* M & |l M & r* M & 3 S 1 I* ii Under 1 year 235 156 100 Gl 45 44 23 14 14 9 45 31 9 7 3 3 1 14 6 7 5 7 2 61 28 12 4 3 1 2 2 1 2 27 18 12 7 2 7 4 14 14 11 4 70. 56 21 7 7 8 5 5 31 37 21 11 16 18 22 36 46 33 18 14 11 11 2 2 4 7 21 22 18 23 25 25 9 14 29 16 9 18 28 18 8 11 3 2 2 1 4 4 12 28 30 18 25 13 14 14 11 9 5 3 7 8 6 5 5 2 2 7 13 14 12 22 2 5 7 7 8 5 7 3 2 2 19 1 3 7 11 18 11 30 22 14 22 42 11 4 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 1 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 10 years and over .... 4 4 7 29 45 16 1 6 11 13 Not reported Total . 746 54 8 117 16 186 26 148 20 104 14 54 7 67 9 16 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. S. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. Number interrogated. Offices. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. M iz; S 8 II i* JJ t* II Jz; $ II $ |J ,j H" il .j J5 S II 55 i$ Tjnder 1 ye.ir 80 87 57 4G 33 25 18 11 3 6 27 3 7 2 1 1 9 2 2 9 13 10 5 3 2 16 12 8 7 6 15 16 9 7 19 19 16 15 13 15 9 7 3 2 1 16 17 16 15 9 8 6 17 14 9 7 5 1 1 21 1C 16 15 15 4 6 6 11 5 8 6 2 3 8 13 9 18 18 8 11 27 9 18 20 13 17 20 14 7 3 5 26 3 11 21 35 28 52 80 77 64 100 83 96 100 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years G and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 10 years and over Not reported ; 1 .... 1 1 17 4 Total 396 11 3 33 8 47 12 50 13 56 14 43 11 155 39 1 MINIMUM WAC1R LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. \n. X- COMPARISON OF WA and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 10 years and over 1 1 7 2 1 2 Total . . . 685 44 7 25 4 55 8 81 12 104 15 98 14 275 40 3 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. Number interrogated. Paper and cigar boxes. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 t un $ ii ^ ind ier *, *t $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. M ^ fc| M & ll II & $ IJ tf |l +; - g " JJ f S JJ tf Under 1 year 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 99 70 45 35 33 16 13 12 5 7 25 32 15 2 1 1 1 2 34 22 5 3 3 31 19 5 6 2 33 27 11 17 6 16 15 10 13 9 1 1 3 1 17 22 23 37 27 6 8 25 14 13 11 13 10 12 6 3 2 2 1 7 14 16 30 29 37 37 23 17 40 15 29 1 7 8 5 5 3 3 4 1 10 18 14 15 19 23 34 1 2 5 i 3 11 5 1 2 1 1 1 .... 1 3 2 1 3 19 15 8 14 21 3 3 1 3 1 5 9 19 8 8 00 14 21 8 29 3 23 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 years . 9 and under 10 years 10 years and over Not reported 1 7 14 29 1 5 Total 360 54 15 66 19 69 20 80 23 44 12 21 6 18 5 8 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 53 Table No S COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. Seeds. Wages per week. Number interrogated. Under $5.- $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. I J it 1* it I J 3$ |J & jjl it |l it JJi it I J it 102 43 19 11 9 3 .... 45 5 2 44 12 11 41 25 6 2 3 1 2 40 58 32 18 33 34 33 12 11 8 6 4 1 3 2 12 26 42 55 45 33 50 40 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 5 18 22 33 17 1 1 5 1 1 1 2 5 1 and under 2 years. . . _ 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 6 5 1 20 2 40 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 1 13 1 6 100 46 10 years and over 4 31 3 23 Not reported Total 212 .... 53 25 84 40 54 25 10 5 7 3 4 2 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 8. COMPARISON OP WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. Number interrogated. Stores. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. ^ *1 55 |1 J| l I 1 % |l i I 1 .< "^ II p II 55 |i Under 1 year 494 188 39 112 23 101 21 32 6 27 6 11 2 15 3 8 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 331 258 216 141 79 37 9 6 24 14 4 4 90 29 22 9 27 11 10 6 61 52 44 30 18 20 21 22 48 54 42 22 15 21 19 16 22 30 39 31 7 12 18 22 11 18 19 18 3 7 9 13 20 38 41 23 6 15 19 17 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 2 5 and under 6 years 103 3 3 12 12 11 11 21 20 23 22 10 10 23 22 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 119 99 1 1 4 2 1 3 2 1 14 7 3 1 12 7 4 2 26 10 6 1 22 10 8 2 23 17 16 8 19 17 20 20 17 16 7 10 14 17 9 25 34 46 45 21 29 47 56 51 1 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 80 41 2 2 10 years and over Not reported 266 2 1 14 11 335 4 16 6 19 7 37 14 178 68 3 325 15 283 16 278 14 Total . 2,148 13 255 12 174 8 484 22 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Xo. 8. COMPARISON OF WAUKS WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Leugth of service. 1 .Is & Telephone exchanges. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. S6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. II & i* *J z -M I 1 |J ^ *1 U *1 U & sl PH II *1 U 5 fcl PH W ii & jgi Under 1 year 1 and under 2 years 144 107 72 55 38 17 11 13 4 5 8 76 15 7 3 2 2 1 1 54 14 10 6 5 12 9 8 32 27 17 9 9 2 1 3 2 23 25 24 16 24 12 9 23 25 12 29 27 15 6 6 1 1 2 2 8 27 38 27 16 35 10 25 40 25 2 4 4 5 3 1 4 1 1 4 5 9 8 6 36 8 16 18 6 5 1 1 2 1 1 1 11 17 8 9 3 6 15 25 20 13 3 9 3 3 2 2 ' 2 8 4 6 5 15 1 5 8 15 15 5 4 4 2 2 1 5 11 27 39 29 36 31 50 40 12 2 2 and under 3 years 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 jears 10 years and over Not reported. 2 25 Total 474 107 23 102 22 101 21 26 5 52 11 22 5 62 13 2 56 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION^Continued. Length of service. Number interrogated. Tobacco. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Ws n repo M & iges ot rted. t$ JJ $ M 5 $ II 55 ll M 5 ^ % +1 &$ Jl *l IJS & sl J_t JJ *; |i Under 1 year 64 21 18 12 13 8 12 3 4 3 5 22 5 1 34 24 8 17 4 3 1 2 1 1 26 19 17 8 15 13 8 10 7 4 3 1 16 33 22 25 8 7 1 5 3 3 2 1 1 1 11 4 28 25 23 25 8 33 25 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 10 17 8 12 17 3 2 6 3 5 4 8 2 2 1 5 10 33 25 38 50 67 67 50 14 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years .... 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years. 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years ' 8 and under 9 years .... 1 25 .... 9 and under 10 years. 10 years and over Not reported 7 2 29 3 43 1 14 27 Total 162 2 28 17 29 18 28 17 17 11 7 36 22 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 57 Table No 8 COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION. Continued. Length of service. 1 1 I Women's garments. Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. u Jz; |l M & & II [z; ^5 l J-l li 55 & M 5 4* sM $ II 55 +i 4* J! 4* I'lidtT 1 year 174 93 75 53 51 59 21 24 20 13 38 46 11 , 7 4 1 5 1 28 12 10 8 2 8 4 24 10 9 4 5 5 1 IS 11 12 8 10 8 5 36 16 13 9 3 4 2 1 2 2 22 17 18 17 6 7 9 4 10 5 19 18 8 7 5 4 1 3 1 4 12 20 11 13 10 7 5 13 5 11 17 9 7 9 11 6 7 3 2 2 2 11 10 10 17 22 10 33 13 10 17 5 5 11 10 8 6 10 1 6 3 7 7 3 12 14 15 12 17 5 26 15 58 18 15 17 18 12 19 25 9 9 12 3 23 9 18 25 22 38 43 43 40 60 25 61 12 1 3 1 1 1 .... 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 8 and under 9 years 9 and undr 10 years 10 years and over Not reported Total 621 75 13 58 10 88 14 70 11 75 13 74 12 162 27 19 f>8 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table A T o. 8. COMPARISON OF WAGES WITH LENGTH OF SERVICE IN PRESENT OCCUPATION Concluded. Length of service. 1 Other occupations. (Shoes, woolen goods, fibre works and metal specialties.) Wages per week. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Wages not reported. 1* 1 IJJ s l M ,1 II ,1 IJ s l *J ,| M Jz; *-, "* M ^| Under 1 year 1 and under 2 years 2 and under 3 years 3 and under 4 years 9 14 9 7 4 2 2 5 1 7 1 1 56 8 78 14 25 2 2 1 22 29 50 1 3 2 3 11 21 22 43 i 3 11 21 3 1 1 21 .... 25 4 29 1 25 4 and under 5 years 5 and under 6 years 6 and under 7 years 7 and under 8 years 1 25 2 1 100 50 8 and under 9 years 9 and under 10 years 10 years and over Not reported 1 7 1 14 1 14 1 5 100 72 Total 55 15 28 5 9 10 18 5 9 6 11 4 7 10 18 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. r>9 NATIVITY AND PARENT A<; K. Table No. 9 shows by occupations the distribution of the 8,358 women and girls who were interrogated as to their nativity and parentage, the parentage being determined by the nationality of the mother. This is the usual procedure where the nationality of father and mother is dif- ferent. A girl of Polish parentage may be of either Kussian, Austrian or German birth. Often the Polish girl interrogated could not tell the ujilionality of her mother. In that case the nationality was determined by the language the mother spoke. The figures, therefore, in regard to tli( i nationality of the parents are relative rather than positive. But i liis "mixup" of races does not apply to other than Poles a people without a country. Some 81 per cent of the women interrogated were of American birth, while G2.7 per cent of the mothers were of foreign birth. The foreign country most numerously represented in this investigation is Germany, 2,008, or 24.1 per cent of the entire number reporting to be of this nationality. It is interesting to note that the telephone operators show the highest percentage both in American birth and parentage, 95.1 per cent in that occupation being of American birth and 57.8 per cent of American par- entage. The office workers came second both as to American birth and Amer- ican parentage 89.3 per cent were of American birth and 56 per cent of American parentage. The occupation showing the lowest percentage of American-born workers is that of core-making, only 56 per cent of those interrogated in that industry being of American birth. In the cigar group is found the smallest percentage of workers of American parent- age but 8.9 per cent being in that group. Nine and nine-tenths per cent of Hie tobacco group were of American parentage. 00 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 9. NATIVITY AND PARENTAGE OF 8,358 Nationality. Candy. Cigars. Cores. Corsets. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. Nat Ii ivity. $ Parentage. Jl fc S PH w ii ! ,8 8 IJ *5 PH " Jjj tt y l g 1 jM |l United States Germany 244 5 2 19 3 5 6 1 82.5 1.7 0.7 6.4 1.0 1.7 2.0 0.3 113 78 4 30 6 7 18 4 7 1 2 1 2 6 2 9 2 1 38.2 26.4 1.4 10.1 2.0 2.4 6.1 1.4 0.3 2.4 0.3 0.7 0.3 2.0 0.7 0.7 3.0 0.7 0.3 631. 68 37 7 2 32 6 8 78.2 8.4 4.6 0.9 0.3 4.0 0.7 1.0 71 319 302 8 5 30 24 8 8.9 39.5 37.4 1.0 0.6 3.7 3.0 1.0 55 7 56.0 7.0 29 21 30.0 21.0 617 28 7 41 13 71 11 6 74.0 3.4 0.8 4.9 1.6 8.5 1.3 0.7 288 224 18 68 25 75 22 7 3 2 15 34.6 26.8 2.2 8.1 3.0 9.0 2.6 0.8 0.1 0.4 0.2 1.8 Poland Canada... 3 11 2 1 5 3.0 11.0 2.0 1.0 5.0 4 3 14 3 5 4.0 3.0 14.0 3.0 5.0 England Russia . Netherlands Hungary. . Denmark Bohemia Roumania 1 1 0.3 0.3 2 17' 0.3 "2!!' 1 1 10 1.0 1.0 10.0 1 1 12 1.0 1.0 12.0 2 12 0.2 1.4 Austria .. . 10 1.2 Greece 1 3 0.3 1.0 Scotland 3 5 2 4 5 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.5 0.6 9 8 4 21 9 4 2 1.1 1.0 0.5 2.5 1.1 0.5 0.2 France "i* 2 0.1 "0.1 0.3 1 5 6 3 0.1 0.6 0.7 0.4 0.1 Italy. . 2 1 2 0.7 0.3 0.7 Ireland Belgium Switzerland Sweden 1 2 3 1.0 2.0 3.0 1 0.1 Siberia 1 2 1.0 2.0 Servia. . . . Malta 1 0.1 1 0.1 Asia Syria 1 0.1 1 0.1 Australia Prussia 1 1 1 2 1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.1 Newfoundland 1 1 0.1 0.1 Nova Scotia Wales Norway 1 0.1 Finland . Jerusalem Turkey Eurasia " On the ocean" South America. . . East Indies West Indies India "Don't know" 2 0.5 1 0.1 4 0.5 3 835 0.4 23 2.8 99 Total 296 99.9 296 99.9 807 100.0 807 100.0 99 100.0 100.0 100.0 835 100.0 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN BY OCCUPATION. 61 Hosiery and knit goods. Laundries. Offices. Overallo. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. ^^ *1 Jjj *1 P ^ ft-> to 1* to PH to 4J S 1 JJI |1 to J&* 388 21 84.0 4.6 138 108 21 80 10 7 56 29.9 23.4 4.6 17.3 2.2 1.5 12.1 600 24 20 38 11 23 4 5 80.4 3.2 3.0 5.1 1.4 3.1 0.5 0.7 282 175 66 62 21 27 34 4 2 37.8 23.5 8.9 8.3 2.8 3.6 4.6 0.5 0.3 353 5 "32" 3 1 89.3 1.3 's'.i' 0.7 0.2 220 54 1 57 17 1 14 56.0 13.6 0.2 14.4 4.3 0.2 3.5 483 45 11 25 4 41 7 3 1 1 3 13 70.6 6.6 1.6 3.7 0.6 6.0 1.0 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.4 2.0 116 286 26 86 11 49 16 4 - 3 1 3 13 17.0 41.8 3.8 12.6 1.6 7.2 2.3 0.6 0.4 0.1 0.4 2.0 23 3 4 16 5.0 0.6 0.9 3.5 1 0.2 2 0.4 2 9 0.3 1.2 4 15 0.5 2.0 1 0.2 1 0.2 2 0.4 4 6.9 i i 0.1 0.1 a 3 12 3 2 5 1.1 0.4 0.1 1.6 0.4 0.3 0.7 1 0.2 3 0.7 3 4 5 8 22 2 0.4 0.6 0.7 1.2 3.2 0.3 3 4 7 16 24 4 1 0.4 0.6 1.0 2.3 3.5 0.6 0.1 ""i i '"0.2 0.2 1 8 1 "'ii' 0.2 1.7 0.2 "3!6 i 2 1 1 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 13 3.3 2 0.5 1 0.1 1 0.1 i 0.2 1 0.2 0.4 i 0.2 5 1 1.1 0.2 3 0.4 1 0.2 3 1 0.1 1 1 0.1 0.1 0.1 '"i" 1 0.1 0.2 1 0.2 ""i "'o'.2' 4 0.9 1 0.1 14 1.9 10 2.5 3 0.4 8 1.2 462 100.0 462 100.0 746 100.0 746 100.0 396 100.0 396 100.0 685 100.0 685 100.0 62 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 9. NATIVITY AND PARENTAGE OF 8,358 Nationality. Paper and cigar boxes. Seeds. Stores. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. ss 9*5 S3 *1 |l fc &$ Il Jz; fc 1 ft M S5 O> u PH jj ** 2 jj $ United States 296 10 3 8 2 9 23 3 82.3 2.8 0.8 2.2 0.5 2.5 6.4 0.8 127 105 6 11 6 9 57 3 35.3 29.2 1.7 3.1 1.7 2.5 15.9 0.8 164 7 1 20 6 6 "'2 77.4 3.3 0.5 9.4 2.8 2.4 "6!9 59 73 7 27 7 7 2 2 27.9 34.5 3.3 12.7 3.3 3.3 0.9 0.9 1,879 25 2 141 24 34 16 2 87.6 1.1 0.09 6.6 1.1 1.6 0.7 0.09 1,100 240 28 316 70 49 104 2 9 3 3 7 51.3 11.2 1.3 14.7 3.3 2.3 4.9 0.09 0.4 0.1 0.1 0.3 Germany Poland Canada England Russia Netherlands Denmark Bohemia "b'.v 1 "'9' 0.5 "4Y 2 2 0.09 0.09 lloumania Austria "Y 1 ... 0.3 4 1.1 Greece Scotland 0.3 1 0.3 . 2 0.9 3 1.4 6 1 '"4 1 0.3 0.05 "b'.2 0.05 "6!69 26 8 1 108 2 4 25 1.2 0.4 0.05 5.0 0.09 0.2 1.1 France Italy "6!s' 0.3 3 5 1 2 2 0.8 1.4 0.3 0.5 0.5 1 0.5 2 2 1 0.9 0.9 0.5 Ireland 2 1 Belgium 1 0.5 Switzerland , . . . . Sweden Siberia Servia . 2 Malta... ..... "6!s' ..... 3 '6!5' 1.4 '6!65 '6! 05 Asia Syria 1 0.05 1 Australia Prussia 1 Newfoundland Nova Scotia Wales 2 0.5 l 1 0.05 4 10 1 0.2 0.5 0.05 Norwav Finland Jerusalem Turkey ..... 1 1 1 22 '()'. 05 0.05 0.05 0.05 1.0 Eurasia "On the ocean" South America East Indies West Indies "ie' "lA '"& '2.8 ...... 4 '6!6s 0.2 India "Don't know" "Y '6Y Total 360 100.0 360 100.0 212 100.0 212 00.0 2,148 100.0 2,148 100.0 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN BY OCCUPATION. Concluded. 63 Telephone exchanges Tobacco. Women's garments. Other occupations.* Nativity. Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. Nativity: Parentage. Nativity. Parentage. |J3 SR I* M fc 1 IJ % gl 1* -w |s S& &* $ 1* ** 1? |l to $ 451 2 "'12' 4 ..... 95.1 0.4 '"2.5 1.0 '"0.2 274 76 '"eo 11 i 57.8 16.0 "'i2Y 2.3 0.2 114 10 10 5 11 70.3 6.2 6.2 3.1 16 70 33 6 9.9 43.2 20.4 3.7 476 15 1 50 11 33 4 3 2 1 3 4 76.6 2.4 0.2 8.1 1.7 5.3 0.6 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.6 208 171 7 68 21 37 28' 3 4 1 2 7 33.5 27.5 1.1 11.0 3.4 6.0 4.5 0.5 0.6 0.2 0.3 1.1 45 2 3 2 1 " Y 81.9 3.6 5.5 3.6 1.8 'Y.6 22 8 8 5 1 "'is' 40.0 14.6 5.5 9.1 1.8 "23'.6 6.8 ...... 15 " Y 9.3 "iY 2 4 1.0 ....'.... ' 2 ' " - 3 2 1 19 " Y4' "Ye" 0.4 0.2 4.0 " Y ...,. 5.0 15 9.3 '."i'.s "3.6 1 ' Y 0.2 " Y.e' "YY ..... 1 2 'Ye' 0.6 1.2 1 0.2 7 2 9 24 3 1 2 1.1 0.3 1.4 3.8 0.5 0.2 0.3 "'i' " Y 2 6 2 "'2' 0.3 0.9 0.3 "6Y 8 0.2 1.7 ..... "Ye" "'i' "6Y 1 1 i 0.2 0.2 "6Y 1 1 "'i' i i 0.2 0.2 "oY ,0.2 "'i' '"b'.2 0.2 2 0.4 0.2 i 0.2 " Y "i'.7 ' i.7 i 0.2 11 474 100.0 474 100.0 162 100.0 162 100.0 621' 100.0 621 100.0 55 100.0 55 100.0 *Shocs, woolen goods fibre works and metal specialties. REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON DIAGRAM SHOWING NATIVITY AND PAPENTAOE BY PERCENTAGES AND OCCUPATION OF 6,358 MICHIGAN WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS OCCUPA TIONS NA TIVITY PA REN TA OE CANDY C/OARS COBS CORSETS HOSIERY AND KNIT GOODS LAUNDPIES OFFICES OV BALLS PAPEP AND C /GAP BOXES SE.LDS STOBES TELEPHONE EXCHANGES TOBACCO WOMENS GAPMEN75 OTHER OCCUPATIONS 82. 5 fo American Be. 1' r " s %\ && 38.2 Am. Born 78.2 fo Amencan Born W$$%. 56 /o Am. Born merican Born 3*6 Am. Born merican Born 80.4 f American Born ' 37.8%/lnBorn American Born S6f /1/ne>r,can Bornm% American Born Wul&A v//,Born^\ American Bern 51. 3% Am. Born 95. 1 % American. Born 57.6% Amman Born 70.3 fo American Born 76.6 fi Amen can Born or ' ' d/.9!? T*< 3 a9q -ran N g (JU90 <*.; o -H o o o ^ oo ^ 5 2 ^ 2 2 CO J9J ^H t-H i 1 i i S -ran N a s - 8 a 3 3 n s a s s - s - S OOCOO^OO^COW).00> cs 2 P S N 1 5 a I 1 1 i i ' S s 3 1 3 | a I co" lg 1 s ^ 3,2>33'5fJ5-3.S5 ; 5.'S3 (M 1 >. a 3 3 J9q -ran N S 5 * 1 S 1 s S S * 1 i S s Ift co" is "es M d G **' Bj ''T d 00 CO OS 5O CO* O r-i CO i-i 5 CO -i Co' -^J T-! 2 5-S ,. cq 3 -uin^ NC^ TtlT-lTtl ^ 1-HI>. (M CO -a Sa ' D , TflOi-HtMIMO -OCOO-^IMOOO rt i-! i-i d i-i I-H d to d d d i-i o " J9q TfOCtOOrHt^ :^^^ OS ^ T H ; -J g J9 d ^ -CO -tO .COCOlOrHC^eOCO : d ^ d o' | d d d d d d d d 3^ S N : co : uao aaj aaq -ran^ aaq -ran^ juao jaj aaq ^uaa aaj jaq CO t>- CO d o o Occupation. c? | 1 if a 2 *8 I M "m M a a 3 "S I fe 1 fc f Out of work. Physically inc 1 I Sharing house expenses. Clothing and i money only L ll Supports self. Temporarily e ployed. 1 li jl Supporting rel Savings or inv Candy 28 26 18 5 3 27 17 3 6 1 10 10 Cigars 93 (a) 93 70 14 7 91 53 1 29 3 4 39 28 Cores 16 16 11 3 2 15 7 3 4 1 3 2 9 Corsets 38 35 12 20 3 38 14 5 11 8 13 3 8 Hosiery and knit goods 22 20 17 3 17 10 3 3 1 1 9 1 10 Laundries 113 (b) 108 77 19 11 105 M 17 21 8 4 21 38 Offices 5 3 3 4 2 1 1 1 Overalls 7-1 (c) 65 50 11 3 53 46 4 3 2 1 2 Paper and cigar boxes 11 ! 10 9 10 7 9 1 1 2 Seeds.. 27 21 21 8 4 13 9 1 Stores 197 (d) 193 156 10 24 188 fU o 9 35 19 87 Telephone exchanges 19 15 14 1 16 9 6 1 2 1 2 9 Tobacco 15 (e) 15 3 7 4 15 9 n 2 1 Women's garments 67 (f) 65 48 9 5 66 43 6 13 4 20 5 15 Other occupations 3 3 3 ^ 3 j 1 674 367 39 Total 728 688 512 99 66 124 144 24 155 33 219 (a) 1 husband has one leg, can't work in winter. 1 husband in jail. (b) 1 husband attending college. (c) 1 husband learning a trade. (d) 1 husband drinks. 1 husband won't work. 1 husband attending college. (e) 1 husband has one leg and can't work in winter. (I) 2 husbands drink. 1 never works. 70 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON WEEKLY EARNINGS FOR A SPECIFIC WEEK. Table No. 12 shows the weekly earnings during a specific week, of 7,996 women from whom this information was obtained. It indicates the variation of wages from week to week, as can be seen by comparing the figures with those in Table No. 7, which shows the weekly earnings of these same workers for a full week. One of the reasons for this variation can be attributed to the slack periods which almost every industry experiences at certain periods of the year. In several instances, the particular industry visited was undergoing the disturbing effect of changing styles in the product being manufactured; the industry was still undecided as to the exact style of goods that would, later, be required. In the appendices touching upon the conditions of employment in the different occupations investigated this problem of slack work on account of changes in style is treated more in detail. Six and six-tenths per cent received under $4; 32.1 per cent received under |G per week, and 48.8 per cent received under $7 per week. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 71 $5. 6-S B, (2 rHO C4 -loooot^^He o o OO^i-l*iO -l sooujo !>. OS O t^- OO id saupmvei 80JOQ CO i i 111118 S CO CO P I-H * oo 1-1 e- to t^. I-H CO -l SiS* OO C5 *t~ CO * to Tti (N CO 5 CO ffl O ** CO C, ^ ^ 5 sajoig Number. 10 co r^ O3 oo >o 3 O CO C > S S 00 cq" spwg i 52; i-H O5 <* O t^ *-H rtl <*> (M CO CO M t-H (MO t^. CO Cl ' ^ * I edupumsi | 1 OO CO O i-* CO O CD O ^ OO CO Tt< O4 CO rj< U5 <* r^ s s CD l>- SPOOS ;>IU3{ PUB AJ31SOJJ ^ ^ S 2 s s " S8 "*% CO -- 1 siasjoQ 1 g OO OS O 1-1 O co e* 00 CO <*< C5 OO 5 CO CM t i S3JOQ ^ J2 C5 -* 10 5 S 8JB3IO Number . 10 oo r^ co to t^ OO O C) 1O i-H O 00 CO 00 W XpUBQ Number . ^ S 3 co 1 S M ^ fi O O S5 M 1 2 I P . ' tO O5 -i CO CS CO O : * 'S 7 S3 S S3 : | -8 -8 " "g a S 2 s 3 s ! i i i I ! I I -i -| ! "1 1 i fl e 1 * * P ^ i 2 s s Total number reporting Not reporting Just began to work Not reporting time Lost no time I! 11 82 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 19, CAUSE OF LOST TIME OF 7,491 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN BY OCCUPATION. Sickness. Occupation. Number establish- ments. Number reporting. Out of employ- ment Slack work. Personal reasons. Personal. Illness in family. Candy 18 259 38 56 59 4 61 Cigars 30 807 17 617 184 21 193 Cores 9 83 1 22 19 3 47 Corsets 8 719 42 157 341 28 283 Hosiery and knit goods , 13 434 5 204 176 22 152 Laundries 63 611 33 9 284 48 270 Offices too 280 28 G 153 21 171 Overalls 9 648 5 356 174 14 99 Paper and cigar boxes . 18 355 14 71 115 24 130 Seeds 3 206 23 62 60 6 24 Stores 155 1,921 94 87 679 127 1,117 Telephone exchanges 35 372 18 4 212 22 151 Tobacco 5 162 2 162 27 4 30 Women's garments 23 571 7 177 207 38 221 Other occupations* 5 54 26 11 2 27 Total. ... 503 7,491 327 2,016 2,701 383 2,976 *Shoes, woolen goods, fibre works and metal specialties. NOTE. The time lost by reason of legal holidays is not included in this table. THE WOMAN "ADRIFT" EARNS THE HIGHER WAGE. Tables No. 20, 21 and 22 summarize the data gathered in regard to age, experience and weekly earnings by occupation of the 8,358 women and girls interrogated; the number living at home and the number "adrift;" the number who pay board, assist to support others or are helped by relatives or friends; and the number who contribute all, a part, or none of their earnings toward the maintenance of the family. It was not possi- ble to obtain from ever^ worker visited complete information dealing with all the questions. A study of Table No. 20 discloses the fact that in all but four cases in the industries investigated, the earnings of the women or girls "adrift" were higher than the earnings of those living at home. In Table No. 21 we find that the occupations showing the largest percentage of women adrift are the corset and laundry workers; 36 per cent of the corset workers and 32.3 per cent of the laundry workers are "adrift." The industries showing the smallest per cent of women or girls adrift are paper and cigar boxes, hosiery and knit goods and confectionery. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 83 The larger proportion of the women employed in those industries are young, since many of the occupations are of an unskilled nature. The reason for the large percentage of "adrift" women in the laundries is due, to a considerable extent, io the fact that many women, who have I ecii widowed, or are separated from their husbands, naturally turn to work of this kind where little training is required outside that already learned in the home. Of the 2,148, who were found in the store group, 597, or 27.8 per cent, were adrift, while 1,551, or 72.2 per cent, lived at home. This may be due 'to some extent to the preference given by department store officials in the larger cities to those applicants for positions who live at home or with relatives. The average weekly earnings of those "adrift," who are employed in stores are higher than the earnings of those at home, but "averages" are deceptive in the matter of showing the economic status of the small wage workers. The store women adrift receive an average of $8.99 while those living at home average $7.43. In further study of the store group, it may be observed that the av- erage age of those living at home is 24.5 years, and that they have had an average experience of between three and four years; while the average age of those adrift is 27.7 years. This group of workers had between four and five years' experience. In nearly every instance as shown by this table, the average age and wages received by the woman adrift are higher than of the woman or girl living at home. The variation in the average weekly wage received by the women and girls employed in the store and office group as compared with those in other occupations may be attributed, to some extent, to the more regular employment of store employes. Store wage "averages" are high, which is owing to the fact that the compensation of buyers, heads of departments and others of like class swell the figures above the real normal average for saleswomen. SHARING IN FAMILY EXPENSES. Tables No. 21 and 22 of this group give a summary of the informa- tion gathered relating to the number who pay board, assist to sup- port others, or are themselves dependent to a greater or lesser degree on others to supplement their earnings. Of the 8,358 women interrogated, 6,232, or 75 per cent lived at home. Of this number 5,161, or 82.8 per cent contributed to the family income by giving, each pay day, a varying amount for board. A number of those interviewed said that there was no stated amount they were expected to contribute. They gave what they could spare. Others said that when they were "out of work" they were not made to contribute other than their personal services; others said that they were compelled later to make up the amount of board indebtedness when they again returned to work. In other cases, the arrangement was 84 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON for the girl to buy things ,for the home or to assist in clothing some member or members of the family rather than to pay a stated amount for board. Of the 474 telephone employes, 307, or 77.4 per cent, lived at home, and 107, or 22.0 per cent were adrift. The average weekly wage of those adrift was $7.42 ; while those living at home received an average of $6.54. These averages are misleading since a study of Table No. 32 shows that none in the Detroit telephone exchange received under $6 a week ; while 50 per cent received $10 or over. Yet only 10 girls in the State outside of Detroit received $10 or over; while 225 or 47.4 per cent, of the 474 interrogated, received less than $6 a week. It will be observed that of the 3G7 telephone workers living at home, 288, or 78.3 per cent, paid board; 81, or 22 per cent still further assisted by contributions; 02.9 per cent found it necessary to receive assistance from others. Table No. 22 throws further light on this question; 17 per cent of the telephone workers gave all their earnings at home; 05.5 per cent gave a part of their earnings, while but 17.5 per cent gave none. Three hundred eighty-seven, or 84 per cent, of the women and girls employed in the knitting mills lived at home; 330, or 80.8 per cent of those employes were paying board; 290, or 70.5 per cent were further assisted by relatives. Eighty-seven per cent of those employed in the paper and cigar box industry lived at home; of this number 284, or 90.0 per cent paid board, and 258, or 82.4 per cent were assisted by relatives. ASSISTED BY OTHERS. In the tobacco industry, 73.2 per cent of those living at home reported that they contributed to the support of others. This is the greatest percentage shown in any occupation; and, in turn, these workers form the smallest percentage receiving assistance from any source, only 2.2 per cent being in that group. In the paper and cigar box industry, only 8.5 per cent of the adrift group reported that they assisted others; while 82.4 per cent of those living at home and 53.2 per cent of those adrift, in that occupation, reported receiving assistance from others. This is the largest percentage shown as receiving assistance from others. Of the store employes, 02.2 per cent of those living at home, and 53 per cent of those adrift reported that they were assisted by others, while 19.3 per cent of those living at home and 17.8 per cent of those adrift said they assisted in the support of others. The average weekly earnings of the adrift candy workers was $0.77, while the candy worker living at home received an average of $0.30. The average age of those in this occupation who lived at home was 20.7 years, as compared with 24.3 for those adrift. Contrary to the general trend, those living at home, in this industry, had a longer period of service or MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 85 experience to their credit than those adrift, those at home having 2.2 years' experience, and those adrift 1.7 years' experience. This may be (raced to the prevailing low wages in this industry. The larger per- centage of the workers adrift would thus be forced into better paid occupations, since increased years of experience in candy factories do not oft'er any material increase in wages. "HELPING MOTHER." Many living at home said that they paid no stated amount for board, but they gave interesting information touching the matter of contribut- ing to the expenses of the family. In some cases what they paid was much more than regular board would have cost. "If I hear mother say she wants anything, I try to get it for her if I can afford it." "My sister and myself keep up the house; mother is an invalid; we do our own ironing; I have to stay home with mother evenings." "Father hasn't worked in 14 years; my sister and myself support the family." "I buy furniture for mother, and clothes for my sister." "When mother and I first began working, we were in poor circum- stances, and I gave all my earnings to her. I have always followed this custom ; it would break her heart if I asked to keep part of my wages." "I do not pay board, but I buy the coal." "I support my mother, and a niece whose parents are dead." "I help support an invalid mother." "My parents are separated; my mother, my sister and I are trying to buy a home." "I support a mother and an invalid sister." "I buy the clothes for my little brother and a sister." "My four brothers and myself support a family of eight." "I buy mother a dress occasionally." "Mother doesn't give me any spending money. Says she needs all my earnings. I would like a little spending money each week." 86 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON m / t-l r-< 00 i _^i | | ^ fc S 1 S 1 | ^ 1 | | * a : a o ^ 3 CO '^HdlOOOiCOCOCOCOf-C^lCO ^ i H * *-T C4* i-T v-i iO i-( S ii ' s " s s fe s ' s s 8 s s ( - !i *-HiO fc i iii 111 ill SSliS II 11 ! i H *s ^ ^ ^_ .0 ^ CO ^ .0 d |l ii Sl^sSIIisSsiss 3 CO 1 o '-' ^& : Ji : : : : : : : : i 1 i Hi ! ! ill 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 ii 1 1 1 1 1 H MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 87 }U90 J3J fe ! S s 5 53 3 23 S S g 00 Xq padjgjj CO 1 '^U90 J9J CD 00 O ^f CC H % 00 COiOCOGOOOOlOCO C5 d c sjgqjo 'jaoddns o; Su^sissy - ! - a s s a s :* g a - a - i 1 |U90 J9J s. s- i s : s 21 5 . s | s' -a o 00 pJBoq SUI^BJ .s g a | * 1 s 2 * I a .a g a 1 ^U90 J9J co t- >ci co co oi IM' d co m > CM oj o> cc o a yiipy ^SS|EgSS88||S12 !- 1U90 J9J ifj cd od o> co o' -t--O5t^r-. oo araoq )B patjoq 8ui/?T;j S SSMS g|SIS|S|8 s ;U93 J9J oooot^coo6ot>.t-.oot^t>-t--oot^t-- o 1 guioq )n guuri ^p P Number reporting. i-HCOi l -asnoq jq3;i Suiop J9qranjy[ SJ93UWJS I^TM Suuij jaqranft apuauj 10 ^iM 3nut[ l^ i-l O CO ion. | J 1 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 91 NUMBER IN FAMILIES OP THOSE WHO LIVE AT HOME. Table No. 24 gives by occupation the number in the families of the 6,232 interrogated who lived at home. Of this number 94.4 per cent reported. There were 26,864 members in the families of the 5,884 re- porting, in addition to the one interrogated. This is an average of 4.6 persons in each family, which, it must be kept in mind, never in this table includes the one interrogated. The question answered was: "How many in your family beside yourself?' 7 The tobacco industry showed the largest percentage, having an average of 5.6 persons to the family, while the cigar industry comes next, with a percentage of 5.5 persons. Stores showed the wage-earners connected Avith the smallest families 3.9 per cent. One girl employed in the box industry was one of a family of 20. Workers in each of the cigar, laundry, overall and women's gar- ment industries reported 14 persons in the family, while 128 had fami- lies of 10 persons. 92 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON yCjraiBj qoua ut suos -add joquinti 5 ^ ui joqumu suoeaad ajoui suosjod j suosaad g^ euosjod oi snosaod g suosaad i suosaad 9 suosjod g 8UOSI9d $ SU08J9d Z uosjad i t^COlf5C5COOO t-ll^ ies. t re s- l'l I ll *Sh, ol tOf this number pati -ti MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 93 WEEKLY EXPENDITURES OF WAGE-EARNING WOMEN. Tables No. IT) and iMI show the weekly earnings and the weekly ex- penditures of the woman at home and the woman "adrift." It was not possible to obtain, from all the women interviewed, data for all the questions asked. As a result the numbers reporting on each item of expenditures vary. The average weekly earnings of the 2,100 "adrift" women reporting, was |8.29, while the average weekly earnings of the home woman was If 7.52. The "adrift" woman pays on an average $4.13 for room and board while her home-living sister pays $3.42. The average weekly expenditure for clothes shows but a slight variation between the amounts paid. The women at home paid four cents a week more. A significant fact to be considered in the study of the general average of weekly earnings of both the "home" and "adrift" woman is that while the general average of the home woman is shown to be $7.52; 3,539, or 57.3 per cent of those reporting received less ; while 1,106 or 52.7 per cent of those "adrift" received less than the general average wage of $8.29. The average earnings of those women at home receiving less than the general average of $7.52 is $6.99, and $7.39, for the "adrift" women, who received less than the general average of $8.29. This is also true in the general average weekly amounts expended for all other items in these two tables. While the general average amount spent for clothes by the home woman is $2; in 10 of the industries studied the women spent less than this general average. The general average amount spent for clothes by the "adrift" woman is $1.96; in 11 of the industries studied the average is less. This fact should be kept in mind when studying these tables. General averages are misleading. In such industries as the cores, cigars, tobacco and seed, the girls, living at home, who give their parents their pay envelopes, or are at least considered family breadwinners, give more, irrespective of the size of the wage, for board than if they were "adrift." While in the industries such as stores, telephone exchanges and offices, where the girls work to supply their own necessities, they for the most part pay less at home than they would elsewhere. Women "adrift" working in down- town districts in laundries, offices, stores, telephone exchanges and women's garment shops, have to find accommodations in rooming dis- tricts, rather than in neighborhood localities, and have to pay more on this account. Women in offices, stores and telephone exchanges "adrift" get more and pay more for clothes as well as board, than those in the same occupation living at home. The core-worker "adrift" receives less and expends less. The paper and cigar-box worker receives more, pays about the same for board, but 94 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON much more for clothes than the "at home" girl in the same industry. As a rule these girls are very young. The cigar worker "adrift" gets more but spends less on both clothes and board than the girl at home in that industry. In certain establishments, while the employes are paid each week, a week's wages is kept back. In other establishments pay day comes but every two weeks or semi-monthly. Many complaints were received by the investigators against withholding pay or payments less often than once a week, which not infrequently resulted in hardships to those who were at best low-paid workers. SOME HAVE TIME TO DO THEIR SEWING. Several facts are to be remembered in studying the tables on ex- penditures for clothes. In some industries, girls do not work Saturday afternoon; in some, work is "seasonal;" in some, "slack." In these cases, girls have more time to do their own sewing. Take a girl who works in a laundry, for instance; frequently she does not work Monday forenoon or Saturday afternoon; then, too, her work does not require extra expense in clothes. The store worker must be on duty six days, full time, and she must always look neat. Her average wage is about the same as that of the laundry girl. In case she works in a dry goods store she can dress cheaper since she gets a per cent off on all she buys. The temptation to take advantage in bargains, however, is very great. The average wage of a girl working in a telephone exchange is less than either the wage of one working in a store or laundry. The average long hours of work or "broken shift hours" prevent her from making her own clothes, even if she were able to. She gets no per cent off and yet the need to dress is accentuated by the fact that on account of "shift" hours she is on the street much more than girls in other occupations. And she is so young. REMARKS ON COST OF CLOTHES. Following remarks were made by girls when asked by the investi- gators to give the cost of their clothes : "Goodness, I can't buy clothes and lunches, too." "Got to be always going on a cheap scale; have to buy everything cheap." "Clothes cost alright." "Well, if a girl can't afford fo buy her clothes, she will get them some way, I suppose." "Have to buy all my clothes on the installment. plan; fl down and f 1 per week." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 95 "Can't afford new clothes. Wear iny old ones just as long as they will hang together." "I do all my own sewing after work hours; sometimes I trim over n iv own hats." COST OP LAUNDRY WORK. The women living at "home" paid more for laundry than did those "adrift." A large proportion of those "adrift" did their own laundry, either before leaving for work in the early morning hours, or after they returned at night. Not infrequently both the "home" and the "adrift" women said they did their laundry work on Sundays. The cigar group expended more for laundry than those in any of the other occupa- tions. While the average weekly amount expended by the candy workers living at home may seem large, included in this group is a forewoman, who is a widow, and who said her laundry cost $1.50 a week. This brings up the average for that group of workers. COST OF AMUSEMENTS. The "home" girl spent more for amusements and recreation than the "adrift" woman. The girls at home should have the advantage of those living away from home in this respect. Not infrequently the woman at home would say to the investigator : "I never go out evenings. We have our good times at home." The general average weekly amount spent by the "at home" girl was 59 cents. The weekly expenditures studied by occupations, show that in eight industries the amount spent weekly averaged less than this general average. The occupation in which the women reported spending the most money for amusement or recreation was not including the "other oc- cupations" investigated the office girls. The garment workers come next. The "beau" plays an important role in this part of the expenditures of the average working girl. She is proud of having someone to take her to places of amusement, and she looks with "pity" upon the less "fortunate" girl. The "adrift" woman spent 57 cents a week. Those working in the seed establishments show the largest expenditure in this direction. The telephone operators come next, and the office girls third. Following are a few of the illuminating remarks made by the women when asked for the weekly amounts expended in this way: MANY SPEND NOTHING ON PLEASURES. "Once in a long time I go to a show. I usually have mending to do; where there are several children to be looked after, it doesn't leave time for recreation," 96 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON "When sister and I have done our housework, we usually sit down and rest until bed time." "I don't know the meaning of the words 'amusement' and 'recre- ation.' I have all I can do to earn enough to live on. Never go out evenings except Saturday when I do my shopping. If I got what \vas really necessary for me to have, I wouldn't be able to save anything." "Sometimes I go to a show when someone takes me. I get more good out of going to church." "Husband and I don't care for the shows. Usually we remain at home. We haven't gotten acquainted with the church people yet." "A crowd of us girls go to the public dances. We pay our own way 25 cents and we can dance all the evening for that cost." "Ice cream, picture shows, just as many as I can afford. Sometimes twice a week. Have to pay for a girl friend I take along." "I can't afford amusements, and go without them, unless a friend takes me." "All I want when night conies is rest. When you work all day you don't feel much like amusements. I belong to a lodge, but I don't go once in six months." "Stay home and enjoy my children's company. They play and sing and that is a pleasure for me." "Candy and ice cream once in a great while. I haven't been to a show in a long time. Talk over the 'phone evenings with my girl friends or sew. I am usually too tired to go out." "I don't go out much evenings. Sometimes I take a walk. I don't care much for the movies. I think a girl lucky nowadays who has all she wants to eat and a place to sleep." "I play tennis and have fun taking pictures with my kodak." "Real good show two or three times each year. It hurts my eyes to attend the movies." "Go to high school dances and to some public dances at the Lake. Nice people attend. I take mother to the movies." "Take street car rides; ice cream and candy. I go to the park when they have free band concerts." "Mother gives me back fifty cents each week. I go to the picture shows, go roller skating, buy ice cream and candy, and have a good time." "Nearly always home evenings. Once in a while I go to a show or to a band concert." "I have one room Avith kitchen privileges. It is cheaper than to room and board. The room costs $1.25 and is lighted by a lamp. For lunch I have bread, butter and fruit; for supper, I often cook potatoes. I usually spend my evenings sewing and mending, except in the middle of the week when I attend prayer service." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 97 "Movies 1'or myself, ice cream and candy for my children and mother." ki l have a beau, Sundays, and perhaps once a week. I remain home other nights." Factory worker 29 years of age; single; lives at home: "I have not boon away from the house but one Saturday night so far this year. Too tired when I reach home. I don't really care about going out nights." "I spend for candy and ice cream for my daughter, but I get my recre- ation through my lodge." CAR FARES. Comparing the amounts spent for car fare by these workers, it is found that the adrift woman pays less than the woman living at home 46 cents expended by the "adrift" woman and 52 cents by the woman living at home. The occupations of those adrift showing the largest expenditure in this direction are the seed and telephone industries; office employes come next. Home workers employed in the seed and tele- phone industries average the same weekly amount for car fare. The logical reason for those in the seed industry, both those living at home and those 'adrift" expending a higher average than those in most other occupations is the "seasonal" nature of this industry. The majority of the workers are of foreign birth or foreign parentage, and these usually have homes in the distant parts of the city, where "father" can have his garden and keep a few chickens. The "adrift" woman of foreign birth or parentage is quite apt to seek lodgings with those of her own nationality. Many instances were reported where girls were forced, through the low wages they were receiving, to walk several miles, twice a day, to and from their work. They rode only when the weather did not permit them to walk. DOCTORS' vs. DENTISTS' BILLS. In the beginning of this investigation no special effort was made to separate the amounts paid for doctors' and dentists' services* It soon became apparent that the amount expended by the women for dental treatment would exceed that expended for medical treatment (except in cases where operations were necessary) and an attempt was made, as far as possible, during the balance of the investigation to separate these two expenditures. The general average weekly amount spent by those living at home for doctor and dentist treatments was 40 cents; for doctors, 55 cents; and for dentists, 32 cents. The woman "adrift" spent 52 cents for doctors' and dentists' charges; 60 cents for doctors, and 33 cents for dentists. 13 98 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON That the public is becoming aroused to the great danger from the neglect of the teeth of the child is evinced through the action of the school boards of various cities. Appropriations for the care of the teeth of such children whose parents are unable to pay the expenses for such treatment have been made. An investigation in New York City brought out the astounding fact that about 97 per cent of the children of the public schools had defective teeth, and as such were susceptible to a varied number of maladies. Among others, such ills as follow malnutrition were evident; earache and neuralgia of the head it was shown were also directly due to decayed teeth; and lastly, there was the dread sarcoma. MANY TOO POOR TO HAVE TEETH LOOKED AFTER. The realization of the imperative necessity for oral hygiene, which has recently been brought forward forcibly, has not been in vain. This fact is apparent from the reports which show a considerable outlay on the part of the persons investigated : "I still owe on dentist bill. I pay $1 a week." "I have got to have my teeth looked after soon. I owe a big doctor's bill for services at time of daughter's illness." " I couldn't afford to have teeth attended to, so my brother paid the bill for me." "My teeth need attention right now. I have other bills to meet." (This girl earns |7 a week.) "Wish I could afford to have my teeth fixed." "Should help mother, but can't on wages I earn. I should have my teeth looked after, but I haven't money to do so." "I've got to have my teeth attended to. I should have had that done last year but I couldn't afford it." "I have both doctor and dentist bills to pay bad stomach trouble; teeth decaying. No money to have them looked after as I should." "One hundred fifty dollar doctor bill last year and |20 to a dentist." "I owe a doctor bill of f 100 ; my teeth need attention but I haven't the money." "I am taking treatments from a doctor; 75 cents every two weeks." "My mother had to pay my doctor bill and she couldn't really afford to." "I'm obliged to doctor all the time." "Use patent medicine, always doctoring." "Have had six operations in seven years." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. U9 FOR CIIl ItCIIKS AND CHARITY. One of the questions asked those interrogated was the amount they gave to Hie church and to charity. A study of these tables discloses the fad" that 15 cents was the general average weekly amount expended in this way by the woman "adrift." The woman at home gave 14 cents. The office woman "adrift" gave the largest average weekly amount; the seed and candy workers corne next with the garment workers a close third. Of the women living at home, the office workers again head the list. One office woman employe said that she contributed $150 to her church last year. A number had pledged one-tenth of their earnings. The store women come next, with those employed in overall factories third. If all attended church who contributed a portion of their earnings, a study of these two tables would be of interest at this time when so much effort is being made to bring the public to the church at least once on Sunday. Of the 8,358 \vomen interrogated on this question, only' 55.3 per cent attended any church. Following are a few of the many ex- planations given why the women and girls didn't attend church: "Sunday only day I have to rest." "I'm tired when Sunday comes." "My parents always wanted me to attend church, but I don't know many of the girls and don't like to go alone." "I don't have clothes to wear to church; I would like to go." "I can't give much for church." "I've forgotten what church looks like inside since I've been working." "Neglect going to church. Out of the habit." "I used to go to "church. I'm going to start again." "I don't go to church since I came here. I don't like to go alone." "I'm too tired to move Sundays." "I don't go as often as I used to; I get so tired out that I like to rest Sundays." "I go to night school; I'm studying Sundays." "Sunday is the only morning I have to sleep." "Was forced to go to church when I was a kid from the time I was four until I was fourteen, three or four times a Sunday, until I was tired of it. I had all I wanted. I never attend now, except when my little daughter takes part in the Sunday school entertainment." "I go to church once in a while when I don't go fishing or somewhere else." Widow 45 years of age, paying for her home by keeping roomers. All girls ; they care for their own rooms : "I take my amusement practicing on the piano. I can't often go to church not oftener than once or t \\ire a year. 1 have too much work to do Sundays. I'm home late 100 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Saturday nights. I need to sleep later Sundays. Sorry, too, for I like our minister so much." (Earns |6 a week as saleswoman.) "I don't go to church. I haven't been for two years. I used to go. Father had a 'spat' with the minister and he wouldn't let us go. I don't enjoy going to other churches." "I don't often go to church. T thought once that I couldn't live unless I went once or twice every Sunday. Since I began working I need the rest." (This woman is 59 years of age.) "I don't often go to church. I have too much work to get baby ready and I take care of him Sundays." "I used to do housework for a living. I never could go to church then ; that is why I took up laundry work." "I attend church once in a while. I don't go often. I'm tired out. I enjoy going but I haven't the ambition all tired out, but can't af- ford to lose any time. I've been here two years and no increase in salary in that time." ($9 a week salesgirl. Room and board cost her 16.) "I've so much to do on Sunday. It's the only free day I have to do my ironing." "I haven't been to church of late. I have lo work on Sundays .housework to do." "I always have to work on Sundays. I believe that if I had some one to go with me I would go." (Single.) LITTLE SPENT FOR READING MATTER. Beading matter is the only item in the tables of weekly expenditures that may be obtained free. With public libraries in each city in the State the working woman is not forced to spend any great amount in this way. That she takes advantage of this opportunity is obvious. The general average weekly expenditure by the girl at home is but eight cents; while that of the woman "adrift" is 12 cents. The woman at home, again, has the advantage of her "adrift" co-worker in this respect. The office and corset workers adrift each expended, on an average, 16 cents per week for reading matter. This is the highest average amount spent by any of the adrift workers. The store, office, corset and core- makers in the home group all paid an average of nine cents a week for reading. Following are a few of the remarks made by the women regarding the amount expended for books, etc. : "You need something besides reading after sitting down all day." x "I am too tired to read." "I am too tired to look at books. I would rather lie down on a couch." "We are quite hands to stay at home and read." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 101 FOR UNIONS/CLUBS, SOCIETIES AND INSURANCE. The general average weekly amount expended by the woman living at home, for unions, clubs and societies was eight cents; by the woman "adrift" nine cents. The cigar workers "adrift" paid out the highest weekly average 19 cents. The woman overall worker living at home comes next with an average weekly expenditure of 11 cents. It costs the office workers more per week for insurance than any other group investigated. The women in this occupation who were living at home paid on an average, 38 cents a week for insurance. The garment workers come second. In the "adrift" column we find that the store workers paid out the highest weekly average 25 cents. The office group were second with 24 cents expenditure. "OTHER EXPENSES." The items of expenditure included in "other expenses" are made up in part of the following: "Paying for piano; piano-player; house and lot; a lot; lessons in elo- cution, music, sewing, painting, violin ; helping a sister through college ; night school tuition; correspondence school lessons; vocal lessons; tele- phone; taxes; buying sewing machine; buying a typewriter; cemetery lot; English lessons; 'green trunk;' vacation expenses, etc., etc." The general average weekly expenditure for other expenses for the "adrift" woman is $1.67 as compared with $1.48 for the home woman. The core industry shows the largest weekly expenditure $5.21 for the woman at home; while $5.06 is the average weekly amount ex- pended by the women tobacco workers "adrift." The tobacco worker living at home is third with $3.09. 102 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Tjl >O 1C I- >0 O T i O O CO CO O **l * O f5 "O >O S Si S S i-^^oooor^coo^ occoot~>o>oo O C<1 O >O GO i-l (M m o -t! r^ co (M CO CO l^ CO !> O5 ^ i I Oi CO 1C CO * 3i CO 00 "* - CO O TI< co t^. e< co o Clh:jo.\y Suijaodoj ' -H(M5l-l P S "~ 2 104 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON 98l3.I9Ay 83BJ3AY aSninJB3 A^SSM {BJOJ^ Surj-iodga % s 8 oo^HcnO 35 95. ao Q o l^- O M MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 105 33BJ3AV p '33BJ3AV 3ur}JOd3J 8SBJ9AV 3uijjod3j 38BJ3AV 3ui;iod3a ' B 8 3 EARNING WOMEN CONSIDER A NECESSARY WAGE IN ORDER TO LIVE RESPECTABLY. Table No. 29 summarizes the data obtained from 5,673 women and girls who were interrogated as to the amount they considered necessary to support them respectably in their respective localities. While more than G7 per cent had some definite idea of the weekly amount necessary; 26.9 per cent reported that they "did not know." Many of these latter had never lived away from home, and so had never given the question serious thought. Others had just begun to work, and were not qualified to give an accurate es- timate. A large number took their pay envelopes home without opening them, and so themselves spent nothing. Only 80, or 1.4 per cent, re- ported that they considered a girl could live on less than $6 per week, while 1,823, or 32.1 per cent, were sure that from |6 to |9 was sufficient; and 854, or 15.1 per cent, thought a girl should receive between $9 and $10. The largest proportion of those reporting 2,916, or 51.4 per cent named $10 or over as the necessary amount. As showing the drift of opinion, a few of the answers are appended: "To live as I think a girl should, she ought to average $10 a week." "A girl can live on $5, if she doesn't have to pay dentists' or doc- tors' bills and goes without clothes." "Before I received $10 a week, I often went to bed hungry, as my grandmother, 75 years old, required dainty food." "I could not get along on the $7 I earn, if I did not live at home." "I just make enough to make my living ($7.50) and it's hard enough to do that, sometimes." "A girl can live on less than $10 a week, if she has a friend to take her to places of amusement." "A girl must have $10 to live right with strangers." "Six dollars a week is the least amount on which a woman could live if she did her own sewing and laundry." "Don't see how any girl can live on less than $8." "Operation for appendicitis cost over $300 not all paid for. We are building a new church and this year I am going to give $52. In summer time it takes quite a bit for laundry. Everything costs so nowadays. I don't see how girls live who get $4 and $5 a week. I fight my own way. I know how it goes. I have my recreation at church. Every girl who boards out ought to get $12. Board is rising every day. A girl has to dress and has to have some pleasure, whether she spends it in shows or church. That's why so many girls go to the 112 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON bad. They get so discouraged they just don't care where they go. I think this is the wisest thing the State ever did." (Gets |12 a week.) "I think |12 is the least a girl can live on a week." When her at- tention was called to the fact that she was supporting her mother and herself on that amount, she said : "I don't call it living. Never have anything nor go anywhere." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 113 Q M O ii fe =s -laodaj a'aqum^ 3*3*8*3 S 5 J2 S5 S 5 i ( CO i t * i t CM" i 1 : i oo^*ot^cooooco 5QOCOOt^ oo'ododco'd-Ido OO 1C CO CO 00 00 i-l O5 Tt< CO O CO t^- t^> 1C ^ a* Ji 8 1 COICICOCO-^COOO ^iCi COiC ^H ^^ 1C **< * 1C CO i* 00 1C CO Tt< CO CO CM i-H CM i-l i-l s r j 8 | 5SSoSS|552 CO O O> - ^o s 3 5 _3 JH i o "a*** J ^ | 55 3 s a s s s * s g S g S; 55 55 : ? J CO CO ' CO CO H t>- CM 1C O r-H CM CM O CM rH O5 CO i-l r-. CM O O iC O * o * 5 CM CM I CO 1C CM CO CO guijaodaa aaquinf^ iCCOlCOSt^COCMCM COOOOi 'OCCO 1 ^ CM CO CO CO * CO 1C t>- 1C 1C i 4 O CM 1C i 2 i a s p a CO CO pa^B3oa -jajui aaquin^ O5OC5COCO-tlO500 2 3 S 3 S CO CM ^t << i-H CO CM" oo" | :::::: ; I :::::: 1 : : i I : i o : ': ': S s : m >, 'C JS f S f 1 1 1 j 1 S>c3cSS3cfi> OOOOK^OO 1 i iJ 1 11 It 1 i | s 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 114 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON VACATIONS. Table No. 30 summarizes the data secured on the manner in which Michigan women wage-earners spent their vacations. Of the 8,358 interro- gated, 5,007 reported on vacations ; 2,985, or 35.7 per cent, reported that they "took no vacations.-' A large proportion of those taking no vaca- tions were not able to afford one. The replies ran somewhat in this fashion : "I don't ever take a vacation unless I am ill." "Never had any vacation ; can't afford one." "Haven't had a vacation, except when the factory closed down." "I couldn't ever take a. vacation ; wages are so small." "We could never save enough to take a vacation." Of the 1,006, or 20.1 per cent, reporting being paid while taking their vacations, 815 were working in stores and telephone exchanges; all the other occupations total but 101 paid vacations. The average length of these paid vacations was seven days. Four thousand and one, 79.9 per cent took vacations without pay. The piece-worker taking an occasional voluntary vacation can, by "speeding up," make up the Tost time and lost wages, many report. One thousand one hundred and seventeen of those reporting, spent their vacations visiting relatives or friends; 539 took a trip; one married woman said she and her husband planned their vacations so they could take an automobile trip, as they owned a machine. She was a saleswoman. Another said: "I usually tak.e a trip; can't this year; have to spend vacation money for medicine." Eight of those \vho took vacations had gone abroad. One young saleswoman was the lucky winner in a voting contest, and the prize was a trip abroad. A number of the others returned to the old country to visit relatives or friends. Two hundred and eighteen said they usu- ally went to a summer resort, to a cottage at the lake, or "camped out." Still others spent their vacation by taking an occasional week-end ex- cursion. Twenty-six "went to the country" for "a good rest and plenty of fresh air." Fifty-eight reported that they had no regular way of spending their vacations. Sometimes they remained at home. At other times, they split their vacations half the time taking a trip and the other half remaining at home, looking after father and the children and sending the mother away for a rest. By far the largest number 2,498, or 49.9 per cent said they always remained at home. If they happened to be married, they-usually took this time to clean house and to do sewing. In some of the stores, after the woman has been employed a year, she is given a week's vacation with pay. If she remains two or more years, MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 1 i.f, she receives two weeks' vacation, with pay. Still another store, in- stead of giving a week wilh pay, allows its employes one-half day each week during specified summer months. In another store, the girls are asked to take vacations without pay during the dull season. Generally speaking, however, the time lost in stores from layoffs or enforced idleness, is much less than with factory employes. Some of the store workers found other employment during the dull period. 116 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON I li'Sl E-" -. :al3 S 3 -.i-- iCCiOOGOCO't l(NCO(MlOrH if -00 -BOBA Suunp piud idqumN uoi} -BA ou,, Sut^aodaa jaqtnn^ O5^ >O rt ioo I MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 117 TOILETS AND WELFARE WORK. Table No. ol shows the condition of the toilets in 503 establishments visited; the number of women reporting a social secretary; number reporting a woman in charge of their department; number having the privileges of lunch, rest and emergency rooms and the number report- ing that their work was injurious to their health. Twelve and two-tenths per cent of the women worked where the toilet was bad ; 41.9 per cent could not say the toilet was good ; 58.1 per cent said it was good. But many of these were either afraid to tell the truth, or else were lamentably ignorant as to what constitutes a decent toilet. If their standard were that "toilets" should be as sanitary as "kitchens" such a large per cent could not have said that the toilet where they worked was good. Certainly education along these lines is most imperative. Consumers who must eat, or smoke, or wear many things produced in these establishments may well study this table. In such places as laundries, clothes are washed ; in cores and seeds the public is not so interested hygienically ; but all are personally concerned about the women who work in these factories. Here are some of the sayings of the girls in regard to the toilets where they work: "Clean towel about twice a week." "When we leave for the toilet we have to get permission from a man floorwalker." "Toilet is dirty." "Just boards with holes; emptying down into the river; boys can look up from down stairs." "Toilet isn't very good." "No toilet paper whatever; no towels." "Haven't been to the toilet; don't like to go. The man who cuts is always standing near." "I don't think much of the toilets; at times they are not fit to go into." "Toilet is a perfect fright sometimes. I don't go in any more than I have to." Seven hundred and forty girls reported a social or educational sec- retary or a nurse ; 7,618 reported none. The former represented two over- all factories; two department stores, and one telephone exchange. All are located in the city of Detroit. One department store official told the investigator that his firm had added in one year 2,000 charge accounts, due to increased ef- ficiency, attributable to a large extent, to the educational training among the sales force. The telephone exchange is depending more and more upon the nurse, not only to care temporarily for the health of the op- 118 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON erators; but to act as advisor to both girls and managers in matters that pertain to sanitation and hygiene. The firms find that it pays to keep the worker healthy, thereby in- creasing efficiency. More and more scientific management will incor- porate in its welfare work this plan of having a woman employed in the capacity of secretary or nurse or friendly adviser a woman who is studying the problem and meeting the need as best she can a woman who understands the girls, and who can co-operate with the managers and employers, whose minds are necessarily absorbed in the details of business. Her chief duty is to call the attention of her employers to the human needs of the women workers. When both employers and consumers visualize "Central" and "Cash Girl," industry will become humanized. HEALTH. From the testimony of the girls it would appear that some industries are much more injurious to health than others. The candy and core- workers report the least; the seed, tobacco and cigar come next. While in the hosiery and knit goods industry 10 per cent report injuries. The tele- phone operators in every locality head the list 28 per cent reporting in- juries. The hosiery and knit goods are made in piece-work factories for the most part. Many girls are taken in very young. The lint is bad for them; also the strain and the monotony of piece-work. The un- certainty caused by "slack" times is also an anxiety which depletes strength. "I have seen weeks when I made only f 5. Then I would be discouraged," said one girl laconically who represented the general opinion. "We ought to have a standard law that they pay girls so much." The eyes of girls in knitting factories suffer a strain, especially the eyes of the loopers. Black and even gray material are much more trying to work with than white. The arbitrary cutting of the piece-work scale of wages forces girls to work harder to maintain the original wage and tempts the workers to break the 54-hour law by working overtime when work is "good," thereby causing overwork and exhaustion. These are a few of the complaints peculiar to the knit goods industry: "Hard on eyes; hard on back; hard on me all over. Arm has to be treated with electricity ; it moves so much in the work." "Sometimes I feel kind of sore on my chest, but I do not know as it is from the lint or not. Lint down your throat is just horrid." "The work is terribly hard on the eyes. I guess almost every one in this work has to wear glasses." "I am getting poor since I came to the factory to work. With the low chairs my legs and back ache." "Arms ache." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 1 1<) TELEPHONE WORK. Authorities agree that telephone operation is a nervous occupation. They also agree that girls between the ages of 17 and 23 should not be subject to too nervous a strain during these formative years. Yet during those years they make the quickest and most valuable opera- ators. The following is a quotation from the "Eeport of the Royal Commission on a Dispute Respecting Hours of Employment between the Bell Telephone Company of Canada, Ltd., and Operators at Toronto, Ontario," in 1907, which report can be obtained by sending to the Canadian Government Printing Bureau at Ottawa, Canada: "We believe that 17 is too young an age for a girl to enter upon the duties of telephone operation, and would recommend that young women should be prohibited from entering this class of employment until they have com- pleted their eighteenth year. We would also recommend that before being accepted by the company, operators should be required to pass an examination as to their health, es- pecially as to their nervous system, throat, lungs, sight, 1) faring and tendency toward tuberculosis. These recom- mendations are strongly supported by medical testimony." Quotations from Michigan girls: "Had two shocks while at the board during thunder storms." "Tumor on wrist, came from work." "Hard on nerves." "Bronchial tubes are paralyzed from work." "Throat gets dry." "Just get tired and nervous sitting so long." "Strain my eyes watching all the time for lights." WORK AND HEALTH. * Here are a few miscellaneous quotations on injuries: "Irritable customers make you terribly nervous, you know." "Ventilation poor, and lights trying. I have headaches." "Standing on feet. Strain of bustle and noise." "Dust hurts the lungs." "Knuckles are swollen and hurt terribly. Get awfully tired. I'm old, you know." "When I 'speed up' enough to make a living wage it hurts my back. I like housework best, but Aunt said the other girls would look down on me. so I am trying factory work." Said by a bright girl of 19 years of age who has been through the second year in high school. 120 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON "Machine work is a strain on my arms." "Constant stooping over the machine affects my back." "Work so slack. I am in debt for doctor's services. Makes me ner- vous. When I have steady work it doesn't cost me so much for wood, since I am away all day. Case of less I earn the more it costs me for fuel." "No drinking water except what is brought in in a tin pail." SOME HAVE REST ROOMS. Two thousand three hundred and forty-two women reported that they had rest room accommodations; 4,034, or 48.2 per cent, said a lunch room was provided for their use. In some cases, these lunch rooms were poorly lighted and ventilated, and were located in damp and insanitary basements, and no attempt made to make the room cheerful and at- tractive to the woman worker who lives such a distance from her work that she finds it necessary to bring her lunch. At times, the girls took their lunch to the nearest park ; some went to a drug or candy store where they could have something warm to drink; a few said that they went to stores where rest rooms were provided for the use of customers and re- mained there during the lunch hour. Other firms had beautiful rest rooms and adequate lunch facilities; some had the serveself system and the girls were served with good sub- stantial lunches at a very nominal cost. Some of the companies, not having the facilities for serving lunches,- provided, free of cost, hot coffee to their employes at the noon hour. Others had the kitchen equipment and the girls brought their own supplies and prepared their lunches. One thousand nine hundred and forty-two reported emergency rooms to be used in case of sudden illness or of an accident. These rooms were equipped with "first aid to the injured" supplies and one of the workers, usually the forewoman, where one was employed, was placed in charge. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 121 M G || I! S S : E M S 3 g g t^. rt co 1-1 ?o eo 3; t*- co . co o OO>CC5i-l'-lOOOOOOOi-lT*tCCOOr-l O tOOC5CO (N(M t^r-iec <> i-l OOTt< * ! J CQ 1 Number reporting. C5 5 * d M S; 5 -* I Number reporting. oO'-iOi-ieooe^co-^cOi-icoioi-ico ^O 'sfCicc'tticoeOi-i'-Hi-ic-iO'-i s J il COI^WDCOi-^CCC^OOOSfcOC^OCOC^CO ^H^U^iCCOiO(M 2gs i sj"' 1 g I ! i i J M ; - 2 ! 1 s i - | .1 II 1 ' i i 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 i 1 1 1 OOOOW^OOPnccMHH^O I 122 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON WAGES BY OCCUPATION AND LOCATION. Tables No. 32 and 33 deal with wages as to occupations and locations as shown by the interrogating of 8,512 women wage-earners, 8,424 of whom furnished information. Wages are divided into seven classifi- cations, starting with those who receive under five dollars a week, and ending with those who receive ten dollars and over. With these tables before one, it is possible to ascertain the wage in any one and all of the localities visited by the Commission's investigators, both as to the average for the location and for the occupation. In computing the percentage, it is interesting to note that 24.2 per cent receive less than |6 a week, and that 56.4 per cent receive less than $8 per week. Also that 20.7 per cent only receive $10 or over per week. In fact 79.3 per cent receive less than 51.4 per cent of the women wage- earners interrogated state is necessary in order to live respectably and decently. These figures are also explanatory of the fact shown elsewhere, why so large a proportion of these women wage-earners must of necessity be supplied with funds from other than their pay envelopes in order to live. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 123 TaMc Xo. 32. WAGES BY OCCUPATIONS OF 8,424 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN K.Mi'LovKD i.\ :io LOCALITIES AND 535 ESTABLISHMENTS, AS REPORTED BY THEMSELVES. Location ami industry. * 1 .2 1 S5 i Wages of those receiving Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. ENTIRE STATE 535 8,512 8,424 990 1,058 1,424 1,279 1,134 797 1,742 Adrian 8 36 36 6 3 13 7 1 3 3 Laundry Offices 1 2 4 1 4 2 19 11 33 4 2 19 11 1 1 2 1 3 1 "'i' 1 2 " - 3 Stores Telephone exchange 5 1 16 1 1 4 8 Alpena 9 33 7 5 2 3 Laundry Offices 1 2 4 1 1 6 2 14 3 8 6 2 14 3 8 5 1 1 4 "'i' 1 "j" 1 Stores Telephone exchange n J 3 1 Woolen mill 1 4 Ann Arbor 2 54 54 5 20 21 4 1 Stores ! 8 46 216 , 46 2 4 16 2 19 44 Telephone exchange 3 4 1 Battle Creek 26 212 15 21 48 18 27 39 Candy... 1 1 3 8 1 12 17 10 52 16 25 96 17 9 50 16 25 95 1 3 1 10 3 1 11 2 9 18 5 2 8 4 9 20 - 29 3 "'5' 1 4 5 1 '"s 4 1 13 1 5 6 5 2 20 Cores. Laundries 2 Offices . Paper boxes '"is y Stores Bay City 20 321 320 114 62 52 23 12 28 Hosiery and knit goods Laundries 1 2 6 8 3 5 104 41 24 111 41 25 104 41 24 110 41 25 32 15 3 40 24 13 14 9 15 11 18 10 5 13 6 13 2 1 13 15 8 5 Offices 1 7 1 3 4 19 Stores Telephone exchanges Cheboygan 5 9 6 1 2 2 Laundry . . 1 3 1 9 12 4 9 12 4 7 3 1 2 1 2 4 Stores 1 1 1 2 Telephone exchange 124 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 32. WAGES BY OCCUPATIONS OF 8,424 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN EMPLOYED IN 30 LOCALITIES AND 535 ESTABLISHMENTS, AS REPORTED BY THEMSELVES. Continued. Location and industry. 1 1 * 1 "3 1 fc Number reporting. Wages of those receiving Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Detroit 135 4,181 4,135 296 373 637 685 649 434 1,061 Candy Cigars Cores Corsets 11 22 6 1 2 19 17 5 8 3 14 10 5 12 181 666 63 620 25 256 157 627 175 212 593 101 162 343 181 656 63 617 25 256 156 624 169 212 584 101 162 329 19 125 2 14 3 "'34' 22 47 30 6 48 20 8 23 33 53 50 47 57 2 138 5 51 . 12 43 25 84 87 1 29 56 17 71 5 184 7 66 22 75 37 54 82 2 28 35 31 74 8 129 4 50 21 98 30 10 99 29 27 39 12 79 15 69 6 28 16 85 9 7 50 17 11 30 8 220 25 35 3 38 77 266 13 4 183 52 36 101 Hosiery and knit goods Laundries Offices Overalls Paper and cigar boxes Seeds Stores Telephone exchanges Tobacco Women's garments 33 3 41 28 27 Flint 23 181 178 29 19 36 17 18 10 49 Cigars 2 3 8 8 1 1 22 25 13 98 16 7 21 24 13 98 16 6 1 "Y 3 14 3 14 2 2 6 1 7 1 2 2 3 11 1 ... 1 1 12 1 6 24 1 5 Laundries Offices Stores Telephone exchange Women's garments 21 . 7 14 4 Grand Rapids 53 1,120 1,120 127 158 200 179 184 112 160 Candy 2 3 2 3 4 14 3 4 2- 14 1 33 95 26 92 106 49 33 100 36 446 36 68 33 95 26 92 106 49 33 100 36 446 36 68 9 5 4 6 4 9 6 74 ... 4 11 8 6 17 3 2 25 4 68 2 8 6 10 1 16 25 7 7 25 4 77 15 7 3 11 6 24 19 6 5 25 3 63 3 11 6 12 8 20 27 11 3 9 6 57 11 14 2 13 2 19 9 4 7 6 3 35 3 9 3 33 1 6 5 12 5 1 10 72 2 10 Cigars Cores Hosiery and knit goods Laundries ... Offices Overalls Paper and cigar boxes . . . Shoes Stores Telephone exchange Women's garments Ionia 9 27 24 1 7 5 5 2 4 Laundries Offices 2 2 5 8 2 17 5 2 17 1 4 ..... "T 1 4 Stores 1 6 4 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 125 TnMc No. .>'.?. WAGES BY OCCUPATIONS OF 8,424 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN EMPLOYED IN 30 LOCALITIES AND 535 ESTABLISHMENTS, AS REPORTED BY THEMSELVES. Continued. Location and industry. 1 bO .2 fe Wages of those receiving Under 15. $5 and under $6. $6 and undr $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- her.. Num- ber. Num- ber. Jackson 31 503 500 29 57 74 84 75 70 111 Candy 1 5 4 8 S 2 3 5 145 30 40 143 55 85 4 144 30 40 143 54 85 1 17 9 7 18 9 13 1 29 9 4 21 "7 13 36 2 32 6 5 19 1 10 '"io" 3 4 20 '"37 3 16 36 3 16 Corsets . 3 7 Laundries Offices . y 17 2 4 22 17 7 Stores Telephone exchanges Women's garments 24 Kalamazoo 21 231 223 5 27 52 15 30 58 Corsets 1 3 7 1 8 1 38 37 32 23 90 11 335 37 32 32 21 90 11 330 3 3 4 1 16 3 12 3 7 27 4 9 3 5 15 4 2 5 "'a' 2 39 11 3 4 4 8 30 12 3 13 2 19 9 84 Laundries Offices . "'2 3 Paper boxes Stores.. . Women's garments Lansing 45 36 47 48 48 Cigars 1 1 4 1 17 18 2 1 15 13 52 5 31 177 27 15 15 13 50 5 31 175 27 14 "T 3 2 '"2 13 2 20 7 3 1 4 12 2 2 17 4 4 ' 5 5 3 "'l 1 6 15 1 3 8 1 8 '"14 48 3 2 Knit goods Laundries 8 Metal specialties Offices Stores Telephone exchanges Women's garments "'36' 2 3 25 9 5 20 1 2 6 Ludington 8 30 29 13 8 2 Laundries 2 1 3 2 8 1 9 12 7 1 9 !2 1 4 2 Offices 1 4 Stores 3 9 2 2 Telephone exchanges Manistee 9 39 39 20 8 5 2 3 1 Laundries Offices Stores 2 2 4 10 2 21 6 10 2 21 6 7 2 8 3 3 '"3 2 "'4' '"2 3 1 Telephone exchange 120 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 32. WAGES BY OCCUPATIONS OF 8,424 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN EMPLOYED IN 30 LOCALITIES AND 535 ESTABLISHMENTS, AS REPORTED P,Y THEMSELVES. Continued. Location and industry. Number establishments. 1 55 Number reporting. Wages of those receiving Under J5. $5 and under $6. $5 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Muskegon 16 181 181 45 37 26 25 18 11 19 Candy 1 2 2 2 1 8 14 67 20 2 8 70 14 67 20 2 8 70 6 12 5 5 11 1 1 1 7 3 13 2 y '"9 2 1 1 5 y 1 "T 2 '"4 1 '"i4 Hosiery and knit goods Laundries Offices 11 8 Paper boxes Stores 26' 5 9 Pontiac 12 34 84 14 18 27 11 5 3 6 Cigars 2 3 5 1 5 10 3 30 36 5 10 3 30 36 1 3 4 1 .... 1 4 Laundries Offices Stores 2 3 "'2' 2 1 "'2' 11 8 8 6 14 6 2 2 Telephone exchange Port Huron 16 225 223 44 58 45 27 18 13 18 Fibre works 1 1 3 1 1 8 1 6 74 26 2 25 64 28 6 73 25 2 25 64 28 6 6 Knit goods 29 8 17 11 1 5 6 5 58 13 3 6 1 2 1 1 6 3 Laundries Offices Overalls Stores Telephone exchange 1 '"4 13 ""' 11 15 1 9 1 3 7 1 15 6 Saginaw 25 323 318 89 63 34 19 13 42 Candy Cigars Corsets Knit goods Laundries Offices Paper and cigar boxes Stores Telephone exchanges Women's garments 1 1 1 1 2 4 2 7 3 3 28 4 32 16 32 12 14 75 26 84 28 4 32 14 32 12 14 75 26 81 18 1 3 1 2 "'e' 32 4 22 5 y 1 11 1 2 12 12 12 7 3 2 '"3 4 6 ..... 6 3 13 3 2 12 8 8 9 6 6 6 2 4 1 1 6 3 3 3 ... 1 8 "Y 7 18 St. Joseph 8 78 74 23 ' 8 5 21 Hosiery and knit goods 1 1 2 1 2 1 46 3 2 15 7 5 43 3 2 15 7 4 8 2 3 3 1 1 7 4 18 Offices Paper boxes Stores "'is' 1 1 4 2 1 3 P MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 127 Table No. 32. WAGES BY OCCUPATIONS OF 8,424 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN KMI'LOYED IN 30 LOCALITIES AND 535 ESTABLISHMENTS, AS REPORTED BY THEMSELVES. Concluded. Location and industry. Number establishments. Number interrogated. Number reporting. Wages of those receiving Under $5. $5 and under $6. $Cand under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Traverse City 9 67 65 18 17 11 5 3 2 9 Candy 1 4 2 32 18 7 2 27 13 18 6 2 26 13 3 3 7 2 6 1 1 2 2 Offices Stores 1 2 a "Y '"6 6 6 2 6 Telephone exchanges Upper Peninsula 154 154 34 26 24 18 16 11 25 Candv 6 1 17 6 1 4 26 7 87 24 6 4 26 7 87 24 6 2 4 1 20 7 1 9 3 3 2 ...... 2 11 2 i Laundries Shoes 4 6 1 11 3 3 2 Stores Telephone exchange*) 12 9 1 8 1 1 22 Woolen mill 1 Ypsilanti 13 68 67 7 12 22 14 5 4 3 Knit goods Laundry 1 1 2 7 1 1 25 4 2 21 8 8 24 4 2 21 8 8 3 1 4 9 2 6 1 1 5 ..... 1 1 Offices Stores "'4' "'3 1 1 "'a' i 3 1 4 5 5 1 Telephone exchange Women's garments 1 128 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 33. WAGES BY SEVEN CLASSIFICATIONS OP 8,424 MICHIGAN WAGE- EARNING WOMEN EMPLOYED IN 30 LOCALITIES AND IN 535 ESTABLISHMENTS, AS REPORTED BY THEMSELVES. Location is 1 & Number interrogated. 1 Wages of those receiving Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Num- ber. Adrian Alpena Ann Arbor 8 9 2 26 20 36 33 54 216 321 36 33 54 212 320 6 16 5 15 114 3 7 20 21 62 13 5 21 44 52 7 2 3 48 29 1 3 4 18 23 3 3 1 39 28 Battle Creek 27 12 Bay City Cheboygan 5 25 25 5 9 6 1 2 2 Detroit Flint 135 23 53 9 31 4,181 181 1,120 27 503 4,135 178 1,120 24 500 296 29 127 29 373 19 158 1 57 637 36 200 7 74 685 17 179 5 84 649 18 184 5 75 434 10 112 2 70 1,061 49 160 4 111 Grand Rapids Ionia . . . . Jackson Kalamazoo 21 45 8 9 16 231 335 30 39 181 223 330 29 39 181 5 36 13 20 45 27 47 8 8 37 -: 52 48 2 5 26 36 46 2 25 15 39 6 30 30 58 84 Ludington Manistee Muskegon 3 11 1 19 18 Pontiac 12 84 84 14 18 27 11 5 3 6 Port Huron 16 225 223 44 58 45 27 18 13 18 Saginaw 25 323 318 89 63 58 34 19 13 42 St. Joseph 8 78 74 23 7 9 1 8 5 21 Traverse City. . . / 9 67 65 18 17 11 5 3 2 9 Upper Peninsula* 32 154 154 34 26 24 18 16 11 25 Ypsilanti 13 68 67 7 12 22 I 14 5 4 3 Total 535 8,512 8,424 990 1,058 1,424 1,279 1,134 797 1,742 "Eight localities. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. WAGES BY PERCENTAGES. 129 Receiving under $5 per week Receiving $5 and under $6 per week. . Receiving under $6 per week Receiving $6 and under $7 per week . . Receiving $7 and under $8 per week. . Receiving under $8 per week Receiving $8 and under $9 per week . . Receiving $9 and under $10 per week. Receiving under $10 per week Receiving $10 and over per week Per cent. 11.7 12.5 24.2 17.0 15.1 56.4 13.4 9.5 79.3 20.7 Tables A. to G. COMPARISON BY PERCENTAGES BETWEEN DIFFERENT CITIES OF THE PAY OF INTERROGATED WAGE-EARNING WOMEN IN THE SAME OCCUPATIONS. Table A. CANDY. Location. Under ' $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 or over. Battle Creek . 5 9 17 6 17 6 29 4 17 6 5 9 5 9 Detroit 10 5 25 9 25 9 9 4 17 2 6 6 4 4 Grand Rapids 27 3 12 1 18 2 9 1 18 2 6 9 1 Jackson 25 25 50 Muskegon 42 8 35 7 21 4 Sagiuaw 64 2 17 8 10 7 7 2 Traverse City 16 7 38 9 33 3 11 1 17 130 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table B. CORSETS. Location. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 or over. Detroit 2.3 7.8 22.3 29.8 20.9 11.2 5.7 Jackson 2 1 4 9 11 8 20 1 22 2 13 2 25 7 Kalaiuazoo 8 1 8 1 10 8 10 8 29 7 32 4 Saginaw . 9.4 21.9 18.7 18.7 9.4 9 4 12 5 Table C. HOSIERY AND KNIT GOODS. Location. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 or over. Bay City 30.8 12 5 17 3 12 5 14 4 7 7 4.8 Detroit 16 4 17 9 16.4 19.4 13.4 10.5 6.0 1 i 6 5 17 4 26 1 21 7 20 6 6 5 7 7 15 4 30 8 38 4 7.7 16 4 17 9 16 4 19 4 13 4 10 5 6.0 Port Huron 8 2 39 7 23 3 17.8 8.2 2.7 Saginaw 7.2 7 2 21.4 42.8 21.4 St Joseph 18 6 4 6 7 o 2 3 16 3 9 3 41.9 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Table D. LAUNDRIES. 131 Location. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 ami under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 or over. 83 3 16 7 Battle Creek Bay City 4.0 36 6 20.0 34 1 22.0 24.4 16.0 4.9 10.0 16.0 12.0 Detroit 1 2 7 8 20.0 25.8 19.5 10.9 14.8 3 8 16 23.6 17.9 25.4 8.5 4.7 30.0 30.0 20.0 10.0 10.0 9 4 37.5 28.1 6.2 9.4 9.4 6 16 26 24.0 10.0 2.0 16 14 3 57 1 28 6 70 30 Q 40 25 5 10 10.0 5 5 Pontiac 20 40 30 10 32 44 12 4 4 4 6 2 34 3 40 6 19 St Joseph 100 Traverse City 50 33 3 ' 16 7 Upper Peninsula 15 4 15 4 23 34 6 3 9 7 7 25 50 25 Table E. PAPER AND CIGAR BOXES. Location. Under $5. $5 and under $. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 or over. Bat tie Creek. 36 36 16 4 8 Detroit 13 19 5 14 8 21 9 17 7 5 3 7 7 Grand Rapids ... 9 25 25 25 9 6 1 Kalamazoo 9 5 4 8 33 3 23 8 19 9 5 Muskegon 62 5 12 5 12 5 12 5 Sagiuaw 42 8 14 3 14 3 28 6 St. Joseph 100 o 132 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table F. STORES. Location. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 or over. Alpena 50.0 28 6 7.1 14 3 Battle Creek 12.6 7.4 19.0 21.0 5.3 13.7 21.0 Bay City 36 4 13 6 11 9 11 9 6 3 2 7 17 2 Detroit 5 7 8 6 14 9 14 16 9 8 6 31 3 Grand Rapids . 16 6 15 3 17.3 14 1 12 8 7 8 16 1 Jackson Kalamazoo ; 4.9 3.3 15.4 17.8 12.6 30.0 14.7 16.7 13.3 2.2 14.0 8.9 25.2 21.1 Lansing . 17.1 14.3 11.4 9.7 11.4 8.6 27.4 Ludington 33 3 22 2 44 4 Manistee 38 1 14 3 19 9 5 14 3 4.8 Muskegon 37.1 12.9 10.0 10.0 7.1 2.9 20". Pontiac 6.7 26.6 20.0 20.0 6.7 6.7 13.3 Port Huron 17.1 23.4 9.4 14.1 10.9 4.7 20.3 42 6 16 16 1 3 5 4 4 14.7 Traverse City 23.1 7.7 7.7 7.7 11.5 7.7 34.6 Upper Peninsula 14 3 14.3 42.8 28.6 Ypsilanti 14.3 23.8 23.8 19.0 14.3 4.8 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Table G. TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. 133 Location. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under ' $10. $10 or over. 33.3 33.3 33.3 6.5 34.8 41.3 6.5 8.7 2.2 Bay City 58 6 26.8 14.6 50.0 25.0 25.0 Detroit 1.0 2.0 28.7 16.8 51.5 Flint 43.8 25.0 12.5 6.2 6.2 6.2 Grand Rapids 5.6 41.7 8.3 30.5 8.3 5.6 31.5 31.5 16.7 12.9 1.8 5.6 7.4 33.3 25.9 14.8 3.7 3.7 11.1 75 16 7 8.3 50.0 33.3 16.7 Pontiac 30.6 22.2 38.9 5.5 2.8 53.6 21.4 17.8 3.6 3.6 Saginaw 15.4 46.2 30.8 3.8 3.8 St Joseph 100.0 Traverse City 46 1 46.1 7.7 29 2 37.5 12.5 8.3 8.3 4.1 Ypsilanti 25 12 5 62.5 g ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES FOR CLOTHES. Following are a number of itemized lists of clothes expenditures by women and girls employed in the different occupations under investiga- tion. These are only a few of the many obtained, but they are relatively representative of the entire number. A number of those interviewed said they gave their clothes to other members of their family when they had worn them for a year and they had become too shabby for wear in their respective places of employ- ment. The variations in the amount of yearly expenditures in this direction sometimes mean that there has often been a sacrifice of amusement and recreation. Many times their health has been endan- gered through lack of sufficient food, in order to have more to spend on clothes; for to those whose employments bring them into direct touch with the public it is imperative that a neat appearance be pre- sented. Not infrequently this expenditure for clothes meant sewing long- hours after a hard and trying day's work. Others were more fortunate and had either a mother or other relative to make their clothes for them. The items included in the "Incidental" expenditures are laces, rib- bons, belts, buckles, pins, brooches, and toilet accessories, etc., accord- ing to the individuality of the one interviewed. 134 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON SALESWOMAN 24 years of age single lives at home $6 per week. Spring suit . .$14 00 Coat 17 00 Hats 10 00 Shoes 10 50 Repairing shoes 1 50 Rubbers 1 20 4 summer waists 8 00 2 summer dresses 11 Winter dress 7 Separate skirt 6 Separate winter waist 4 Hosiery 3 Underwear winter 3 Underwear summer 2 50 Corsets 2 50 Corset covers 2 00 Gloves 3 00 Handkerchiefs 1 50 Petticoats summer 2 50 Petticoats winter 7 00 Incidentals 10 00 SALESWOMAN single 25 years of age adrift wages $10 a week. Spring coat $7 15 Winter coat $17, wears 2 years.... 9 00 Hats 25 00 Shoes 1C 00 Repairing shoes 3 00 Rubbers 1 20 Summer waists 00 Summer dresses 35 00 Winter dresses 30 00 Petticoats 11 00 Underwear 10 00 Corsets 3 50 Hosiery 3 00 Nightgowns 3 50 Gloves given her Handkerchiefs some given her 1 00 Incidentals 7 00 $171 35 $127 50 STORE EMPLOYE age 18 boards with sister wages $7 a week. 2 dresses sister made.. ..$12 00 Coat 15 00 Shoes 14 00 3 hats trims her own hats 11 00 Gloves 2 00 Waists 11 68 3 skirts 14 50 Corsets 4 35 Petticoats 2 95 Underwear 2 00 I losiery 4 00 Toilet articles 75 Umbrella 1 00 $95 03 STORE EMPLOYE 42 years of age widow wages $10 a week. Suit bought at sale $1O wears 4 years by dyeing and making it over. ... $3 00 Winter coat wears 4 years bought at sale $7 dyes and makes it over Summer hat Winter hat pair shoes .> 00 2 35 2 50 9 00 75 Repairing shoes Rubbers .......................... 75 Waists ........................... 3 00 Dresses ........................... 10 00 Hosiery at 19 cents a pair .......... 1 15 Corsets 38 cents bought at sale... 1 00 Petticoats ......................... 5 00 Incidentals ....................... 10 00 $51 50 STORE EMPLOYE 21 years of age wages $4.75 a week. Sweater $3 00 Winter coat $13.75 wears 2 years. . 7 00 2 hats $3 and $3.50 050 2 pair shoes 5 00 Repairing shoes 1 00 Rubbers 1 65 Summer waists 5 00 Summer dresses 10 00 Winter waists and dresses * . . . 10 00 Separate outside skirt . . 3 00 Corsets 2 00 Hosiery 15 cents a pair 75 Underwear 1 50 Petticoats 4 00 Handkerchiefs 1 20 Gloves 1 50 Incidentals 10 00 $73 10 STORE EMPLOYE 22 years of age wages $<; a week. Spring coat $14 wears 2 years.... $7 00 Winter coat $22.50 wears 3 years.. 8 00 3 or 4 hats ........................ 10 00 Shoes $2.50 or $3 a pair ............ 8 25 Rubbers .......................... 3 summer waists makes them ...... Winter dresses buys at sale ........ 7 00 3 corsets .......................... Corset covers makes them .......... 50 Underwear ........................ 1 00 Hosiery some given her ............ Separate outside skirt .............. 4 00 Petticoats ........................ 5 00 Incidentals 10 00 $68 15 Does most of her sewing. Says "I buy my clothes on time at installment houses $1 down and $1 a week. Cheaper than buying where I work even with my percentage off." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 135 SALESWOMAN 24 years of ago adrift- wages $5 a week. Suit $12 50 Winter coat wears 1 year then gives to younger sister 20 00 Hats 10 00 Shoes 12 00 Repairing shoes 50 Rubbers 1 50 Summer waists 10 00 Summer dresses 9 00 Winter dresses 10 00 Corsets 5 00 Corset covers 2 00 Petticoats 4 00 Hosiery 4 00 I'uderwear 3 75 Gloves 2 00 Nightgowns 2 00 Apron 1 00 Handkerchiefs 1 80 Separate outside skirt 12 00 Incidentals 5 00 $128 05 Kl'YER IN SUIT DEPARTMENT age 35 wages $20 a week with commission. Spring coat or suit $1G 50 Winter coat or suit 35 00 Winter hat 8 00 Summer hat 10 00 Shoes 7 00 Hosiery ^ 5 00 Summer dresses 25 00 Winter dresses 15 00 Summer waists 20 00 Corsets 5 00 Corset covers "5 00 Underwear 10 00 Outside skirts 25 00 Petticoats 15 00 Nightgowns 10 00 Gloves 5 00 Handkerchiefs 3 00 Incidentals 25 00 $244 50 SALESWOMAN 21 years of age adrift- wages $11 a week. Suit or coat every spring $15 00 Winter coat $20; wears 2 or 3 years 10 00 Hats 1C 00 Shoes 25 00 Summer wuists 5 00 Summer dresses 10 50 Winter dress- s 15 00 Petticoats 4 00 Corsets 10 00 Corset covers 3 00 Underwear some given her 3 00 Hosiery 800 Gloves 3 00 Aprons 1 50 Nightgowns 3 00 Incidentals 10 00 Sits up late nights sewing. $142 00 STORE EMPLOYE wages $6 a week. Winter coat $12.50 wears three years $4 10 Summer coat $4 wears 2 years. ... 2 00 Winter hats 5 50 Summer hats 3 50 Shoes 2 G9 Dresses 4 25 Hosiery 3 00 Separate skirt 4 25 Corsets 3 00 Gloves 3 00 Underwear none this year $35 35 STORK EMPLOYE wages $G a week. Spring coat or suit $21 wears 3 years Winter coat wears 3 or 4 seasons. Hats Shoes Repairing shoes Rubbers Hosiery < 'orsets Underwear Petticoats Summer waists and dresses! '.'.'.'.'.'. (Wear same waists in the winter.) <; loves Handkerchiefs ! . . . . Two separate skirts (outside).'! Incidentals ! '. | $74 15 TELEPHONE EMPLOYE 19 years of age adrift wages $10 per week. Spring coat or suit $16 50 Winter suit 17 50 Winter coat 9 5O Hats 14 HO Shoes 14 00 Repairing shoes GO Summer waists 7 00 Summer dress * 15 00 Winter drosses '. 34 00 Petticoats 4 00 Corsets 3 00 Corset covers 1 00 Hosiery 3 00 Underwear 6 50 Nightgowns 3 00 Handkerchiefs , 1 50 Gloves 3 50 Separate outside skirts 12 00 Incidentals 10 00 $ITG~IO 136 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON TELEPHONE EMPLOYE 20 years of age ' living at home wages $27 per month. Spring suit or coat $18 50 Winter coat given her ^ .... 2 hats $3.75 each sister milliner.. 7 50 Shoes (2 pair) 9 00 Rubbers 80 Summer waists 12 00 3 summer dresses sister gave her two 8 00 Winter dresses $20 and $7 27 00 Separate outside skirt '. . . . 5 00 Petticoats 5 00 Corsets 3 00 Corset covers 1 50 Hosiery 2 50 Underwear 4 60 Nightgowns 3 00 Handkerchiefs 3 00 Incidentals 10 00 $120 40 TELEPHONE EMPLOYE living at home age 18 years wages $25 per month. Spring suit or coat every other year $18 Winter coat wears 2 years, $9.75 bought it late Hats $4.50 and $3.50 Shoes Repairing shoes Rubbers 5 summer waists Summer dresses Separate outside skirts Dresses for winter $10 and $15 . . . Petticoats Corsets 3 combinations Underwear Hosiery . . . . Gloves Nightgowns Incidentals $9 00 5 00 8 00 14 00 1 95 1 30 6 50 10 50 5 00 25 00 3 00 00 50 50 5 00 3 00 3 00 10 00 Handkerchiefs are given to her. $121 25 LAUNDRY EMPLOYE living at wages $5 a week. home Hat (trimmed over) $2,50 Shoes . 10 50 Hosiery 10 00 Underclothes 11 00 Winter coat 15 00 Winter hat. 3 50 Dresses 18 00 Soft skirt 5 00 Waists 5 00 Gloves 3 00 Corsets 3 00 Petticoats 4 39 $90 89 LAUNDRY EMPLOYE 35 years of age-- adrift wages $7 a week. Winter coat every 2 years $5 (Got it through a mail order house in Chicago.) Spring coat second hand $2 Summer hats wore 3 summers $2 .... Winter hats 2 winters $2 Summer waists given her this year.. Dress Petticoat given her by relatives.... Corsets Winter dresses wear suit skirt and summer waists Shoes (2 pair) $1 a pair Underwear given her Incidentals $2 50 2 00 75 1 00 i'98 i'oo 2 00 $11 23 LAUNDRY EMPLOYE 45 years of age home wages $10 a week. 5 calico dresses $1.25 each 2 shirt waists $1 and $1.98 will last 2 years 1 50 Suit $11 wears 2 years 00 Separate outside skirt have had 3 or 4 years, $5 1 50 Dressing sack 1 00 Winter dress had 2 years, wear another year cost $10 3 50 Winter coat had it 4 or 5 years wear to work next year $35 7 00 Hats $5 took trimming off and put on last summers hat wear 2 years. 3 00 Shoes $2.50 and $2 4 50 Petticoat make over 1 98 Hosiery wear daughter's old ones and get her new ones 1 90 2 union suits wears 2 or 3 years. . . . Underwear summer 87 Gloves 1 00 Nightgowns 1 00 Handkerchiefs given her LAUNDRY EMPLOYE 20 years of age adrift wages $6.25 a week. $6 25 Suit every 2 or 3 years $22.50 $12 00 Winter coat wears 2 years $20 10 00 2 hats $4 and $.98 trimmed it her- self 4 98 Shoes (2 pair) / 4 00 Hosiery Summer a GO 6 00 ler waists Winter waists and dresses wears them several years Corsets 3 O 1 Corset covers Petticoats Underwear wears 3 years Nightgowns 1 90 Gloves given her Handkerchiefs given her . Incidentals 30' $60 44 Pays $1 down and $1 per week on her clothes always in debt owes $17 now. $41 95 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 137 LAUNDRY WORKER 32 years of age $6.72 for 5 days' work. Spring coat $9 wears 2 years $4 50 Winter coat $15 wears 2 years or more 7 00 Summer waists 4 00 Summer dresses 1 given her 4 00 Winter dress 8 00 2 separate skirts 10 00 2 hats 10 00 4 pair shoes 11 50 Repairing shoes 75 Rubbers 75 Underwear 3 00 Corsets 1 50 Hosiery 2 00 Petticoats 4 00 Gloves given her Incidentals 10 00 $81 00 CIGAR FACTORY EMPLOYE age 36 married wages $8 a week. Spring suit every other year $25 $12 00 Winter coat 12 50 Hats 10 00 Shoes 8 00 Repairing shoes 1 00 Rubbers 1 50 Hosiery 2 00 Petticoats 7 00 Separate outside skirt 5 00 Aprons 1 00 Summer waists 6 00 Dresses 17 50 Winter dress 7 00 Corset waists 2 00 Underwear and nightgowns 9 50 Gloves 2 50 Handkerchiefs 2 00 Incidentals 10 00 $117 00 CORE-MAKER age 25 home wages $9 a week. Spring coat $8 00 Spring dress 11 00 Shoes 12 00 Winter coat 8 00 Dress 5 00 Waists 4 00 Hats , 12 00 Corsets 4 00 Hosiery 5 00 Petticoats 4 00 Underwear 7 00 Incidentals 5 00 $85 00 CORE-MAKER age 22 boards at brother's pays $3.50 wages $10.45. Suit $15 00 Winter coat 18 00 Furs 20 00 Hats 12 00 Dresses 30 00 Skirts 15 00 Waists $3.50 and $1.75 5 25 2 work dresses 2 00 4 suits underwear 8 00 4 pair corsets 4 00 2 petticoats $6.50 and $5 11 50 Shoes 20 00 Hosiery 8 00 Gloves 2 00 Incidentals 10 00 $180 75 CORE-MAKER 47 years of age adrift- wages $5.40 a week. Shoes 1 pair $3 00 Rppair shoes 75 Hals trims them over each year.... 7 00 Summer waists 5 00 Summer dress makes own 30 Winter dress 10 00 Aprons 2 00 Hosiery 1 50 Corsets 1 50 Underwear winter 50 Underwear summer 50 Gloves 1 50 Winter coat $24, wears 3 years. ... 8 00 Spring coat had it made 9 00 Incidentals 10 00 Rubbers 1 50 Handkerchiefs 1 80 $63 85 CORE-MAKER 47 years of age week. -$6 full Hasn't had a new suit or coat in 4 years Hats $5 00 2 pair shoes 6 50 Rubbers 1 50 Hosiery 1 50 Dresses and waists 15 00 Aprons 2 00 Petticoats 2 50 Separate outside skirt 8 00 Underwear 4 00 Corsets 3 00 Gloves 2 50 Incidentals 5 00 $56 50 138 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Spring suit or coat every year ...... $20 00 Winter coat wears 2 years ........ 7 50 Hats 13 00 FACTORY EMPLOYE wages $6.50 a week. FACTORY EMPLOYE wages $10 a week. Spring suit about every other year $20 $10 00 Winter coat, wears from 2 to 3 years $25 8 50 Hats 10 00 Shoes 6 00 Repairing shoes 00 Rubbers 80 Hosiery 2 25 Knit underwear winter 1 50 Summer underwear 2 52 Petticoats 3 50 Summer waists and dresses 22 50 Winter waists and dresses 18 00 Aprons 1 50 Gloves 3 00 Nightgowns 2 25 Handkerchiefs 7T> Corsets (2) 2 00 Corset covers 3 00 Separate skirts 5 00 Incidentals 5 00 Shoes 9 Repairing shoes 2 25 Rubbers 75 Hosiery 6 00 Knit underwear 3 50 Corsets 2 00 Corset covers 2 00 Nightgowns 3 00 Petticoats 2 50 Gloves 2 50 Handkerchiefs 2 00 Summer waists and dresses 10 00 Winter waists and dresses 7 00 Aprons 2 00 Separate outside skirts 3 00 Incidentals . . 10 00 $108 00 $108 67 Does some of her own plain sewing. PART IV. WAGE FIGURES SUPPLIED BY EMPLOYEES. During this investigation into the practicability and advisability of recommending a minimum wage for Michigan wage-earning women, the Commission has yet to record the absolute refusal of any employer to furnish any information requested. In great part employers act with commendable speed in forwarding properly filled blanks. A con- siderable number supplemented their reports with suggestions in aid of the investigation. Others showed a cordiality that made the Com- mission feel that the problem had many friendly investigators among employers. The Commission sent approximately 1,750 employers' blanks to as many establishments supposedly employing ten or more women wage- earners. Owing to the business depression the past year, a number requested the privilege of waiting until they were employing a normal force, but which did not materialize. Others were closed down, finding it more economical to do nothing rather than to do little, or had been put out of business by a change of fashions, as in the case of skirt makers. A few w r ere neglectful of their duty to the State. Notwithstanding these misfortunes and omissions, there were respon- ses from 1,348 establishments employing daily on the average 50,351 wage-earning women, and paying wages in some cases as low as $3 per week. In most instances, however, this low wage went to apprentices and beginners, and to those under 16 years of age. In the matter of apprentices, as will be seen by the following figures, the average weekly pay was |4.44. This is the only case, in these particular tables, in which an "average" wage is used. As an "average". conceals as much as it reveals, employers were requested to, and did send in, the actual wnges paid to i:> waj;e -receiving 1 classes, ranging from less than f3 to *1 I and over, per week. This renders it easy to see how many are being pjiid under, and how many are receiving over, whatever may hereafter be considered a "living wage." 140 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON MINIMUM WAGE NOT SPECIFIED. The Commission has nowhere in this, report undertaken to say just what a "minimum wage," or a "living wage,' 7 or a "just wage" should or may be. This was not one of the duties assigned it. A right de- cision can only be reached after close investigation of each occupation or industry, independent of all other occupations or industries. At most, these tabulations indicate the number receiving below and the number receiving above what might be termed a "median" wage line, the median line varying with trade conditions, environment, the habits of the wage- earners and the cost of living. If this median line be placed at an $8 a week wage, say, the figures furnished by employers show that 51.4 per cent of the women in their employ receive less than this sum. If a self-supporting woman cannot live on less than $8 a week, then half of the women in Michigan working for a living are not receiving a wage sufficient to feed, clothe, shelter, educate and amuse them. If a f 6 a week line is made the median for the 50,230 wage-earning women whose wages were reported, there are 10,898, or 21.7 per cent working for less than a dollar a day, so that in no event can their wages exceed $311 a year, unless they work Sundays, Fourth of July and Christmas. OBJECTIONS TO DRASTIC LEGISLATION. With every fifth woman wage-earner on this low wage plane, the prob- lems that would develop should a minimum wage be adopted become apparent. To suddenly demand that 21.7 per cent of all women wage- earners be paid an advance of 33 per cent in wages, as would be neces- sary should $8 a week be adopted as a minimum wage, without pro- vision being made for beginners and apprentices, would seriously dis- turb the present industrial equilibrium. But the fact is that this low wage does, in the main, go to beginners and apprentices, two classes of which any proper minimum wage law will take cognizance, in al- lowing them to be paid somewhere between 50 and 80 per cent of the minimum wage. These figures are mentioned not as advising or suggesting what a minimum wage might be, but simply as showing some of the difficulties in the way of legislation aiming to materially financially benefit any considerable number of women wage-earners. Still, the difficulty of solving a problem in no wise diminishes the duty of solving it. If women are to be protected from exploitation, providing they are exploited, or their health or morals safeguarded, the State should be brave enough and honest enough to do whatever the situation demands. The necessity of suppressing the sources of the Commission's infor- mation as to wages, in order to keep faith with employers filling blanks, MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 141 has compelled tabulation by occupations separate from locations, and by locations separate from occupations. Otherwise, where there is but one industry of a certain kind in a locality, to tabulate the place and the industry together would be to tell what establishment had furnished the information. These establishments are located in 159 cities, towns and villages and represent close to 200 occupations. The tables show remarkable diversity of employments and as well the fact that they are scattered all through the State. And although 25,392, or half, of these 50,351 wage-earning women are employed in 297 establishments in Detroit and 4,556 of them in 93 establishments in Grand Rapids, the other 1,058 establishments represent the commercial activities of 157 large and small business centers. ACTUAL MINIMUM WAGE NOT REVEALED. It is possible that in these tabulations the wages paid in small places, where the cost of living is low as compared to the large cities, has pulled down the average wage. The Commission has not followed to any ex- tent this line of investigation. It may be said, however, that whereas 51.4 per cent of these 50,230 wage-earning women scattered throughout the entire State receive less than f 8 a week, in Detroit only 42 per cent of the 25,392 employed there, receive this sum; and whereas for the whole State 21.7 per cent of wage-earning women represented in these tabula- tions receive less than |6 a week, for Detroit only 15 per cent receive this wage. While the following tabulations are conclusive as to the maximum paid these 50,230 women wage-earners, they are not conclusive as to the minimum. For comparatively few of these women worked 52 weeks in the year. Just what deduction should be made in order to show the actual amount each woman wage-earner has to live on each week, is treated of in another part of this report. The employers' blanks threw no light on this important question. 142 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON i & aaoid aq^ Xg 3 oT .ioS" ~" SS r jS q^uora aq^ Xg ; 2 i s "~ ss i r ss jjjjj r s ! IT y* ,^ 33 ,y | ,5, - coco -O - -OS : : : :* : :*:::: : : : : : : : -ro'^qmnN S ~ : *-" :'::*- : l : : 1 : : I I : : I : I J3AO pUB ^J$ t-- CO eo" t.KCMrHO, ; . - ;OrHCOrH ; . . . CO . . rH . .pon^l,. :- : !rn cc : :^^ joornrn : : : : ^^*> : : japun PUB g|$ a el'rH '66 '8$ japun puB g$ S IO * 'CO^ -i-H C CO rH t~ tO Ifi -1-H -COt^lO rH .rH tt-tt-p.il i : irn : : : : : : rH N : : : : ^N : : : : : A[iBp paXojduia nauioM jaqranu aSBjaAy 3 g S S !l^iJ3 "-gSSS^^S*' -2|S^V2-??2- .,,*, ,o T%Z K 5 rH rH IM O -^ rH rH rH rH 1 ENTIRE STATE : ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ o : :o :^co^^ :- : " iS^ :^ g : : f j M 2 . M S : ... :g : :S :S : :^s :o CO tO CO r-H i-l -CCIMTt* -SO -5O .*, . $ : ^H f- 00<-l * ^H IM O *- 1 fcft 2 :g :-" C -00 CO -to .rt< . -H .CO -cc-^c s s^ -s co cog. N- ,.,. ^ ; " :--= ^ >O u : i.| 1 l|i M Jfri bi 1. j 1 8 1 ^ : g H.^rf 1-M REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON under Jars of How employed, ge. ooaid aq) % I ; ; is" ;l ; ; : ;gs : ; ; : g i i i i i i ! ; ; ;s s jnoq aq^ Ag *ABD aui Xcr iiitg]; [hriB iiiij |s iih apa* aqj A*g sa fs , , S2 ^p^ -, r ^ j^y q!uora aq? A"g aSBAV aSBJOAy S :S : : : f3 gg : : 2S : : 'S^S : : ^ : ^ : 5! M : : : 3 : : : : : :g : : :8 : : . . . . ... : : : :8 :::::::: Girls Wages paid per week. 16 y a paA"oid -ma jaqoin^[ J8AO pUB fl$ 66*811 Japan PUB gj$ 10 '. '. '. '. '. '. ^ rt ; '. '. * ! ; ; rH Cl ' '2 japan paB ZI j japan puB jj CO -i-l >C -CC CO i-l O5OCO (MiC O ' -i-i TH ieM I to -b- japan paB 61 OO i ( a I jj-i- O5 -t^ japan paB gf JH j a 0^^ -g^^- :^5S : : :^ :S * 2^2- japun PUB i$ ^COrHC^OO CD(MrJ< TtHWOlOCO OO T-I W TH CO (M -ootog : j -^-o -" tO it^T-H japan puB 9$ t- -C t^ CO CO -* IM CO O5 ^ CO i 1 C- japan puB $$ s s-ss j- ss js*s i j i" !- i- 3:S japan puB g$ t-co : <# : : m O COCO CO i-l eO O5 H 1 ^H rH i '-0 CO i-< CO i-l CO CO -OS COOO -CO . So JSJ -i-~ 10 co co 'r - is HI i j H c. ieo^OJ 'I-H 1-1 -i-i.coeo . ,_! .^-1 . CO 1-1 s S^ :~ :SS"- * s . ||, -- ; : | |- 2 i s=0 " i s ; ""- 8 ;" l! S'Sg * a -|- w - R . r ' s ;S 1 i j 00 -iO5"5O ieo CO -t^CO 'I-H si:i l|l 050 eo eo co ~H CO coOos i * -^^ """cU^S ' ' 1-1 "co2eO 'iO CO ^ C0 1-1 1- l|| a** a- c |SB- =* r 2 i" 8 " s i" i "" ^ t^oooos co co t^ os r eo es co eoq 1-1 co t- ill S- : S2 a- r i-H i CO COrH CO TH . . ... co cooo.050 ^i-i>o : a ; h= ^i' *5* cf " eo 5f| ?*s -.^< eeco Cj'-i'-^.COi-i C-IO5. CO kC 8* JOCOCO. CO . 1-1 CO -< Tf I-H i =P.^ ^ir mber daily emploj rage data were gn his corporation sa .-. ss ,- ,- 6 (MCOO ^^COrH^^^ClrH iC I-H I-H eo t--- ^H I-H 1-1 eOi- 2 S ill? ! ^g'sf dS-gw (g-STl rtlliisil fcj^s 'lllSsllll Illl || ill! I Ig^ r !l 3 19 140 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 35. WHAT 1,348 ESTABLISHMENTS IN MICHIGAN ARE PAYING 50,230 FROM Industry. Number of establish- ments. Average number women employed daily. Wages paid per week. Under $2.99. $3 and under $3.99. $4 and under $4.99. $5 and under $5.99. $6 and under $6.99. $7 and under $7.99. $8 and under $8.99. ENTIRE STATE 1,348 *50,351 690 1,172 2,986 6,050 8,025 6,887 6,465 Agricultural implements Adding machines Automobiles Automobile painting and trimming Automobile accessories Automobile tops 2 1 22 2 14 2 1 2 1 7 2 1 1 6 5 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 12 13 1 1 1 1 1 26 4 1 1 1 9 1 1 1 4 3 1 1 3 1 11 5 1 2 1 1 14 5 19 434 1,449 73 5 87 97 15 35 10 247 34 8 3 157 336 44 34 46 25 26 30 12 17 34 1,013 506 22 11 15" 19 45 4,783 173 33 18 6 2,251 68 49 15 70 55 52 51 20 67 36 1,443 160 24 24 7 10 397 153 3 51 22 3 57 7 12 7 2 12 4 64 71 4 89 7 1 4 1 24 9 6 6 4 4 1 y 36 11 "'ei' 5 Air rifles .... Awnings, tents, flags, pennants, etc Assembling fountain pens Baked goods 5 A "'43' 25 '"(>' "'9' 2 "'65' ft "'25' 8 2 2 2 64 4 2 "'24' 64 7 13 1 5 1 10 4 y 163 86 5 6 9 Box shooks Boats 1 "26 46 6 "'4 1 1 Band instruments Bras" goods i 21 - 95 4 5 26 8 10 2 2 5 144 60 7 Breakfast foods Brushes Baskets Brewing malt liquors and ginger ale Buffing wheels , Brooms Billiard tables, etc Baby carriages 2 76 21 9 6 98 148 4 8 2 ii 157 97 2 '"id 11 377 17 .... 1 63 46 2 Butcher saws, etc, Boots, woolen v Canned and pickled goods Confectionery Catarrhal remedies Chemical paper and pulp Coin wrappers Corrugated paper Carpet sweepers Cigars Cigar boxes 140 '"246" !"!'.!" i '"219 247' 3 19 3 7 368 25 1 5 "/321 '"is 8 455 43 2 432 47 "'4' 2 455 1 3 Computing scales Capsules Caps Corsets Cleaning materials Car locks and seals 1 4 2 394 8 5 15 43 1 9 14 4 14 16 151 20 5 2 "'si' 20 19 47 145 15 6 1 262 9 12 1 16 8 16 8 270 33 2 1 "'87' 11 Condensed milk Cleaning and dyeing Caskets and burial goods Children's vehicles and wire specialties . . Draperies and window shades Dairy products and ice cream Display fixtures Drugs, chemicals and perfumes Electrical supplies Electrical distribution Extracts, perfumes, etc Evaporating apples Electric vacuum cleaners Furniture Foundry products 7 7 5 8 4 13 8 468 26 2 5 2 9 42 30 5 14 4 8 5 2 1 232 17 3 3 1 '"83 13 1 . "'is' "'33' 5 2 "'g 4 *While 50,351 is the average number daily employed in 1,348 establishments, this does not in each case show the number information covering wages received by its piece-workers. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 147 WAGE-EARNING WOMEN FOLLOWING 197 OCCUPATIONS, AS SHOWN BY RETM!\s EMPLOYERS. Wages paid per week. Girls under 16 years of age. How employed. $9 and under $9.99. $10 and under $10.99. $11 and under $11.99. $12 and under $12.99. $13 and under $13.99. $14 and over. Number em- ployed. Average wage. By the month. By the week. By the day. By the hour. By the piece. 4,851 4,273 2,092 2,224 1,168 3,347 1,133 $444 3,929 15,399 2,232 9,508 19,554 2 59 95 8 91 5 2 75 174 24 35 4 2 63 97 8 47 1 4 46 154 7 54 3 1 2 '"23 219 13 59 2 2 53 696 6 115 11 1 1 1 4 1 7 12 271 "! 41 6 15 15 10 108 ..... 3 43 70 " ' 159 305 47 344 30 4 443 19 144 62 679 2 90 3 2 13 2 11 "'i' '"s 35 7 1 1 1 3 2 > 14 2 2 2 $5 00 20 3 6 1 2 1 11 4 47 5 2 37 28 102 2 16 51 '"5 16 '"6 "'ii' '"59 264 15 '"38 2 29 21 9 6 2 11 16 12 3 5 50 13 4 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 46 5 20 26 18 7 12 14 636 225 2 1 6 6 6 1 20 224 175 4 1 10 72 16 2 "'i' 2 2 461 8 5 1 238 8 11 2 6 22 10 1 "'' 7 4 1 "'a' 10 2 1 5 1 1 1 352 2 9 2 1 42 8 "'4' 43 106 22 5 13 4 3 1 "'62' 12 10 "'3'02' (a) 4 30 3 55 5 6 3 19 6 6 10 695 7 4 1 2 354 1 1 1 1 317 2 5 1 209 1 8 16 47 15 29 4,308 143 346 26 3 85 4 65 315 17 33 5 6 92 62 "'si 2 "'6'23' (a) 14 190 3 7 69 3 1 47 3 6 23 4 1 667 12 4 1,493 5 45 51 15 1 37 19 '"9 7 6 1 6' 3 73 10 4 2 "'36' 20 "Y i 2 2 6 2 6 40 14 12 10 45 6 22 2 10 14 2 4 4 6 49 1 1 "'56' 3 1 5 20 67 6 220 28 7 3 ,"i56' 10 7 1 35 12 ...... 30 651 49 40 8 2 2 27 7 3 1 43 6 2 23 5 18 125 6 24 1 547 66 1 13 10 7 '"m 100 "'25' 14 "'is' 15 "'5' 1 10 "'167' 25 23 14 1 4 ft 37 18 80 11 148 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 35. WHAT 1,348 ESTABLISHMENTS IN MICHIGAN ARE PAYING 50,230 FROM Industry. 8 it ^ Average number women employed daily. Wages paid per week. Under $2.99. $3 and under $3.99. $4 and under $4.99. $5 and under $5.99. $6 and under $6.99. $7 and under $7.99. $8 and under $8.99. Fur and fur goods 12 1 1 1 3 17 32 5 2 1 2 1 1 22 83 2 3 1 1 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 1 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 32 2 14 16 2 1 1 419 26 51 21 36 107 130 30 174 11 50 24 35 6 2,427 1,879 118 65 10 5 23 77 50 14 2,053 2,755 124 55 2 4 100 37 55 93 10 11 29 15 123 60 20 85 180 85 78 7 13 27 20 299 155 35 27 75 809 15 611 833 62 27 201 10 30 3 61 3 47 65 6 41 8 Fishing tackle Fertilizer and glue Fire alarm and night-watch office Fruit packages 9 6 37 21 1 17 6 4 7 1 1 290 197 15 13 2 1 1 6 "'383' 634 9 9 9 12 19 1 3 23 8 6 5 3 17 5 8 1 208 195 22 4 3 1 2 1 20 3 477 694 84 6 Fly paper . . Featherbone, dress stays, etc 1 3 3 5 8 13 4 Folding crates Gas and by-products 2 33 5 1 Gelatine Gloves and mittens Glass 1 1 ""& 7 3 10 8 8 10 4 137 197 15 Growing peas Gum '"546 174 12 9 74 9 83 34 97 85 4 Garments (women's::::::::::::::::: Hardware and plumbers' supplies Heating and ventilating apparatus Hooks and eyes 3 Harness Hair goods 1 3 5 2 1 13 23 Insurance office Insulated wire and cables Jewelry 13 '"3 266 390 5 15 Knit goods 31 6 50 17 128 83 296 422 21 1 2 1 19 1 4 3 Laundries Lithographing Leather gloves 1 Leather specialties Lace curtains 1 19 4 20 5 4 7 4 4 12 12 8 29 29 3 3 3 4 3 57 30 4 4 10 114 10 140 165 7 11 16 '"& 10 9 11 2 5 '"i2 Mail order house Metal beds and bedding 9 Metal specialties 9 7 3 Metal pant buttons Moccasins Macaroni and allied products y 1 2 3 18 2 1 7 16 14 4 20 9 3 5 Mining Metal stamps Muslin underwear and waists Matches ... 21 2 13 12 7 3 13 4 4 12 11 6 11 2 4 3 .35 Malleable iron fittings Malleable iron castings '"2 1 y 1 Millinery Machinery ' Motors and engines Magnets and spark coils Mandolins and guitars Neckwear 3 5 43 28 13 4 5 1 51 12 6 3 "'125' Oiling devices Office supplies. , "'35' 15 26 45 24 Picking beans Printing counter sale pads . 5 2 57 114 Pearl buttons 3 5 Picture frames, etc Printing, binding, etc Plant growing 8 31 63 Paper boxes, etc Paper "V 5 3 75 18 162 24 30 4 15 91 129 9 77 301 7 4 25 Pins, chapleta and nails 2 Petticoats and pants 20 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 149 WAGE-EARNING WOMEN FOLLOWING 197 OCCUPATIONS, AS SHOWN BY RETURNS EMPLOYERS. Continued. Wages paid per week. Girls under 16 years of age. How employed. $9 and under $9.99. $10 and under $10.99. $11 and under $11.99. $12 and under $12.99. $13 and under $13.99. $14 and over. Number em- ployed. Average wage. By the month. By the week. By the day. By the hour. By the piece. 26 2 "'i' 19 9 25 55 23 2 40 2 1 31 1 2 ...... 37 '"2 1 5 $5 48 17 84 26 36 144 138 1 4 47 1 21 4 12 16 80 34 21 116 25 3 17 5 9 4 1 1 4 14 1 5 00 5 28 3 20 2 18 1 13 1 25 174 1 10 7 3 '"24 38 '"35 '"e 182 593 43 23 2 5 23 1 300 178 20 9 1 1 11 10 2 3 157 236 2 7 227 148 10 2 1 150 90 1 4 115 70 2 12 76 28 4 1 154 64 14 10 16 18 2 30 4 20 7 3 1 17 31 121 66 7 18 2,130 (b) 1,171 66 21 7 1 1 2 3 6 1 2 98 141 "'5' 2 8 2 "'2' '"12 21 ..... 10 76 4 9 1 46 3 412 602 122 2 2 77 47 1 9 "'45' 65 1 27 58 2 1 "'25' 21 '"2 "Vn 5 20 '"(a)' 1 195 1,839 2 6 1 238 334 1,201 39 47 2 5 12 8 9 y 5 5 21 3 4 ..... 1 y 2 8 '"96 12 "'i' 1 1 2 5 3 '"16 '"e 1 25 24 24 70 3 3 '"8 :::. i : '"5 50 6 5 1 '"i? 5 7 :::::::: 1 1 1 2 9 29 1 11 4 5 18 12 2 12 4 2 2 3 15 ' 'ii 15 15 20 5 12 14 10 5 '"97 40 14 57 65 22 '"4 14 2 4 8 61 6 7 3 "'a' 7 2 4 18 4 15 6 i i 3 3 i (a) 17 100 17 4 22 24 3 i 4 36 69 10 14 10 3 1 1 1 2 20 2 "'i' 9 3 6 1 4 12 7 9 2 "'5' 197 20 15 H3 155 12 23 6 114 4 47 3 3 4 77 27 151 4 ' 36' 2 1 ..... '"l7 2 V 4 2 "'9' '"2 4 92 "'e' 13 513 '"e'oo 4 55 3 20 "'67' 224 3 2 14 10 14 17 1 2 1 "'si' 16 10 1 g 28 "'2.3' 1 8 5 3 "'25 "'si' 4 8 "'l9' 411 3 220 61 '"4 5 66 6 8 1 2 8 43 7 5 4 80 6 79 7 00 '"123 155 208 38 "'e' 226 424 23 20 190 (a) No wages giveii. (b) No wages given for 392 piece-workers. 150 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 35. WHAT 1,348 ESTABLISHMENTS IN MICHIGAN ARE PAYING 50,230 FROM Industry. Number of establish- ments. Average number women employed daily. Wages paid per week. Under $2.99. $3 and under 53.99. $4 and under $4.99, $5 and under $5.99. $6 and under $6.99. $7 and under $7.99. $8 and under $8.99. Paints, enamels, varnish, etc Railway wrecking devices and cranes . . . Razor strops 3 68 12 4 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 48 1 1 1 1 4 2 2 2 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 167 14 25 179 41 17 29 9,325 87 19 169 18 93 . 29 8 85 6 870 189 24 79 732 807 14 118 19 3,945 10 280 30 38 3 1,225 59 73 152 23 20 30 41 13 60 65 13 43 20 9 24 373 17 22 53 20 88 70 23 49 20 33 19 1 3 34 9 '"2 1,184 21 5 26 3 23 7 8 1 109 79 2 16 126 74 6 22 "'302' 1 30 4 7 "'ios' 22 3 26 6 5 1 5 1 1 11 5 11 ..... 51 1 "'26' 29 "'289' 14 10 4 2 "657' ..... 46 7 "ii? 5 3 37 2 10 946 11 5 24 15 ... 1,276 18 4 34 2 1 1 1,186 10 3 11 2 8 '"i 4 '"82 19 1 13 142 19 '"8 '"750 '"29 1 9 " ' 148 9 4 27 8 3 - 6 1 Rules, etc Railway and electrical goods Reclining chairs \ Rupture appliances Stores Salt Silos Shade rollers 25 3 "'is' 43 "'ioe' 11 26 10 42 7 15 1 114 8 Screen doors and windows Spectacles, eye glasses and mountings. . . Soda ash .* Shears . Spark plugs and porcelains Suspenders and belts Shoes Stationery and envelopes "-ii "'i? 5 2 "'36 Stoves, ranges and furnaces Sheet copper and steel metal Silk thread and fabrics Seed growing 3 52 112 12 102 93 21 92 406 Sugar Shell, felt and leather novelties Salt and lumber Telephone exchanges 48 4 466 "'98' 10 "'382' 1 45 9 6 "'22' "'29' 17 28 7 641 1 57 10 4 284 1 12 21 ..... y " V 21 2 7 20 '"si 196 i 1 "g* "'ii' ""i "'99' "'2' "'23' "'275' "'27 2 "'90' 1 Tailoring Tin cans Trunks, bags and cases Typewriters Tire reinforcements Tobacco Toilet articles Toothpicks Uniforms Upholstering Upholstered rockers . . . j. . . Vehicles Veneer panels and flooring Wholesale meats and meat products .... Washboards and wood split pulleys Watch cases Wire and iron products Wall finish etc ""\1 6 2 1 '"7 '"7 2 5 B 1 1 12 1 Wood pulp "3" "'5' 18 4 '"ii "'2' 9 7 92 2 2 17 20 10 3 Wooden tubs and pails Wooden ware Wooden specialties , . . Wholesale drygoods Wire cloth Wiping cloths and waste Woolen cloth : Woolen cloth and garments Woolen yarn spinners 17 19 12 17 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 151 \vu;i:-i: YKXING WOMEN FOLLOWING 197 OCCUPATIONS, AS SHOWN BY RETURNS I : Si I'LOYERS. Concluded. \\ ;ues paid per week. Girls under 16 years of age. How employed. .*> an.l under ?9.99. $10 and under $10.99. $11 and under $11.99. $12 and under $12.99. $13 and under $13.99. $14 and over. Number em- ployed. Average ' wage. By the month. By the week. By the day. By the hour. By the piece. 17 3 > 7 11 1 '866 7 1 10 13 2 7 1 12 2 10 15 4 6 $592 :> 14 159 7 4 '"9 131 '"ie 14 3 2 915 3 2 4 ..... ..... 280 3 5 1 1 1 1 546 o 2 3 8 "'4i 5 29 7,754 18 18 3 18 93 19 40 1 1 132 "3 1 "'4'lte' (a) 12 '"26 69 2 1,006 12 2 1 277 1 "'751' "'527' 280 1 3 6 5 54 44 119 11 3 86 41 4 6 62 58 '"6 "'52i' 1 21 7 "56 5 4 26 2 3 2 '"2 5 '""' 5 1 2 7 5 20 4 2 4 12 2 7 37 5 50 '"io 6 8 "Y 165 7 16 232 125 '"3 538 147 50 481 252 a "'06' 20 I j 51 12 ""2" 1 421 3 9 1 . 4 "'4i' 5 4 12 "'e' 5 2 2 "'4' 1 1 1 1 . 85 1 159 13 15 3 33 7 1 45 2 3 30 1 3 1 8 2 41 3 8 3 5 12 2 15 4 2 9 5 70 5 00 5 40 5 95 4 32 '"29 '"9 13 8 ... 30 5 1 262 3 8 7 9 6 3 3 117 1 3 9 430 '"23 '"(>' 5 "2;043' 95 4 2 32 1 49 "'is' "'6'97' 10 1,898 5 10 3 6 14 60 10 29 216 20 7 2 3 50 1 1 32 1 4 "53 3 1 5 "*24 1 2 2 17 3 11 2 9 l 3 263 32 2 33 4 54 5 66 113 " 17; 883 19 27 87 14 14 8 12 '"is 32 5 4 3 23 3 500 12 "Y i 1 2 6 2 1 1 2 6 2 5 2 18 13 "'4' 8 2 "3 5 33 2 58 37 28 4 16 15 ' 3 2 24 7 5 3 5 9 6 18 259 12 1 3 5 34 1 1 80 4 3 3 * 6 21 10 "'42' 6 14 16 7 14 8 5 3 2 1 3 30 42 69 18 4 5 152 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON WAGE RECAPITULATION OF EMPLOYERS 7 RETURNS. 690, or 1.4%, receive less than |3 per week. 1,172, or 2.3%, receive |3 to $3.99 per week. - 1,862, or 3.7%, receive less than $4 per week. 2,986, or 5.9%, receive $4 to $4.99 per week. - 4,848, or 9.6%, receive less than $5 per week. 6,050, or 12%, receive $5 to $5.99 per week. 10,898, or 21.7%, receive less than $6 per week. 8,025, or 16%, receive $6 to $6.99 per week. 18,923, or 37.6%, receive less than $7 per week. 6,887, or 13.7%, receive $7 to $7.99 per week. 25,810, or 51.4%, receive less than $8 per week. 6,465, or 12.8%, receive $8 to $8.99 per week. - 32,275, or 64.2%, receive less than $9 per week. 4,851, or 9.7%, receive $9 to $9.99 per week. - 37,126, or 73.9%, receive less than $10 per week. 4,273, or 8.5%, receive $10 to $10.99 per week. - 41,399, or 82.4%, receive less than $11 per week. 2,092, or 4.2%, receive $11 to $11.99 per week. - 43,491, or 86.5%, receive less than $12 per week. 2,224, or 4.4%, receive $12 to $12.99 per week. - 45,715, or 91.1%, receive less than $13 per week. 1,168, or 2.3%, receive $13 to $13.99 per week. - 46,883, or 93.3%, receive less than $14 per week. 3,347, or 6.7%, receive $14 per week and over. Table No. 30. EMPLOYERS' METHODS OF EMPLOYMENT BY NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE, OF 50,622 WAGE- EARNING WOMEN. How employed. Number. Per cent. By the month . . 3 929 7 8 By the week 15 399 30 4 By the day 2,232 4.4 By the hour . . 9 508 18 8 By the piece 19,554 38 6 Total . 50 622 100.0 NOTE. For opinions of individual employers on the advisability or practicability of a minimum wage law, see appendix "G." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 153 WAGES PAID 50,230 WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS, AS SHOWN BY FIGURES SUPPLIED BY 1,348 ESTABLISHMENTS. / 0,898 W-.9I2 or or 21.7 29. 7 gre are paid between and ^8 her paid less I ji 6 her wee A 24. 420 or are er pa week and oven 690 or ,172 or ,986 or ,050 or ;,025 or or ,465 or ,851 or T3or :,092 or 2,224 or L,1G8 or 3,347 or 1.4 per cent receive less than $3 per week. 2.3 per cent receive $3 to $3.99 per week. 5.9 per cent receive $4 to $4.99 per week. 12.0 per cent receive $5 to $5.99 per week. 16.0 per cent receive $6 to $6.99 per week. 13.7 per cent receive $7 to $7.99 per week. 12.8 per cent receive $8 to $8.99 per week. 9.7 per cent receive $9 to $9.99 per week. 8.5 per cent receive $10 to $10.99 per week. 4.2 per cent receive $11 to $11.99 per week. 4.4 per cent receive $12 to $12.99 per week. 2.3 per cent receive $13 to $13.99 per week. 6.7 per cent receive $14 and over per week. PART V. INVESTIGATION OF PAY KOLLS. Early in the investigation of the Minimum Wage inquiry the question arose as to the accuracy of the figures given to the Commission's in- vestigators by the wage-earning, women being interrogated. To set this matter at rest it was thought best to obtain the complete pay rolls for a year, of several establishments employing a considerable number of women, especially as the blanks sent in by employers did not give the yearly wages of each particular employe, but only the wages for an average week. It did not tell whether employes worked full time or only part of the time, and it gave no hint of the fact of the remarkable shift- ing of employments by wage-earning women of which the investigation was already giving hints and which the pay rolls more fully disclosed. These pay rolls involved the copying of something like 23,945 weekly accounts with 2,509 employes, working at different rates and under different systems. And as no two methods of bookkeeping were similar, the expense and work involved was more than had been anticipated. However, the facts obtained have been worth the trouble in settling to the satisfaction of the Commission that the women being interrogated were striving hard to tell the exact truth; and that while in some in- stances memory was at fault, by careful work on the part of the investi- gator marked discrepancies could be obviated. To be still more sure that the figures given by the women interrogated were substantially correct, the investigators in some instances compared wage-earning women's figures with employers' pay rolls. And again was the fad proved 1la( Hie figures being obtained were in the main reliable. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 155 Table No. 37. LENGTH OF SERVICE OF 2,569 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN EMPLOYED IN SEVEN \BLISHMENTS IN ONE YEAR, AND AVERAGING 418 WOMEN EMPLOYED EACH DAY, AS SHOWN BY THi: PAY ROLLS. Length of seivice. . number No Nature of establishments. employed 4 8 13 26 39 each Under weeks weeks weeks weeks weeks day. 4 and and and and and Full Total, weeks.* under under under under under year. 8. 13. 26. 39. 52. 1 Store 120 1,397 195 114 72 29 24 16 1,847 2 Paper box company 127 76 43 29 62 15 20 52 303 3 Laundry GO 45 33 34 33 24 8 3 180 4 Paper box company . . 40 50 7 6 19 c 24 1 113 5 Petticoats 37 2 5 3 10 5 19 11 55 fi Laundry.. . . 22 5 8 2 6 8 6 6 41 7 Core workers 6 2 1 6 6 5 6 4 30 Total.. 418 1 577 292 194 208 92 113 93 2 569 1 *Nine hundred forty-eight of these were employed for not exceeding a week; many for only a day or two. The pay rolls copied came from a store, two laundries, two paper box factories, an establishment making petticoats and a foundry em- ploying women making "cores." These seven establishments employed an average of 418 wage-earning women for each working day in the year. But their pay rolls contained the names of 2,569 women em- ployes. Of these, 948 worked in the store a week or less. The total number working in these seven establishments from four to fifty-two weeks were 992. Only 9.22 per cent of this latter number worked the full year, and less than 19 per cent 297 of the entire number worked six months or more. In fact 61 per cent of these 2,569 workers left their employment within four weeks. They either stopped work en- tirely, went back to school, or sought situations elsewhere. As it was impossible to follow each one of these young girls ami women to their homes and interrogate them as to the reasons for their juitting that particular employment, the Commission sought for this ind of information in another direction, and succeeded in obtaining a >lerably accurate diagnosis. That 1his shifting shows a waste of y on I he part of women wage-earners is not to be gain-said, for iciency cannot be mastered by those continually shifting employments. 156 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Table No. 38 LENGTH OF SERVICE OF 2,569 EMPLOYES IN SEVEN ESTABLISHMENTS AS SHOWN BY THEIR PAY ROLLS. ' Length of service. Per cent. Employes working full year Employes working 39 and under 52 weeks . . Employes working 26 and under 39 weeks . . Employes working 13 and under 26 weeks. . Employes working 8 and under 13 weeks. . . Employes working 4 and under 8 weeks Employes working under 4 weeks 5.68 6.84 5.68 13.20 11.54 19.24 37.82 Total . 100.00 The seven establishments distributed in the year among the 992 em- ployes who worked: longer than four weeks, $127,131.83. This is an average of $128.15 apiece. The 948 employes working a week and less were paid on an average of $1.65 for their services. Were it not that so many found employment elsewhere, for longer or shorter periods, only a small number of them could have lived on the wages they received from these seven establishments. - In the case of the short term sales- women it is evident that a large proportion worked only during the holidays. Some were school girls, and the few dollars earned in this way enabled them to at least make their accustomed Christmas presents. Table No. 39 TOTAL AND AVERAGE PAY OF 2,569 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN, AND HOURS OF LABOR IN SEVEN MICHIGAN ESTABLISHMENTS AS SHOWN BY PAY ROLLS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nature of establishment. Total number employed. Average length of em- ployment, (weeks) Total earnings. Average weekly earnings. Hours of labor. Per week. +- 1 & i Store * 1,847 303 180 113 55 41 30 13.5 26 18 29.4 34.3 28.9 30 $38,153 42 30,213 30 10,192 86 11,521 01 16,151 12 8,511 76 6,388 36 $6 24 5 07 6 05 6 20 8 54 8 17 7 81 51.5 54 54 54 50 54 54 8.5 10 9 10 9 9 10 9 4 9 4 5 9 4 Paper box company Laundry Paper box company Petticoats Laundry. Core workers Total 2,569 $127,131 83 t Excepting Saturdays. * Nine hundred forty-eight of these worked only a week or less, and 1,397 were employed under four weeks. They are not included in the average length of employment or used to make the average weekly earnings. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 157 As can be seen, wages average in one establishment as low as $5.07 per week, and in another establishment as high as $8.54 per week. One is a paper box factory, the other is a factory making petticoats. One employs practically unskilled labor, the other employs skilled workers. It is also to be observed, as shown by an accompanying table, that G7 per cent of these workers received less than $6 per week, and that 88 per cent received less than $8 per week. This is a lower wage show- ing than found in the wage figures furnished by 1,348 employers of 50,230 wage-earning women. The difference can be accounted for from Hie fact that the figures from employers' blanks Avere of average weeks, while the figures from the pay rolls suffered from deductions because of lost time through slack work, sickness or from any other cause. Table No. 40. AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS OF 992 MICHIGAN WAGE-EARNING WOMEN AS SHOWN BY SEVEN ANNUAL PAY ROLLS. No. Nature of establish- ment. Total Num- ber. Those receiving per week Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and . under $8. $8 and under $10. $10 ov Num- ber. and er. Per cent. Num- ber. Per cent. Num- ber. Per cent. Num- ber. Per cent. Num- ber. Per cent. Num- ber. Per cent. Store 450 227 135 63 53 36 27 222 110 22 32 2 9 49.3 48.4 16.3 50.8 5.6 33.3 162 43 42 13 8 3 3 36.0 18.9 31.1 20.6 15.1 8.3 11.1 43 29 39 8 4 6 3 9.6 12.8 28.9 12.7 7.6 16.7 l!.l 5 19 20 2 12 14 1 1.1 8.4 14.8 3.2 22.6 38.9 3.7 8 22 9 6 17 8 9 1.8 9.7 6.7 9.5 32.1 22.2 33.3 10 4 3 2 12 3 2 2.2 1.8 2.2 3.2 22.6 8.3 7.4 Paper box company . Laundry Paper box company . Petticoats Laundry Core workers Total 992 398 40.0 274 27.6 132 13.4 73 7.3 79 8.0 36 3.6 The wages of the 1,577 women who were employed in these establishments for less than four weeks are not included in these figures. Why these wage-earning women are able to live at all, is because so many of them live at home, or receive financial assistance from others. This matter is fully treated in another part of this report. Had the Commission gone no further than these pay rolls, the fact would have been established that a very large percentage of the wage- earning women of the State are receiving less for their services than it costs them to live. Whether this is the worker's own fault, the fault of her family, the fault of employers or of the State, is a matter for pro- found consideration. PART VI. WHAT 57 MICHIGAN WOMEN'S CLUBS CONSIDER A PROPER MINIMUM WAGE FOR SELF-SUPPORTING WOMEN. In the endeavor to exploit all possible sources of information, the Minimum Wage Commission asked the Women's Clubs of the State for expressions of opinion as to the sum needed to properly support a wage- earning woman. Each club was requested to fill out an accompanying blank, showing how a minimum wage would probably be expended. While the replies from Women's Clubs were not as numerous as the Commission would have liked, yet the figures furnished are valuable; for in the main they are estimates by that class in the community which do most of the family purchasing, both of the necessaries and luxuries of life, and who hold within their ranks the real economists of the na- tion. Some women are spendthrifts, but as a rule these do not belong to Women's Clubs. That the figures should vary from $5.75 to $15 a week for a minimum wage, and from $292 to $770 for yearly expenses, is not remarkable. One club had in view the barest necessities, the other commanded a wider horizon, and based its figures more on an "American" rate of life a rate which demands liberal expenditures for rest and recreation and for upbuilding surroundings. Most of the Clubs gravitate between $7 and $9 for the needed weekly wage, and between $400 and $500 for the total yearly expenses. The fact that so many women do live on less than this weekly w r age i to many, prima facie evidence of its reason- ableness. The Twentieth Century Club, of Albion, presented a divided member- ship on both the problem of a minimum wage and its expenditure. So 18 members filled out separate blanks, with weekly minimum wage figures ranging from $8 to $12.50, and yearly expenses from $438.40 to $641.50. Member No. 13, who thinks that $9 a week is a proper minimum wage, and $475 a year not too much to spend for living expenses by a self-sus- taining wage-earning woman, says: "The estimates made by me would seem about; fair, for anyone working in a city the size of Albion, a city of 8,000 inhabitants; and though allowing nothing to be "laid by," would, I should think, with fairly good management, keep a normally healthy girl neatly and comfortably clothed, and also furnish her with a pleasant room and ordinarily good board; also with a very reasonable amount of expense for recreation and the means of obtaining knowledge." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 159 The Midland Monday Club, with its low estimate of $5.75 a week for a minimum wage and $292 a year for expenses, sends the following ex- planation : "In our city there are very few who do not either live at home or with friends, and so can live on the wages they get. The board is estimated low, but could be obtained for $3 and $3.50 with friends, (some get it lower with friends) or in private families, but at the regular high class boarding houses board and room cost $5. The teachers with their salaries find it hard to save enough to keep them through the summer. One of our members says she has known of a girl who supports herself entirely on $5 per week, but the opinion of the majority is that it cannot be done respectably, though it makes a dif- ference how well they have to dress and whether they have time outside working hours and try to economize and help themselves (laundry work and sewing)." The circular letter of the Commission to the Columbian Woman's Club of Flint, to fill out the blank, was referred to the Industrial Committee of the Club, consisting of Mrs. M. J. Lamb, Mrs. F. A. Scott, and Emily E. West, chairman. The day the committee reported, there were only 22 members present, it being stormy weather. Three of these were not members, and did not express an opinion. Fifteen concurred in the re- port, and one said she would concur if the minimum wage was fixed at $8 a week. One did not vote either way, but has since voluntarily ex- pressed her approval. Accompanying the filled blank were the follow- ing remarks: "Your committee, in fixing the figures called for took the following into consideration : A minimum wage would naturally be that paid to an unskilled person the equiva- lent of a sixteen year old girl who leaves school to earn a living independent of assistance from home. It should pro- vide necessities not luxuries wholesome food, decent surrounding, clothing suitable to occupation, and oppor- tunity for improvement. A girl can obtain plain, wholesome fare and comfortable room in a respectable home for $4.50 but perhaps to get the best at that price might have to share her room with another girl. The dress allowance would vary with occupation but the committee held in mind the girl or woman whose occupation required her to look well dollied in working hours. The items are as follows: 160 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON Two suits ($15 and $12) $27 00 These should last more than one year. Two skirts (1 white, 1 colored) 2 00 These purchased each year should furnish a comfortable stock as they should last more than one year. Four corset covers 1 00 Three pair cotton stockings Three pair heavier stockings 1 00 Three suits summer underwear 1 50 Three suits winter underwear, one-half $3 1 50 Should last two years or more. Three underskirts, one-half $3 1 50 Should last two years or more. Three night dresses, one-half $3 1 50 Should last two years or more. One corset 1 00 A fleshy person might require more. Two cotton dresses, one-half $5 2 50 Should last two years or more. Two shirt waists, one-half $2 1 00 Should last two years or more. Aprons 50 One umbrella, one-half $3 1 50 Should last two years or more. Miscellaneous 6 25 $52 00 The suit allowance is liberal. If judiciously chosen and cared for, two suits per year would, by the second year divide the wear among four suits. The figures provide only plain underwear, but could be considerably cut if the girl employed one half her leisure in making the articles, or they might be ornamented with lace or embroidery on the amount so saved. The same would apply to shirt waists and cotton dresses. The life of these garments by care and judgment in the se- lection of material could be prolonged beyond the time fixed and thus provide for the accumulation of a larger stock. Twenty-five cents per week allowance for church, so- cieties, etc., will permit membership in Y. W. C. A. and attendance on some of the various classes for which a fee is charged, while it also contributes to the recreation item for which a smaller amount is allowed. Ten cents per week provide for the daily newspaper and a magazine. In Flint the greater proportion of the working popula- tion can walk to and from their work. For those who can not do so 60 cents would be the least weekly allowance as fares here are five cents straight. No allowance has been made for incidentals or for savings. Increased efficiency with greater earning power might be counted as the only gain for the first year, and thereafter the extra wages earned could be used to accumulate a fund for savings, insurance, etc. If the girl starts with average health, keeps good hours and cares for herself properly, the allowance for medical and dental service should accumulate to meet expenses in misfortune as to health. This report makes no allowance for lost time. To main- tain herself on $7.80 per week, the wage-earning woman must have work continuously during the year." The amounts set apart for "other items," loom large in some of these estimates. One reason is that quite a number thought a "vacation" a necessary expense. One member who allowed only $20 for incidentals, said that this was "for a vacation trip so much needed by a woman who works for her living;" and another allowed $26 a year for incidentals, saying it should go for a vacation, "which means a change from the MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 161 every day grind." For others the "incidentals" stand for toilet ar- ticles, life insurance, stationery, Christmas presents, a dollar a week for a building and loan association, and even something for "corset strings." No attempt has been made to work out percentages or averages on these figures. As will be noted, the clubs are well scattered throughout the State, and with such housing conditions that no consistent "average" could be obtained. Besides, the social status of wage-earning women vary with environment and nationality, the saleswoman in one com- munity being social equals of the best, and in another being of little social account. And this is true, in still greater degree, of factory women. The Commission regrets that a larger number of the Women's Clubs of Michigan did not take advantage of this opportunity to express their views on what they believe is the least on which a self-supporting and self-respecting woman can live in their respective communities; but the Commission thanks the 62 Clubs who have aided in the attempt to ar- rive at a reasonable conclusion. 21 162 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON >4 < 3 & 3 3 o w - i OS ! g H i@ ^ jz; PH ^ II s H I 5 a 5 . BH 13 5 3 og Siz: 3a ^ C/5 o g co ^-i II * s^st^nap PUB SJOJOOQ 89UIZB3BUI 'SUOHB9J09J S9HJ9100S S9oqg Stnpnpm 'sgq^ojQ sraooj 3uipn[oui ' 83888 8S888 8S8888 8^888 85888 8^888 recoooom 8S?888 888888 CO CO CO Tf C$ CO C^ COC^I (M IO-i CQ'-l O(M CO i i i8 i i 88 888888 88 883S8 : 8 -ieo^ oo i-< <-H 88SS88 S 883S8S 8 CCOOOOiO ^ T-t T-l C^ 1 888 :8S 8 O(M-* -1C t>- Oi^OkOO CO(MC^CO(M(M i-l i-H CQ (M I-H CO CO Cc M >o co o (M 88S :8 : gooooo ggooog PUB s-juaraasnray io O O0"5 Oi O 888 :888 OOOO '(MO O) 888888 S88888 88888 8888888 888 :8 8 88 :8 888888 888888 88888 >WJ IM P< C^l < I^^( S^J| 5 ?s | o||| | SSSS5JSSS S5SSS'5 164 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON g- 1 ' 8g88888S888S888888 8S8SS 8S8S88S88888888888 888888888888888888 s S * s ^> g s s s a s s g s$ s a SSS8888S8888888S88 88S8S88888888S8888 888888888888888888 888888888888888888 888888888888888888 :S88 88KS88 : : O- o -H MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 165 STATISTICS FROM WAGE-EARNING WOMEN. Some nf llif Women's Clubs, whose aid was sought by the Commission,, endeavored to obtain from the wage-earning women in their vicinity properly filled blanks, but 1hey were not so successful as were the in- vest igainrs employed by the Commission. The information, however, in no wise runs counter to that obtained through regular channels. As is natural, the wage rates run under the averages furnished by employers. Summarized, the information concerns 154 women wage-earners living in 1- localities and following 27 occupations ; from office clerks and tele- phone operators to factory employes. Table No. 43.-STATISTICAL INFORMATION FURNISHED BY WOMEN'S CLUBS IN TWELVE LOCALITIES OF 154 WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. American-born (149 reporting) 141 94. Foreign-born (149 reporting) 8 5.4 American parentage (143 reporting) 96 67. ; Foreign parentage (143 reporting) 47 32.9 Living at home 120 77 . 9 Paying board at home 54 45 . Adrift 34 22.1 Helped by others 3 1.9 Receiving under $6 a week (138 reporting) 48 34. Receiving $6 and under $8 a week (138 reporting) 51 36.9 Receiving under S8 a week (138 reporting) 99 71.7 Receiving $8 and under $10 a week (138 reporting) 19 13.8 Receiving $10 and over (138 reporting) 20 14.5 Single (149 reporting) 122 81 .i Married (149 reporting) 18 12. 1 Widowed, divorced or separated (149 reporting) 9 6.0 Weekly earnings of 138 reporting $981 67 Average weekly earnings 711 Expenditures, board 310 Expenditures, clothes 2 10 Other expenditures ... 98 COMMENTS OF WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS. A i'ew of the blanks, filled, without aid, by the women wage -earners approached by members of Michigan Women's Clubs, made comments on the advisability of having a minimum wage, on the cost of living and on their own individual work and home environment. They help to shed light on the problem. 166 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. "If a girl had to support herself without any help, I think fS a week would be the least she could support herself on in this locality." "This is a splendid plan for a working girl." "I do not need a minimum wage as I live at home, but many others do." "The majority of working girls in this town do not earn enough if they had board to pay away from home, to keep them alive. I hope that something will be done, so that a working girl will be able to sup- port herself, and not have to depend on her parents." "I am in favor of a minimum wage being adopted in Michigan. Ad- vancement from this w r age should be made in accordance with experi- ence and ability." "On the wages I get I cannot afford to have the dentist work done that should be done." "I could not clothe myself if I had to pay board, and not many work- ing girls in this town could." "The $6 a week I receive would not meet my expenses if I were not getting my board cheap at home, and was not in good health the year through." "My pay is not enough for the work, according to the high cost of living." "If I should need a doctor, mother would have to help me." PART VII. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION TO DATE. Minimum wage legislation is not a new idea thrust upon American industries without warning. As far back as 1882 an agitation was begun in Australia against the evils of the "sweating" system. This culminated later in the passage of minimum wage laws. In the attempt to protect wage workers against insanitary shops and long hours, the idea of mini- mum wage boards began to take form. Two different types of laws were passed. The first, initiated in New Zealand in 1894, was aimed primarily at the settlement of trade dis- putes, such as lockouts, strikes, hours of labor, rates of wages and con- ditions of work. The other type initiated in Victoria in 1896, was in continuance of the fight against the sweating system in certain indus- tries and was extended to include underpaid labor as well as unhealthful working conditions and exhausting hours of toil. Both New Zealand and the commonwealths of Australia have borrowed ideas from each other in dealing with working conditions, until in most of the Australasian states a flat rate minimum wage is established by law. The rate is reported to be low, being mainly intended to protect children, learners and apprentices. In the beginning Victoria's wage legislation affected only four trades, but in 1900 the government brought in a bill to provide for the extension of the wage board system to other trades. This brought a storm of pro- tests from the Victorian Chamber of Manufacturers. The government, however, was able to show that it had received applications from em- ployers of various trades for the appointment of boards. As it was ad- mitted in the debates that sweating had disappeared in the trades in which wage boards had been established, the opposition was defeated. Now considerably more than a hundred trades in Australia have their minimum wages regulated in this way. New Zealand wage regulation is aimed primarily at the settlement of wage disputes. It operates through a permanent industrial commis- sioner provided for each industrial district, to whom requests may be sent for intervention in any dispute. It encourages the formation of labor organizations, in order that the workers may be properly repre- sented on boards, and who make agreements with employers as to what 168 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON shall be the minimum wage, much as do American labor organizations today. England first passed a trade boards act in 1909. In the beginning it affected only four trades : Keady-made tailoring, cardboard box making, chain making and certain processes in lace finishing. At each session of parliament, since, the number of occupations brought under its jurisdic- tion has been increased. In 1911 Germany followed the example of Australia and England in legislating against harmful working conditions. Home trade committees are appointed having in their membership both employers and employes, and they are given rather vague powers to collect information as to home conditions, "and make proposals for procuring agreements for rea- sonable remuneration." ( Mne states of the Union now have minimum wage laws. These affect only women and minors. The Utah law affects "females." The substan- tiative features of these are, in the order of their passage, as follows, but Utah was the first state to put the minimum wage law for women into effect: State. In effect. Wage determination. Penalty. Massachusetts.. Mar. 21, 1913 Necessary cost of living and financial condition of occupa- tion Publicity. Utah May 13 1913 Experienced adults $1 25 M isdemeanor . Oregon June 2, 1913 Necessary cost of living Fine or imprisonment or both. Washington June 13, 1913 Necessary cost of living . Fine. Minnesota Nebraska June 26, 1913 July 17 1913 Wages sufficient to maintain worker in health . f Necessary cost of living Fine or imprisonment. Publicity. Wisconsin Aug. 1, 1913 A wage sufficient to maintain health Fine. California. . . . Aug. 10, 1913 Necessary cost of proper living Fine or imprisonment or both. Colorado Aug. 12, 1913 Necessary cost of living and financial condition of business. . Fine or imprisonment or both. The Massachusetts minimum wage law, as the first to be enacted, is naturally serving as the foundation for most minimum wage legislation in America. A Commission of three members, one of them a woman, with the aid of subordinate wage boards composed of an equal number of employers and employes, with the addition of a member or two se- lected by the Commission to represent the consuming public, is given authority to say what a minimum wage in any particular industry in- vestigated may be. In Massachusetts there is no coercive power back of these decisions; publicity is relied on to enforce the finding. Thus far there has been but one decision made by a Massachusetts wage board the brush industry and the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission states that employers are co-operating with the Commission in living up MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 169 to its decision. The Commission is authorized to publish throughout the State the findings of a board, and any newspaper refusing publication may be fined. The Oregon minimum wage law, generally spoken of by welfare work- ers as the most satisfactory one on the statute books, does not provide for wage boards. An' "Industrial Welfare Commission" is authorized to ascertain standards of hours of employment for women and minors, standards of conditions of labor, standards of minimum wages and working environments. It may call and convene a "conference" of em- ployers and employes, the membership of which is under its direct con- trol, to talk over industrial conditions, after which the Commission pub- lishes its findings and may enforce them even to the extent of fine and imprisonment, or both. (The Oregon Supreme Court has declared this law constitutional.) There is considerable variation in the personnel and compensation of these Commissions and Commissioners. Most of the Commissions are composed of three persons; in four instances one of these persons must be a woman ; in another instance the secretary must be a woman. The appropriations for the expenses of these Commissions vary from $15,000 a year, as in California, to |7,000 in Massachusetts, $5,000 in Colorado and Minnesota, $3,500 in Oregon, to nothing, as in Nebraska. The Com- missioners in California and Massachusetts draw $10 a day while in the performance of their official duties, in addition to traveling and other necessary expenses. In Oregon only the expenses of the Commissioners are provided for. In Utah the work is under the supervision of the Com- missioner of Immigration, Labor and Statistics. There is as yet no agreement as to the proper name for such a Com- mission. In three instances only, is "Minimum Wage Commission" used. In two states it is called "Industrial Welfare Commission." Once it is designated as "State Wage Board." In another "Industrial Commis- sion" answers the purpose. All the States, with the exception of Oregon, make exceptions for de- fectives. In Massachusetts the special license is limited to ten per cent >f the employes in any establishment. For California the special license renewable semi-annually. Two States California and Colorado make no exceptions for learn- Four States provide special rates for learners and apprentices. One >tate requires a special license, but the time limit is left to the Com- lission. Another State says that "minors in a trade industry must be indentured." Utah's minimum wage law settles the rates for both experienced workers and learners. It provides that experienced adults must be paid 170 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. at least $1.25 a day; females under 18, 75 cents a day; adult learners and apprentices, 90 cents a day. Besides these laws, Connecticut has ordered the Commissioner of Labor to make an investigation of woman and child labor, and the Indus- trial Commission of Ohio is ordered to make a special inquiry into the work of women and children in mercantile establishments. Also, in In- diana, a wage commission is investigating industrial conditions in that commonwealth; and in New York a Factory Investigating Commission is doing likewise. This Commission has already issued four reports. ) PART VIII. COURT DECISIONS ON THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION. There has been but one decision "by a state court of last resort, and none by any federal court, upon the constitutionality of a minimum wage law. The Supreme Court of Oregon, in a well seasoned opinion, upheld the Oregon Act. Later, a judge of an inferior court, the state district court, at Minne- apolis, declared the Minnesota Act invalid. Upon application, however, the Commission was unable to obtain the opinion, and was reliably in- formed that the learned judge gave no reason for so holding. The Oregon decision, reported in 139 Pacific Reporter and which has been taken to and is now pending in the United States Supreme Court, as involving questions under the federal constitution, is herewith given in full. STETTLER v. O'HARA et al., Industrial Welfare Commission. (Supreme Court of Oregon. March 17, 1914.) 1. Constitutional Law (Sec. 81) "Police Power." Police power is that inherent sovereignty which it is the right and duty of the government or its agents to exercise, whenever public policy demands, for the benefit of society at large, regulations to guard its morals, safety, health, order, or to insure in any respect such economic conditions as an advancing civilization of a highly complex character requires. (Ed. Note. For other cases, see Constitutional Law, Cent. Dig. Sec. 148; Dec. Dig. Sec. 81. For other definitions, see Words and Phrases, vol. 6, pp. 5424-5438; vol. 8, p. 7756.) 2. Master and Servant (Sees. 13, 69) Regulation of Employment Police Power. Laws 1913, p. 92, providing for an Industrial Welfare Commission to provide for the fixing of minimum wages and maximum hours of labor for women and minor workers, since it reasonably tends to accomplish the purpose intended, is within the police power of the state. (Ed. Note. For other cases, see Master and Servant, Cent. Dig. Sees. 14, 78-81; Dec. Dig. Sees. 13,69.) 3. Constitutional Law (Sec. 238) Equal Protection of Laws Regulation of Employment. Though an order of the Industrial Welfare Commission created by Laws 1913, page 92, fixes maximum hours and minimum wages of women for the city of Portland only, the law is state-wide, and does not give an employer in Portland unequal protection of the law. 172 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON (Ed. Note. For other cases, see Constitutional Law, Cent Dig. Sees. 688-690, 695, 706-708; Dec. Dig. Sec. 238.) 4. Constitutional Law (Sec. 205) Class Legislation Privileges and Immunities of Citizens. That an order of the Industrial Welfare Commission fixing minimum wages and maximum hours of labor for women, as authorized by Laws 1913, p. 92, applies only to Portland does not grant to others privileges denied to an employer in Portland in contravention of Const. Art. 1, Sec. 20. (Ed. Note. For other cases, see Constitutional Law, Cent. Dig. Sees. 591-624; Dec. Dig. Sec. 205.) 5. Constitutional Law (Sec. 62) Distribution of Governmental Power Delega- tion of Legislative Power. Laws 1913, p. 92, authorizing the Industrial Welfare Commission to fix minimum wages and maximum hours of labor for women and minor workers after confer- ence with representatives of employers and employes, does not delegate legislative power to the commission. (Ed. Note. For other cases, see Constitutional Law, Cent. Dig. Sees. 94-102; Dec. Dig. Sec. 62.) 6. Constitutional Law (Sec. 318) Due Process of Law Regulation of Employ- ment. That Laws 1913, p. 92, authorizing the Industrial Welfare Commission to fix minimum wages and maximum hours of labor for women and minor workers, makes the findings of the commission on all questions of fact conclusive is not a deprivation of due process of law; a hearing being required for the promulga- tion of the commission's orders. (Ed. Note. For other cases, see Constitutional Law, Cent. Dig. Sec. 949; Dec. Dig. Sec. 318.) In Bane. Appeal from Circuit Court, Multnomah County; T. J. Clee- ton, Judge. Suit by Frank C. Stettler against Edwin O'Hara and others, constitut- ing the Industrial Welfare Commission of the State of Oregon, to va- cate and annul an order of the commission, and enjoin its enforce- ment. From a decree for defendants, plaintiff appeals. Affirmed. On February 17, 1913, the legislative assembly passed an act entitled "To protect the lives and health and morals of women and minor work- ers, and to establish an Industrial Welfare Commission and define its powers and duties, and to provide for the fixing of minimum wages and maximum hours and standard conditions of labor for such workers, and to provide penalties for violation of this act." The title is followed by a declaration of the evils that it is desired to remedy, as follows: "Where- as, the welfare of the State of Oregon requires that women and minors should be protected from conditions of labor which have a pernicious effect on their health and morals, and inadequate wages and unduly long hours and unsanitary conditions of labor have such a pernicious effect; therefore, be it enacted by the people of the State of Oregon." The first section provides : "It shall be unlawful to employ women or minors in any occupation within the state of Oregon for unreasonably long hours ; and it shall be unlawful to employ women or minors in any occupation within the State of Oregon under such surroundings or conditions sani- tary or otherwise as may be detrimental to their health or morals ; and it shall be unlawful to employ women in any occupation within the MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 173 State of Oregon for wages which are inadequate to supply the necessary cost of living and to maintain them in health ; and it shall be unlawful to employ minors in any occupation within the State of Oregon for un- reasonably low wages." Then follows the creation of the commission under the name of "Industrial Welfare Commission/' to be appointed by the Governor, and provisions defining its duties. Section 4 provides: "Said commission is hereby authorized and empowered to ascertain and declare, in the manner hereinafter provided, the following things: (a) Standards of hours of employment for women or for minors and what are unreasonably long hours for women or -for minors in any occupation within the State of Oregon; (b) standards of conditions of labor for women or for minors in any occupation within the State of Oregon and what surroundings or conditions sanitary or otherwise are detri- mental to the health or morals of women or of minors in any such occu- pation; (c) standards of minimum wages for women in any occupation within the State of Oregon and what wages are inadequate to supply the necessary cost of living to any such women workers and to maintain them in good health; and (d) standards of minimum wages for minors in any occupation within the State of Oregon and what wages are un- reasonably low for any such minor workers." Section 8 provides, among other things, that the "commission may call and convene a conference for the purpose and with the powers of considering and inquiring into and reporting on the subject investigated by said commission and submitted by it to such conference. Such conference shall be composed of not more than three representatives of the employers in said occupation and of an equal number of the representatives of the employes in said occupation and of not more than three disinterested persons representing the public and of one or more commissioners," and the duties of such conference, which shall report the result of its investigations with recommendations to the commission. Section 9 provides that, upon the receipt of the re- port from the conference, and the approval of its recommendations, the commission may make and render such order as may be proper or necessary to adopt such recommendations, and to carry the same into effect, and require all employers in the occupation affected thereby to ob- serve and comply with such recommendations and said order. The act contains other provisions giving the commission and conference power and authority to investigate the matters being considered, and that, from the matters so determined by the commission, there shall be no appeal on any question of fact, but that there shall be a right of appeal from the commission to the circuit court from any ruling or holding on a ques- tion of law included or embodied in any decision or order by the commis- sion, and from the circuit court to the Supreme Court. The defendants were duly appointed by the Governor as such commission. It thereafter 174 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON called a conference as provided, which reported to the commission, mak- ing certain recommendations, which were approved, and based upon such recommendations it made the following order : "The Industrial Welfare Commission of the State of Oregon hereby orders that no person, firm, corporation, or association owning or operating any manufacturing es- tablishment in the city of Portland, Oregon, shall employ any woman in said establishment for more than nine hours a day, or fifty hours a week ; or fix, allow, or permit for any woman employe in said establishment a noon lunch period of less than forty-five minutes in length; or employ any experienced adult woman worker, paid by time rates of payment, in said establishment at a weekly wage of less than |8.64, any lesser amount being hereby declared inadequate to supply the necessary cost of living to such women factory workers, and to maintain them in health." The amended complaint sets out all these matters in greater detail, to which the defendants demurred on various grounds, the first of which raises the questions here discussed, namely: That "it does not state facts showing that the act and order complained of is an unreasonable exercise of the police power of the state." The demurrer was sustained, and the plain- tiff elected to stand on the amended complaint. Judgment was rendered dismissing the suit, and the plaintiff appeals. C. W. Fulton, of Portland (Fulton & Bowernian, of Portland, on the brief) ; for appellant. A. M. Crawford, Atty. Genl., and Dan J. Ma- larkey, of Portland (Walter H. Evans, Dist. Atty., and Malarkey, Sea- brook & Dibble, all of Portland, on the brief), for respondents. Joseph N. Teal, of Portland, on the brief, amicus curiae, representing Con- sumer's League. Rome G. Brown, of Minneapolis, Minn., filed a Jjrief as amicus curiae. EAKIN, J. (after stating the facts as above). The purpose of this suit is to have determined judicially whether either the fourteenth amendment of the federal Constitution or section 20, Art. 1, of the Oregon Constitution is an inhibition against the regulation by the Legislature of the hours of labor during Avhich women may be employed in any me- chanical or manufacturing establishment, mercantile occupation, or other employment requiring continuous physical labor, or against the establishment of a minimum wage to be paid therefor. Some features of these questions are practically new in the courts of this country. There have been some utterances by. the courts of last resort to the effect that it is such an inhibition. Some of these cases relate exclusively to the limitation of the hours of employment, others to the wages to be paid on contracts with the state or municipality; but the cases so holding are based largely on the fact that such regulation deprives the individual of liberty and property without due process of law, namely: That it is not within the police power of the state, and violates the liberty of con- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 175 tract. The first case holding such a statute unconstitutional is Lochner v. New York, 198 U. S. 45, 25, Sup. Ct. 539, 49 L. Ed. 937, annotated in 3 Ann. Cas. 1133. A similar case is Kitchie v. People, 155 111. 98, 40 N. E. 454, 29 L. K. A. 79, 4G Am. St. Rep. 315. In the former case, in the appellate divison of the state court, two of five judges were in favor of upholding the law; in the Supreme Court of the state three of the seven judges Avere so minded; and in the United States court four of the nine judges favored such a disposition of the case. The opinions in those decisions are based upon very different theories, showing that judicial opinion has not reached any settled or stable basis upon which to rest. It has only been during the last few years that the matter of legis- lation upon the question of the limitation of hours of labor has been agitated in legislative bodies or in the courts. The decisions of the courts have been based upon first impression, and may be liable to fluctuation from one extreme to the other before the extent of the power of legisla- tion on these questions is finally settled. The entry of woman into the realm of many of the employments formerly filled by man, in which she attempts to compete with him, is a recent innovation, and it has created a condition which the Legislatures have deemed it their duty to investigate, and to some extent to govern. It is conceded by all students of the subject, and they are many, and their writings extensive, that woman's physical structure and her position in the economy of the race renders her incapable of competing with man either in strength or in en- durance. This is well emphasized by Justice Brewer in Muller v. Ore- gon, 208 U. S. 412, 28 Sup. Ct. 324, 52 L. Ed. 551, 13 Ann. Cas. 957, an appeal from Oregon questioning the constitutionality of the law fixing the maximum hours of labor for woman, where he says: u That woman's physical structure and the performance of maternal functions place her at a disadvantage in the struggle for subsistence is obvious. This is especially true when the burdens of motherhood are upon her. Even when they are not, by abundant testimony of the medical fraternity, con- tinuance for a long time on her feet at work, repeating this .from day to day, tends to injurious effects upon the body, and, as healthy mothers are essential to vigorous offspring, the physical well-being of woman be- comes an object of public interest and care in order to preserve the strength and vigor of the race. Still again, history discloses the fact that woman has always been dependent upon man. He established his con- trol at the outset by superior physical strength, and this control in vari- ous forms, with diminishing intensity, has continued to the present. As minors, though not to the same extent, she has been looked upon in the courts as needing a special care that her rights may be preserved. * * * * Differentiated by these matters from the other sex, she is properly placed in a class by herself, and legislation designed for her pro- 176 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON tection may be sustained, even when like legislation is not necessary for men, and could not be sustained. It is impossible to close one's eyes to the fact that she still looks to her brother and depends upon him ; * * that her physical structure and a proper discharge of her ma- ternal functions having in view not merely her own health, but the well- being of the race justify legislation to protect her from the greed as well as the passion of man. The limitations which this statute places upon her contractual powers, upon her right to agree with her employer as to the time she shall labor, are not imposed solely for her benefit, but also largely for the benefit of all. Many words cannot make this plainer. * * This difference justifies a difference in legislation, and upholds that which is designed to compensate for some of the burdens which rest upon her." The conditions mentioned in the above quotation lie at the foundation of all legislation attempted for the amelioration of woman's condition in her struggle for subsistence. In many of the states as well as in foreign countries special study and investigation have been given to this question as to the effect of long hours of labor and inadequate wages upon the health, morals, and welfare of woman, with a view to remedy the evil results as far as possible. There seems to be a very strong and growing sentiment throughout the land, and a demand, that something must be done by law to counteract the evil effects of these con- ditions. In the case of Lochner v. New York, supra, in which the constitu- tionality of the labor law of New York, limiting the hours of labor in bakeries, is questioned, Justice Peckham, wrote the opinion, holding the law invalid. Justice Harlan filed a dissenting opinion, which should not be overlooked, as the parts here quoted are general statements of the law recognized by judicial opinion, and not in conflict with the main opinion. Justices White and Day concurred therein ; Justice Holmes also dissenting. In that opinion it is said : "While this court has not at- tempted to mark the precise boundaries of what is called the police power of the state, the existence of the power has been uniformly recog- nized, both by the federal and state courts." In quoting from Patterson v. Kentucky, 97 U. S. 501, 24 L. Ed. 1115, he says: " rists has been that people ought to save for old age. On the other hand, if I understand the English theory, at present, it is quite the re- verse, that through taxation a pension should be paid old people. Now T am inclined to think that the question of old age pensions, so far as it touches this minimum wage legislation, ought to be taken care of by some form of insurance. Of course, the amount of insurance ought to be included. I don't suppose anybody in the United States is ready to propose the English system. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: It would be the cost of living, plus the cost of insurance, that would determine the -wage? M I!. CARLTON : Yes, sir. WHAT IS FAIR COMPENSATION. COMMISSIONER BEADLE : One other point : From your observa- tion in your profession, do you consider from the information which you have, that in Michigan, under the present wage system, the em- ployer, the capitalist, receives a fair return for his capital invested, and ability as compared with the amount the laborer receives? Mr. CARLTON: Well, there again you come back to the second point; that depends entirely upon the theory of what is fair and what is just, and how much should go to capital and how much ought to go to labor, under present conditions; but I say, I do not believe that anybody can answer that to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: You have not decided then, in your own mind, that any wage which might be worthy of the talents of the best of us, compared with the wage which might be worthy of the talents of the poorest is at present properly adjusted? MR. CARLTON: How can you compare them? If we have a pure competitive system, they are fixed by some definite market condition, put I do not believe any such case of pure and free competition exists or ever has existed in the world. Property rights, contracts, monopoly, land ownership and all that sort of thing, interfere. I think about the best answer that can be given is that you will have to decide it up- on the basis of what is the common practice at the present time. I suppose some manufacturers will say a return of five, six or seven per cent is a fair return; then again the' question conies in even then, as to tangible and intangible property, which ought to be included. I un- derstand one of the questions the railways are struggling with is as to Ihe increase in value of real estate, in fixing rates, should the rail- road use the increased value as a basis? COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Does it seem a reasonable adjustment of wages to say that there are men in the State who are entitled to a hundred thousand dollars a year, and worth that to society, as com- pared with four dollars a week for a fourteen year old girl? MR. CARLTON: I hate to subscribe to that proposition, yet I can say there are some men who are extremely valuable; their directing ability is worth a great deal. But it is very, very great in comparison with four dollars a week which everybody knows is below anything like a living wage, you know a girl cannot live on four dollars a 198 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON week unless she is subsidized in some form. The general tendency of business now is toward democracy, which means greater equality, and certainly THAT is a very, very wide difference. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Can't establish .democracy on that basis. MR. CARLTON: No, I should say not. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Do we understand your view of a minimum wage is one which covers the cost of living, physical up-keep of the body of the worker, and something in addition thereto which will make them have esprit de corps in the business in which they are engaged as employes? GETTING AT THE MINIMUM WAGE. MR. CARLTON: I suppose that any minimum wage commission ought to go to work as some already have, to study specific industries, and it is possible that conditions in the industry ought to be given con- siderable consideration, but as a general proposition, I think I would agree it ought to be sufficient to establish to give definite physical re- quirements plus something at least which would allow for a slight amount of amusement and recreation, and so on. So far as establishing a wage by law, it seems to me it ought not to be a high wage, it ought really to be a minimum wage, and so I would not expect that any board would allow a great deal for those particular things; but as I said, in reality a great deal of the provision for recreation and amusement ought to come through community action. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: In Massachusetts I see they have allowed 151/2C an hour for women as a minimum wage for the first year, and 18c thereafter. The cost of living was given. For lodging, $1.50 a week; food, |3; clothing, 87c; car fare, 60c; other items, 17c total, |6.14. There are also these: Laundry, 20c; church, lOc; newspaper, Sunday and other days, Sc; vacation, at the rate of flO a year, 19c; pic- ture shows, once in two weeks, 5c; theatre, once in two months, 25c; clothing, an addition of $25 per year, 4Sc ; food, 50c ; lodging and extras, 50c ; that is $2.14 in addition to $6.14. That is the bare cost of living, and I find that 15%c an hour, 54 hours a week, makes $8.37. That is the minimum wage established by the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission in the brush industry in Massachusetts. MR. CARLTON: On this other point, "(d) On the opportunity of obtaining a higher wage than minimum'' 'I do not think that fixing a minimum would have any effect on the wage paid to workers already receiving more than that. FORCING OUT THE INEFFICIENT^ The next point, "On the inefficient" I suppose some inefficient workers would be forced out of work. "On irregularity of employment," it would seem if it had any influence it would perhaps lead to greater regularity in employment, perhaps for the reason that the worker when he is first taken on is an inefficient worker. It seems that would tend to regularize the industry. "On liberty 'of action" I do not believe that a woman who receives four dollars a week, that her liberty of action MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 199 would be much encroached upon, if she were getting six or seven dol- lars. The old theory of the frontiersman was that all laws mean en- croachments on their liberty. I don't believe that holds good any more. As to the employer's liberty if you take it in the sense that the em- ployer can do absolutely what he pleases, probably there is an encroach- ment on his liberty, but if the employer's liberty must be in some meas- ure considered in respect to the community, it is a* different proposi- tion. Of course, it is restricting his rights, but so does the law requir- ing certain safety appliances ; and so does the law which says you shall not employ a child under fourteen years of age. I do think there is an encroachment on his liberty from the old negative view point, but we have gone a good ways from that view point. PROFITS. As to the question "On profits" I should imagine in some cases it would reduce profits, and yet it may, by increasing the efficiency of the worker, in the long run not reduce the profits, and of course, more efficient methods might increase the profits. I do not believe a law establishing a minimum wage would have any great effect on profits, one way or another. Of course, if you push it up too high, it would, but if you place it on the basis of a real minimum wage, I cannot see that the average establishment would be greatly affected, especially if we accept the Massachusetts statement as to the candy business, even with the modification which has been presented. DUTY OF THE STATE TOWARD THE INEFFICIENT. Question number seven, "What could and should be done for the in- efficient?" I suppose I have covered that to a certain extent. If they are defective, it seems to me they should be taken care of by the State in some manner, in some institution for defectives, and be trained to pro- duce things which can be used in State institutions and elsewhere. If they are merely ignorant and untrained, so far as the youth is concerned at least, they can be trained in proper educational institutions. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Have we those now? Is the public doing what it should in training of inefficient, or making the youth efficient? .MR. CARLTON: I do not believe it is. Of course, it is easy to criti- cise the public school system, but I am inclined to think from what I hear of the Grand Rapids system, Grand Rapids is trying to do a good work. I am inclined to think that the vocational guidance, that they are trying to put in there, is a good thing. It is a difficult proposition ; it is a new thing, but there are a great many young people who drift out of school because they don't see where the school is doing anything for them. Whether they are right or wrong about that I don't know. I think the public school is laying too much stress on purely academic subjects and not enough on the practical things of life; and the intro- duction of what are known as "continuation schools" such as the state of Wisconsin is attempting, is desirable. There are schools for boys past fourteen. The working boy is to take a certain amount of work for two or three years in schools which offer practical courses. Of course, that is the German system. 200 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY O^ COMMISSIONER WALKER: The question as to the inefficient, Avhat to do with them, is one that has occupied my mind ever since I have been on the Commission, and it -seems there is a large amount of inefficiency, and the employer presents this argument, and there is a good deal of basis for it, that their help is inefficient and they have to train their employes at an expense to themselves, and the question is, what shall be done with them? . MR. CARLTON: Of course, the same charge is presented a great many times against the employer, that there is a lack of scientific man- agement. That is what is said about the railroads, and it would seem from the report which comes to us, showing the results of scientific management, that the charges must be at least partially true. * SPURRING WORKERS TO EFFICIENCY. MR. DUNFORD : It seems to me, in the establishment of a minimum wage, when the condition of employment is the test of efficiency, that through the establishment of a minimum wage the laborer will become more efficient. In cases of inefficiency, due to lazin'ess through the lack of incentive; there are many w r ho could do better, but who do accept a low wage because they are paid and do as little as they can, but when the condition of their employment is efficiency, they will become more efficient. MR. DOWRIE : I think a man who is naturally lazy will remain lazy, no matter how much money he receives. MR. CARLTON : Why is a man naturally lazy ? Does it not go back to the question as to whether they w r ere unfit to begin with? MR. DOWRIE : I think if a person is in proper health and in proper surroundings he will be active, but after a man has been accustomed to slovenly habits for a long period of time, it would be hard to put energy into him. MR. DUNFORD : My point is, if a test of efficiency is a condition of employment, he will have to be efficient or become a beggar, and the law might be so that he would desire to become efficient, but where one is paid a low wage he does just as little as he may, i. e., he is no more efficient than he has to be. That is the idea I have from talking with laboring men and my own students who have worked in factories. I would say that there are a great many, particularly those along about the margin; those we would call "marginal workers*' who believe they do not get a fair wage or what they are worth. I do not believe there would be as much inefficiency as we sometimes think. I think that point is exaggerated. Insofar as they are defective, of course, we cannot im- prove on that through the incentive of the minimum wage. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: Your idea is that a higher wage will spur them on to efficiency? MR. DUNFORD : Yes, sir. Efficiency, to my mind, includes a great deal more than mere physical ability to work. For instance, from the psychologic view point, the locomotive engineer who goes out on his daily run is not efficient unless his mind is clear of all domestic troubles particularly. Now there are some who believe that in the establish- ment of a minimum wage, the minimum wage law ought to include or make provision for efficiency. I don't know how far the State would MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 201 <> in providing for efficiency along these lines that I just mentioned. I don't know how far the State could go. MR. GARLTON: Well these things mentioned in the Massachusetts iv port YOU would say would tend to make for efficiency, would you not? MK. DUNFORD; Yes. THE INCENTIVE IN THE FORD PLAN. MR. GARLTON: I would like to ask a question about the Ford plan: Do you think that if the other plants gave the five dollar mini- mum, that the incentive would be as potent in the Ford plant? MR. DUNFORD: I should answer, first, that the other plants can- not do it. My point there is, that I do not believe that Ford is under the competitive strain that some other plants are. He manufactures a certain type of car and has no immediate competition so far as any- Ixuly knows. If the labor market be overstocked one unscrupulous manufacturer may force others to a lower moral standard. MR. CARLTON: Granting that possibility, what about the incen- tive? Isn't it because there is an especial situation, if they do not come up to the mark they are fired, and must go somewhere else? MR. DUNFORD : Weil once they have been raised to a higher view point with respect to their work, they won't lose it so easy. MR, GARLTON : Don't you think that is especially applicable to the Ford plant? MR. DUNFORD: Yes, there may be some ground for attributing it to the personality of the administration, but when once they are raised to that high ideal of service, I do not believe they will drop to their former level. However, if the minimum wage were made applicable to all similar industries operating under a competitive strain, the worker going somewhere else would be conditional upon his efficiency, i. e., his ability to earn the minimum. That is, the situation can be made general. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Part of the cause of inefficiency be- ing due to lack of training, how is that to be supplied? Has not the public got to do something along that line? MR. CARLTON: I would say lack of education, the public cer- 1 a inly has got to do something along that line. I think a good many boys become inefficient because they haven't proper opportunity for recreation, and they go to pieces because of that condition. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: Mr. Dunford, will you now give us your views? MR, DUNFORD: I have no set speech, and I shall rely consider- ably on the questions asked. I surmise, at any rate, that you have a number of questions that you have not asked. You want particularly to know the economic point of view, and I shall be glad to give it as I see it. COMMISSIONER WALKER: I wanted to ask one question sooner or later, that comes into it perhaps from the economic standpoint. There is one gentleman who appeared before us who said that in substance PROFESSOR DUNFORD AND THE MINIMUM WAGE. 202 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON that either labor was a mere economic factor, to be treated as such and governed by economic laws, and that if we depart from that point of view, then we were entering upon an effort to have labor supported, whether it economically deserved support or not. In other words, we were throwing the burden of support on society, not exactly as charity, but philanthropy. MR. DUNFORD : I think I see what you have in mind. So far as I am able to see, there is nothing in the minimum wage law, or in many of the other efforts that are being made in behalf of labor that runs counter to economic principles or economic laws; but labor, in spite of the fact that the minimum wage is established, will still be an economic factor, and I think Mr. Oarlton pointed out pretty clearly that competition more or less would still fix wages. RAISES PLANE OF COMPETITION. What the minimum wage does is to raise the plane of competition, below which the laborers and employers cannot go. Now insofar as there are inefficient laborers below that plane of competition, we will have to provide for them in some way, but my point of view is that that is considerably exaggerated. There ate a number of checks upon that; in the first place, the manu- facturer will set about to make his plant more efficient, to provide a better organization. Of course, he is doing that now; through the stress and strain of competition he has to do it now. They are putting into their plants cost accounting systems they never had before, and effi- ciency management plans, etc., and this raising of the plane of competi- tion will only increase his effort along those lines. On the other hand, the efficiency of the workman, as I pointed out a moment ago, will also tend to check the number of inefficient and out of employment. At any rate, the experience in Australia seems to indicate that inefficiency is exaggerated. Of course you cannot take Australian conditions and deduce conclusions from them which will fit us, but it seems to indicate that at any rate the point can be consider- ably exaggerated. MINIMUM WAGE LAW NEEDED. CHAIRMAN GRENELL : Do you see any necessity for a minimum wage law? MR. DUNFORD : I think so. Of course I have not made as thorough investigation as Miss Burton and some of you have, and I draw my conclusions from other sources ; but surely, wherever wages of girls particularly, and women, are under seven or eight dollars a week, or whatever might be determined upon in certain localities as being below a living wage, there ought to be some way that society could provide for better remuneration. A number of statistics, of course, are avail- able along that line. The Massachusetts case occurs to me just now; with respect to gar- ment workers and those who work in laundries, from thirty to fifty per cent of them receive more or less charitable assistance during the year. Now, society has to provide for them through charitable means, if you call it philanthropy with a minimum wage, and they are cer- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 203 la inly more self-respecting individuals if they do not have to go to the public or private charitable agency. Wo certainly have some responsibility. I do not believe that the consuming public ought to be subsidized to the sacrifice of the workers, particularly when the majority of the consuming public are able to pav better" prices, and the prices will be raised insofar as the cost is increased. PROVIDING WORK FOR THE INEFFICIENT. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Mr. Dunford, your idea would be I hen, the government or state might better provide institutions for the inefficient, in which they could earn a livelihood in an honorable way, rather than that the taxpayer should be taxed for the purpose of aiding them in a charitable way? MR. DUNFORD: I don't know that my idea is quite that socialis- tic. Some such provision might be made in the law, as is provided in the laws of other states. Through the wages board or through the wages commission they might be permitted to receive a lower wage than the minimum which is set. Of course, maybe you know, John Bates (Mark, in a paper he wrote in the Atlantic Monthly a year ago last September, suggested that to provide for the unemployable class, it would be an excellent opportunity for socialism to be tried out. I don't think he made that statement facetiously either, but I don't know in my own view point that I would go that far. THE MOST VITAL FACTORS. In connection with the question "As certain factors determine the e of wages which any individual worker, or group of workers receive, hich of the following are the most important?" I think probably we agree that the first three factors that are mentioned there, that is, "Num- ber of workers available"; "Efficiency of the worker"; "Standard of living"; are the most vital at any rate. Particularly the first one, and the second one, and the third one, that affects the first one. MR, CARLTON: Isn't it true, that the higher the standard of liv- ing, the lower the birth rate? MR. DUNFORD: Yes, there is something in that of course. MR. CARLTON: Where would you put organization of employes? Would you not put that Avell up in the list? MR. DUNFORD: Well, I think so, that is between the limits I think I should put it. MR. CARLTON : Well, don't you think that the number of workers available fixes the limits, or is that factor of fixing the wage between the limits? MR. DUNFORD : I believe it has considerable to do with fixing the it. OMMISSlOMvH WALKER: What we are taught to believe is hat every able-bodied man is an asset to the community; every im- migrant that comes to this country has his day's work in him, and is adding to the wealth of the nation; every child born is an asset. Is t unsound? thai 204 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON ME. DUNFORD: Well insofar as being a producer, he does add to the wealth, but at the same time it is possible to add to the total wealth and cut down the average productivity of the group in which he comes. No one can be considered an asset who produces less than he consumes. WHAT EMPLOYERS SAY. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Employers say that a minimum wage for women is not practical, but they raise this general point: Women are inefficient; they are poor employes, and a minimum wage for them would be a hardship to the employer because women are not perma- nent workers; they are looking forward to matrimony; they expect to be engaged for a little while in the work, therefore they are inefficient, transient; they are unsatisfactory from every point of view as workers, and suggest that as a reason why they are not paid better wages, and why a minimum wage that should give them any substantial increase in wage, would drive them out of employment, and be a hardship for the employer. I think that has been the thing most commonly urged by employers as against efficiency and desirability of women labor and practicability of minimum wage. Can anything be said along that line? MR. DOW: Isn't the present condition worse than any hardship which might be brought about by minimum wage? MR. DUNFORD : If that wage were applied to a local industry, for instance, suppose we take the laundries of this city. I am unable to see how they would be driven out of business, even though the prices were raised. How many would be driven out of business, even though the prices were raised? The consuming public would have to pay a little higher prices. This would be the case with all goods, the demand for which is relatively inelastic. In other words, my conviction is that the public should not be subsidized to the sacrifice of the workers. Now competition would simply be raised to a higher plane. THE STANDARD OF LIVING. I was going to explain in relation to the standard of living a little more clearly. I do not mean by that the amount paid anyone, sum of money they get, but their ideals of living; where the ideals of life are high, and the rate paid is low, as it is among us college professors who marry late in life and the number of children in the family is small ; on the other hand you will find, I think that with the working class of people, the laboring class, machinists, etc., the rate of pay is fairly good ; some classes of machinists receive as much as we do, yet their standard of life is lower, and you will find the number of children per family greater. That is what I meant by that. That is why I say that bears particularly upon the number of workers available. This is in accord with the Malthusian proposition concerning preventitive checks, As to the organization of employers, we all know in regard to organizations, where they are as thorough as in the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers and Firemen, that they get just about whatever they want whenever they want it, at the sacrifice of the other employes in the industry. It takes really more preparation to become efficient as a station agent and telegraph operator than to be a brakernan, as many MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 205 n-akemeu are recruited from those who have had very little educational reparation; they spend very little money for educational training, and ret immediately their salary is forty to sixty dollars a month, more than the telegraph operator, whose preparation has been longer. MR. DOWEIE: Does not the dangers and hardships connected with their occupation account for this difference? That, of course, should taken into consideration. MR. DUNFORD: I do not believe they take it into consideration. don't think they would have to be paid that much more in order to be induced to become engineers or brakemen. Their advantage seems to irise from the thoroughness of their organization which is due in part it least to the proximity of their relations at terminal points. PIOW CAN WAGES BE RAISED? COMMISSIONER WALKER: Since wages are inadequate, as it mis quite largely agreed here, how are you going to raise them ? MR. DUNFORD : I believe you asked me that question. Personally, believe in a minimum wage law. I do not believe it could be done in a idical manner; that the wage could be raised fifty per cent, without listurbing considerably the economic conditions, but I believe the wage lay be raised from six dollars to eight dollars, in that proportion. I >fer particularly to the wages of women, without materially disturbing !onomic conditions, and as I pointed out sometime ago, there might some rise in the cost of living. I do not believe it would be great lough to materially disturb the present economic conditions. Econo- lists point out, in that connection, that when you increase the cost of >roduction, where there is a perfect competitive condition, where prices ire equal to cost of production, including fair profit, when you in- crease the cost of production by increasing the wage, that prices must lecessarily rise. Either that, or part of the profit the employer has been >tting, will be impaired, or will be cut off, or else interest rates will lave to fall. In either case, the theorist points out that there would a decided effect upon industry. If interest rates fall, capital will not accumulated in the same proportion as accumulated in the past, and therefore business in general will be imperiled ; or, on the other hand, if >rofits are cut down investments will no longer take place as in the past. y point of view is that neither would accumulation of capital be affected any great degree, nor would profits be impaired to any great degree, ;ause of more efficiency of workers, and more efficiency in business or- ganization. I believe there can be more efficiency. LEVELING/ WAGES. On the other hand, there is another point here to bring out. In spite the opportunity of obtaining a higher wage than the minimum, I be- ieve there would be some leveling of wages, and that could be done with- mt impairing the efficiency of the industrial process by the lowering of wage of the laborer who is receiving considerably higher wage now lan the poorest laborer. Leveling down the high wage-earner at the >resent time, and that could be added to the poorest, without affecting *ie industrial process. 206 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON COMMISSIONER WALKER: Would that make for efficiency? MR. DUNFORD: I do not think that would be particularly detri- mental, and I believe it is bound to come. It might make for a little less effort on the part of the higher paid. It would not materially affect the industry if it made for more effort, that is, for higher efficiency than the poor wage-earner has now. There is a tendency, of course, for work- men not to be any more efficient than need be to retain their positions. MR. CARLTON: Is it possible, that your theory, that the higher wage rates are pulled down, comes from the fact that when labor unions establish a minimum wage, that is what actually happens? MR. DUNFORD: No, I don't think it does. I think that is when labor unions establish the fixed wage, or higher wage. MR. CARLTON: Would it operate in the same way when you es- tablish it by law? MR. DUNFORD : The Australian experience is that the very fact of fixing a minimum wage tends to greater organization. I am dealing with men in this particular case. I do not believe it w r ould be as easy to organize women as it is men. Men are more mobile and can be or- ganized easier, and that is one reason why a minimum wage is not neces- sary for men at the present time. THE HIGHER PAID EMPLOYES MAY SUFFER. The pressure brought to bear upon the employer through the fixing of a minimum will have a tendency to cause him to cut dow r n the wages of the higher paid, or at any rate to be less liberal in increases to the higher paid. The employer, to keep on his feet in competition with other employers, instead of raising his prices, will, in order to keep on a plane of competition, attempt to bring the two, i. e., high wage and low wage, together more or less, and that is what has happened in Australia, but there is the intervening factor of better organization. The Australian statistics show there has not been a uniform leveling, by any means. This is taken from the report of the Wage Board and Industrial Commis- sion of Australia and New Zealand, by Aves, in 1908. In clothing fac- tories, 146 women received the minimum, and 44 received more than the minimum. That indicates only there was no uniform leveling. Really there is bound to be more or less competition for more efficient men among employers. The chances are just as favorable, almost as favor- able, for their receiving greater remuneration under minimum wage as they are now, and yet there would be that tendency of the employer to a sort of leveling of wages in order to retain his profit and his place in the competitive market. THE DANGER NOT GREAT. MR. CARLTON : It seems there would not be much danger of pulling down w r ages unless 1 dealing with monopolized articles. MR. DOW: Even if there were, would that be especially true among women, w r here the workers move faster and go out of occupation ; would that be bad if they had a higher minimum for all to reach, wouldn't that be a condition in general? MR. DUNFORD: It would be conducive to efficiency. I think it MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 207 would be an improvement over present conditions. Organized labor functions that way. It tends to level. MB. DOWBIE: Another 1'nctor thai would enter in would be the opportunity for these efficient people to get employment elsewhere it the employer had a monopoly on that sort of work. The more efficient people would be more at his mercy. MB. CABLTON: However, if he were a keen monopolist, he would do that whether the minimum wage were in force or not. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: Have you worked out any idea of what can be done? THE MINIMUM WAGE A GOOD PLAN. MB. DUNFOBD : It seems to me such plan as the minimum wage is as good as can be done; with the provision that after the wages board has determined that some of the workmen are really "under efficient," and cannot earn the minimum wage, that these "under efficient" be permitted to work at a certain fixed rate, which should be determined by them, i. e., wages board and the employer, lower than minimum, with the pos- sibility of increase by the board upon the theory of the maintenance of the self-respect of the individual. The procedure under this plan would certainly have a tendency to check the exploitation of women by un- scrupulous employers. COMMISSIONEB WALKEB: Better yet, to make them efficient. INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION. MB. DUNFOBD : Yes, of course there is the scheme of industrial education, which we are not doing here, but have in Germany, where they have Continuation Schools. MB. CABLTON: They have them in Wisconsin on a small scale. MB. DUNFOBD : Yes, but for a number of years they have had in Germany, Continuation Schools, where youths, after getting their usual schooling, have received further instruction, on certain evenings, and thus have continued their theoretical studies along with practical work ; it is compulsory. MB. CABLTON: In Wisconsin, the boys are allowed five hours a week for school work. They are allowed to work between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, allowed to work 43 hours a week, and spend five hours in school, and this time is paid for by the employer. That has been in operation about two years. So far as I have been able to learn through articles I have read, the law is held to be desirable. But I have not seen any definite statement as to the result. It has not been in operation long enough. MB. DOWBIE: I think we have to differentiate as to the inefficient workers. If it is because people are under-paid, we ought to have some system of vocational education. If they are physically unfit they ought to be given medical attention and special work to do and not serve as the prey of employers in parasitical industries; if they are men- tally unfit we ought to have institutions to look after them. 208 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON i THE NORMAL PLACE FOR A WOMAN. The normal place for a woman is not in a parasitical industry, but in the home, and the normal status of a man is that of the bread-winner, and that must be taken into account, even though some women will always be compelled to make a living. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: The normal condition changes. The number of families that depend upon women is greater than it has been, and the normal condition is shifting to a certain extent to the other side. MR. DOWRIE: I do not believe any woman with children ought to be anywhere except in the home. That is her place, and she is doing society a greater service in caring for her children and bringing them up as they should be brought up, than if she works in a factory. I think the welfare of the community demands that it be made possible for her to stay at home, rather than that she should take a man's place in earning a, living. MR. GARLTON: There is another thing to be said on that. In the first place, she is more liable to sickness, and she does not stay as long in the industry, and as a rule is not quite as interested. A num- of things of that nature might be mentioned. MR. DUNFORD : Insofar as she produces as much, there is no rea- son why she should not receive as much as a man. That is, it would not affect the industry to any great extent if she did receive as much, but the question has a greater bearing than simply as an economic one. (Adjournment was taken to 7:30 p. m. Mr. Carlton asked to be ex- cused from further participation in the meeting, to enable him to take the train, which request was granted.) CHAIRMAN GRENELL: We are once more ready to listen to any- thing our visitors may say. PROFESSOR DOWRIE AND THE MINIMUM WAGE. MR. DOWRIE: I was particularly interested in the question asked the Commission by a manufacturer, as to what the status of our wage- earners should be. Should they be a factor in the productive process along with the capitalist, the entrepreneur, and landlord, or should we expect society to support the laboring people, and have the laboring- people understand that it is their special privilege to be fed and clothed by society. It would certainly take all the self-respect out of any group in our industrial system to let that idea become prevalent among them. I think we ought to keep our hands off of the productive and dis- tributive processes just as far as we can. I do not believe in governmental interference, except as it seems to be necessary. Let each factor do his part in contributing to the product, and receive his share, and let the government interfere in the business only where it sees that manifestly some factor engaged is not getting a square deal. I believe that in the case of most men workers we will all agree that collective bargaining will help them to take care of themselves pretty well; that in the more skilled occupations, at any rate, the men, by organization, can bargain with employers, and there is no need of gov- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 209 emmental interference, but when it comes to some occasional indus- tries, which are commonly characterized as parasitic, the government has to step in. I believe that I, as a consumer, ought to pay more for my goods if present prices are maintained by grinding the lives out of women or child workers. Neither should the employer derive an abnormal profit because of these wrong conditions. In either case I think it is time to interfere in behalf of the worker, but I do not believe the government should attempt to fix wages, either directly by legislation, or through the appointment of a commission, unless it is clearly manifest that the workers are not able to take care of themselves in bargaining with the employer. I believe that the point was pretty well brought out this afternoon, that in some industries women have proven themselves unable to fight their own battles, and have been compelled to give their services to industry without getting a reward sufficient to enable them to live decently. That is one of the cases where I think governmental inter- ference is justifiable. I am in accord with Professor Carlton's idea that we cannot meas- ure the true value of the service which anybody renders, and do so in a way that will please all parties concerned, but I do believe we can tell whether a person is receiving enough money to live decently, and if he is not, it is a case where the government is justified in stepping in. THE TRUE VALUE OF SERVICES RENDERED. COMMISSIONER WALKER: From the standpoint of economics, is there a definite answer to the question of what is the true value of services rendered, measured in wages? MR. DOWRIE: If we assume a purely competitive regime the an- swer is that each person tends to receive for his product an amount equivalent both to the marginal utility or significance of that product, and the cost of producing it; that is, the disutility he has undergone in contributing his share of the product. But, as Mr. Oarlton said, we do not have free and perfect competition. There is much economic friction, and there is the tendency toward monopoly, on the side of both capital and labor, so that it is hard to find out just when a man is getting value received for his services. I often wish we could tie up the disturbing factors just to see how the thing works out un- disturbed, but of course it is impossible. i NEED OF LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. As to the third question "If present wages in general, or for any particular group of workers, are inadequate, can they be raised?" I believe they can be. but as I stated earlier, I do not believe that govern- mental action should be taken if the workers can take care of them- selves. I believe that it adds to the self-respect of any factor in pro- duction, to be able to handle his own case, if possible. Raising wages by the process of education, of course is a very slow, uncertain method ; I believe that by vocational training of the young and by efforts to supplement what training the older workers have, without taking them 27 210 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON away from their employment, we can do something, but of course that is not going to be a quick and effective remedy for present evils. I hope that when we have wage boards in the different states, and the working women are permitted to be represented on those boards and to have representatives appear before them, that it will bring about organization. My impression is that it has been practically impossible to organize women in the parasitical industries, and for thai reason there needs to be some common bond such as preparing a case for a wage board in order to help them to act as a unit. As for the question, "If governmental action is desirable for women and minors, is the best form the establishment of a Minimum Wage"? I think the minimum wage is just a part of other measures which seem necessary in order to protect helpless working people, especially women and children, from serving as the prey of unscrupulous employers. A number of our states have enacted laws regulating women and child labor, established sanitary conditions, etc., and it seems to me that the minimum wage is no more radical and startling than these other meas- ures. MAKE MINIMUM WAGE LAW COMPULSORY. "Should Minimum Wage, if adopted, be made compulsory, or if not, how shall observance be secured"?: The Massachusetts publicity plan is usually contrasted with the plan of levying a fine, i. e., making it a criminal offense for the employer to violate the orders of the wage board or the decree of the legislature. It seems to me that publicity has little effect upon a man who is thick-skinned enough to take advant- age of women and children, and I believe you get the publicity and the punishment that goes with it when you prosecute a man, so that if there is any virtue in publicity, you get it, plus whatever good comes from levying a fine. As for the next question, "What effect would a "Minimum Wage estab- lished by statute have?" I believe that the workers would be more efficient. I believe that women who do not receive proper sustenance and who have so little money to spend on recreation and amusement, cannot do their best work, and that the added wage will help raise their effi- ciency. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Would there be any tendency, on the part of the workers, to feel that having a minimum wage assured, they did not need to put forth so much effort to hold their jobs? MR. DOWRIE: No, I do not believe so. I believe that it would create a livelier interest in their work. There is nothing so discouraging as to have to drag out your existence on starvation wages, and I think the case was cited of the Ford works, where the very fact that they were receiving more pay has resulted in the men doing better work. THE STIMULUS OP FEAR. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Can you tell us some potent process by which employes can be made, not eye servants merely, but faithful servants who make the interest of the employers one of their own? MR. DOWRIE : My experience has been that the fear of dismissal is MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 211 about the most powerful stimulus to right doing in most of our large establishments. COMMISSIONER WALKER: I think Ruskin said, that he who works for the fee alone is the servant of the Lord of the fee, who is the devil himself, but he who knows he must have the fee to live, and feels it his due, yet works for the work's sake, is the servant of the lord of work, who is the Lord God Almighty Himself. I wish there was some way of making men and women believe that the best service is service over and above the fee merely, and that they are benefiting themselves as well as benefiting the employer if they do good honest work, regardless of whether the employer knows it or not. EMPLOYERS, PROFITS, WAGES, EFFICIENCY. MR. DOWRIE: As to the effect of a minimum wage upon the em- ployer, I should think that employers who had depended for their suc- cess in business upon exploitation of women and children, would per- haps be driven out. If the sole justification for their being in business, is the fact that they cannot make a success out of it except by using under-paid labor, I do not see how they could stay in business if they paid a decent wage; unless it were possible for them to change their way of doing business very radically. If an employer had been making excessive profits, I believe he would be compelled to reduce those profits. If all employers had been serving the public more cheaply because of cheap labor, then the increase would be forced back upon the consumer, and why should not the consumer pay what the product is worth, in terms of the sacrifice which these women have made? As to the opportunity of obtaining a higher wage than the minimum, it all depends upon the extent to which the employer monopolizes the employment in that line. If there are other places- to which the more efficient laborers could go, they would not have to submit to a reduction of their wages to the minimum. As to the inefficient, I think I expressed myself fully on that this afternoon; that there are different kinds of inefficient people, and each ought to be dealt with according to the peculiarities of the case. As to irregularity of employment, I believe the point has been brought out that the persons most irregularly employed are those who are receiv- ing the smallest wages. As to liberty of action, some one has said that every man's liberty of action extends as far as his neighbor's toes and I think that applies well here; if by having liberty of action, I tread on my neighbor's toes, then my liberty of action ought to be curtailed. I think I have covered most of the points here. I shall be very glad to answer other questions. THE STATE MUST DEAL WITH THE INEFFICIENT. COMMISSIONER WALKER : The nightmare to me is the inefficient, and what is going to happen to them, whether we do or do not have min- imum wage, and what is the duty of the public in making them more efficient, and does the private employer, the large employer of women 212 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON labor, owe any duty to his employes in the line of training for efficiency? I wish you would make some suggestion along these lines. ME. DOWRIE : I do not believe it can safely be left to the philan- thropic disposition of the individual employer. I think it is necessary for some action to be taken by the State, and it ought to be made pos- sible for every boy, every normal boy, to stay in school. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Talk about the girl. MR. DOWRIE: Well, the normal girl or boy ought to receive suffi- cient training to enable her or him to be a skillful worker, and that of course involves other social legislation ; it involves- keeping boys in school when the parents feel they should be helping to support the family. It involves providing a vocational education for our boys and girls. LATITUDE NEEDED IN TEACHING. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: I would like to suggest that I notice quite a number of young boys who are very poor students-, and it seems foolish to attempt to teach them spelling even some of the common words in our language. I notice girls, one in our school, who it would be foolish to send to the public school. The time would be wasted. No ambition. She is a beautiful child, and it seems to me* that the teacher should have the power under the law to exercise discretion to teach the child along the line of the kind of training such child should receive, so that she might be efficient what could not be called school knowledge. I know of many boys who it would be simply foolish to keep in school, and it would be far better to teach them some simple line of business or otherwise, that they could make themselves efficient, regardless of book learning. MR. DOW: Isn't it true, if you give them proper education in the school they can acquire education enough to be able to read and figure out accounts? MR. DOWRIE: Often physical examination has revealed defects which could be cured, and thus a child would be enabled to learn. Often a child has fallen behind at school without the parents or teacher dis- covering that his eyes were in very poor condition, and it seemed im- possible for him to study, but after a careful examination and treat- ment, that defect was removed. Often the removal of tonsils and ade- noids has enabled the child to keep up with his class in school. MR. DOW: I understand Theodore Roosevelt was very backward in school on account of his eyes when he was- a boy. PROFESSOR WEISMAN AND THE MINIMUM WAGE. MR. WEISMAN : I am opposed to minimum wage legislation. There is only one exception to that statement, and I will give you the exception and come back to tell why I think we should not try to fix the rates of wages by legislation. In the case of laboring people working at piece rates throughout the year, it seems that we ought to have some standard by which the same (set) would receive substantially the same rate day in and day out. That is to say, that if the worker working at so much per piece, can get one dollar some days, there is no reason why she should not earn a dollar every day. Now the carelessness of the em- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISI>ATION FOR WOMEN. 213 plover sometimes make it impossible for her to get material close at hand, and thus her wage fluctuates week in and week out. There is one thing the State ought to do, and that is to establish a minimum day rate for such piece-work. If she is generally able to make one dollar, that ought to be the minimum as a day rate, and if she be- comes more efficient and earns a dollar and a quarter, or a dollar and a half, she ought to get that. I had a case in mind that came to my attention last spring, of a man unloading coal in a railroad yard. It would happen every other week that, in shifting the cars around, and putting them in an unfavorable position, the man would have to shovel coal several yards, and the next week, simply shovel it out of the car into the chute. The weekly earn- ings of a man in that situation are very uncertain, and it seems to me if we could by law enact a minimum day rate for a man or woman work- ing on piece-work, so that their weekly earnings would be assured, having in mind about what the average person could do if the employer were progressive and scientific enough in his methods. That is the only case where I would favor a minimum wage enacted by legislation. COMMISSIONER WALKER: How would you enforce the law? How would you apply it? When would we know when he was entitled to the minimum wage, when, because of the inefficiency of others, he had been prevented from earning it, and when would we know he was not entitled to it from his own inefficiency? MR. WEISMAN: The employers might take advantage of that; I sus- pect they would; but if there are a number of workers in that place, they know substantially when an employer is giving a square deal and when not. Of course it is possible that a man may say that it is the fault of the employer that he cannot earn a regular piece wage daily, but you could not find a group of workers, working together, who could be dis- honest for a great length of time. You might have one dishonest man, but he would have a great many others working with him who would be able to pass an honest judgment on that. MINIMUM WAGE LAW DIFFERS FROM SANITATION LAWS. Now going back to the question of minimum wage from the point of view of Professor Carlton, who began his discussion on this question by saying that in his opinion the minimum wage should be placed on the same basis as sanitation and that sort of thing. I do not think so at all for this reason: An eight hour day is an eight hour day, and has been since 1874 since 1774, and the question of protection and sanitation is the same as time goes on, but a minimum wage is an entirely different thing today than it was even in 1890, because the wage of the indi- vidual is his real wage and not his money wage, and there is always, this constant dickering about what the average real wage of a laborer is, and there is that difficulty in the practicability of a minimum wage, I mean, by the change in the purchasing power of the wage. There is a very great difficulty, it seems to me, and it is entirely different from those other points which Mr. Carlton brought up. Again, he said, the minimum wage should be placed on a parity with them. I don't think so, and for another reason. We might say, Jt is just that every family should have an income which should not fall below ten dollars a week, 214 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON we will say. That is far from saying that the" minimum wage is the best and most efficient means for bringing the family income to ten dol- lars. Personally I should say the several members of the family ought to get a wage such as they are able to produce, and if that is not suf- ficiently large, we ought to settle that in another way, either from the poor fund or from something of that sort. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Just a moment, about the other propo- sition, bearing on the purchase power. That would simply mean, would it not, a more frequent readjustment of the minimum wage? MR. WEISMAN: Yes, it would mean a very frequent readjustment, and it is a very difficult matter to decide what is the necessary, real wage for the average family to live on. Another conflict is brought about be- cause families are of varying sizes, and a minimum wage which is suf- ficient to provide for a family of two is not sufficient to provide for a family of seven. That is one very great difficulty we ought to take into account. COMMISSIONER WALKER: That deals more with minimum wage for men than it does for women and girls. WHAT WAGE LEGISLATION MEANS. MR. WEISMAN : If we regard the man as the bread-winner for the family more and more, we will regard woman as independent and provid- ing something for the upkeep of the family. In general, this is what it seems to me wage legislation says to the employers : "You must pay to the inefficient workman wages which bear to his efficiency, a ratio higher than wages in general bear to efficiency in general." COMMISSIONER WALKER: Or the alternative let him go? MR. WEISMAN: I will come to that. You must do that; pay to the poorest man in your establishment a rate that is higher in pro- portion to efficiency than wages in general are to efficiency in general. The State would have just as much right to say to the consumer : In order to keep up Producer "A" who is less efficient than Producer "B," you must purchase a larger amount of this product from "A" than you must of Producer "B" in order to keep him in the field. WAGE WORKERS RECEIVE ALL THEY EARN. MR, WALKER : Are you not assuming what may not be true, that he is now paying according to efficiency and earning power? MR, WEISMAN : I have assumed it, because I thoroughly believe it, Mr. Walker. MR. DOWRIE: You do not believe there is any industry in which people are not being paid according to efficiency? MR. WEISMAN: Not year in and year out. There may be a few days and weeks. IS EXPLOITING WOMEN A BENEFIT? COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Why is it so many employers- all ask the same question first of those who apply to them for employment : "Do you live at home?" . MR. WEISMAN: I think, because of the competition in that line of MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 215 business. I do not believe the department stores in Chicago could pay ten dollars a week. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Are those stores a benefit or a detri- ment to the public? MR. WEISMAN: In a measure they are beneficial. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: That is, the exploitation of women is u benefit? MR. WEISMAN: I don't like to state it that broadly. It isn't neces- sarily exploitation if a girl does live at home and gets her room rent and board at cost or free. It may be exploitation of girls who come in from out of town and try to exist on four dollars a week. It is simply a case of bad judgment on their part to try to live on it. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: A woman who has no home is de- pendent upon her labor for her livelihood. MR. WEISMAN: Yes, let her earn four dollars a week and supple- ment her income from some poor fund. CHAIRMAN GRENELL*: Do you think there is such a thing as a "parasitical industry ?" MR. WEISMAN: Yes, .lots of them all around. MR. DOW: Do you believe wages are governed by what persons are worth? MR. WEISMAN: Yes, certainly. MR. DOW : I do not. I think it is governed by what employers can get them for. MR. WEISMAN : There is no question about that in my mind, theo- retically, and I think it holds true. MR. DOW : I think it does not work out ; I think no economic theory rks out in practical cases. THE JOB AND THE PAY ARE EQUAL. MR. WEISMAN: Well, let me ask one question, Mr. Dow. Why is it department store in this- city has sixty girls instead of ten? Simply :ause sixty can earn more than ten. MR DOW: The department store owner thinks the net return is greater from sixty than from ten. He figures it out from net return. He does not figure it out from what that one person could produce. When you apply for a position you do not get what you put into it; you get what they pay you. You might go into the stock-yards and you might do four dollars worth of work a day, but if some foreigner will do that for dollar and a half, he has the job. MR. WEISMAN: It is not a four dollar job if he can do it for a dol- ir and a half. MR. DOW : Well he might be willing to do it for that price. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: Do women know what their labor is >rth? MR. WEISMAN: They try to form some opinion of it, by saying it sts so much to live, and that sort of thing. In my opinion there is no ?latiou between what it costs her to live and what she is worth to so- ety. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Your view is strictly an economic )int of view, that labor is an economic factor? 216 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON MR. WEISMAN : Yes. CHAIRMAN GRENELL : And has the same relation to the market as a bag of corn or bushel of wheat? THE ECONOMIC THEORY AS TO BARGAINING. MR. DOWRIE : I want to say this, in defense of the economic theory, that it assumes equal bargaining power on the part of the factor, and when women are prevailed upon, on account of weakness in bargaining, to take less than their services are worth, then the economic theory does not stand as a remedy, for it assumes that those women have equal bar- gaining power with the employer. MR. DUNFORD: As I understand the economic theory, the econo- mists do not assume that the laborer has equal bargaining power with the employer, and the point of view is that the labor union is necessary. The labor union is necessary in order to bring the individual laborer and employer upon a plane of equality in bargaining power. The laborer must sell his labor to-day. He cannot save it. It is not like pig-iron or any other commodity. If he loses a day it is gone forever. He must sell to-day or else starve to-day and to-morrow. On the other hand, the capitalist can not pay him more than he is worth, nor can the capitalist pay the woman more than she is worth ; that is, more than she produces, else he will have to go out of business. HIGHER WAGES MAY INCREASE PRICES. A point in this connection in regard to department stores, is, if they are paying girls less than they can live on, they are paying them probably now, from the standpoint of the economic theory, all they are worth in view of the prices they are getting for their products. If the wage is raised, then the girl will have to produce more in order to enable the manufacturer or the department store to sell at the same prices. Now my point was this afternoon that the chances are her efficiency will in- crease if she is paid more. Better housing and better clothes are con- ducive to efficiency; and another consideration which I think of is, that when she is paid more and the condition of her employment is based upon her greater efficiency rather than upon what she will accept, that she will become more efficient; she will exert herself more and will pro- duce more, and the manufacturer 'can still stay in business, and sell the product at the old prices. Although if a minimum wage is applied very generally, it will raise the prices a little. Although I believe I under- stand the economic theory, on the other hand from the humane stand- point, I do not believe the consumers who are able to pay more, ought to be subsidized to the sacrifice of these people who are unequal bargainers in the competitive market. MR. WEISMAN: I quite agree with Professor Dunford. He says there may be a tendency for women to increase efficiency if a wage law is enacted. If they do not increase their efficiency they will drop down. No employer in the world is going to pay six dollars to an employe who is worth four dollars. That is the point you are trying to make, isn't it? MR. DUNFORD : Yes. MR. WEISMAN: It may be the minimum wage might have that effect. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 217 A HIGH WAGE WILL ATTRACT WORKERS FROM OTHER STATES. If we have a minimum wage law in Michigan which raises the wages of the department store girls from what they are now obtaining, five dollars, o seven, or seven-fifty, nothing in the world is going to keep girls from Indiana and Ohio from coming over here, and the most efficient girl is going to get the place, and you are then going to have the dependents upon your hands. Then, as I have said before, the only practical mini- mum wage law in the country is the national minimum wage law. If not, the immigration from the outside is going to flood the labor market. The only reason that the wages in a certain town are low is because the labor market is overstocked, and if you increase the wages in that town, you are not going to do away with the fundamental difficulty. Oregon or Washington might enact such a law, because it would not be affected by immigration, but here the girls from Cleveland, South Bend, Fort Wayne, Chicago will come. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Would it not tend to increase the wages in those places because of the attraction of the Ohio wage-earner to Michigan, the fear of the employer losing his employes? MR. WEISMAN: If the girl was worth seven dollars he would give her seven dollars; then she would not come. If she was worth seven dollars he would pay her seven dollars. IS A NATIONAL LAW FEASIBLE? COMMISSIONER BEADLE : Might not the alternative of a national commission be done away with by every state having a commission? MR. WEISMAN: With a uniform rate, uniformity of real wage, it would do away with it, but five dollars in Michigan is entirely different than five dollars in California, because the purchasing power of money in Michigan is very much greater than in California; prices are very much higher there. COMMISSIONER WALKER: There is a serious question as to whether the nation has any jurisdiction over child labor, and a Senator tried to solve that this way: That no manufactured article which it was shown was made in a factory where there was child labor under a certain age, should be shipped in interstate commerce. He held that was constitutional, and probably it was. That is the only way that could be found to reach that problem. MR. DOW: W T ould not the question of the difference in purchasing power of money arise more in the national plan than in the state plan? MR. WEISMAN: No, because the federal government has the statis- ics of real wages compiled. MR. DOW: Would it not be difficult to get a plan through congress set a wage for California? COMMISSIONER WALKER: It would be done through a wage )ard, same as other states, taking up each industry by itself. MR. DUNFORI) : Even the same industry in different localities might ive a different wage rate. 218 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON HIGHER PRICES WILL AFFECT SALES. MR. WEISMAN: Raising the price of goods, which Professor Dun- ford mentioned a moment ago, is bound to reach out in the case of a community in which the supply is elastic, and in any other case where there is any attempt made to raise the prices, there is bound to be a falling off in sales, and any appreciable falling off in sales in any establishment means the cutting down of the pay roll. That you will observe in every store in the world. If business to-day is not as good as corresponding business with last week, the employer is going to cut down the number of employes. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Unless the purchasing power is in- creased somewhere to offset it. MR. WEISMAN: Yes, you might have that counterbalancing it, but it seems to me that our situation is very much better if we have each individual receiving the income which he is substantially able to earn from the standpoint of efficiency, and supplement that if necessary from some common fund. Of course, the proposition which Professor Carlton was talking about does not antagonize me so much. The thing he seems to say is simply legalize a rate of wages which substantially everyone is honestly securing. If a department store girl is getting five dollars, we ought to legalize that as a minimum wage. That is not what I call an effective minimum wage law. An effective minimum wage law is for the purpose of raising the wage above what they are now getting. PUBLICITY NOT IMPORTANT. As to the publicity feature, I do not think the moral effect is particu- larly important. In Massachusetts it is only published in some labor journals, so they do not suffer substantially. COMMISSIONER BEADLE : The Massachusetts; law. provides for a penalty of |200 to $1,000 for employers who discharge or discriminate against any employe who served on any minimum wage board; also a penalty of a hundred dollars for refusing to report the finding of the commission. . MR. WEISMAN : I know the Boston newspapers objected to it in the spring, when the brush-making trade was first taken up. The brush- making trade was the first industry they took up in Massachusetts, and they said Boston was so conservative they did not take up with the state law on the point. I don't think they will have any success with it now, and the last thing I heard was that the brush manufacturers discharged every single individual who attempted to take any part in minimum wage legislation. You see there, the Commission appoints representatives from the trades themselves. All these representatives from the trade that took any active part in this thing were immediately discharged, and what they are going to do with that situation I don't know. There is no way in the world in which the law can prohibit a private individual from discharging a laborer.* COMMISSIONER WALKER: Well I would not say that. If the black-list is illegal, then it can by statute be made illegal to discharge *This has been officially denied by the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission which says the brush manufacturers are cordially co-operating in enforcing the decision. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 219 employes because acting under the law they have acted on a minimum wage board. MR. WEISMAN: I quite agree with that. I think employers are in the wrong when they discharge a man for that reason, but they did that; I know that they discharged three different sets of employes. PRESENT WAGE CONDITIONS PREFERABLE TO A MINIMUM WAGE. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Let me ask you one question, about the point you made awhile ago, of what the minimum wage law would do if fixed materially higher than the present minimum in a given industry. If it would do that, as you think, which would be the worse in the long run that we suffer those results that you say would probably follow from a higher minimum wage fixed by law or let things go on as they are, with women's labor concededly paid less than a living wage? I say concededly four or five dollars is concededly less than a living wage under ordinary conditions. Which would be the w T orse? MR, WEISMAN: I think it is far better the way it is, far better. I think there is a way out. COMMISSIONER WALKER : It seems there must be a way out. SCIENTIFIC MANAGEMENT ADVOCATED. MR. WEISMAN: I will go ahead with that. I think that scientific management is going to solve this question itself. Mr. Taylor in his ex- periments has shown there is a place for every individual in this uni- verse; that everyone is efficient at something, and I think our present economic system is in the dumps. We have a class of employers who do not try to find the place where the employes belong. They are inefficient in their particular place. Mr. Taylor says there isn't anyone in this universe who is not or can not be made efficient in his particular place. He takes the lowest kind of laborers and in the steel plant he has them in two months making four dollars a day. If we could educate our working girls and educate our employes to the point of knowing their place they will become efficient. There is quite an interesting movement on foot in Cleveland, where the department store owners have innovated a system by which they teach their girls the materials, make them acquainted w r ith their stock, so that when an intelligent woman comes in to buy cloth, the girl is intelligent also, and can show her the difference between woolen goods and cotton. It is surprising to know how little the average department store girl ":nows. She has not been through the eighth grade. TEACHING STORE EMPLOYES ECONOMY. That is organized among the department stores in Cleveland. Simply >riginated among individual firms, I think. I know one of the women loing that work, and in addition to that she teaches the girls how to spend their week's salaries. She says the average department store girl r ill go out at noon and spend 30 and 35 cents for lunch, and she teaches ler what kind of shoes and clothes to buy. CHAIRMAN GRENELL : The J. L. Hudson Company and the Crow- 220 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON ley-Milner Company in Detroit, both large department stores, are doing that. MR. DOW: Don't you think the establishment of a minimum wage law would hurry along that movement? MR. WEISMAN : Yes, but the mere establishment of a law, from my point of view, would mean the discharge of about twenty per cent of the employes. I think that w T ould be the result twenty per cent of our people would be discharged by an effective minimum wage law. MR. DOW: That has not been the experience in Australia, that twenty per cent was discharged. MR. WEISMAN: What would you call an effective minimum wage? MR. DOW : I consider it would be a living wage, and that is what we are after here. Mr. Hammond considered a living wage in his investi- gation. MR. WEISMAN: Well I do not think that Hammond's investigation has shown that in Australia and New Zealand it seems to me they have legalized the prevailing wages there. I don't think they have raised eight per cent in any case. PIN MONEY. On the question of pin money that I started to talk about this after- noon. I think that is a very dangerous element in our economic condi- tion at the present time. It is made up of women who live in their homes, and who are not compelled to work, school girls, high school girls who go into department stores for six or eight weeks during the summer months. They are perfectly willing to take four dollars a week, and there is no reason why they should not, and this vacation money then goes for nice toggery, or a vacation and that sort of thing If we have a minimum wage law we must make an exception for that sort of w T oman. We cannot give these girls the minimum wage and pro vide for the whole supply of labor. FORCING OUT MARGINAL EMPLOYERS. The girls I spoke of would not probably be worth the minimum wage and they probably could not get it. I do not think there is anything else I can state at the present time. I did want to say that another effeci of this legislation would be to force out the marginal employers them selves, and that in itself would react on the price of commodities, if the supply of the producer is any less than it was before the demand wil' cause the price to be shoved up, by the falling off in supply, but that would soon be made up. COMMISSIONER WALKER: The forcing out of the inefficient pro- ducer or employer, whose methods are expensive because he does not give the process the study and effort he ought, and replacing him by more efficient producers, would not that tend to decrease the price? MR. WEISMAN : It would be only temporarily that the prices would be higher. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 221 WHAT THE STATE OWES TO THE WORKER. {COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Would you say that a man's wages, 10 is acting as the head of the family, need not necessarily bear any re- gion to the cost of living to his family; and that women's wages need not necessarily bear any relation to the cost of the upkeep of her body? MR. WEISMAN: I say that unqualifiedly, from the economic point of view, and I say the state owes something to them. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Then the sovereign power of the state should be directed to an increase of taxation so as to meet the deficit in 1he upkeep of the family in the case of a man with a family, or make up the deficit of the woman in the upkeep of her body? MR. WEISMAN: Yes. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Well is there something, from your own standpoint, that could be done in the meantime for the purpose of increasing efficiency? MR. WEISMAN: Oh, yes, certainly. COMMISSIONER WALKER: What would you do? I am interested in that phase of it. What can be done by the state or the employer? WHAT EDUCATION WILL DO. MR, WEISMAN: I think that we ought to adapt our education so that the average pupil can find himself some place. As it has a very bad moral effect on him throughout his whole life if he fails in school. Make our educational system broad enough so he can find himself. If he cannot do it in some of the other studies let him do it in manual training, and give him credit for it. It seems to me the moral effect of a high school diploma would have a tremendous influence on the average man in the labor field, but if you get him out of school he is down and out all his life. It seems to me that the activity of the state ought to be in the opposite direction, in keeping the student in the school and adapting the course to the man, instead of trying to make him adapt himself to the course. There is for the average normal youth, or man or woman, some field in which they can be placed. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: I would like to suggest one further thought: If the state should pursue that course, which you mentioned previously, would it not have a tendency amongst women and people, to increase their belief that they should receive state assistance, and would it not have a tendency among men who are lazy to increase their belief they should have state assistance, so that as years pass on the taxes would become so high that it would have to support the entire labor body? MR. WEISMAN: I do not believe so. No great proportion of us would. I have a great deal of confidence in the integrity of the average working man. I think he is thoroughly honest and a reliable individual, d I have come in contact with him very much. He wants to make an nest living, and if he is not making an honest living he thinks the state owes him something, and that is the reason I think the state ought settle it some other way. The minimum wage affects only the employer involved, and from my ew it is the function of the whole state, The farmers and professors 222 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON and men in all professions or trades ought to have a share in that, and not the individual employer, because it would ruin him as a business man. EARNING AN EASY LIVING. COMMISSIONER BEADLE : In Detroit, there is a peculiar condi- tion there, in the last few years, that men lean more heavily upon the others, and I think the cause of that leaning to be practically this : They observe their neighbors about them who do nothing for a livelihood ex- cept invest their money in lands, subdivide it into lots and sell them, which keeps them in comfort and luxury, that they feel they might readily lean upon those who are taxpayers by virtue of being owners of propert} 7 , and feel justified in so doing, and keep their self-respect by so doing. I would say if you are not paying all the tax you should, and living in ease and luxury by virtue of that fact, we feel as if we had a right to lean upon you and ask you to pay us such wages to support the family in comfort or to women to protect her body and furnish it with sustenance. It seems to me the tendency would grow from year to year, so that ultimately society will become socialistic, the state would be supporting its population. MR. DUNFORD: The theory upon which associated charity works substantiates your point of view. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Yes, there is a growing tendency to lean upon somebody. MR. DOWRIE: Whatever we do, don't let us do anything that will take away their self-respect. WEALTH THROUGH EXPLOITATION. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: That brings up the question I raised this afternoon. I have been taking a little interest in Detroit. It is a growing city, and the fortunes that are made there I find are largely made from two sources. One is the exploitation of land values, and it is the main one; and, secondly, the exploitation of labor, and it is of secondary consideration. I find from our report here, many women work for less than six dollars a week. It is impossible to conceive how they sustain their bodies on that wage. I find that in general the em- ployers live in very handsome homes; lead luxurious lives; they build sky-scrapers in Detroit. It does seem to me as if society was not prop- erly organized, when one person by industrial energy, even the use of capital, can acquire two million dollars in seven years by the employ- ment of two or three thousand women employes. It seems that here is a problem we must solve in an economic way, and I believe your sug- gestion carries it the wrong way. MR. WEISMAN : I am perfectly willing to impose heavy income taxes on such fortunes. PROFESSOR DOW AND THE MINIM UM WAGE. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: Mr. Dow, cannot we hear from you next? MR. DOW: I have not worked out a definite speech. I am in favor of a minimum wage, both as a state measure and as a national measure. I am in favor of it as a state measure because I do not think we can MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 223 get a national measure passed now. I would not be in favor of a higli minimum wage. I would not favor a definite set wage for all industries. I think the Commission should have the right to fix that according to different industries and different localities. I cannot conceive how a minimum wage, sufficient to maintain the worker, is going to be hard on the average employer. It may hit some one line of business, but if it hits all in that line, it is going to force up the prices received for that article, and therefore shift the burden on the public. For instance, the department stores and parasitic indus- tries who cannot pay employes more, this Avill merely force them up, remove them from the parasitic plane, and pass the burden on to the pub- lir in increased prices. If, on the other hand, they can pay a suitable wage without injury, it should be done. Now I cannot see why it would increase the inefficient class to any great extent. I think oil the whole it would raise the efficiency of the employe, and it would compel the employer to take some steps toward efficiency, and compel the school system to recognize the fact and follow out the plan similar to the schools in Germany, where a person is taught a trade on top of a public school education, and that training is com- pulsory. IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THE MINIMUM WAGE. COMMISSIONER WALKER: If a minimum wage was established that was materially higher than the present prevailing wage, would not its immediate effect be to increase to a considerable extent the unem- ployed ? MR. DOW: It might, but I do not conceive why a high minimum wage should be enacted. I think that' w r ould not be a wise measure at all. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Well suppose, for instance, the com- mon wage paid to women now was six dollars, and suppose the wage : board said eight dollars was as little as a woman could live upon and ! sustain herself in decency, and fixed that as a minimum wage; the im- | mediate effect of that would be, would it not, to throw out of employ - | ment a considerable number or proportion of the women in those in- ; dustries? MR. DOW: It might throw out some, but I think the employers would demand more of their employes, demand greater efficiency, and throw out the pin money class, rather than those who actually need it, and I think its effect would not be damaging at present. For instance, a great many women go to the department stores to earn pin money; they consider it light work, and if they knew it was not light work they would not go there. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Well of the present employes at the cheap wages, a considerable number of them, because of inefficiency, are not capable of earning what Avould be considered a living wage as such? MR. DOW : There are some. COMMISSIONER WALKER: There would be only one course to pursue as to them now, and that would be to discharge them if they could not almost immediately be made efficient enough, and what is to become of them ? 1%. 1M)\Y: Any new iinpmvrinciii nmscs a disturbance in conditions; 224 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON any new machine that conies into the market throws out men. The great industrial revolution caused untold misery. Any improvement is bound to cause some disturbance. TAKING THE FAMILY INCOME AS A WAGE BASIS. Now I would be opposed to Mr. Weisman's theory, using a man's family as a basis. I think if we took the family as a basis, it would tend to increase child .labor; and I think the individual is the basis for the wage. MR. WEISMAN: Isn't the family the spending unit? It is not the individual. It is the family, and we have to have a family income it seems to me. Don't you agree to that? MR. DOW: Well in a measure the family of course spends. MR. DOWRIE : How would you answer the question as to women and children ? MR. DOW: If one woman should support a family, the wage should be sufficient to do it, and at least to keep herself going. I think the minimum wage is merely to support one person, and if it is not suffi- cient to support one person, what is it? MR. WEISMAN: You want it to support one person in the same way that I want it to support the whole family. MR. DOW: If one person cannot earn enough to support himself how can five support a family of seven? PRODUCTION VS. WAGES. MR. DOW: Now as to the theory of productivity, being the basis for wages, I would be opposed to that COMMISSIONER WALKER: You mean under present conditions? MR. DOW: Yes, that is, an employer hires for as low as he can. He does not consider what that person can do. The productivity is the maximum. He won't pay for what that person produces, but will pay as far below that as he can hire a person for. MR. DUNFORD : You must take into consideration the fact that the employers of women are competing Avith each other, and sell at prices which just cover the cost of production, and one of the costs is the labor of women. The only thing you can do is either cut off profit of the employer, or raise the prices of the goods produced, unless the checks which I have referred to become effective. MR. DOW : When an employer seeks a location for a factory, he goes where he can get labor cheapest, and if he can get women cheaper at one place than at another, he will go where he can get the cheaper labor. Take for instance, the department stores of Chicago, take Marshall Fields', the descendants are gadding around Europe, living on fancy in- comes, and do absolutely nothing, and I don't favor increasing their in- come. I would have nothing to say if their income was cut off and they had to go to work for a living. MR. DUNFORD : Insofar as they are not competing, then of course there is a monopoly, and that is of course a condition where we would agree there may be exploitation, but on the other hand, my point of view is that a minimum WHJV i';m )>e injected into \\ie present economic MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 225 system ami not throw it out of balance or ran counter to it by raising die plane, of competition. MR. IM)\Y: My point of view is it wouldn't get there. MR. DUNFORI): Well, insofar as it aids the exploited party we should agree to it. THE MOBILITY OF LABOR. MR. DOW: The average person I think would not be affected by mini- mum wage at all. I think the immobility of labor has been exaggerated. Labor which is paid a low rate is less mobile than others. I consider that women are less mobile than men. MR. WE ISM AX: Are they less mobile if they have only themselves to provide for? MR. DOW: Because, a woman is more conservative anyway. A woman's temperament is different; it is more conservative. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: She likes home surroundings and hesi- tates to get away from them. MR. DOW: Yes, she has less active energy. She stores up more energy and expends less. COMMISSIONER WALKER: How is that, as applied to the argu- ment, that if the wage were raised, the Michigan minimum wage, that women employes would be apt to come in from other states? MR. DOW : [ think that is exaggerated. I think that is all I have to say. I am in favor of a minimum wage, and I think the fixing of a wage should be left with a commission. FAVORS A LIVING MINIMUM WAGE. COMMISSIONER WALKER: You are in favor of a living minimum wage, and that is really where we get to, because there is not very much pin-pose in imposing a minimum wage law and a minimum wage board, and the machinery that is necessary, unless in the end it is going to re- sult in a living minimum wage. MR. DOW: Yes, lives are more valuable than dividends. Human be- ings should be considered before profits. CHAIRMAN GRENELL: Still that does not imply we should jump from a low wage to a living wage in one jump. I notice in the Massa- chusetts brush trade decision, they start with 15% cents an hour, and at the end of the year are raised to 18 cents, and in the meantime the Com mission is to study the question and see whether the industry can stand the 18 cents rate. They have a year for experimenting on the 15Vo cent rate. That is what I suppose you mean by saying not to have I too much of a raise in the minimum wage at first. K!. DOW: Yes, it should be done gradually. MMISSIONKR WALKKR: I want to ask these gentlemen a ques- tliat is a little beyond the minimum wage question, but. relates to things they said. Tmler the theory of wage's in a condition of free oinpetilioii. does that free competition imply monopoly in land or imply '1'ial opportunity of access to natural resources? Is that one of the lials in free competition that we talked about to-day, in working IS FKi;i; ro.MI'KTlTlON I'OSSIl'.IJ-; WIIKUK LAND IS MONOi'OMZKP ? 220 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON out a wage law, which gives to everyone according to efficiency and productivity ? MR. DUNFORD : There are some essentials in the economic order in which the process of competition takes place, which determine the nature of the competitive action. Insofar as we establish a law, it would change the plane of competition, as the right of private property changed the plane of competition from what it was in the primitive state of na- ture. I usually illustrate this when teaching a class, and take football as an instance. The rules of football have been changed from time to time to elevate the plane of competition to conform to our idea of fairness. Now with freedom of competition, under one exception you might send the teams together and let them kill each other. New essen- tials, legal and social, are constantly entering into our conception of the phrase. The implications in the phrase depend upon the laws and social customs of the group in which competition takes place. MR. DOWRIE : It seems to me that, in order to insure those factors their share, there would have to be competition among owners of land as well as among the other factors. If the one landlord controls all of the natural resources, he would be in position to deprive some of the other factors of their share of the product. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: Also if he is in control of those na- tural resources which are most profitable. I was going to suggest this though : In free bargaining, with men, is it customary to ask him if he lives at home? MR. DOW: No. COMMISSIONER BEADLE : It is not. When women apply for em- ployment, on the other hand, the customary question is, if she lives at 1 home. I think that question itself indicates a parasitic industry. COMMISSIONER WALKER: Well, now, would it not be a chari- table thought that they hold an interest in the morals of the women em- ployes ? COMMISSIONER BEADLE: I believe that is true also, but while it is true, it shows in itself a lack of freedom in bargaining, A VOTE OF THANKS. COMMISSIONER WALKER: I want to move a vote of thanks to these gentlemen present, including the Professor from Albion, who have rendered, I think, a public service in attending to-day, and taking parl in this round table. I also include in the vote of thanks the institutions which they represent. COMMISSIONER BEADLE: I support that motion, and furthei move that a copy be sent to each institution. CHAIRMAN GKENELL: I am sure both the other Commissioned agree with Mr. Walker, and are heartily in accord with him in thankinjj the professors present and those who have been with us, in so fully ami freely giving us their views on the effect of any tniiiinmin wage legtslaj tiou that might be proposed. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 227 MINIMUM WAGE MEMORANDA FOR THE USE OF THOSE WHO ATTEND THE ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE. Tin* Michigan Minimum Wage Commission now investigating the ad- visability of establishing a Minimum Wage for Women, is desirous of obtain ing the best thought of the State on the problem. To this end the rommission is asking those University and College Professors of the Commonwealth, whose work is along economic lines, to meet the Coin- mission in a Round Table Discussion and advise on the question. And in order that these informal talks may not cover too wide a field, it is suggested those who may attend give thought to the following points : 1 As certain factors determine the rate of wages which any individual worker or group of workers receive, which of the following are the most important: Number of workers available; Efficiency of the workers; Standard of living; Needs of the individual; Needs of the worker's family; Needs of "pin money" workers; Danger of occupation; Size of the profits; Regularity of work; Chance of advancement; Local or trade conditions; Organization of employers; Organization of workers; Monopoly of opportunities for employment. Do wages, as at present determined, represent the true value of ilic services rendered f T/ present wages in general, or for any particular group of workers, 'arc inadequate, can they be raised: (a) By governmental action? (b) By education? (c) By any other agency? r / governmental at- lion / desirable for women and minors, is the best form the establishment of a Minimum Wage? the Minimum Wage, if declared, be made compulsory, or if not. how shall observance be SCCHH '// \ 228 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. What effect would a Minimum Wage established &// statute have: On the workers affected; On employers affected; On the consuming public; On the opportunity of obtaining a higher wage than minimum; (e) On the inefficient; (f) On regularity of employment; (g) On liberty of action; (h) On profits. 7 What could and should be done for the inefficient? APPENDIX B. PUBLIC MEETING HELD IN THE BOARD OF COMMERCE, DETROIT, FEB. 16, 1914. (Reported by Frank McNamara, stenographer.) The meeting was called to order by Judson Grenell, chairman of the State Minimum Wage Commission of Inquiry, in the Detroit Board of Commerce rooms. All the Commissioners were present. MR. GRENELL : Ladies and gentlemen, this meeting is called to obtain the views of the employers of Detroit on the advisability or in- advisability of a legal minimum wage for the working women of Michi- gan. The Commission, under appointment by Governor Ferris, is to make ils report to the next legislature. The Commission at this time lias no opinion of its own as to whether a minimum wage for women is practicable or impracticable; it is concerned with statistics and in- formation relating to wages, conditions and cost of living. Employers are asked to tell the Commission about wages; working women are be- ing asked as to wages, environment and cost of living. We are asking civil societies generally to give us their ideas of the 'cost of living and what it costs a wage working woman to live under proper conditions. This meeting is entirely in the hands of those present. Therefore, 1 would be pleased to have you appoint a chairman for the meeting. Whom will you have for chairman? FREDERICK F. INGRAM was unanimously declared chairman. MR. INGRAM: Ladies and gentlemen. As I understand the wishes of the Commissioners, it is their desire that those present take charge of the meeting, and they wish the assembly to have all the latitude pos- sible in discussing the subject of the meeting, as stated by the president of the Commission. It is suggested that speeches be limited to ten minutes, excepting by request of the audience, w r hen I suppose the speeches will be extended. I await the pleasure of the meeting. MYRON H. WALKER, COMMISSIONER: There is one additional word I would like to say. I think this ought to be made plain at this meeting to-night. We have received, for instance, from Detroit, returns by employers of labor to whom our blanks have been sent, and in answering the question as to w r hat their opinion was as to the mini- mum wage for women in the State of Michigan, some said it is ad- visable, and some said no, it is inadvisable, and gave various reasons. Others said "Yes, it is advisable. We have already adopted it." One of the principal objections that has been urged is this, that they pay by the piece and that by paying by the piece the minimum wage cannot 230 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON be applied. Now, the Commission wants all the light that can possibly be thrown on the subject. If you are in favor of it, why? If you are against it, why are you opposed to it? We want all the light 'we can get along those lines, as well as the views or suggestions, as suggested by the chairman. THE CHAIRMAN: I would like to hear from some of the large employers of female labor. I will call upon Mr. George Hargreaves, of Parke, Davis & Co. MARVELOUS EXTENSION OF DETROIT'S INDUSTRIES. MR. HARGREAVES: Mr. Chairman. During the last ten years Detroit has undergone a marvelous extension, as we all know, and fam- ilies have been brought into the city from outlying districts to furnish the manual labor necessary to meet that increased demand for labor by the automobile manufacturers and the allied interests. The increas- ing demand for female labor has gone hand in hand largely with the increasing demand for male labor. I think some six, seven, eight, nine or ten years ago when the manu- facturers of Detroit were at their wits' end to know where men were to be found to man the large machine shops and other shops, I believe that people were engaged to secure labor in the eastern cities, and they made the point, in fact, that there would be a possible opening for the female members of the family, so that the word has gone out and we have found the demand extended year by year and the supply kept pace with it so far as I am able to judge. These girls come here and apply for employment without any knowledge of the work to be done. They have to be taught, whether it is a cigar factory, a corset factory, or whatever it may be, and at the beginning, therefore, they had to accept a small rate of pay. The fact that they start work at lOc an hour does not mean that they are to be kept there indefinitely. That is not the idea. But, even though they are paid lOc an hour the chances are that during the first two or three weeks they hardly earn that, because by learning the business during that time they cannot produce very, very much. The piece-work basis, I think, is pretty generally adopted in De- troit, and it is quite possible for those girls who started at lOc an hour, to earn twice that much, or more than that, and that within a very short time within two, three or four months after accepting em- ployment, providing they have the aptitude and will stay. Of course, a great many of them come and go. Some do not care to become pro- ficient at the best, and form a part of that floating element men as well us women; but whether it is to the interest of the girls, or whether it is to the interest of the employers that a minimum wage shall be established, I, for one, am in a great deal of doubt. I came here to-night expecting that some light may be thrown on that question. Not all girls are barn with equal ability any more than men are, and some provision has to be made for those who are not so apt, because their help has to go to support families; so in fixing the mini- mum wage scale that fact ought not to be lost sight of. There are girls of great ability who must be found employment, who have to support a family, and before it is finally decided with reference to the minimum MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 231 rage scale, I think that is a further matter that should not be lost ight of. STARTING WOMEN AT WORK. MR. INGRAM : Assuming that we are to have a minimum wage, the i inimum wage, I suppose, from what the chairman of the Commission ivs. would be one that would support a family respectably. Now, )\v are" you going to start the females in their work? You, I presume, innot pay that wage to the women when they first begin the work, lien they are ignorant of the work? How would you get the women i<> go into a shop so as to earn a minimum wage? MB. HARGREAVKS : That is a question I have been unable to answer ivself, and am in hopes some light will be thrown upon it. I find that there is a great deal of difficulty. These girls the first three or four weeks earn very, very little. That is our experience. They must be taught they must earn something. MR. INGRAM: It costs the employer something to teach them? MR. IIARGREAVES: Perfectly true. We have no assurance that a girl who comes this morning will report for duty to-morrow morning or a week from to-day. As I say, they go from place to place. Whether it is for more congenial work or lighter work, I do not know. MR. C. S. READLE, COMMISSIONER: Kindly state the line of business in which you are engaged; what your experience has been as to the necessary time of apprenticeship in which to teach these women; the kind of work you expect them to do; also the number of days or weeks you find it necessary for these particular employes to become pro- ficient enough to really earn the pay that you give them. MR. HARGREAVES: The Commissioner asks the question as if he was in one branch of business. I represent Parke, Davis & Co., a manu- facturing pharmaceutical business. Some girls are in the box depart- ment; some work in the capsule department; some in various depart- ments throughout the establishment, the terms of which may not be familiar to you, and you can realize the great differences in the work. For instance, we have the labeling and wrapping which are easier to learn than other branches. In some departments it is easier to become efficient than in others. In some cases it will take four months, and I will also add that they are learning something all the time and becoming more and more efficient and skillful and their earning power increases during that time. MR. HEADLE: That answers the question very, very well. THIS STOIJI-: HAS A MIM.MI'.M WAGE SCALE. MR. ING RAM : I notice in the audience a gentleman who represents one of our largest department stores, and the department store is a large employer of female labor. I will ask Mr. Petzold, of the J. L. Hudson < 1 o., to address us. MR. WILLIAM A. PETZOLD: This is a matter to which we have been giving very much consideration. In a general way it seems to me that the minimum wage ought to be a desirable thing to adopt. It ought to be made low enough, however, I think, so as not to work an injustice or hardship upon either employers or employes. I believe if the wage is fixed at too low a rate it is very apt to work an injustice upon the work- 232 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON ing people upon the girls themselves, because it will be in the nature of a discrimination against the poorer classes. The concern I am with, however, adopted the minimum wage scale they have more than a year ago two or three years in fact. We have our scale based upon the ages of the girls. We have a limitation. For instance, a girl between the ages of 14 and 18 we pay $4 a week; that is not less than $4 a week. Girls between the ages of 18 and 21 get not less than $6 a week, and girls more than 21 not less than |8 a week. That is our scale of wages. The only exception we have is with some of the girls in the cafe. They work only three or four hours a day, and they also get the noon meal. Some of them get less than |4 a week. That is the only exception. It seems to me that the minimum wage might be worked on some basis so as to be of great ad- vantage to employers and employes alike. The matter that Mr. Har- greaves suggests, about having inexperienced people, is one which ought to be given very serious consideration by the Commissioners in making their report, and I believe some recommendation ought to be made to relieve that situation perhaps in the form of apprenticeship. Some way we might be able to work out. ME. INGRAM: Your idea of the minimum wage, I take it, would be different minimums for different ages? MR. PETZOLD : Yes, that is the plan we work out. It seems to me that on a different basis the minimum wage would be impracticable, because we have to employ girls from the age of 14 up, and the minimum wage that would apply to a girl 14, 1C or 18 years of age might not be fair to a girl more than 21 years old. MR. WALKER: May I ask the gentleman a question. Do you find that these women can live on the wage of $6 a week; i. e., the women over 21? What is your experience in that regard in Detroit? MR. PETZOLD : We do not have a minimum wage of f 6 at 21. It is $8. Between the ages of 18 and 21 the minimum wage is |6. All over 21, |8. We, of course, do not mean by that, that that is the limit we pay. That is the minimum wage. Our average wage is somewhat higher than that considerably higher than that. I mean that when we employ them, we do not pay any less than, that. MR. INGRAM: These younger girls presumably live with their par- ents? MR. PETZOLD: I think a very large majority. MR. INGRAM: So far as you know the older girls are supporting themselves independent of their parents? MR. PETZOLD: The only exception to this are the girls between 14 and 18. VIEWS OP THE CIGAR MANUFACTURERS. MR. INGRAM : The Commission would like to hear from some cigar manufacturer. MR, ALBERT E. BUNTING : I represent some cigar manufacturers to a certain extent. I am not going to make any speech, but I have some statistics which might be of advantage: The majority of our employes would not be affected by a minimum wage law if such a law would not destroy the necessary ambition to MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 233 improve their condition and earning capacity compared with the pres- ent piece-work system, which is employed in all cigar factories, for if an employe knows she is to receive a stated sum each week whether she earns that amount or not, it surely will breed a spirit of indifference and rob the girl of all ambition to excel her neighbor. This might not apply to all operators, but it would to a sufficient number and make it a very serious matter to the manufacturer, as well as a decided detri- ment to the employes. The cigar making industry has been steadily growing in this State and particularly in the City of Detroit during the last few years. In order to take care of this natural growth, as well as to replace the women workers, who usually stop work after marriage, it has been found nec- essary for all cigar factories to maintain schools in which apprentices are taught cigar making. This is a very expensive item for the manu- facturer, as he must furnish capable instructors, provide the material .to work with, which is practically all wasted for a period of time, and even after the apprentices have made considerable progress, the cigars made by them have to be sold at a big loss. During this time the apprentice is paid a small sum each week which cannot in any way be construed as a wage, which is in striking contrast to the average girl learning such occupations as bookkeeping, stenography, etc., where in addition to devoting their time they are charged liberal tuition fees, and their earnings as a rule for a considerable period after graduation cannot be compared with the earnings of experienced cigar makers. Because of these facts it is generally estimated that developing an apprentice into a finished worker costs the manufacturer from $60 to $150, this amount varying according to the ability of the individual to progress. You will readily appreciate a minimum wage law would effectually prohibit the educating of girls in our business, and in a short time mean the total wiping out of the industry, and as one of the leading in- dustries of the State, we feel that we should be helped rather than hinder- ed by laws inimical to our interests. We want to state that the period of time taken to learn cigar making is very short, as most beginners are fairly competent cigar makers at the end of six months, needing only experience to give them sufficient speed and deftness to earn a weekly wage which is very attractive. We believe the average wage of cigar makers is larger than any other occu- pation open 'to girls. The average wage in our individual factories to experienced cigar makers ranges from $9.95 to $16.42 per week. Cigars are all made piece-work and the relative value of each mechanic is measured by her skill, for instance some women working on the same shaped cigar receiving the same price, will earn 40 per cent more wages than others in the same time, and in most cases will turn out a much better finished product, due to their efficiency. There is a class of labor, known as strippers or stemmers, employed in our factories, to whom it would be positively impossible to grant a minimum wage, as no skill is employed in the execution of their work, and this help in some cases are girls who are just beginners in the in- dustry, and if we have to contend with a law of this kind, unless the wage is necessarily low, we would be forced to have all our stemming done out of the State, which would be a great inconvenience to the manu- facturers, and would deprive this class of help of a chance to earn a livelihood. At this time this help is receiving an average wage of from $4.28 to $7.39 per week. For the most part these stemmers are middle- aged married women of the immigrant type, unable to speak English and devoid of sufficient intelligence to perform other than the most ordinary kind of labor, thus a splendid field is offered this class of women, who otherwise might eventually have to appeal to charitable institutions for assistance after coming to this country. The balance of the stemmers are younger women from whose ranks are recruited many of the cigar maker apprentices, and the highest wages that a cigar maker is able to make each week acts as a spur to those strippers and apprentices to perfect themselves in the art of cigar making, so they themselves may enjoy these wages. The product of the Michigan cigar manufacturers is sold throughout 234 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON the United States, and as we are in competition with all other factories throughout the country where no minimum wage laws exist, it is prob- able that if the Michigan cigar manufacturers are handicapped with this additional expense, they would be compelled to remove their business to another state, where they would not be harassed by such a law. If the law was universal the hardship would not be so great, for then all the manufacturers would be on the same footing, but if the additional cost to the Michigan manufacturers, caused by the enactment of a minimum wage law, became a fact, then our competitors outside the State would be given an unfair advantage over us, inasmuch as their product would cost them less to produce than that manufactured in Michigan. We would request that this paper in its entirety be incorporated in your report to the legislative committee having this matter in charge. SAN TELMO CIGAR MFG. CO., SUPERIA CIGAR MFG. CO., LILIES CIGAR CO., WAYNE CIGAR CO., THE HEMMETER CIGAR CO., WM. TEGGE & CO., SPIETZ & WORCH CO., ALEXANDER GORDON, THE BANNER CIGAR MFG. CO. MB. INGRAM: Can you tell us approximately Low many employes you have there? MR. BUNTING : About 5,600. MR. INGRAM: The last speaker assumes that the minimum wage law would be impossible in piece-work. Is that assumption correct 11) at the minimum wage would be impossible for work carried on mostly through piece-work? MR, BUNTING: I do not state that. The league of a number of manufacturers in Michigan who employ piece-work only suggest in their report that the minimum wage be practicable. OPINION OF A GARMENT MANUFACTURER. MR, INGRAM : We would be very glad to hear from Mr. I. Cohen, of A. Krolik & Company. MR. COHEN: I fully appreciate the spirit that prompts this gather- ing, or rather the consideration of this question, and I am largely under the impression that it is the matter of the connection beAveeu the em- ployment of women and the vice question rather than the consideration of how much a woman can earn, because we pay no attention to estab- lishing a minimum for men. I am in great sympathy with the question and have given it considerable thought, although I fear I am hardly in position to express it in a way that would be as intelligent as I would like to make it. We are now undertaking for the National Association of American Garment Manufacturers, which represents about 150 garment manufac- turers throughout the United States, the matter of the minimum wage question. We realize that this question is coming throughout the coun- try a sort of wave going through the country. There is no one who can definitely say what the minimum wage should be, no more than they can I say what a reasonable wage should be. My definition of a reasonable | wage is, that it is a little more than you are getting; and I have found j MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 235 no hotter definition. That is practically what the minimum wage would be. Now let me explain the garment conditions as compared with others. We have a great many girls and we haven't a girl in the house who is employed by the week but what receives $6. We do not employ any girl under 16 years of age. At one time we employed girls at |4 a week and they were. glad to get it, but now they get |6 a week i. e., week workers, and when they graduate from that we put them on piece-work. When a girl says she wants to be a machine worker she may not be able to make very much in a day, but she will be in a position to learn a trade and in four or five months is in a fair way to earn from |9 to Sl.~ a week. That is the work we are undertaking now. We have an expert now who is making a thorough study of the efficiency of the in- dividual operator. We have quite a few charts ready, and I believe it will be a very interesting matter to hand over to the Commission. Mr. Collins, who is the engineer, is here with me this evening. It shows the girl who is able to earn say $9 or $10, -this week. The chart shows the variation. She will go down to |2, up to |3; up to $9, down to *2. The work is there for her. The price is fixed in advance. She can earn |9, only she chooses to earn |3. If there was a law which said we must pay her a minimum wage of $6, she would get f6. We would not get f 6 worth of work, and our selling prices are fixed on the cost of operation. On the other hand they do not care if they earn |9 one week and fall down to |3 the next week. Then again they will congregate in small groups and dance; comb their hair three or four times a day. We permit that, of course, because we could not get them unless we gave them all these privileges. Now, just see what the condition would be if we had to pay them |6 a week. LOW WAGES AM) VICE. MK. IXCJKAM: Perhaps we might help you discipline them if you pay a minimum wage. Mil. COHEN: Possibly they would go io Parke, Davis & Co. Their girls come to us. We ask them, "How much have you earned?" "So much." They always earn more in the last factory, but we pay no at- tention to that. They all have had previous experience. We take them for what they are worth. When I put a girl on in the morning I do not expect to see her in the afternoon. We have others again who expect lo earn a good wage. Those we like to show on the pay roll. There are about 10,000 sewing machines in this city, and there is not a shop in this city but what there is a want of help, even under those conditions, and I believe the same is true with every industry which employes fe- male labor. We do not find dissatisfaction. The only dissatisfaction there is, is where there is dissatisfaction in her own home. I cannot see where you are going to benefit the women by fixing this minimum wage, and if it has any connection with this great, social evil, it is my experi- ence that 1he girls who usually go wrong are the biggest earners in my shop, and I find that the girls who go wrong are among the biggest earners in my shop, so that would indicate that there is no connection between low wage and vice. MK. WAMvEK: No connection between low wage and vice? 236 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON MR. COHEN: Yes sir. They do not dress as well. They do not go out alone. There is an entirely different temperament. VIEWS OF AN EFFICIENCY EXPERT. MR. INGRAM : Let us hear from Mr. Collins. MR. COLLINS: Mr. Chairman, I feel that I can hardly say very much at this stage, because our investigations have not gone far enough. With regard to this question of evil I believe as Mr. Cohen does, that there is no connection between low wages and vice ; that the women earn- ing higher wages are more apt to be among those who are questionable than the women earning low wages. I believe it is a matter of temper- ament, as he says. Out of some fifteen girls, we will say, probably three of them may be considered good workers, the rest are drones. Now, with the establishing of the minimum wage, those twelve would have to be thrown out of work. They ought to be earning money. They have got to be taught. When they are taught they go to another shop, and then they are lost to the manufacturers who have invested their money and have nothing to show for it. I think that is about the experience of every efficiency man who works in factories in any line of industry employ! ng help men or women. MR. INGRAM: Should the legislature decide upon a minimum wage, would that situation be relieved by some apprenticeship proposition, so the girls would work at a low wage until they would show their effi- ciency? Is that practicable? MR. COLLINS: It does not seem to me that it is, because the labor situation is coming down pretty much to this: This labor has 1o be trained by well paid instructors; they have got to be supplied with ma- terial, and there is a waste of time, and it is impossible to produce what the manufacturer wants. In almost any line of industry, I do not care whether it is the automobile or what it is, you cannot put an advertise- ment in the paper and the next morning get a man to start that machine a going. WHY GIRLS CHANGE EMPLOYMENT. MR. WALKER:. I understood you to say when they are trained they go to another shop. Is that what you said? MR. COLLINS : Yes sir, they are very apt to. MR, WALKER: Why do they, get tired? MR. COLLINS: Because they are tired of working and have friends in other shops. The men are not like the women. Very often the women have no one depending upon them. I would be willing to say, perhaps I may be Avrong, 75 per cent do not have dependents. MR, WALKER: Would they go to another shop without increased wage? Mil. COLLINS: Yes sir, because they have some relative, cousin or friend. MR. WALKER: This system of efficiency aims to train these drones these 12 out of 15 into more competent: and efficient workers? MR. COLLINS: It is any manufacturer's aim to do that, and the manufacturer who is not willing to do that is very apt to be driven out of business. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 237 IK. iN'tJliAM: Mr. Cohen, in his remarks, referred to the minimum wage for men. It is a fair proposition to inlroduce, because if there should be a minimum wage for women, there should he also a minimum wage for men. That fact lias come to me more than once, Mr. Collins. The men do have more dependents upon tliein than the women, and if I he wage were raised for men, for instance,, some of these dependents would not have to earn wages themselves. So it is a fair subject. Is the minimum wage as necessary for women as it is for men? Mil. SHEEHAN: It seems to me, Mr. Chairman, that the various questions in the various industries resolve themselves into purely an economic question. I would suggest to the members of this Commission before they do anything rash, that they familiarize themselves along purely economic lines; that they advise with some of the best economic professors in our schools and in our universities, and that they com- municate with men experienced both in the business world and who are students of economic principles. Do not be rash about suggesting to the legislature, gentlemen, that such a thing is necessary because it may interfere with the economic law and may bring on disaster, and that may work conditions far different from what you expect. IS THERK AX KCOXOMIO ALTERNATIVE? I do not know which side of the question I am on. I am a limited employer .of female labor. I think we have on our pay roll to-day some 1!) young women and they must be, and have to be of higher intelligence than the ordinary working girl and their wages run from $20 a week down to ff>. I asked the bookkeeper to-day to give me the statistics, and the wage averages flO a week, about. I can remember when I came to this city seventeen years ago that there were plenty of splendid, bright young women working in these various stores at $3 or $3.50 a week. Those same girls to-day are bringing from |G to |7 a week. Go back furl her, MI-. Chairman. When I was a young man in school there were plenty of young women well bred young women employed in our pub- lic schools as school teachers at |150 a year. There are teachers in Detroit to-day earning from f 800 to $1,500 a year. Are the young women teaching school to-day any better than the girls in calico dresses forty years ago? These are things you want to think of, gentlemen. These are things you must think of, because they^will come before the com- munity and they will be thrashed out. We have here Mr. Sullivan whom I know for twenty years has been a great economic student, and he is connected with a business industry here, and I would like to hear from him, Mr. Chairman, in regard to this question. MR. INGRAM: You spoke of an economic alternative. The Commis- sion, as I understand it, is not committed to a minimum wage, but de- sire all the information they can get. Have you anything to say about that? MR, SHEEHAN : No, I have not. I merely thought perhaps it would he a good idea to mention it. We can see how the wages of the young women have doubled and almost trebled. 238 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON COMPETITION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS. MR. WALKER: Under the operation of the present system, which we will say is the economic law, is the employer who pays his help better wages at the mercy of the other employer in the same line of business who pays his help poorer wages? Is he a hard competitor, or doesn't the man who pays the poorer wages have as good a business? How is that? In other words, is the man who pays the better wages in the same line of employment at a disadvantage for so doing under the present system ? ME. SHEEHAN: Unfortunately I am in the book business and the culture of the. American people is not so high as to have any more than one other book store in the city, so I cannot answer your question. MR. COHEN: If this condition would exist; if I am paying a girl who is making sleeves 15c a dozen and my competitors are paying 13c a dozen, I am going to get the girls. He is going either to meet my price or go out of business. I will sell the product too, as quick as they. That is what makes high wages. We do not consider high wages accord- ing to the present condition a standard, or compared with what they were twenty years ago, as being remarkably high. I had occasion to look over the pay roll of mine to-day that is fifteen years old. The biggest earner on that roll was f7 earned in one week, and our average was f r>.. r )(). That same pay roll to-day would probably run as high as f 15. Mix. WALKER: In proportion to the cost of .living, how does that compare ? MR. COHEN: I am not in a position to say. MR. WALK EH: You must take that into consideration. MR. INGRAM : Isn't it true in your line of business that the manu- facturers who are paying the top scale are usually the most successful and largest manufacturers? MR. COHEN : They are not large because they pay the highest scale. They are paying the highest scale because they are large and successful. (Applause.) MR. INGRAM: Mr. Sullivan has been mentioned as a gentleman who can give us something interesting. We "will be glad to hear from Mr. Sullivan. MR. SULLIVAN: I came here to learn something. What has been said so far is very interesting. I will be glad to receive more. MR. WALKER: I am not quite satisfied with Mr. Cohen's explana- tion that the employer who pays 15c for certain work will put the em- ployer who pays 13c for the same work, out of business. Isn't there a surplus of female labor, generally speaking? MR. COHEN : No. I do not think there is an employer here but what he will agree with me. MR. SULLIVAN : The employer who pays 15c for these shirt sleeves has more for the amount paid than the product of the competitor who pays 13c. MR. WALKER: He is paying by the piece. MR. SULLIVAN: There must be something in the management or something in the selling arrangement. MR, MITCHELL: I represent the Crown Hat Manufacturing Com- pany, manufacturers of ladies' hats. It is an industry of which we are probably the only ones here. It has been somewhat difficult for us to MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 230 t enough female help at times, and I thought probably I could on a little bit on the subject of (he surplus of female help. 1 do not low ilia I it will atl'ect us part icularly whether we have a minimum age or not. Some of the arguments that have been put forth so far are much lo the point in regard to the apprenticeship question, and so m. But, I will say this, that we have a business in which, at certain >ns of the year, we use a gr-eat many operators and female em- > loves. INTELLIGENT WORKERS COMMAND HIGH WAGES. We have always aimed to pay the highest prices in order to get suf- licient help. Some of our girls have made as high as |45 a week. We have 1 known them to make $75 a week in the manufacture of ladies' hats. We are working under a hardship through the fact that we are unable to work more than 54 hours a week. In other cities we have to compete against labor where they work more, particularly for the rea- son that we have to make enough in six months to last a year. We have olTered all kinds of inducements, and even at those prices have been unable to get enough workers enough intelligent workers. It requires intelligent work to supply the demand. For instance, this last year we paid double the prices that competitors paid. I found that out after- wards. It was necessary to get work out by people in Cleveland and Milwaukee, and still we could not get the work turned out. We had the same difficulty as other manufacturers here, and the reason of it is largely, I believe, because of the great demand for female labor in De- troit. Where there are so many garment workers and so many cigar- makers they have found it necessary to build their factories right in the heart of their living districts, so that they do not have to go far aw r ay. They have had to put in all kinds of extra inducements in order to keep them there. They have experienced, so far as I know, the same difficulty that we have. They come down and if they do not feel like doing the work, they do not do it. I was just looking over the list of piece- workers. We are paying them now an average of f 12 a week. It is pos- sible for any of them to make as high as the highest if they will give the attention to their work. Up to date there are many of them making in the neighborhood of |30 a week, the best ones are making |45 a week, and in one instance |75 a week, but they are prevented from working more than 54 hours a week in the season that we are able to employ them. AIR. GRENELL: Isn't the work somewhat in the nature of artistic work? It is not mechanical? AIR. A1ITCHELL: It is almost entirely mechanical work, not artis- tic. We are obliged to pay a little more because the work is not con- stant. AIR. INCiRA.M : Is there any one representing the corset manufactur- ing industry in the room? AIR. BEADLE: Air. Cohen consulted his pay roll fifteen years old and compares it with his pay roll to-day. I would like to ask him if he also consulted the profit made by the employer at that time and compared it with the profit now possible at this time and could give us any figures concerning that. 240 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON BENEFITING THE OPERATOR. MR. COHEN: I am in no position as to actual figures, but in a gen- eral way I might say this, that not only are the operators earning more money, but it is also true we will take, for instance, the overall which is familiar to all of us. The goods that go into the overall to-day are worth lOc a yard; we are using on an average of 32 yards to a dozen overalls ; Ave sell those overalls at $5.25 a dozen ; they are being retailed at 50c each. That is the condition to-day. The labor is getting, I believe, 90c a dozen. Fifteen years ago that material was worth about 7c a yard; labor was getting 85c a dozen. There is the big thing. You think it is the production. They were getting but 5c a dozen less and earning about half the money. That is what efficiency and more scientific machinery is doing for the operators. Where we had our sewing machine that cost $30, we are to-day making an investment of $150 for a machine and turn it over to this operator and say go ahead and make some money. As a result of these improved methods that we have, everything is really for the benefit of the operator. Our profits were really better than they are to-day, because the raw material was cheaper. The consumer fixes the price to-day, and lie doesn't want an overall that costs more than 50c. MR. GRENELL: Hasn't the machinery been speeded up a great deal during the last fifteen } T ears? MR. COHEN : That is true. MR. GRENELL: Doesn't the operator to-day have to make a great many more motions in a day's work than fifteen years ago? MR. COHEN : Not necessarily. I believe we are way ahead of fifteen years ago methods. They are also doing away with these lost motions and getting practically 5c per dozen more. By our making investments in machinery and other scientific methods, we are trying to eliminate these waste motions, and they do not put in as much energy. MR. S. O. BROOKS: Mr. Brooks spoke probably twenty minutes describing his various methods of building up business. ARE WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS SCARCE ? MR. WALKER: It seems that instead of there being a surplus of female labor it is claimed there is a scarcity of it. Now, I would like to know whether this scarcity of skilled female labor, or all kinds of female labor, exists. I would like to know whether there is a like scarcity of male labor or a surplus; and if a surplus of male labor, whether it is caused by the demand for female labor; and whether it is possible to work out a system by which men shall be employed. MR. FRED L. SILK: I would like to answer Mr. Walker's question. In regard to the scarcity of female labor, Mr. Walker has never been in the manufacturing line. Any employer of labor male or female in or near Detroit can answer the question himself. I have been an employer of both in Detroit for more than twenty years. There has never been a time during the twenty years I mention, except at seasons such as Jan- uary and February, when we might say that we have had plenty of girl labor. At the present time we are short. We are rather busy, which is unusual for Detroit factories. During January and February we run on short time ourselves. We are a lot busier now. Have had advertise- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 241 men Is in I lie papers for girls; send out postal cards for girls who have worked for us. We have to teach the girls, and it may take two months or two years. Wo have some girls with us who came to work for us at fourteen years of age never worked anywhere else; came to work for s."> ;i week at thai lime. I think at the present time we do not start any- one at less than lOc an hour, and as the girls become expert in their work, they make from $9 to $15 a week. We, during the last year or two, have changed a great deal from day-work to piece-work. That gives the girl who is smarter and brighter than the others, which we all know exists among men and exists among girls and women as well, a chance to earn what she is entitled to. Girls in our factory formerly earned $G and $7 a week, but now they earn $9 and f 10. I asked for one operator to-day. The foreman said she left. "What for?" "Don't know." They will shift around from one place to another regardless of pay. MORE WAGES, MORE HELP. MR. INGRAM: I think what is in the Commissioner's mind is this: If I hey paid more wages perhaps they would not have that trouble to contend with. MK. SILK: That may be so. I am not in position to state. I will give you a little instance of the condition in a factory in Detroit, where, for some reason or other I don't know whether it was from the wage law or whether they were forced to the condition by their employes. In their various departments were twenty-four machines operated by men. In order to meet with the condition in order to make up some surplus they had to hire girls. They adopted the piece-work system. The men were getting $2.51) a day. They put on girls at $1.05 to help cut down expenses. They claimed they were forced to keep skilled labor down. Coming to the surplus of men labor in Detroit, I do not think the scarcity of female help had anything to do with that. We know that in Detroit and in every town, there has been a slight depression during the past two or three months. Some people say it is due to the tariff. Pos- sibly so. I do not know. There are many reasons for it, but I think the condition Of the money market has something to do with it. We borrow a few dollars ourselves, and while to-day the money market is consider- ably easier than they admit, personally, I think it will help out possibly to get better men back to work. The minimum wage for women might naturally follow a thing of this kind. You gentlemen have been through one more panic than I have, and you know it is a great deal better to give a little work to a lot of men at $1 or 85c a day, such as twenty years ago nearly, than to give work to a few men at $2.25 a day. I believe in paying all that possibly can be aid. This question has been brought about by the increased cost of living. There are several reasons for that. One of them is the ability of the people to pay the prices. We all of us spend money for things we lo not absolutely need. What do the moving picture shows take away from the needs of people? Is it necessary for them to spend $1 or $2 a week for moving picture shows See the prices they pay for clothes and hats or a great many of them lo. Vie have girls in our office at $15 a week who pay more for a hat 31 242 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON than my wife does. She can do what she likes; it is up to her. A great many working girls live at home, especially the younger ones. A mini- mum wage might force a great many out of the stores to our factory. The cost of living, as I say, is caused a good deal by the poor people spending too much. We should legislate in the interest of greater pro- duction on the farms, especially the agricultural schools in Michigan as they are doing in Wisconsin. Teach the farmers how to produce greater crops to the acre. If you can do that in Michigan potatoes will be cheaper and the farmers will make a great deal more money. As I say, we all get girls, just as you know, as we can get them. Per- sonally, I would like to see the whole lot from 14 to 16 years of age. The younger you can get them the better you can teach them. I might say that for three months last year we took into our plant at least 100 girls. They did not earn on the piece-work basis what experienced girls made, $1.50 to |:2.25 a day. These girls did not earn on that basis 50c a day. We paid them $1.25 a day. MEN MORE STABLE THAN GIRLS. MR. INGRAM : Isn't it a fact that men earning around $12 a week in stores and girls getting the same, that the men will stick to their jobs and the girls will-shift around? MR. SILK: You know a great many men are married and have fam- ilies of their own and the girls live at home, and a great many of Ihc girls will shift around from place to place. MR. INGRAM: And that makes female help less valuable than male help? MR. SILK: Yes. One girl will earn from 25 to 40 per cent more than the girl next to her. We want the best girls and are willing to pay them the price. MR. INGRAM : You spoke about the farm being made more pro- ductive. If the farms were made more productive, this surplus of male help would naturally go out to the farm if they were sure they would make a living. That would make employment more satisfactory and better for the females? MR. SILK : Certainly. We are spending this year $2,000 for men to go out and lecture to the farmer and show him where he can increase his production. If the United States government, and the State government and the county government will work together as Wisconsin is doing, the farmer would be independent. There is no better life for any man to live than on the farm. Teach them how to raise more on the ground. Last year a good average was five tons to the acre. We claim seven to eight is a good average. I noticed in the paper that one man raised 39,000 pounds on one acre, or IQi/o tons. There is no question they can raise at least 12 tons and at $8 a ton, that brings pretty near $100 to the acre. These men cause the high cost of living in the' United States. MR. BEADLE: What was the comparative output of the 24 women who took the places of the 24 men? MR. SILK: It was more than the men. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 243 WORK TO Wl I li'll WOMEN AltE ADAPTED. MR. NICHOLS (Princess Mfg. Co.) : We manufacture children's and women's wash dresses. .Mr. Walker asked a specific question that I think I can answer in part, and that is in relation to men not doing certain work as well and finished as women. We had occasion in our shop last year to try this out. Certain parts of our production run out. We could not get enough girls to keep up with the rest of our factory and we employed some men who have been earning high wages in an automobile factory, sewing on some tape or something similar to the type of work they had to do in the automobile factory. Those men worked for several months in our factory and were an absolute failure compared with women. They were used to sewing, but when it came to sewing a dress they were not there. That work seems to be something that women are naturally adapted to. As far as the minimum wage proposition goes, our position is, I think, pretty clear on it. I personally would believe in the minimum wage if it would do anything to better the conditions of the average working girl, because I think we know what would better the condition of the average working girl would better the condition of the best employed girl. But whether the minimum w^age would better their condition or not is a question. I think the amount of wages that is paid has got to depend upon what the girl can produce. If the minimum wage law would go into effect to- morrow, we would be forced to take extraordinary precautions to teach them, as well as the amount of time it w r ould take. If the girls would stay with us, that would not be so bad, but if they do not stay with us they would be a loss, and if we employed very many of them we would go into the hands of a receiver in a short time, for obvious reasons. Some girls do not even care to earn what they can. They are perfectly willing to earn |2 one week and |9 the next, and if the minimum wage went into effect it would mean that the ones who only earned $2 a \veek would be an absolute loss to us. If we had to pay her $6 or $7, or what- ever the minimum wage would be, we would have to let her go. MEN VS. WOMEN. MR. INGRAM: Would you substitute women for men in your line of industry if the men could do the work? MR. NICHOLS: Not if they could do it. Our experience is that they cannot do it. We are in the dressmaking business on a large scale. Our production is very great. Plenty of men are dressmakers on higher- priced work. On high-priced work they are better adapted than women. We find that to be true, but in the cheaper work (he women seem to be better adapted to it than men. It is a natural thing for women to do. It seems to be our experience anyway. MR. COHEN: As a matter of fact the garment industry is controlled almost entirely by men in the east. Those very high class dresses in SiegeFs windows are almost entirely made by men. But the condition in Detroit seems to be entirely different than in New York. Now, they have tried to employ men in making pants in Corinth, Mississippi. There is a concern in Rome, Georgia, that is trying to employ negroes without 211 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON success. The industry in New York does employ mostly men. I de- cided at one time to employ some men. The women came to me and said, "We will not work with tlnem." Yon cannot employ men in the same factory where women are engaged. MR. INGRAM: Why do they employ men in the east? MR. COHEN: They produce more; earn more; they are stronger, but you cannot do that in Detroit. THE COMMISSION AFTER INFORMATION. MR. GRENELL: Has any manufacturer here come to a conclusion as to what he considers a fair wage for women, i. e., what is the wage a woman can live on in Detroit? MR. HAMBERGER: I was going to ask a question. Is it the intent of this Commission to fix the minimum wage? Or recommend the mini- mum wage that shall apply to all industries? Is it the intent that it shall apply to the garment workers; to the Parke, Davis girls; Hudson girls, etc.? Is it the intent that it shall apply to all industries? I think that is quite important and could be more intelligently discussed if we knew. MR. GRENELL: I would say this: The Commission itself does not know yet as to how far the minimum wage should go; where it should begin and end. We are depending upon the manufacturers the employ- ers of labor to a certain extent. We must first get the information from you gentlemen. Then we must get information from women wage-earn- ers. Then we must get the cost of living, so we can compare the three. We cannot tell until we receive these figures just where the minimum wage should begin, or where it should end, or whether there should be such a thing as a minimum wage. MR. INGRAM : The possible position the Commission may take is, that they may decide that a certain wage is necessary for a woman to live respectably, and the industries that cannot pay that would be driven out. That is the only way of considering the minimum wage without reference to the industry. MR. WALKER: There are eight states, I think, that have the mini- mum wage law all passed within the last two years. There is only one of those states, that is Utah, that attempted in the law itself to fix what that minimum wage should be so it would apply to all industries. There is usually a wage commission, and that commission consults the employers and employes upon the wage applying here, a report made, and it is determined then. THE COST OF LIVING. MR. SILK: If it is determined that it costs flO a week to support ourselves, say, is it right that a manufacturer or industry should be com- pelled to pay 75c girls who live at home the same wage ? Of course, we know what it costs some to live. It costs some more than others. We know that foreigners come to this country; two or three children grow up, and after awhile go to work ; they live on a very small amount a day, and now a great many of them own their homes. Suppose we were to live like that. If we were to get three or four times as much we would MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 245 not live any better to-day. The idea is lost to the American people. I think any manufacturer here or in Detroit will bear me out. I am safe in saying that 90 per cent live at home or with relatives. Some of these girls live very expensively, getting $20 a week and spend it all. It is not how much it costs to live. It depends upon how much to live. STARTING GIRLS AT THIRTEEN CENTS AN HOT II. ME. C. F. YORK: From my standpoint it looks to me about as rea- sonable for the legislature to corral all the girls in Michigan in order to fatten up the lean girls and reduce the fat girls. All about the same. (Applause.) It may be considered in another shape. Level the top of one girl's head because she is too tall and place it on top of a short woman's head so as to make them all of one height. That is about it with the minimum wage. For the men and women it makes no differ- ence. I might say that I have employed both men and women for twenty-six or seven years in Buffalo and in Detroit. I am not going to give Detroit a black eye, because I own too much property in the town; but I want to say this that I have not had any trouble or difficulty either with men or women in regard to their wages. Never had a strike. They either work or do not work. I have had a young lady work for me as high as fifteen years steadily all the time she wanted to work every day ; and men as high as seventeen years. We start girls at 13c an hour in Detroit. Now, we came from Buffalo to Detroit because labor was on a lower level here than in Buffalo, where I was located, and we could not get enough girls there. It was in a small town. Now, we start a girl at 13c an hour with the definite and distinct understanding that that young lady shall work for two Aveeks and if her speed does not satisfy us at the end of two weeks, we do not want her. There is where it comes in. Some girls Avill earn good wages at the same kind of work that other girls will starve to death. Some are all the time looking wise, chewing "inn. tying shoes and doing four or five other things, paying no atten- tion to their work, and we do not want them around. Minimum wage? will bring on inefficiency and they will go to the dogs. We have no trouble with our employes and always expect to pay them fair wages. They .start out at 13c an hour. In regard to the vice question, which seems to be very much agitated now, in a talk with Mr. Robert Garrow he told me that the good work- ing girls are from the slums in England, without any clothing in rags who work for three or four or five months, or so they can dress nicely, and then what do they do? They either go to the devil or get married. When they get so they can dress they go to other places. They do not slay in the factory. Now, 1 think the minimum wage is the worst thing that can be es- tablished. WJIAT r.ECO.MKS OF 1NKKKK 'IKXT GIRLS? MR. WALKER: You say under the minimum wage the girls will go to the devil. No person wauls ineffident girls. Where do they go now? What becomes of them? MR. YORK: We have no trouble about the girls. We have girls who 246 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON are earning what you might call the minimum wage. Why? Because we do not work enough hours a week. We do not care what the girl makes working by the piece. It is all piece-work. There is a lady in our factory who only works forty hours a week. That would not be what is known as the minimum wage. We would have to pay her the minimum wage. We have had married women come to our place and work half a day. MR. COHEN: You ask, what becomes of these inefficient girls*. T believe if we have an opportunity to teach them that they will stay with us and we will make them efficient, perhaps, and make them self-sustain- ing. The minimum wage should be at least $7 or fS a week. The next question is asked, what ought to be the minimum wage. If you will tell me the class of woman, I will tell you what it will take to keep her. I keep only one and it takes a good deal to keep her. I think the entire matter will straighten itself out will find its level of compensation without fixing a limit. I do not think you can legislate speed; and if you cannot legislate speed you cannot legislate efficiency; and if you cannot legislate efficiency you cannot legislate the minimum wage. We are all entitled to what we can earn. MR. INGRAM : The minimum wage could be fixed quite low. MR. GOLDEN: Of course, you gentlemen of the Commission were given authority to arrive at an understanding and establish a minimum wage, as I understand it? MR. GRENELL: We simply were appointed to see if a minimum wage law is advisable. MR. GOLDEN: I thought that you gentlemen, or rather the Com- mission, was created to establish a minimum wage. Mf{. INGRAM: No, that is not right. WHAT COLORADO DID. MR. GOLDEN: ]>ut if you should establish the minimum wage I would ask you to take up the wage question taken up by the state of Colorado. That was established uniformly all through. I am not sure whether it was the hour question that the commission worked out in the slate of Colorado or not. However, the result was that the merchants who were employing female help discontinued to employ female help and took men help instead, and the public and the politicians got busy and they recalled the law that the commission recommended to the legis- lators and went back to the question where it had been before the com- mission had been created; so, I would suggest if you gentlemen have de- termined to create a minimum wage, to get the information on that question from Colorado. MR. WALKER: Suppose it worked that way, would that be a great mistake if the men went to work and put the women out ? A VOICE : There are lots of homes for them. There are lots of men for them. There are lots of schools for girls 14 to 18. A VOICE : I have about 750 applications for work in the factory and not one to work in my home. That answers that question. Girls do not want to work in homes. MR. WALKER: Statistics prove thai the larger proportion of girls MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 247 who go wrong is from domestic service than an} 7 other service. They are i rented as servants. A VOICE: Statistics show that because girls go wrong is not the way thev are treated in the home, but because of lack of companionship. MR. WALKER: I think it is both. THE PROBLEM OP SKILLED LABOR. .MR. HAVENRICH: I am not an employer but I think I can state something of interest. I think that Mr. Sullivan will bear me out. I read a statement some time ago that about 20 per cent of the women of tins country are in industrial employment and that about 80 per cent of these women cease working about the time they are twenty-five years of age. What is the result? The result is that the manufacturer is constantly confronted with the question of getting skilled labor; that he has to teach girls all the time and lose money while giving them instructions, not only in time, but in the material which they ruin. Furthermore, they have before them a class of labor that is not interested. This uninterested class of labor is pretty near the worst class of labor that you can possibly have. Now, then, Mr. Sheehan said that the labor question is practically entirely an economic question. I think possibly some gentleman will dis- agree with Mr. Sheehan. It is a social problem as well as economic and everything possible should be done, it seems to me, to make condi- tions under which women work comfortable to the women women who are to be the mothers of the next generation. It would seem to me you have got to encourage the men and not the women. Treat the women fairly while they are in there. I have asked if the intelligent women who are working in business, newspaper work and other work of a like nature, were paid according to quality or according to sex, and very much to my surprise they said it was in the trade to pay according to sex. However, I am inclined to think that they are probably prejudiced. They may be right, but it seems to me from the little experience I have had when I was employing, that the working girl was able to do the work and got the pay. It wasn't a question of sex at all. The. meeting was then dismissed by the Chairman with thanks to those present for attending. APPENDIX C. PUBLIC MEETING HELD IN GRAND RAPIDS, MARCH 16, 1914. (Walch and Strawhecker, stenographers.) COMMISSIONER MYRON H. WALKER: It is 8:00 o'clock and a little bit after; I think, perhaps, we had better begin. As you know, doubtless, all of you, a Minimum Wage Commission, so-called, was ap- pointed by Governor Ferris to inquire into the advisability of a minimum wage for women employes in Michigan, and most of the employers have undoubtedly received blanks from the Commission to fill out and report. Most of them have complied. Members of the Commission are present to- night : Judson Grenell, Chairman, and C. S. Beadle, of Detroit, a member, and myself. Mr. Grenell, as Chairman, will take charge of the meeting and state more fully the object of this particular meeting to-night. THE CHAIRMAN: The Minimum Wage Commission approaches this problem with an open mind. The Commissioners have not been appointed to fix a minimum wage. They are only to inquire into the advisability of a minimum wage; and for this purpose they are collecting information and statistics from employers, from labor unions, from women wage workers, from college professors, and from clubs and societies interested in the condition of women generally. I have before me to-night a large number of blanks filled by the employers of Grand Rapids; they are very full, and, so far as we can see, are filled out in a satisfactory manner. The Commissioners have not, as yet, compiled any of them, and so they cannot tell you what is the actual wage paid at this time to women, but before they get through it is hoped to have before us the actual wages paid to at least 50,000 women in Michigan. As far as can be determined there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 225,000 women in gainful occupations in this State, and it is thought that if the Commission obtains reliable statistics concerning 50,000 of these, it will have a sufficient number to tell the next legislature just what women are obtaining and just how they are spending their money. From that it ought not to be a difficult task to know how much is needed for a woman in this State to live respectably. A woman in a small town can live more cheaply than a woman in a large town, and therefore- the wage for that town might be different from the wage of a large place. But all that will be told in detail in the report which the Commission is to make to the next legislature. This meeting to-night is for the purpose of learning the views of Grand Rapids employers of wage-working women; and also I understand there are here representatives of organized labor, whom we will thank- fully hear give their opinion on the advisability or non advisability of a MINtMUM WA(JE LEGISLATION FOR WOMRN. 240 minimum wage. This meeting is open to any one to speak who pleases on Hie question. I< is hopo<1 no one will talk to exceed ten minutes. Till: MINIMUM WAGE AND CIGAR MAKING. MK. GERRITT J. JOHNSON (President of the G. J. Johnson Cigar Company) : I do not: want anybody to throw any bricks at me; this is just my personal view. Personally T am in favor of the minimum wage. One reason is that there are 40,000,000 wage-earners in the United States, and there are always from 1,000,000 to 4,000,000 out of employment. It means that the wage-earners are always in competition for their jobs, which means lower wages. If we had a universal eight-hour day, all would be employed and there would be no use of a minimum wage "I think" there would be, I ought to put that in as that is only necessary when there are not enough jobs to go around. Until we have more jobs than workers, I would favor such a la\v. To get an idea of what a minimum wage should be I have talked with six of our girls, who I know are intelligent and very conservative in the matter of living and dress. One said she roomed and took her meals out, and it cost her f 10 per week ; two thought they could get along on $9, and the other three on $8 a week. I found, however, that those who said s did not realize just how much it really cost to live until we got to figuring and going over the expenditures together. The figures which 1 am now to give you I assure you are not the highest, but very conserva- tive. Is this out of line? THE CHAIRMAN : It is right in line. MR. JOHNSON: Laundry, T5c per week, |39 per year; medical aid, 50c per week now, this "medical aid" may be a little high, but some of them say that it is a great deal higher, and quite a few did not have any at all, did not need any that is |26 per year; wearing apparel, |2 per week I cut that down to |2 myself; they all agreed that $3 was neces- sary, but I thought that might be a little high, so I took the liberty to cut it down to f2 I didn't know but I might be mobbed; room rent |2 per week that is another item that they thought ought to be $2.50, and I personally do not think $2.50 is any too high for room rent to-day; meals, r>u< per day, $3.50 per week we figured 15c for breakfast, 15c for lunch, and 20c for dinner; that seems high but they would not have any banquet at that; insurance, 25<- per week; church, average of lOc per week although I found some of them paid as high as $1 per week. I didn't tell them what I thought; dentistry, 25c per week; incidentals, including street car fare, fl per week; that makes |52 a year. The total expendi- ture would be |538.20. Figuring forty-eight weeks, which I find a big average now, I represent a cigar factory, and I think that the cigar fac- tories run about as steady as any industry in this part of the country, and I think about forty-eight weeks is all a girl will average. Don't you, Mr. Lubetsky? BENJAMIN LUBETSKY : I do. 250 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON YOUNG MEN MIGHT BE PREFERRED TO WOMEN. MR. JOHNSON: Forty-eight weeks at $9 per week, we have $432 the sum of |106.27 less than the expenditure. There is one drawback to my estimate of the minimum wage: If girls learning a profession or trade had to be paid |9 per week, the employer would take young men in their stead, as they (the men) would work cheaper. One disadvantage in hiring a girl is that she is liable to get married at any time and quit work, while a man sticks closer to his job when married. We all know the employer is not to blame for these con- ditions. Competition compels him to buy his labor as cheaply as possible, but if my competitor (that is this man Lubetsky here) has to pay the same wages as myself, I do not care how high you make the minimum wage. MR. WALKER: You mean all of your competitors? MR, JOHNSON: All of my competitors. Personally I think that most all of our sin is directly or indirectly caused by poverty. I know, too, that poverty is the greatest curse to the human race, and Avhile the min- imum wage law will not cure all the evil, it may help a little; and thai is why I am in favor of same. MR. WALKER: In the cigar trade, or manufacturing business, what class of girls is it that work for between f4 and ffi a week? MR. JOHNSON: AVcll, iho apprentices; they are practically all ap- prentices. MR, WALKER: How long have they been- working? MR. JOHNSON : Well, it is according to the girl's ability. Now, we put a girl in the stripping department for three to four weeks, and then she goes on piece-work, and if you put her as an apprentice in a cigar factory in making cigars, why, it may take her four, five or six months before she is able to earn fl a day. Don't you figure about that? BENJAMIN LUBETSKY: Yes. What do you estimate the loss the first sixty days? MR, JOHNSON: Well, I am not figuring on that. That is a different question. BENJAMIN LUBETSKY : It all goes into wages, on the subject of expenditures. MR. JOHNSON: I figure when we get a cigar maker, when a girl is ready to make a cigar, that she costs us about $75. BENJAMIN LUBETSKY: That is our experience. MR, JOHNSON : It figures out that much. MR. WALKER: What class of girls is it that in that same business earn between |6 and |7 a week? MR. JOHNSON: Well, they have got a little beyond their apprentice- ship. They probably have worked from six months to a year. MR. WALKER: They are working at piece-work. MR. JOHNSON: They are working at piece -work. MR, WALKER : But not expert yet? MR. JOHNSON: No, not expert. MR. WALKER: How much do the expert ones earn at piece-work MR. JOHNSON: We have girls, quite a number, 1hat make from $15 to $18 a week. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 2f>l EFFICIENCY COMES WITH KXrEIMENCE. THE CHAIRMAN: May I ask a question? After a girl has worked twelve months, worked earnestly and diligently, does she still improve? MR. JOHNSON: Oh. yes; she will improve for two years. I think a girl to make |9 a week, it will take probably a year on the average. BENJAMIN LUBETSKY: It will take her a year. MR. JOHNSON: Yon cannot lay down the average. Some become effi- cient quicker than others, but it will take on an average fully a year to get up to $9 a week. MR. WALKER: Is that fact that you have apprentices and it takes them, we will say, a year to become efficient is that fact of itself any argument against the adoption of the minimum wage? MR. JOHNSON: That would be the only argument I would have against it. If they could get some provision whereby they could allow apprentices to work for less, why, there would be a way out of it ; but we would not I know our factory would not pay a girl |9 to start with. We could not afford it. MR. WALKER: Most of the laws upon the statute books do provide for a special license or permit for that class of workers for a certain time, to be fixed by the wage hoard or the commission that has charge of it. MR, JOHNSON": Oh, yes, that would be all right. Personally I would be in favor of it, because I tell you why. Xow, a girl comes to our doors, and the first question we ask is "Do you live at home?" If she does not live at home, we do not take her-. Now, it is not fair to the girl ; it is not fair to the girl without parents, who lives out of town. And yet we have to do it to protect ourselves. We know that a girl at |4 a week cannot support herself. I realize the injustice of that thing as much as anybody, but competition compels us to act that way it makes us inhuman. MUST TAKE CARE OF APPRENTICES. MR. BKXJAMIN LUBETSKY (of Lubetsky Brothers, Cigar Manu- facturers) : I fully agree with all these figures of the gentlemen (Mr. Johnson) ; as near as I can see, they are accurate. And the only objection I would have to the minimum scale is on the score of apprentices; and I have no doubt they could provide an exemption for that. And, if they can overcome that, I am in favor of the minimum wage scale. MR. WALKER: Mr. Lubetsky, does the fact that most of your em- ployes work by piece-work make a minimum wage scale for these workers impracticable or impossible by piece-work rather than by day's work on regular wages? MR. LUBETSKY: Why, that would all regulate itself. Of course, it would naturally throw out the incompetent and the unsteady. MR. WALKKR: Yes, without yon provide a probation period for that. But the objection has been made by some employers in returning their blanks when we have asked them whether they were in favor of it or against it, and why, in this form: "Most of our work is done by piece- work, and the minimum wage would not be practicable in such case." That is the reason I ask the question. MR. LUBETSKY: Why wouldn't it be? MR. WALKER: I was not answering the question, but was asking it. 252 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Mil. LUBETSKY: You simply have to pay piece-work enough to come up to that. MR. WALKER : How do you establish your rate of compensation by piece-work. MR, LUBETSKY : According to efficiency. MR. WALKER : Yes, but how do you determine how much you can pay for making 1,000 cigars for instance? MB. LUBETSKY: Oh, we meet competition of the whole United States. We have got to do it. There is no doubt in my mind that if Michigan adopts the minimum wage and another state has not minimum wage, that the manufacturer of Michigan will probably be for a short time at a disadvantage, and probably for quite awhile; but nevertheless, if the good of the whole community requires it, let the manufacturers make the sacrifice. Other states will follow suit. PLACING A PREMIUM OX INEFFICIENCY. R. R. BEAN. My name is Bean, R. R. Bean, manager of the Putnam Factory, National Candy Company. I did not expect to say anything here to-night; I came to learn. But I want to be the first one to say that as far as my knowledge goes, I am opposed to a minimum wage. To my mind it places a premium on inefficiency, and I am opposed to any state law of this nature which would not be uniform with other states, for the reason that our friend has stated. A minimum wage law in Michigan and no minimum wage law in Illinois, or Wisconsin, or Ohio, would put out of business a great many manufacturers in Michigan, to my mind. Y^ou can make a minimum irrnjc law, but can you make a minimum irovA' law? It seems to me that we are having minimum laws of all kinds, eight- hour laws and minimum wage laws; but how about the employers and how about competition? I am opposed to it because it puts a premium on other work than domestic work. It puts a premium on factory work and on store work. Why should we not have a minimum wage law for the girls who work in our houses? I am convinced that a minimum wage law will work against the girl for the reason already stated, that when you get to a certain wage the manufacturers will employ men and boys. A girl can only work nine hours in Michigan to-day. Boys can work ten hours, or men can \vork ten hours. And that is a very serious thing. Now, I am in favor of a nine-hour day, but it is a very serious handicap to some of us who are employing girls in our factories. The men are working ten hours; the girls are working nine. Y^ou may say, "Why don't you let your men work nine hours?" Well, we may have to come to it. COMPETITION AND WAGES. MR. WALKER: Mr. Bean, are there some lines of business take candy making for instance in which girls or women are naturally more efficient, better adapted to that business, than men or boys? MR. BEAN: Yes, you are right. MR. WALKER : In that case, is there any great danger, even in case of a minimum Vage, of men or boys replacing the girls who naturally are more efficient? MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 253 MR. I JEAN: Not that class of help, but the other class of help which arc not as efficient, merely manual labor you might say. MR. WALKER: Then the employer will protect himself by discharging i he ineflicient, in case they cannot earn the minimum wage, will he not? lie can protect himself in that way? M R. 1?EA X : If he can replace the labor. MR. WALKER: How is the labor supply now, or how has it been in the market, of women workers? Is there a surplus or a scarcity? MR. BEAN : There are . certain periods of the year when there is a search v. In the summer time there is a great scarcity. MB. WALKER : What is the cause of that? MR. BEAN : Well, I should say that a great many industries, more in- dustries in our town than there used to be a few years ago; and then I suppose a great many women leave the city in the summer time and go to the resorts, probably to the hotels. That I cannot say, but I have heard that stated. MR. WALKER : Is your business seasonable is there a rusk in some seasons and a scarcity in others? MR, BEAN : Yes, decidedly. MR. WALKER: Is there no way of regulating that? Is there no way of manufacturing for the busy season during a portion of the dull season? MR. BEAN : No, a very little in our particular business. Our goods are perishable, as you understand, and we can to some extent, but not to an extent that would cut any figure as far as the help is concerned, the female help. GIVING MEN THE JOBS. MR. BEADLE: I would like to ask Mr. Bean a question. Mr. Beau, would it not be better to have the men all employed, and if there is occasion for any idleness of either sex, let it be women who are idle? MR. BEAN: That is my opinion. MR. BEADLE: Would not the minimum wage for women, then, have a tendency to bring the men all into employment, and if there was idleness it would be the women who were idle? MR. BEAN: If it would work that way, why I think there would be a great advantage in it. MR. WALKER : I would like to ask Mr. Bean one or two more ques- tions, if I may? Do your girls, most of them, live at home? MR. BEAN : Well, I should say yes. And Mr. Johnson took the words out of my mouth ; we have the same question ; we ask all girls who come for employment whether they live at home, and most of our girls live at home. MR. WALKER: Why do you ask them that? MI{. BEAN: For the same reason that Mr. Johnson lias already stated. MR. WALKER: In other words the wage you are able to pay them is oftentimes not sufficient to support them in decency and comfort away from home: is that right? MR. BEAN: That is right, yes, sir. Our minimum wage would not; 1 do not Ihink a girl could possibly support herself on it. THE CHAIRMAN: She is in I he nature of an apprentice when she starts? 254 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON MB. BEAN : Yes, sir. THE CHAIRMAN: How long does she remain an apprentice? MR. BEAN : Well, in some parts of the factory it would be longer than others. What you might term the packing, that can be picked up very quickly. THE CHAIRMAN : After a girl has picked up the packing, is she able to earn a wage sufficient to support herself ? MR. BEAN: I would have to know what that wage would be. I do not know. THE CHAIRMAN: Haven't you in your mind what that wage is? MR. BEAN: I supported myself on less than the wage we have paid to those girls. EMPLOYERS' RESPONSIBILITY. MR. WALKER: Recently? (Laughter) Mr. Bean, is it not I am not j mtting it to you as a cold-blooded business proposition but isn't it in this day and age of the world a part of the employer's job to know wheth- er the wage he is paying is such that a girl can live on it or not? In other words, isn't it a part of his job to know what it does cost his female help, whether they can live respectable lives on the wages they are getting? MR. BEAN: I would not be able to answer that question. Of course, as I have said, in our case I think probably 99 per cent of them live at home. In a town like this they are more liable in all businesses to do that. But I would not like to answer the question whether an employer should be responsible individually in that regard. THE CHAIRMAN: Mr. Bean, does the question of age enter at all in the wage at which you start a girl? MR. BEAN : Only according to law. THE CHAIRMAN : I mean, for example, a girl of the age of eighteen applies for work, would you pay her at the start more than a girl of sixteen? MR. BEAN : No, sir. THE CHAIRMAN: You would treat them all alike? MR. BEAN : Yes, sir. THE CHAIRMAN: I ask that because we find that some of the em : plovers do make a difference. Some start at one price when they are sixteen, at another price at eighteen, and at another price when they are twenty. MR. BEAN : We do not make any difference. It is up to the girl's efficiency whether she, can get more in one week or two weeks or two months. FIXING WAGES. MR. WALKER-. Do you pay by the piece or by (ho time? MR.. BEAN: Bolh. We have workers by piecework and time; about, I should say, evenly divided. MR. WALKER: What fixes Hie wage in your factory? How do you determine it? MR. BEAN: The piecework? MR. WALKER : Either by piece or wage work ; how do you determine what wage you can afford to pay, or can pay. or must pay, whatever J MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEtf. 255 fly it presents itself how is the wage determined? What are the fac- >rs ilia I enter into it, practically from a business standpoint? MR. BEAN: Mostly what our competitors are doing. We know MR. WALKER: Is that ronij>etition in this State or outside? MR. BEAX: The country over. MR. BEADLE: Do you ship goods outside of this State? MR. BEAN : We ship goods all over the United States, yes, sir. MR. WALKER: Of course, you are part of the National Candy Com puny concern? MR, BEAN: National, yes. MR. WALKER : Do you fix your local wages here, or are they fixed for you? MR. BEAN : We fix them here. MR. BEADLE: Are they the same in all your other factories in other states? Mil. BE AX': X^o, sir. They are all fixed locally, at their own factories. THE CHAIRMAN : Wages may varv greatly in different states? MR. I! KAN: Oh, yes. THE CHAIRMAN : That is to say, you compete with one of your own factories in Illinois paying more wages than you do? MR. BEAN: We compete with factories all over the United States. MR. WALKER : As a matter of practice, under the competitive system, what employer, or what set of employers in a given line of industry fix the wages that are paid. Is it the one who pays the poorest wages, or is it the one who pays the highest, or is it a medium, or what is it? MR. JOHNSON: I do not think there is anybody but the manufacturer can answer that question. MR. LUBETSKY: I think the man who pays the poorest wages sets the pace. MR. BEAN. Why, I do not think so, it is a matter of demand and supply. MR LUBETSKY : But that makes demand and supply, because we have got to compete with the man who pays the least. He has no choice. We do not set our wages by any other standard but what w have to pay. MR. WALKER: You pay enough to get the help and no more; is that it? MR. LUBETSKY: And no more. I think you will find that that is true universally. HIRING CHEAP HELP. A LADY: Could I speak just a few moments? THE CHAIRMAN: Your name? MRS. WISE: My name is Mrs. Wise. I did not come expecting to speak, bul I am very glad the question of wages in regard ur. THE CHAIRMAN: In one corset factory in Detroit it takes thirty- four girls to make a corset. I was wondering whether you have as many departments as that. MR. CLEMENTS : Very close to it. While we do not have as many departments, it takes about that many operations to make a suit of underwear. THE CHAIRMAN : Have you ever thought what is a sufficient wage for a girl to live on respectably away from home? MR. CLEMENTS: No; I have not given that so very much thought, except I agree with the figures of Mr. Johnson's on that score, very closely. MR. WALKER: Do your girls live at home or away from home, all of them? MR, CLEMENTS : We do not ask the question. If the girl is not the girl we want after we have had her in there and tried her, she goes out. MR. WALKER : Do you have any systematic instruction of your girls in their work, to make them efficient, or do you just leave that as an individual matter? MR. CLEMENTS: Oh, no; they are given instructions from the very minute they come in and are not left until they become so they can be left alone, and even then they are under supervision every minute. We have a fore-lady and a head operator of the particular machinery that she may operate, that helps to instruct her. MR. WALKER: That is, instructing her individually? MR. CLEMENTS: Individually. MR. WALKER: What I meant more particularly was, do you have anything that might be called a school of instruction where you get them together and compare methods and give them the best methods or suggestions for performing their work? MR. CLEMENTS: Not in our factory. They teach them in very large factories. RECOMMENDS PUBLICITY. L. A. CORNELIUS (President of the Wolverine Brass Works) : We lave had the cigar business and carpet sweeper business pretty well idvertised; I thought we had better mix it a little. The president and iis company are thoroughly in accord with what this Commission is "riving for; that is, a betterment of the working conditions of our work- ig people of the State, and, personally, I am heartily against the method iat is proposed of the minimum wage scale, for the reason that, it ims to me, it is absolutely inefficient. If the minimum established is fairly high so as to prima facie itter the conditions, then in the employment of labor it will work gainst those who have the hardest work in getting jobs and the hardest 264 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON work in holding them those who are the least efficient; and if the minimum wage scale is placed at a figure which is fairly low, so that this class of labor can be employed, it is inefficient in raising the just scale of wages which you are striving to do. It seems to me that a commission vested with the authority of in- vestigation and report and recommendation, and possibly publicity for cases where wages are unreasonably low, would do more to better the Michigan condition than a minimum wage scale, on which we will have just about as many differences of opinion as to what a minimum should be among manufacturers as we have lines of trade. And when we get into the question as to the cost of living, we might have almost as many different opinions as we have different styles of dress. So if you are striving along that line, I think your Commission will have some job to strike a happy average. Along the other line we might reach the goal, I think, short-cut. ME. BEADLE: Just what. line do you suggest, Mr. Cornelius? MR. CORNELIUS: What do you mean by "line," sir? MR. BEADLE: Just what line do you suggest? You say you are opposed to the minimum wage. What would you suggest this Commis- sion's report to the legislature should be, if not a minimum wage? You suggest a commission with power to have publicity; power to appoint a wage commission for industries, is that the idea? MR. CORNELIUS : I would not want to make a statement here from which you would draw a bill or recommendation for the legislature. I would want to give that a little thought. I just want to give the gen- eral idea. MR. WALKER: Precisely the idea embodied in the Massachusetts law, except that it has added the power to the Wage Board that makes the investigation to fix or recommend a minimum wage, and then publicity follows in case the manufacturer fails to comply, but no pen- alty, leaving public sentiment to enforce the law. How that is going to work we do not yet know. MR. CORNELIUS: How long has that law been in effect? MR, WALKER: About a year. THIS FACTORY HAS A MINIMUM WAGE SCALE. E. A. CLEMENTS (President of the Globe Knitting Works) : I did not come prepared to give any talk on the subject in regard to the mini- mum scale of wages. I will say that we established a minimum scale in our factory several years ago of f 5 a week. I think it was a good thing to establish that scale for the reason that I found out that sev eral of our employes in there were working for a good deal less money than I ever had any idea they were working for. But to establish a minimum scale that will cover the ground, unless it is low, like $4 or |5 a week, I do not think will be practical. I believe a woman ought to have $15, |20 a week, perhaps more; but that is skilled help, and to make a dividing line between skilled and unskilled help is quite a task. I would not try to undertake it. My superintendent has instructions to hire a girl at $5 a week, some of them in a week can possibly make $6 or |7; some of them may work six months before they can get over fl a day. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 265 There is a vast difference in the girls at the particular work, whether they are adapted for it or whether they are not. Some girls may make a failure on one machine and go on another and make a success of it. I do not think a minimum scale is out of the way; I think it is practical if we started at a low figure, to prevent the people that hire girls for $2, $2.50 or $3 a week; but that minimum scale will not be based on the cost of living. Going in a factory, a child absolutely in- competent, inefficient, will have to learn. If it means a minimum scale of anywhere from $4 to $6 a week, I would be in favor of it. . AN AID TO EFFICIENCY. THE CHAIRMAN : When you established the minimum wage did it have the effect of compelling you to discharge the inefficient? E. A. CLEMENTS : No. I discovered a certain department in which the girls were working for $4.50 a week. I established the minimum wage of $5 simply from a business standpoint; I thought we would make money by doing it. THE CHAIRMAN: It paid you? E. A. CLEMENTS: I figured if we had to employ people over there and every time they got a new job, if anybody else outside paid them more wages, it did not pay us to break in new help all the time; so I made a rule for that department and paid them $6 a week. It was mostly all clay work. And I do not believe that it stands any manu- facturer in hand to hire the cheapest help he can get. THE CHAIRMAN: Does the higher wage result in steadier habits and more diligence on the part of employes? MR, CLEMENTS: That is my judgment. With the manufacturer labor is the great item. I think most people fall down in manufacture because they do not render proper assistance to the labor they employ. When I was over in Europe last summer I went through a factory and the laborer that worked in that place practically had no assistance from the manager ; they simply go and work any way they see fit. THE CHAIRMAN: Were "they inefficient? E. A. CLEMENTS: The laboring men were inefficient. They had no help from the head of the house to govern them so they could work to advantage. The employer comes down at ten o'clock in the morning and stays an hour, and goes to lunch and stays two or three hours, and goes back and spends another hpur and doesn't do his duty to the people that work under him. MR. WALKER : Is there any tendency, Mr. Clements, for the minimum wage to become the well, it has been said to be the maximum wage; that is, for all wages to fall down to the minimum? E. A. CLEMENTS: No, sir. MR. WALKER: Is there any tendency for those who get the mini- mum to be content with that and not strive to increase their wage-earn- ing capacity? E. A. CLEMENTS: No. MAX LUBETSKY: If there are any, let us hear them. E. A. CLEMENTS : I put a minimum wage in our factory, I will say, from a selfish motive. Now, I have the privilege to hire and fire the people. If a person does not make good at his job, I fire him. 266 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Whether the government can take all the inefficient people and debar them from working, that is a different proposition. MR. WALKER : I do not suppose it is a part of the minimum wage law to prevent men from discharging help if they find men unprofitable or inefficient. What would become of the help when discharged might be another question. E. A. CLEMENTS: The government would have to regulate all the people. THE CHAIRMAN: Is there any representative of labor here? A WORKINGMAN'S IDEA. MR. W. I. GILDAS: I do not represent organized labor of any kind. My name is Gildas, W. I. Gildas. I have got two daughters, and they both started to work in factories in this city within the last five years, but I found the wages were so low and their chances of in- creasing these wages so poor that I withdrew them and took them out of the factory. One of them is employed at a store at present; the other is a seamstress; she works by the day. And I think a minimum wage is absolutely necessary for the factory, not only in Grand Rapids, but all over the State. I was born in this State, in Wayne county. I have lived at several places; I lived at Benton Harbor, where there are women employed; at Muskegon; I lived at Ann Arbor, Detroit, and I found the same trouble all over. I do not blame the manufacturer; he hires the help in the open market and he buys help, just the same as I buy anything. MR. WALKER: Mr. Campau is here representing I do not know hardly how to call it myself manufacturers or employers, I think. Per- haps that is a sufficient designation. PROFICIENCY AND PUBLICITY. FRANCIS D. CAMPAU: I am not representing anyone here to-night. MR, WALKER : I will take it back, then. MR, CAMPAU : You might say, I am the employer of a stenographer or two. I think, as far as the method is concerned that I agree squarely with Mr. Cornelius. I would much prefer for pure efficiency to have this Commission authorized, if possible, to give publicity to the employ- ment of women and the conditions of the employment of women through- out this State for a few years and let sentiment crystallize as it might. I came up here to-night principally to see whether or not this Commis- sion was working along the line of philanthrophy, or charity, you may call it. I came in rather late, and I have no information or no knowl- edge as to what has been testified to here to-night as the low wage of women as an inducement to vice, and the things that we have heard so popularly expressed. If the Commission is working along that line, I am sure I shall be quite at sea, if they have in view purely a philan- thropy. But I do think that we ought to distinguish between philan- thropy and economics, and, whatever this Commission does, I think it should go squarely before the people of this State and say it is attempt- ing to put as a charge upon the people of our State a pure philanthropy, and not attempt to work it out through the principle of economics. If this is a matter of economics, we will be obliged to consider the working woman either as a service or as a commodity. If we consider MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 267 it as a service, we are going to charge this Wage Commission, even though you do not specifically put the task on them, with determining in certain localities and in certain industries what the wage shall be. You are going to put upon them the charge of determining exactly what they are finding there in the way of honesty and ambition and perseverance. These are the measures of service. And I do not think that this Commission, or any Commission that may be hereafter created to consider specific localities and specific industries, would want to undertake that task. Now, if you turn it over and say that the wage of a woman competent to work is a commodity and a thing to be sold at a fixed rate and at a market price as we sell sugar you must, please, realize that you are turning into the market a great deal of commodity that is not fit for the market. I was talking to a retailer the other day and asked him what would be the result if he were told by a Commission that when he brought into his store his underwear or his hosiery, or garments of any sort for the fall, that he must fix the price of those garments at fl per garment, and when the stock became shop-worn, or when it became odd sizes, or w r hen the stock became depleted or disarranged for any reason, he must not sell it for less than $1 per garment; that when they became in that condition he must take them to his furnace. Now, there are two consequences: Immediately you have turned a great deal of waste out of the man's store; you have turned a lot of goods into the discard. They cannot be sold for $1 per garment, and you cannot sell them for what price they may bring. They must be burned or carted away as rags. That, on the other hand, is the evidence of a commodity that he cannot sell at his price of $1, while there might be some price obtained for it. On the other hand, he will be obliged to put a charge for all his waste onto the goods he has left. Therefore, the public suffers by reason of the increased price he gets for his goods, and the commodity suffers for not getting a half-price or the value of the commodity. If we translate that into woman's work, this Commission must find there is a service value, or else find there is such a thing as a commodity price; and if we find that is so, I do not care where you fix your wage price, if you fix it at the bottom we are exactly where we are now; if you fix it anywhere above the bottom, you are leaving there in the in- terim a certain amount of labor which would be worth something, both to itself, to the employer, and to the public, which is obliged to go into the discard. Whatever Commission and whatever legislature decides, there is going to be a discard, gentlemen ; is taking upon itself a tremendous responsi- bility. I should hate to be responsible for creating a discard. That, to my mind, is the economic value of this proposition : Call it service, if you like, or call it a commodity and work it out economic- lly; or meet the situation squarely and say, "We are embarking in a )hilanthropic proposition wherein we are going to tax the people of this state and are going to take care of our discard," as perhaps we should id I am not saying we should not by charity or by philanthropy. it do not create the discard and call it an economic proposition. I not think that that is true. 268 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON NEED OF EFFICIENCY SCHOOLS. To my mind this is conjecture, and if you will give me this minute you have been so good as to give me the other my suggestion will be: The time is going to come when we will be obliged to adopt the German principle of continuation schools, or through the amplification of our own school system we are going to compel all of our people, not on the basis of wage, but on the basis of their efficiency and ability to learn, to stay in school until they can become economic factors. We are going to put them in continuation schools, and when we find those perhaps who are not necessarily quite defective, but not strong mentally, we are not going to say that everybody can come out at sixteen without asking how much they know, but we are going to ask for an efficiency certificate, and let our school system keep watch of them so we will not turn them into the world until they are fit to take their place and be- come economic factors, and not turn them out as we are now turning them out and then ask a minimum wage commission to pick them up as objects of philanthropy or charity and help them out. In asking this mini- mum wage commission to work out some sort of an economic scheme, I can see in anticipation an economic fallacy that will take care of them at the expense of the public and at the risk of creating a discard, which it makes me fearful to contemplate. I am saying this, if you please and I hope the Commission will under- stand it not as representing anybody. I came here, as a matter of fact, Mr. Walker, because I talked with Mr. Clements the other day and he said he was coming ; he told me what they were going to do here, and I came over out of curiosity, and would not have spoken unless you had called my name; and I want to be recorded by Mr. Strawhecker, if he will be so good, as simply representing the one or two stenographers I employ, and not anybody else. THE CHAIRMAN : Do you think taking care of the health of women is a question of economics or philanthropy? MR. CAMPAU: I am afraid that it is philanthropy at the present time. THE CHAIRMAN: You do not think taking care of the health is economics at all? MR. CAMPAU: I do, yes; but not in the matter of minimum wage. Taken on the basis that Mr. Shanahan has spoken of, it is economics. There is, unquestionably, a splendid place for the women in the economic world ; but there is no place, it seems to me, in the true economic world for women who cannot find the true wage and who must be bolstered up to a false wage, and certainly there is no place for the woman who must be denied a place in the economic world because she cannot make the minimum. That leaves her without any place in the world, either eco- nomic or anything else. THROWING HELP INTO THE DISCARD. MR. BEADLE: The statement has been made here to-night that women in some lines of employment, and even in many lines of employ ment, are more efficient than men of equal age. MR, CAMPAU : I think that is quite true. MR. BEADLE: She should then have an economic position. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 269 .MR. CAMPAU: There is no question about that. I am only saying that it is un-econoniic to try to create a false position for the woman who is down toward the lower end of the scale. What shall we do with the woman that merely is worth |2 if our schools are not yet ready to keep her until she is efficient? Shall we turn her out and say, "You can't have $2 because we are not going to let anybody work who does not earn $4; you must go in the discard; you are an 'odd size;' or there is 'a stitch dropped' in you," or something of that sort, as we say with garments? That is the proposition. You are creating a discard. And that is not economic. There is a place for that woman in the eco- nomic world, and her position is right where she can earn $2. THE CHAIRMAN : Do you think a woman is on an equality with an employer in bargaining for her labor? MR. CAMPAU: Well, that is a mooted question. That is not a ques- tion for the employment of women. That is a question for the employ- ment of all labor. This Commission will probably find ample discussion of that in the long discussions that have taken place before other Com- missions on the question of collective bargaining, and I do not think it is necessary for this Commission to bother itself with the question of collective bargaining, if they cannot find an answer to it in the discus sions before the other Commissions which, have spent a great deal of time on it heretofore. THE CHAIRMAN : I would say that this State in fact all states- supposes that a man is able to take care of himself. MR. CAMPAU: Yes. THE CHAIRMAN : But states have followed the principle that a woman is not able to take care of herself, and therefore it is constitu- tional to provide laws concerning women that it would not be concern- ing men. ON DANGEROUS GROUND. MR. CAMPAU: That is quite true; but, if you will recollect, I think it is only two or three states that have undertaken to protect women as to the matter of bargaining for wage, but that all our regulations are based on the principle of the police power of the State for the sake of their health and the children and the future generations. We have never undertaken to legislate for women on the basis that her mind was not quite equal to that of the mind of man, and I should suggest to this Commission that that is a very dangerous ground to proceed upon. THE CHAIRMAN : Is it not a fact that never before in the history of the world have the women taken such a prominent part in production as they do to-day? Is not the question of wages pressed upon the com- munity because of the enormous increase in the number of women workers ? MR. CAMPAU: Yes; but has there ever been a time when the intel- lectual capacity of woman and her ability to take her place in the world las been more pressed upon the world than it is at the present time? And so I think you may well offset the matter of protecting woman in the matter of her bargaining against the thing that woman is so strenu- ously urging to-day that she is quite prepared to take her place in the vmomic and political world. 270 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON I think that, too, the women will solve for the Commission. I will grant you we have been obliged for years to take care of woman for the sake of her health and the health of her children and the health of the children that will follow her. But I do not know of a state that has even undertaken to go so far as to make a pronouncement that we are going to legislate in behalf of woman's bargaining because she is not able to do her own "shopping." That is further than we have ever undertaken to go. That is a question of woman's mentality and her ability to get for her money, or to offer for the money she expects to get, what she thinks she is entitled to. And I do not think that you will find that fundamentally sound. SCHOOL, WORK AND MARRIAGE. MR. WALKER: Suppose this system of compulsory-efficiency educa- tion, or efficiency schools, were in vogue and girls were compelled to attend school until they had a certain degree of efficiency; would that obviate entirely the necessity of minimum wage, or would the supply of female labor with relation to the demand be such, or might it be such, that wages would still tend to the lowest point and below the cost of living and there would have to be either collective bargaining or mini- mum wage or something? MR. CAMP ATI: Of course, understand me, Mr. Walker, that that is a matter of conjecture. I am not venturing into the school system. My notion would be it would work in two ways. In the first place, it would decrease the supply thrust upon the market by girls who are sick and tired of school and want to get out. MR. WALKER: For a time, certainly. Would it permanently? MR. CAMPAU: Yes; it would decrease that supply, because girls would not be on the market until they were nearer what we might choose to consider the marriageable age. Instead of a girl being put out at fourteen until let us say the average marriageable age and taking charge of one's household is twenty-one or twenty-two, something of that sor t instead of there being seven years of factory opportunity for a girl, there would be somewhere in the neighborhood of three or four. That would cut it down, if my figures are right and it is all guesswork by about half. On the other hand, we would find a parent charged with the duty of taking care of a family, and we would find in all probability, as we have always found, that the wage of men has come very near to meeting its need. It may not or it will not do it at once, but eventually it will meet its need. And we would find that, little by little, the man's wages would grow with his increased obligation, and perhaps we would not find the necessity for putting girls to work as soon as we find it now; and so I think, for that reason, perhaps, it would eventually become permanent. Please understand, that is all a long way in the future. I cannot see the school system, nor the continuation school, so immediately ahead of me that I can quite figure out what it may be. I simply thought of it as the ultimate solution. Let this be, if you like, a philanthropy, to take care of the thing until that time comes; but I do not believe that it is economically sound. MR. WALKER: It might hasten that day, might it not? MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 271 MR. CAMPAU : It might ; I do not know. As I say, I came here un'- jpared, and I am sorry to have taken so much of your time. MR. GILDAS: May I ask Mr. Campau a question: Did you assume mt girls went to work at fourteen or fifteen or sixteen simply to avoid ?hool, or as a matter of necessity of the parents putting them to work? MR. CAMPAU: I think there are a number of causes. I firmly be- lieve there are a number of idle girls, yes, a number of idle boys, who get sick and tired of school and want to go to work. I think also there are many cases where the parents' wages are not sufficient and they have to go to work. Now, if we increase the school years that perhaps would make a greater burden upon the parents; but, then, you must reflect that we are bearing here in Michigan a greater burden than they are bearing to-day in Georgia and in Alabama and some of the other places where they are putting the babies to work in the mills, and we are tak- ing "the medicine" here, and we are glad to take it. I think if the child- ren were kept in school longer it would be better. MAX LUBETSKY : I think Georgia will pay for it later on. MR. WALKER: Mr. Brown? ALVAH BROWN : I do not wish to say anything. MR. WALKER: Mr. Strong? THE NEED OP EFFICIENCY. JOHN E. STRONG (of the Lowell Manufacturing Company, ladies' and children's garments) : I did not come here to make a speech. I did not intend to say anything at all. What I had in mind has been so much better said than I could say it myself, that I do not really feel as though I ought to say anything. Yet I will say this: That it seems to me that inevitably a^girl must stand on her own resources, whether there is a minimum wage, or whether there is not. And I can only apply this proposition to the business that I am engaged in where, almost with- out exception we have a very few who work by the week our girls work by piece-work and we know what we can afford to pay them, because we know what is paid by other people in the same business ; we know what the garments are sold for by other people, and we know what we can afford to pay them and still meet the competition, and we pay them what we can afford to pay them and leave a reasonable profit. The result would be, if there was a minimum wage, that the girl who could not earn the minimum would necessarily have to leave our employ, and, as has already been said, the minimum wage law would be made, if at all, for the benefit of the girl who was incompetent and inefficient, and not for the girl who is efficient, because she can take care of herself. 1 have been unable to see, in turning this matter over in my mind, how it is going to affect the girl, or how it is going to benefit the girl, who is unable to earn the minimum, if she is deprived of earning any- thing at all. I have had girls in my employ for months at a time who had the same work at which other girls had that made good wages, and yet were unable to earn more than |4 or $5 a week, and yet they had the same work for weeks and months at a time. I had one girl of that class sometime ago. A friend of mine called me and asked if I would take her ; she said that she had interested herself in this girl, or woman she was thirty years of age, or thereabouts and she had got her a place in a restaurant and she was a failure; she had tried her in housework, 272 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON and she was a failure; she had tried her in various places, and she had failed in everything. I said it was a pretty strenuous job where we employed girls and if she had failed in everything else she probably would fail there; but she begged of me to take the girl. I took her, and she got so she could earn I think about |4 a week, perhaps $5. Now, with a minimum greater than that, of course, I would not have kept her; I would not have taken her at all. And when I found she could not in a reasonable time make good, I let her go. She afterwards found employment where she could do better, I think, or went back to her home in the northern part of the State ; I do not know which. If a law could be made to create more efficiency, as well as better wages, I think it would be a good thing. Gentlemen here who have em- ployed girls in factories know that efficiency in many cases is very low, and we are willing to pay the wages that a girl can earn ; but if a girl has shown her inability and her inefficiency and her incompetency to earn the wages that we would be compelled to pay by law, then we would be obliged to discharge the girl and keep more efficient help. THE CHAIRMAN : Do you have any trouble in obtaining help ? ME. STRONG: Not at the present time. We have had at various 1 times. There are times in the year when help is scarce, as the other men have .stated. At the present time there is plenty. CAUSE OP INEFFICIENCY. MR. WALKER : Mr. Strong, according to your observations, what are the principal causes of inefficiency in help? Can you classify them or name them, some of them? MR. STRONG : Well, no, I could not classify them or name them. I perhaps could name one or two. In my judgment, I think one of the causes of inefficient help in girls is the fact that a girl does not expect to work in a factory all her life. She expects to get married most girls do and she expects to do housework; she expects to have a home. She has a right to expect that. And she is not looking forward to life-long work and expecting all her life to earn her own living; and I think she is a little more careless about her efficiency and a little more indifferent to it than a man would be under the same circumstances who expects and knows that all his life he has got to not only support himself, but he is a man that is hoping sometime to be able to support a family. I think there are many reasons, perhaps. That is one of them that I have thought of. MR, WALKER : What do you think would become of these inefficient persons who would have to be, or probably would be, discharged if a reasonable minimum wage was fixed? Is there any possibility or prob- ability that they would remain in their homes with their people and be- come better trained in home life and home work, or would they stay in school longer and obtain more education and efficiency there; or would they go to what Mr. Campau calls the "discard?" MR, STRONG : I agree with Mr. Campau in that respect, that I would not like to take the responsibility as to what would become of them. MR, WALKER: Is the State doing its full duty now by these girls, these inefficient persons? Is not there something that the State ought to do now? MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 273 MR. STRONG : Possibly. I could not answer that question. BENJAMIN LUBETSKY : If the State had done its duty, there would be less inefficiency, and the question of the minimum wage would never have come up. MR, WALKER : If the State had done its duty? BENJAMIN LUBETSKY : If the State had done its duty by it. This at best is only a makeshift. But a makeshift is better than nothing. Philanthropy and efficiency do not go together. You will eliminate a cer- tain amount of what you call inefficiency for awhile, but what are you going to do with it? It is going to make a scarcity of labor, and it is going to raise up the others high above your minimum to make up for those who at present cannot earn a minimum until they earn the mini- mum. Now, who pays for that difference? MR. WALKER : It is the manufacturer, perhaps. MR. GILDAS : The consumer, all right. MAX LUBETSKY : That would be all right with Michigan if it was an island with a great, big wall around it ; but I do not see how the Michi- gan manufacturer is going to pay a much higher wage and still be in the game. A woman goes either in or out. As I said before, it is not going to do them any good, if it is the intention of going down with them in the scrap heap. It is not much better for them ; it might be a little com- fort in misery. But I do not believe in that kind of comfort. VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE. MR. FASOLDT: Is there any way in the consideration of this ques- tion by the State to handle this portion that is supposed to be inefficient, that is, to guide them into the right charinel? Now, a girl may learn to make trousers and overalls and she may not be able to make any more than f 6 a week ; she might make a first-class employe in some other line, which oftentimes happens. They cannot run a sewing machine; they cannot stitch rapidly no matter what price you offer them, but they might be very good at clerking, keeping books, doing stenographic w r ork, any other line. Is there any way in the consideration of the question that they would take care of that class of help? MR, WALKER : Vocational guidance. THE CHAIRMAN : There is a movement on foot for the national gov- ernment to establish employment bureaus. I understand one of their duties would be to find the square holes for the square pegs and the round holes for the round pegs. MAX LUBETSKY: I will agree with Mr. Strong that the greatest measure of inefficiency among girl employes is caused by the fact that they do not look at it as anything permanent, and I do not think voca- tional guidance will be much of a help. By the time the commissions of vocational guidance would come around to them they would find the cage empty, the bird had already gone. THE CHAIRMAN : Has any manufacturer here satisfied himself as to what proportion of girls applying for work are mentally competent to do the work; that is to say, is a certain proportion of them applying abnormal? MAX LUBETSKY : I do not think there are any more abnormal among the women than there are among the men. (Laughter.) MR. WALKER : We hope not. 35 274 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON PLACING THE BLAME. THE CHAIRMAN: I find in a report of one factory employing 115 girls that during the year they have had on their books something over 300 names; that is to say, two-thirds of those that started in that factory fell by the wayside. Now, was that the fault of the manufacturer, or was that the fault of the girls? MAX LUBETSKY: I think it is the fault of the entire condition, because of the fact that the majority or great share of the girls who come in there are only looking for temporary employment. A boy, if he goes into a place and wants to get a job at anything that resembles a trade, why, he makes an effort to learn it. He does not expect much at the start, because he thinks it is his life work. The girl takes that as a temporary makeshift, and of course at the same time she has got to "look out of the window." One of the windows of my factory over- looks a factory where a number of boys are employed. I think a good deal of our inefficiency is caused by the fact that the girls half the time are looking across the street from that window. Now, I do not think they are to blame for it at all. MR. WALKER: Nothing abnormal about that, is there? (Laughter.) MAX LUBETSKY : No, I say it is nothing but natural. GIRLS WHO "GO WRONG." THE CHAIRMAN: In your opinion do a larger proportion of low- wage girls go wrong than high-wage girls? MAX LUBETSKY : I do not think that has anything to do with it. MR. WALKER: Not if they live at home? MAX LUBETSKY: Well, of course, whether they live at home, or whether they live away, I do not think the question of wage has anything to do with it. I think they are mixing two subjects that are entirely separate. BENJAMIN LUBETSKY : I think more girls at high wages go wrong than girls at low wages. MAX LUBETSKY: Well, that is simply taking a personal view. MR. FASOLDT : I would like to say one thing more. My experience is that a girl will come in and say, "Can you give me work?" You ?ay, "Yes." She wants to know all about it ; you tell her all about it and tell her she can come and go to work. She will say, "Yes, I will be around at seven o'clock in the morning;" and she will never show up. MAX LUBETSKY: Hundreds of them. MR, JOHNSON : Lots of them. MR, FASOLDT: What is the trouble? They do not want the job very bad, then. MR. JOHNSON: I do not think that is the reason. They simply realize, as they figure, they do not want the job, but they are a little too timid to tell you so. Once in awhile you will find one that will say, "I can't afford to work at those wages," or, "The work does not suit me." But most of them will find it easier to say, "I will be there." MR, OTTE: Or else they get a better job in the meantime. MAX LUBETSKY: Or else they get a better job in the meantime. I do not blame them for that. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 275 WHY WOMEN ARE EMPLOYED. MRS. IDA IX MARSH: May I ask a question? THE CHAIRMAN: Yes. MRS. MARSH : Why is it, then, they want to employ so many girls in- tead of employing young men or boys in those positions? MB. FASOLDT : In this particular line I speak of, it is very natural >r girls to run a sewing machine; there are very few places that we em- ploy for that purpose male help, and one of them is in the prison where they have got them and where they cannot help themselves; they are there for a long time; and then in men's clothing, of course, in the eastern cities, why, that is generally men's work. MRS. MARSH : May I ask the same question of Mr. Johnson. Why are there not more men and boys employed in your business ? Why do you not want to employ them instead of girls. MR. JOHNSON: Well, because girls work cheaper. MRS. MARSH: That is the idea. Thank you. MR. JOHNSON: This inefficiency, a great deal of it, in my judgment, is caused because a girl, if she makes cigars or works in any other factory, a big percentage will hand their wages over to their parents and they probably get enough back to exist, and they simply do not care whether they make $9, f 12 or $15. There is a lack of ambition. But the girls that pay their own way, that live out of the home, I do not think there is any lack of efficiency in any of them. The things said here about girls, you will find the same thing true about boys. Believe me, the big- gest nuisance we ever have is the young boys. They work two or three months and as soon as the sun begins to shine they are gone. ORGANIZATION VS. PRISON LABOR. MR. BEADLE: Is it not a fact at Marquette three years ago they made cigars only amongst the prisoners there? MR. JOHNSON: Yes, it is. MR. BEADLE : Now they make overalls. MR. JOHNSON: Yes, there is a reason for that. MR. BEADLE: And no cigars. MB. JOHNSON: There "organized labor" and I guess manufacturers got together and they petitioned the State, or they fought the proposition. MR. BEADLE : Are there less overall manufacturers, or less organized laborers in the overall industry than there are in the cigar industry? MR. JOHNSON: I think so, yes. MR. BEADLE: And, apparently, the cigar manufacturers and cigar workers got together and, working politically, fired cigar making out of there and put MR. JOHNSON: The overalls in. MR. BEADLE : And put overall making in its place. MR, BENJAMIN LUBETSKY: We did not put anything in the legislature did that. MR. JOHNSON: We "put one over them." MR. GILDAS: The fact is this, the people who make overalls are not organized. 276 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON MR. FASOLDT: Oh, yes, they are. MR. GILD AS: There are mighty few in this city, at least. MR. FASOLDT: Oh, here they pay the wages that any of the union concerns do. MR. GILDAS: They are not organized. I think the power was not there to prevent garments from going into the State prison in place of cigars. MAX LUBETSKY: There is another element. In the cigar they could not hide where it was made. A cigar has to be stamped on the box where it is made. You cannot avoid responsibility for its production. In overalls they can hide the fact of the place Avhere it was made. If once you get the consumers to know that a cigar is a prison-made cigar, not from any philanthropic motive or from any humanitarian standpoint, the ordinary smoker does not want to smoke a cigar that is made in prison ; and he doesn't care much what kind of overalls he wears. MR. WALKER: He might try those in stripes; maybe he would care then. MAX LUBETSKY : It all depends where he is wearing them. A man doesn't care, even if the overalls have got stripes, so long as he can wear them outside. ORGANIZED LABOR AND THE MINIMUM WAGE. L. D. MOSHER: I am up here representing labor; I won't say that I am representing organized labor, for I am not a delegate from organized labor up here, although I belong to a labor union. In regard to the minimum wage scale, I cannot say that I approve of it personally. I hardly think it is the right thing. I would not want it set before me, and I do not believe it is a good thing for the women. I think the manual training department in our schools will be one of the largest help-out in regard to the laboring classes that there is. I do not believe in trade schools, but I do believe in manual training, of tak- ing a boy or girl and taking them into the different trades ; not only one thing, but give them a taste of it all. In that way you will find out what they do really want, and I think it is one of the finest things there is. I have looked into it quite a bit, and it has impressed me very much. RESPONSIBILITY OP THE EMPLOYER. H. F. BAXTER (of the Baxter Laundry Company) : The whole ques- tion, we believe, hinges solely on whether a minimum wage will be a benefit to women emplo}'es. That is the whole matter, and the standpoint from which we believe every modern business man will approach this problem. There is not any modern employer of labor who does not realize the responsibility that rests on him with respect to his employes. We really have almost no right to state a personal opinion unless we have sufficient facts before us to give us a chance to deduce some conclusion which would have some weight. But looking at it from the standpoint of the welfare of the women workers, you have, of course, the moral question, and Miss Burton's exhaustive report, which it has given me a great deal of pleasure in read- ing, has completely settled that. And taking up just the laundry industry, MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 277 is of interest to note there that somewhat less than one per cent of the !16 people investigated had been employed in laundries before their >wnfall. Then, taking up the economic point of view and that has been most illy discussed by Mr. Campau there are certainly a number of serious Ejections toward a minimum wage. On the other hand, I believe that a M-V complete investigation should be made by this Commission, or other Commissions, and no definite opinion could be formed until every bit of information that it is possible to obtain has been gathered together; md if there is any information whatever that the Commission would sire about our business, we would only be too glad to give any and every aid. MK. BEADLE: I would like to ask the last speaker a question. Suppose a minimum wage were established in your industry; you have been getting a certain definite profit, one which you consider reasonable, and add to it that wage: Is it possible in your business, if all your competitors in the State of Michigan operate under the same basis that you are, to put that upon the consumer by raising the cost to the con- sumer? Is it not possible to put that upon the consumer if all are work- ing under the same wage? MR. BAXTER: Our business is completely local, and if all our com- petitors had to operate under the same conditions, I have not a doubt but what gradually the load would be placed upon the consumer; yes, sir. This would depend, however, entirely upon what minimum wage scale was made for our particular industry. MR. BEADLE: One other question. How long do you consider the necessary apprentice period for a woman coining into your employ, say, at fourteen years? MR. BAXTER: To strike a very rough average because it would have to be rough the different ambitions of different girls enter into it, and, .being so very diverse, I should say about a year or a year and a half, possibly. MR. BEADLE : If the party coming to work was eighteen years old, of good physique, how long would it take her to acquire efficiency? MR. BAXTER: On the assumption that the girl eighteen years old had at least a larger mental capacity than the girl of sixteen, or else had some previous experience, it would probably cut it down by ajmost fifty per cent. That is entirely a personal conjecture as to the difference be- tween sixteen and eighteen. BONUSES FOR EMPLOYES. THE CHAIRMAN : I would like to ask all those present a question : Do any of you know any of the employers of the city who give their employes a bonus for efficient work or for quantity? MRS. MARSH: That might be answered in one way, Mr, Grenell: I do not know whether you would call it bonus, but the women employed in the cloak departments in Michigan have what they call "P. M.'s," and that would be one per cent, and in some departments in two or three of the larger stores of Detroit two per cent; Siegel gives two per cent to the women in the cloak department. MR. WALKKU: Of what? Their sales, vuu mean? 278 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON M11S. MARSH: Yes; two per cent above their salary. One lady, to illustrate, was getting $2 a day; another one was getting $3. Well, aside from that they get two per cent of all the sales. THE CHAIRMAN: I had reference to Grand Rapids. MRS. MARSH : I think it is the same here. MR. JOHNSON: We tried that, and we found it would not work. We had to go around and judge who were the best workers, and the sec- ond time over we had our troubles, and we quit it. THE i CHAIRMAN: What is the fault? MR. JOHNSON : The question of judgment. The work they brought in was so nearly alike it was hard to tell which work was a little better than the /other. MR. WALKER: That was based on quality, not on quantity? MR. JOHNSON: Oh, no; on quality. We had a fight on our hands the second year. WAGE BOARDS. MR. SHANAHAN: I would like to ask how far does the State pro- pose to go about this question of minimum wage scale? Does* it propose to come into our plant, or any plant, and say, "Here, gentlemen, you pay this class of help and that class of help so much?" Or will they come in and confer with us, and, after they have gone over certain details and figures, finally establish some rate that will be considered by the Commission and by ourselves as being legitimate and fair; or will they arbitrarily come in and say, "So much will be the price and we shall pay it?" THE CHAIRMAN : I would say that this question is all new here, the question of the minimum wage, and that the states have different methods. I think the usual method is to establish a Wage Board in which all sides are represented. MR. WALKER: Based upon investigation always; not necessarily upon an agreement with the employer, but upon investigation. The em- ployers are represented. MR. SHANAHAN: If not, certainly the State is in no position at all to come into a man's plant and determine what should or should not be the minimum wage scale. EFFECT OF REDUCING THE HOURS OF LABOR. MAX LUBETSKY: Why would it not be good for the State to take a little of Mr. Johnson's views : If there is not enough of bread and but- ter to go around by giving one of them a whole loaf, why not cut the loaf in two? Instead of making a minimum wage, why not reduce the hours of labor and therefore enforcing a better wage? THE CHAIRMAN: How would the reducing df the hours of labor enforce a better wage? MAX LUBETSKY: Naturally by increasing the demand for labor. Mind you, I do not approve of THE CHAIRMAN: Would not the reduced hours of labor increase the cost of the article? MAX LUBETSKY: That would not make any difference. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 279 rTHE CHAIRMAN : And would not the increased cost of the article -educe the consumption of the article? MAX LUBETSKY: No, not if we make it all over the United States. MR. CORNELIUS: The gentleman wants it understood that that ms reference to the cigar making business only. MR. SHANAHAN: Yes. MAX LUBETSKY : I do not think it refers to the cigar makers only. 3o far as cigar making is concerned I do not think they need a reduc- tion of hours ; I think they work little enough. MR. CAMPAU: Mr. Gompers says the reducing of the hours of labor does not increase the cost, because the men will do that much more labor. MAX LUBETSKY: Mr. Gompers is right to a certain extent. In fact, our experience has been that, when we have had to work tempor- arily ten hours a day sometimes during rush we have worked ten hours a day that it will do that for a short time, but as a general proposition the total production will be just as much in nine hours as it will in ten. But you can keep on going down; that does not mean by the time you get down to six hours they will still be making as much. (Laughter.) THE CHAIRMAN: We have discussed the Minimum Wage very thoroughly. We seem to have covered the ground very well, and I am sure the remarks of all present will help the Commission to come to a wise decision. As I said in the beginning, the Commission is not ad- vocating a minimum wage, and the Commissioners do not know whether or not, at this time, a minimum wage law is practicable in Michigan. We are simply trying to find out through a consensus of opinion what is the best thing for the State to do. We are very much obliged to all of you, and the meeting will now be dismissed. APPENDIX D. PUBLIC MEETING HELD IN SAGINAW, MAY 11, 1914. (Keported by H. B. Bliss.) A public meeting of the Michigan State Commission of Inquiry Into Wages and Conditions of Labor for Women and the Advisability of Establishing a Minimum Wage, was held at the Saginaw Board of Trade rooms, Monday evening, May 11, 1914. Over 25 were present. Chairman Judson Grenell, Waterford, presided. C. S. Beadle, Detroit, and Myron H. Walker, Grand Rapids, members of the Commission, and Secretary Miss Luella M. Burton were also present. THE CHAIRMAN: The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the advisability of a minimum wage for women. The Commission approaches the question with an open mind. It is endeavoring to obtain the opinion of all classes, employers and employes. The meeting is in your hands. MR. BEADLE : We rather hesitate to disclose our own opinions. We are gathering data from this and other states to aid the legislature. Conditions are different here from other states. Do women get enough pay so they can support themselves? Living is higher. Only can we have harmonious conditions by doing justice between employer and em- ploye. STATES WITH MINIMUM WAGE LAWS. EDWARD SCHUST, of Schust Baking Company : What states have a minimum wage? MR. BEADLE: Utah, California, Washington, Oregon and Massa- chusetts are among those with laws relating to minimum wages. In several the laws are not coercive; simply a commission to establish jus- tice, but without power to enforce their decisions except by publicity. E. A. ROBERTSON, of Robertson Shirt-waist Company: I wish to take my stand in opposition to a State minimum wage law. I believe if there is any it should be federal. We have competition In all other states. If we have a minimum wage law here, and the others do not, we would be hampered. I understand such a wage would be about $8 or $9. How could we afford to get operatives and pay them $12 to teach others getting $8 or $9. It would put us in a bad boat. It would be hard on the poor operatives who would not be able to get a job at all. We could not use them at all if we had to pay $8 or $9. You cannot use all alike, some are better than others. The minimum wage law says all are equally good, but this is not so. There is a great difference in oper- atives. MR. BEADLE : Under the minimum wage law that would not be the : MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 281 ixiinum. You could pay what you like for efficiency. MR. ROBERTSON: True; but if the minimum is put up we might t be able to pay more. Our wages average between f 8 and |9 a week, you put on a minimum wage law it would hamper us and might mean r pulling off to another State. MR. BEADLE: In what state could you do better? MR. ROBERTSON: We have not looked that matter up. To local business it would not make so much of a difference, as it does not have competition throughout the Union. They would have to pay f 10 a week if the others did. I don't mind paying the help if they do the work. THE CHAIRMAN: Do you have any trouble obtaining help? MR. ROBERTSON: Some times. With piece-work they would loaf under the minimum wage. It would reduce the value of the machines. CHARLES A. EVANS, Cigar maker, Member of Legislature: If the employes are working by piece the employers get full value all the time whether they get the minimum or maximum amount of work. It is the employe who suffers. Of course he may not get the complete work out of the machines. With weekly pay it is different. MR. ROBERTSON : We may have a girl only earning $4, whom we will have to pay f 8. H. J. GILBERT, of Saginaw Manufacturing Company: If you have a series of operatives and one is slow, she holds up a number in the pro- cess of making articles. If one is a loafer it offsets the wages of a num- ber. MR. BEADLE : I do not recall any minimum wage or any suggested that fixes a definite amount. The question is, is the minimum wage the proper way of solving the difficulty? If so, how should it be applied, all alike or vary it according to the industry? If the automobile mini- mum wage of f 5 set by Ford should be followed by others it would create a great row among other manufacturers. I can conceive of a dif- ferent minimum wage in different industries. It should be so adjusted to give a fair share to the laborer and the manufacturer. It could be different and enforceable as is done in Massachusetts. The apprentice period could also be longer in different work. Employes have less value as apprentices than when they have completed their apprentice work. WANTS ONLY FEDERAL LAW. MR. SCHUST: I would favor a minimum wage if it was a federal law, and adjusted for apprentices and piece-workers to suit the particu- lar business. Mr. Robertson's competition extends over the entire United States, while ours is practically within this State. But we have com- petition from Chicago, Milwaukee, Toledo, Fort Wayne and other large cities. If there was a minimum wage law in the State, it would be un- fair to those who pay the taxes, while the others could ship into our market. It would be an injustice if only Michigan had the law. Others could come in and undersell us. It would probably drive us out of busi- ness. Mr. Robertson can pick up and move elsewhere, but our business is within the State, and such a law would cause a hardship. I believe the Commission ought to use great discretion. This is a good State, and it should not adopt laws that will hamper manufacturers. We 282 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON have a minimum wage to start in with. If the employes become better we raise it, if not we let them out. MR. BEADLE: What percentage of the cost of your product is the labor? MR. SCHUST: I do not know now. It would have to be estimated from our books. THE CHAIRMAN: Do you offer any incentive to your labor? MR. SCHUST: No. THE CHAIRMAN: Do you pay according to age? MR. SCHUST: We do not care about their ages. We get all the employes we want. I guess we feed them too well, they can eat all the cookies they want. There are many problems to contend with. We may pay them $5, but we do not know how much they eat. I question the outcome if Michigan adopts a minimum wage law. A thousand manu- facturers might go to some other state. It would drive out the good manufacturers. Robertson's factory circulates many dollars, it brings many dollars to Michigan, employs a large number, which is of benefit to all. If we drive them out it will be a peculiar situation, a hardship to many if only one state has the minimum wage. MR. BEADLE: Utah has a minimum wage, but there is no record to show that the manufacturers have been driven out. MR. ROBERTSON: Utah is not a manufacturing state. Michigan is very strong in manufacturing, and such a law would affect this state more than Utah. WHERE FIFTY PER CENT GOES TO LABOR. JOSEPH E. POWERS, of Peerless Laundry and Dye Company: I would take issue on the minimum wage, for I do not favor it. It might not make so much difference if it was coiifined locally, but other business would be up against it. I was informed by a labor federation secretary that they might recommend a minimum of $6, a maximum of $12, and medium of $8. If such a law was adopted it would render our business difficult and reduce it materially. It might have a different effect on different businesses. In the laundry business of the State the pay rolls average fifty per cent or better of the gross receipts. If you place -a minimum wage it will make *a material difference. MR. BEADLE : Is it not possible that the people would pay more ? MR. POWERS: Consult your wife on that matter and see what she would do if the prices are increased. She would do her own. DON P. TOOLE, of the E. A. Robertson Company: Mr. Robertson has covered my ground. If there is a minimum wage law I would favor a federal law. It would not be fair to manufacturers to have a Michi- gan law only. STARTS GIRLS AT $3.50 A WEEK. LANDON E. SWAN, of Saginaw Specialty Company: I do not see how it would be possible to have a minimum wage law. We have com- petition from Chicago, Duluth, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Cleveland and from other cities in other states. We have the piece-work system. We start a girl in at $3.50 a \veek and after working several weeks if she does well we place her on piece-work, otherwise we let her go. On piece- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 283 work they can earn about f 1 a clay. They become skilled in four weeks. I would not sanction a minimum wage. If any, it should be federal. HENRY WITTERS, of Witters' Laundry: Who would pay if such a law was adopted? It would be the consumer. Then when the girls went out to buy things they woul'd have to pay more for their goods. Then they would not be much ahead. The girls are not in the factory long ; they are looking to get married. On the average they work a short time. For that reason the minimum wage would not be very effective. It looks as though if the minimum wage was high it would put the small concerns out of business. The big concerns can afford a smaller percentage. The trend to-day is to help the big fellows. There was a time when the small fellows could start a laundry with $1,000. To-day there are machines that cost f 2,250. All the laws enacted, the eight- hour, the minimum wage, the accident compensation, tend to put the small man out of business. I can see why some labor unions do not favor a minimum wage. MR. GILBERT : How far would the minimum wage go, would it cover all women? THE CHAIRMAN : So far as we know it would cover all. MR. GILBERT: If they received their board and room would you include that ? If you did not it would be a mistake. It should cover all, the domestic and all compensation. There is no reason why there should be exceptions. Room and board is a part of the wages. MR. BEADLE: If the employer furnishes room and board reduc- tions should be made for that. MR. GILBERT: Yes, a certain sum should be fixed for room and board. WAGES GOVERNED BY SERVICES. HUGO G. WESENER, of the William Barie Dry-goods Company: Employes must be paid according to their services. It depends upon their merit. Girls in our employ have been advanced from clerks far in advance of any minimum that would be set. They are not paid all alike. The minimum might give some a higher wage but it would dis- place the less competent, and work a hardship on women, many of whom would be driven out in favor of men. The prices should be fixed for both juniors and seniors. It would benefit a few at the cost of the masses. Wages are increasing. The pay roll increased enormously dur- ing 1913, and it was largely to saleswomen. Additional increases would be borne by the consumers as our net margin of profit is small now. We would make it up by charging more. But we could not do it very well because competition is so strong, advertising is heavy, and the mail or- der houses send catalogues to farmers and housekeepers. They sell at reasonable prices and control the output of manufacturers. Buyers know what things cost, prices are fixed. MR. EVANS : I have thought long on this subject although I am not an employer. I am as much at sea as ever. It is a deep question, whether or not it would be wise to establish a minimum wage by statutory law. I am not convinced that it would be. The tendency of the times is to increase wages, especially for women, that the conditions may be more just. I am a believer in the principle of women receiving equal pay with men for equal work. This is the position of organized labor. There is 284 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON no such thing in labor unions as an agitation for a minimum wage. There are many thousand women in my trade of cigar maker, and they receive the same pay, have the same conditions and are Just as com- petent. They average up the same. ^Such meetings as this tend to edu- cate. "PITIFULLY LOW WAGES." The wages of women are pitifully low. There is no reason why women should not receive sufficient wages to pay their way, their board, room and clothes, same as a man in an occupation with a family. I am. open to conviction. At the last session of the legislature there were several bills on the minimum wage, one providing for publicity. There was no attempt to establish a minimum wage, but we did propose a commission to investigate any industry, and determine what is a just wage, and, if not paid, to use publicity. There was objection to the publicity, and a lack of information. The result was the appointment of the Commis- sion here to-night. I hope the time will come when women will receive the same wages as men without the necessity of going to law. In some trades the wages have advanced a hundred per cent, such as in the domestic field/ where they have gone from |2 to a minimum of |4 and $5. In the common work in the cigar factories the wages have advanced three times over that of five and ten years ago. The tendency is to increase the wages of women. MK. ROBERTSON : You said the girls received a pitifully low wage. Where did you get your information? MR. EVANS : I would say $5 was a low wage. MR. ROBERTSON: Yes. MR. EVANS : I do not know that they receive that. M. W. TANNER, of the Tanner Dry-goods Company: Do the girls look badly dressed or poorly paid? MR. ROBERTSON : I deny that the wages are pitiful. MR. EVANS: If not, why this inquiry? MR. ROBERTSON : No women Ave employ are getting |5. MR. SCHUST: Is $12 a week fair pay for men? MR. EVANS : Hardly. MR. SCHUST: How many are getting that? MR. EVANS : The tendency is to pay $12. MR. SCHUST: If the men get $12 and have several children and home to support, taxes and rent to pay, they are fairly well paid, but a girl getting $5 and with only herself to support is poorly paid. MR. EVANS: The girl has a right to get as much, whether she has a family to support or not. Would you say a man should not receive as much because he has no family? MR. SCHUST: I do not believe the women should get as much. MR. EVANS : Many women accept low wages because they do not have anyone to support. THE CHAIRMAN : What is a fair w r age for a man on which to sup- port himself and family? The basis is shifting. It is no longer what a man earns, but what a family earns. In New York it was found that it required between $800 and $900 to support a family. But there are MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 285 100,000 nieii who do not get that and who have families; so it is made ip by the women and children. COMPARING AMERICAN WITH GERMAN WAGES. FREDERICK BUCK, of Luf kin Rule Company : As far as our busi- iess is concerned it is all over the United States. If it was local, it rould not make so much difference. But we have competition not only this but other countries, but we do not have the same protection. We lave a small factory in Germany employing between thirty and forty girls, and their average pay is not over 40 cents a day. The foreman is well satisfied with f 30 a month. These goods come in here with only a fifteen per cent tariff. So you see where we land. We intended to move the factory to Saginaw until the tariff was changed. This shows what we must compete against. If a minimum wage law is passed we will use only those who come up to it. The others will have to go out and walk the streets. Wages have increased. We are willing to pay on a fair basis. Personally, I do not believe a national minimum wage would be so serious or do great harm if it was not placed too high. What- ever it is, the girls and women must earn it or step out. J. W. IPPEL, of the Ippel Dry-goods Company : It is a big question. All are interested in the ladies and their wages. We do all we can to increase wages, but I do not see how you can arrange a basis for ladies in dry-goods stores, factories, shirt-waist companies, in piece-work, etc. We pay from |3.50 to flO a week. We would like to pay more but we can't afford to do it. I would rather pay bigger wages if we could. We all favor advancing conditions. If the minimum wage is fixed at |6 or f 8 it w r ould result in getting only the good ones, the others would stay out. They might come to the dry-goods stores. I know my ladies are satisfied. If not they let me know and I will help to improve them. I do not employ as many as Tanner's or Barie's and have no buyers. All are salesladies, the men do the buying. The hour question interests us more. I would like to see the eight-hour law. DO WOMEN GET AS MUCH AS THEY EARN? WILLIAM H. FERRIS, Tailor: I believe I oppose the minimum wage. For years I was in the ready-made garment factories in New York and know many girls are not worth what they are getting. In our organization of tailors the women get just as much as the men. Many of the vests are made by the women, while some firms have ladies make the trousers. MR. BEADLE: What percentage of the cost of a suit is the labor? MR, FERRIS: Probably about |4 up, or about twenty-five percent. MR. WALKER : Is the condition of women employes as far as wages are concerned good? Is it a living wage? Are they satisfactory? Are they getting it? Can anything be done by the employer to Increase the efficiency of the employes so they can earn more? Are they getting all they earn or is competition in the labor market such that you can hire them and pay less than they earn? Is such a condition exceptionable or common? Probably all agree that woman labor is inefficient, but niaii labor is not very effective either. What is the remedy? Does it 286 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON always have to go on in this way or can the employer, the public, or the employe do something? Women should have a wage they can live on respectably, that will furnish them with the necessities and comforts of life so they will not be tempted to be immoral or indecent. MR. TANNER: The first question is whether they are receiving in the department stores as much as they earn. The competition for efficient help is strong. I do not believe the women in our store could go into any other market and get more. Many women are receiving a good salary, above the minimum, as assistant buyers. For example, a woman assistant buyer in our store was offered 50 per cent more by a firm in another city. She resigned and left without notice. Within four or five days, and since then, she has been trying to get back. We pay a good salary and determine what each department can pay and give us between three and five per cent net profit. When they have earned enough to pay their salaries they receive a commission above their wages. Women are getting $8, f 15, and even $35 a week. When they have sold goods up to a certain percentage they get an extra commis- sion, which is paid every three months, so they all get every dollar they earn. THE EFFICIENCY PROBLEM. The efficiency question is a harder one. This year I made arrange- ments with the Sheldon school to establish a class, and 20 people took the course, while about 50 meet at the weekly classes. We agreed to pay half the cost, and in fact paid it all, permitting the employes to pay back their share, thus giving them interest in the course. We have worked up considerable interest, but the results have not been as good as we expected. The purpose is to get greater efficiency, eliminate mistakes as in delivery, teach the cost and expense of errors, give instructions in salesmanship. The course has been carried on for two months and we see a little ben- efit, the lessons are helping them. Many have had no early advantages. I believe the people will be benefited. Those who attend the lectures en- joy the lessons, but they don't apply them. It is intended to increase their earning capacity, and the establishment of the commission plan makes this possible. But many of the girls think only about what they are going to wear, and they go out evenings. Eventually they expect to get married that is their principal thought. But after they are twenty- five years old it begins to look hopeless and they show more interest and give more attention. If we could, we would only hire women twenty-five years of age or older. They are responsible, put their thoughts in the work. As to a living wage. To-day we want five women whom we are willing to pay more than they can earn. About a year ago a woman came in thinly clad and asked for a position. In her conversation with me she showed she had a thinking quality, but the best she had ever received was |3.50. I told her to go to work and I would see what she could do. She started at $5. I soon raised her and she is getting a good salary now, and also an opportunity of a commission. She is now looking much better, living and dressing better. It is upon such as this woman that a minimum wage might work a hardship unless it was low enough. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 287 icre are also many young women in large families who would never get a chance if a high minimum wage is established. It would be a mistake. GIVING THE GIRLS A CHANCE. There is a girl now in our dressmaking department who started as an errand girl. She was changed from one department to another, and is now getting a good salary. If she had had no opportunity to start at a small salary she would never have had a chance to get started. There are hundreds and thousands of such cases. Many start in such stores as Knox's at |2 or $2.50, which is so much added to the home income. When they become experienced and brighter they go to the department stores. If they are seen to be steady they get a chance to go up to the head of a department. Such people, I think, should be provided for; it is a tremendous class. The other day a little girl of 17 years asked for a position as cash girl. She came from a family of nine children, whose father had been drowned. She will get in somewhere. I think any law should look for- ward to such girls. Schools should establish a course in salesmanship. Some go to business colleges but many who graduate never make a suc- cess. I have talked with Supt. E. C. Warriner on this matter. Such courses would cause thousands more to study in the high school those who now drop out in the seventh and eighth grades. What do they get in education now? Nothing they can use. They can't teach. There is manual training for boys and there should be another form for girls. We do have some girls who have studied stenography and bookkeeping in the high school. GIRLS WHO QUIT. MR. WALKEK : If you drafted a minimum wage law, how long a period of time would you except for apprentices? MR. TANNER: Not less than six months and it would be better if it was a year. Any girl in a dry-goods store who is bright will not stay there long, for customers are attracted to her and they tell the other stores which will offer her more. There is competition for efficient help. Out of a hundred girls two are experienced. Nine out of ten have no great prospect in business. Perhaps they should be given more time as some take longer to teach them. Girls who are slow in learning should be kept long enough, but they would not be under a high salary. MR. ROBERTSON: We have between 300 and 350 employes. We find that not over fifty per cent are efficient. A certain part of them after earning $7 or f S in a week will lay down until the next week. They have enough to dress on, and they just won't work although they could just as well earn $15. MR. WALKER : You say when some of the girls get enough to dress on they quit. How much do these girls turn in to their own homes? MR. ROBERTSON: The chances are they turn in about $3 a week. MR. WALKER: It has been found generally in foreign-born families that nearly all of the money is turned in. MR, ROBERTSON : The girls are well dressed, the female help have excellent conditions. We have competition in New York city where the 288 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON foreigners are employed. If visitors come in our factories all the em- ployes stop and look at them, but in New York employes never look up. It is an entirely different class, and they are much better off here. MR. WALKER: You say fifty per cent are efficient. If the other fifty per cent are inefficient is it because they can't learn? MR. ROBERTSON : No, they just won't work when they get enough for a week. MR. SCHUST: Is it a good thing for Michigan to have a minimum wage with 200,000 women in gainful occupations? Suppose you pass a law fixing the minimum at f 8 a week. The larger manufacturers can- not stand it and will move to other states and perhaps take their help with them. Say six or seven firms pull out of Saginaw, those which pay the highest wages, leaving two or three thousand women idle. Who will hire them ? Is it good for the women or the State ? To the consumer things will be higher and the women will be out of work. If it is a federal law the masses will pay, and there will be protection to all. MR. WALKER: Is there anything you can suggest to better the wages and conditions, or are they satisfactory? If everything is lovely then there is no call for this investigation. MR. ROBERTSON: The state factory inspector comes to the plant. She does not ask the ages, she takes the names whether they are working or not. The reports are not correct. MR. IPPEL: How would you class them? Some are producing and work all the time, some are in department stores, some work only part of the time. How are you going to class them to establish a minimum wage ? MR. WALKER : Only a few attempt to establish a minimum wage for all women employes. Instead there is provided a minimum wage board to inquire into the particular industry and determine what is a fair wage in that industry. They do not fix the wage in the statutes but provide the machinery for Avorking that out. MR. BUCK: Do the women want it? THE CHAIRMAN: We do not know. MR. GILBERT: There has been an advance of fifty per cent in the cost of things, thirty per cent in wages, twenty per cent in inefficiency. How are you going to help with a minimum wage? How care for in- efficiency ? It might be a great thing if equitable to-day, but what about to-morrow ? MR. WALKER : The minimum wage would not be permanent. MR. GILBERT: Inefficiency has increased twenty per cent in five years. MALE OR FEMALE HELP. MR. TANNER: We had a dress-goods department employing any- where from 20 to G5 girls. Because of the wages and inefficiency we were obliged to close it up when there were 45 girls employed. The losses were so great we could not do business. MR. WALKER: Is female help relatively more inefficient than male? MR. TANNER: I cannot say for sure. On every pay roll we have a large number of women who are absent one-half dayj two and three days, while there are many men who never lose any time. You can de- pend upon the men. Some in fifteen years have had no time off except for vacations. This permanence of nieu is true with very few women. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 289 MR. GILBERT : Men are as inefficient as women! MR. IPPEL: To sense how the community stands on this matter I make a motion we take a vote. MR. WALKER: We are not here to" see how many are opposed or in favor, but to get the reasons. M R. IPPEL : We are all at sea now. We favor advancing conditions, but how to. do it is the question. We have nothing to make an argument upon. MR. WALKER : The question is whether a minimum wage law would be practicable or not. THE CHAIRMAN: Four out of five of the employing class are op- posed to a minimum wage, but that is not a conclusive argument against it. The questions the Commissioners have put have been for the pur- pose of drawing out facts, not to buttress any position for or against a minimum wage. 37 APPENDIX E. THE MINIMUM WAGE AND THE MICHIGAN LAUNDRYMHN'S ASSOCIATION. Discussion by Invitation, at the Annual Convention at Bay City, May 12, 1914. MYRON H. WALKER of the Commission : Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: It was not my intention, and I think not of any member of the Commission to make an address this afternoon. We came here at the invitation of the association, the idea being, I suppose, that by comment, discussion and counsel, some degree of the truth and fine wisdom might be arrived at. May I make clear in a moment or two just what we are appointed for, and what we are trying to find out? We are appointed by virtue of an act of the Legislature, I believe it is Act 290 of the laws of 1913, by the Governor of this State, to investigate into the conditions of female employes and labor in this State, the wages paid to them, whether such wages are adequate for the necessary cost of living and to maintain the worker in health. We are commissioned under that act with a certain duty, but it was not of our own seeking nor of our own originating. We are requested, having made that investigation, to report to the next ses- sion of the Legislature, setting forth a comprehensive plan and recom- mending such legislative action as we shall conclude is necessary as to ihe subject of minimum wages for female employes. We are given power to summon witnesses and compel the production of books, etc., and in that connection permit me to say for myself, now, and for the Commission, that we have tried to avoid any sensational methods what- ever. You probably have seen a little of the Minimum Wage Commission. We held a meeting last night in Saginaw. We held one in Grand Rapids, and they have not this far been sensational, and we greatly desire to avoid any seeming sensations. Our expenses are paid, but we are giving our time because we felt that having been requested to act, it was a duty that we could not forego. First, Michigan is not the first state to take up and investigate the subject of minimum wages for women ; it is very far from being the first state. California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ore- gon. Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, all have minimum wage laws, and minimum wage commissions to carry out those laws or enforce them. Only Utah in its statute endeavors to fix that minimum wage. It is seventy-five cents a day for minors, it is ninety cents a day for apprentices, it is a dollar and a quarter for women over twenty-one years MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 291 of age. This is the only state that lias put right into the statute itself what the minimum wage should be. The other states have provided for the appointment of minimum wage commissions. In Oregon it is called an Industrial Welfare Asso- ciation, a permanent commission to have the general charge of the ad- ministration of the law, and in many of the states the law provides for a wage board or boards in the case of any general industry. In other words, the question arises in a given locality and in a given industry whether the wages that are paid are sufficient, proper or just. I noticed recently that in Oregon reports as to what should be a minimum wage have usually been unanimous, that their report is not final, but is subject to the final action of the permanent commission as to their approval. In Massachusetts it provides that the wage so agreed upon and determined shall be made public, and that if any employer does not pay that wage after a certain notice and certain time so speci- fied that the fact that he doesn't pay that wage may be published and made public, and the wages that he does pay. In other words, they throw on the light. Publicity is the sole remedy provided by Massa- chusetts. I think that is about what I had in mind to say in trying to place before you so that you could place before us your views intelligently and not misapprehensively. I think that is all that need be said. The meeting is in the hands of the chairman of this association. We are here to learn, and if we should ask you any questions don't take it that we are criticising, or that we are even antagonistic; we may be or may not be; but that we are seeking after the truth. I know there isn't a member of this Commission that wants anything but facts and your con- clusions, and we have no ulterior motive, or anything else along that line. MR. CniDSEY: We are very proud of the fact that we have got Ilie Commission with us this afternoon, and also we want to thank the Commission for the Secretary that they have engaged, because Miss rnrton is a friend of the Laundrymen's Association. We had an ad- dress by her at Battle Creek last May, a year ago, and it is with great pleasure that we have the Commission and Miss Burton this afternoon. In order to start these proceedings, I am going to call upon a gentleman who is well known to the Laundrymen's Association of the State of Michigan. THOMAS O'CONNELL : Political economy teaches us that wages are determined by the law of supply and demand and that the employer cannot fix wages. If he cannot and does not fix wages, he cannot be In i ld responsible for unfair wages so far as such may exist. The wage of any person should and does depend upon his productivity, which in turn is the result of skill, industry, and experience. The skilled and industrious employe is in great demand while the unskilled or shiftless worker is not in great demand, because such worker produces little and may waste considerable material for the employer. That worker re- ceives low wages because he deserves no more than he earns. The way for any worker to increase his wages is to become more skilled and in- dustrious. Business, in the long run, is conducted only when it is profitable; sentiment does not control and cannot control any successful business. Since business is conducted only on a basis of profit, an employer will 292 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON not employ permanently persons who are not profitable to him. No employe can expect to receive more in wages than he actually produced for the business. Women should have occupations, and not remain idle. They should be occupied either in the home or in some business, trade or profession. They should not be idle, and should either be in a school, preferably an industrial or trade school, or at work. An idle girl is in far greater danger from evil influences than a girl who works. Idleness is a curse to society, because the idler consumes without producing and society not only loses the productive force of the idlers, but also whatever these idlers consume. It is a direct cause for the high cost of living. Low wages for factory and salesgirls are due to the large supply of girls with little training, who are poorly fitted for doing anything. The fact that the employer gives them employment even at low wages is a benefit to them, their family, and society, because the girls are pro- ductively employed. If they are employed even at low wages, society gains just to the extent that they are productive. The effects of an $8 a week minimum wage will be pronounced, but any minimum wage will have similar 'effects. The law will be most detri- mental to those earning less than the minimum. It will affect the small employer very seriously, because it gives him a bad proportion of fac- tors when he has little room for readjustment, and may force many small employers out of business. The effect on large business will be slight, for it will result in slight changes in the organization of the store or shop, an increase in the use of automatic machines and devices, or an- other system, an increase in the cost of articles produced or sold, and in some cases in a slightly decreased profit. If an fS minimum wage were established practically all girls whose efficiency is so low that they cannot make themselves worth that price to the employer, will be dis- charged in the course of time. Each girl that remains will receive $8i as before, and so will be benefited but slightly at best, if not really in- jured. In place of the discharged girls will come men and boys. The girl who formerly earned less than the minimum cannot now be employed anywhere, because she is not profitable to the employer at the minimum wage, and the law would make it a crime for him to employ her at anything else than the minimum. The inexperienced girl or ap- prentice will not be employed except under a long time contract. She will then be a burden on the family instead of an aid; society will be- come less productive and with less produced, the cost of living will ulti- mately become higher. The minimum wage scale would increase the cost of living. By mak- ing both workers and machines idle it would cause less to be produced and that would mean higher prices for each unit of the lessened pro- duct. It would lower the real wages of all workers, for their wages would buy less of the necessaries of life. Any curtailment of product affects the prices of the necessaries of life first and most strongly, caus- ing the prices of the necessaries to increase out of proportion to the prices of other goods. The employer, although he may lose part of his profits, or even be forced out of business, does not have to pay the in- creased cost out of any fund. Increased cost means higher prices. The remedy for low wages is not the minimum wage law. but in- creased industrial efficiency, so that there will be more produced and at MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 293 lower prices because of the full utilization of capital and other pro- ductive forces of society. The minimum wage would help no one, but lie detrimental to many; increased industrial efficiency is beneficial to nil. If n minimum wage is to menu a '"'living wage" and wages tiro not i<> be determined by the ability, skill, experience, industry, etc., but: by the cost of living, how is the cost of living to be determined? Nationality, education, skill, etc., determine the status of the individual, his position in the business world, his position in society and the cost of his living. All these and many more must be taken into consideration. The minimum wage question is principally economic and not social. Wages depend upon, business and business must be conducted in accord- ance with and attested by economic laws and not by sentiment. Wages must, in the long run, .depend upon the law of supply and demand, what the individual is worth in his or her earning power. The true economic way of increasing wages is to increase efficiency, productivity and earn- ing power. This can be done through vocational education. JOHN J. RYAN, of Kalamazoo: Ladies and gentlemen: I didn't come here to-day to talk on this subject. I want to relate a little ex- perience to you. Several years ago in Kalamazoo we had a little flurry in one of our banks, and within another year we had another flurry which took away a million of dollars in about six weeks' time. One morning a lady who had been with us a number of years stepped into my office, and said: "Mr. 'By an, I want to ask you a fair question: Is this bank that is having a run on, is it in bad shape?" She says : "I have $750 in that bank," and she started in at $5 a week, and her daughter is now working in the laundry getting $D a week. The mother has been with us fifteen years. I am stating this experience to show you what people can do on a wage. In that time she had bought her husband one suit of clothes a yea i- and had given him spending money. She has bought a home, and any time I will be glad to introduce you to her. We have a lady who has Avorked for us a number of years and she got $1.25 a day, and ironed from eighteen to twenty shirt-waists a day, and she will make $2.50 every day now, and is 55 years of age. Now the result of that has been this, this winter she didn't work. Now, I think that is just exactly what you are going to bring about, that they will work themselves to death. MB. GRENELL, of the Commission: May I ask one question. Do you have any difficulty in getting all the help you want? MB. BYAN: This year, no. The city o'f Detroit has about r>r> steam plants or power plants. The city of Chicago has between three or four hundred, and one of the largest laundries there is represented here this afternoon by Mr. J. A. Barkey, who is also a member of the executive committee of the association. I would like to hear from Mr. Barkey. J. A. BARKEY of Chicago: Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: I don't know that I can add much to what has been said on the minimum wage question. We in Chicago believe that the business of our organiza- tion rests in the hands of one Thomas O'Connell, and he spoke to yon to-day, and we believe that that covers all that we have to say, perhaps all that we know on the subject. I have been with Mr. O'Connell as he stated for the last three years and know something of the conditions 294 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON in Chicago. We have a very large city and a very cosmopolitan one, and for that reason a question of the minimum wage will be much harder to discuss than possibly a city of the size of Bay City or even Del roil. Mr. Ryan brought out some points that I had in mind, and one of wliidi was the question, of the cost of living. We in our own plant sometime ago, even before there was any question of a minimum wage, established a minimum wage for our own benefit. We pay six dollars a week as a. minimum and as much more as they can make. W T e feel that six dol- lars is possibly as little as any girl should start to work on. We also established in our plant sometime ago the idea of not employing any- one under sixteen years of age. The majority of laundries find that it does not pay to employ anyone at that age for the reason that they haven't the work to give them. We give our help fifteen minutes' recess in the forenoon and fifteen minutes in the afternoon, but they work only nine hours and a half. I might also state that they start at 7:30 in the morning. If we can educate our people in Chicago to send us their laundry any day in the week, give us three days to finish it, we will be able to start the work on Monday morning. We pay our help twenty-five per cent of the amount that we receive, or if we receive forty cents for ironing a shirt-waist the employe gets ten cents and in that way we have increased the wages of our ironers from possibly a mini- mum of eight to nine dollars to twelve and thirteen dollars. Possibly with the same result eventually, that they work themselves to death. In Chicago we have had a rather bad experience, and as a whole the manu- facturers and a majority of the employers are not favorable to a mini- mum wage. Personally, I am of the opinion that it is not well, and if it is the intention of the State Legislature to investigate it, it certainly is something that they should investigate. MR. CHIDSEY: Gentlemen of the Commission, I am going to take the liberty of reading a letter that I sent to the Commission when you sent out the reports to be filled, giving an idea about what is paid to the employe, and about the percentage that they get: Feb. 26, 1914. Commission of Inquiry, Lansing, Mich. Gentlemen: The wage for 165 female employes for week ending February 7th, 1914, is $1,242.69, or an average per employe of $7.53 plus. The female employes in our laundry are 70 per cent of the whole number employed. The season of colder months, business is not as great as when warmer. When the busy season is on, the employe will receive more wages, on account of the demand for labor, and would think the ad- vance will average about IjO per cent. We do not think that a minimum wage for laundry employes is fair to the employe or employer. It will give preference to those who can qualify as experienced, to get any advance that 'they are now receiving, and cutting out those who are less proficient. The em- ployer will be obliged to lose on an employe who has had little experi- ence during probation period, and should then not qualify, be discon- tinued altogether. Unless there be a recommendation that appren- tices should receive a wage of $5 for a period of six months. Will state that in our experience and in talking with other em- ployers in our line of business, that the wages paid to employes is 50 per cent of the amount of gross business. Thanking you for the opportunity of expression, we remain Yours truly, BANNER LAUNDERING CO., Secretary. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 20f> ME. CHIDSEY: Now this meeting, gentlemen, is to be an open meet- ing, a discussion, you might say in general, and there may be some one here whom I might not think to call upon, but it is your liberty to v( up and stale what you want to, and I suggest that you stand where you are, because it migkt embarrass some one who might waul lo say some- thing on the subject. I will ask Mr. \Vilters, of Saginaw, who repre- sents one of the laundries of the State of Michigan, of his experience in Saginaw. HENRY WITTERS, of Saginaw : Mr. President. I have no questions to ask the Commission. The ground was gone over very thoroughly last night in Saginaw, and I was very much interested with a talk by Mr. Tanner. We in the laundry business take girls from the home, and at the same time this girl does ordinary work, and as time goes on she gets more proficient and we pay her more. A minimum wage I do not think would help the conditions of the poor people or the working girl. She cannot, perhaps, at first earn a living wage, but -as time goes on she gets proficient and does earn a living wage. As I said last night, the average girl that works in a laundry does not work there as a pro- fession. She works there, you might say, to fill in time. The working girl is looking to get married, she is only in the laundry a few years. MR. WALKER, of the Commission : Isn't there any other alternative for the young girl or the young woman who cannot have obtained effi- ciency in any general line between low wages and idleness? Isn't there a better place for them, for instance, in school or in the home ? Have we got by that day when this young girl cannot be kept in the home, learning the duties and work of the home, and in the school, getting the educa- tion that is supposed to make them better women and fit them for life? I am not denying that we can keep them there, but what is the re- sult of that; is it because we do employ them and she gets that wage; is that better than being in school, or would she go out on the street in idleness? JOHN J. RYAN : In answer to that question. The law in the State of Michigan is such that we cannot hire girls under twenty-one years of age and put them on a machine. We have had the misfortune of hav- ing two very serious accidents, and the only accidents that we have had in the laundry. Now what is a hazardous machine? If the compensa- tion people are not going to tell us what a hazardous machine is what are we going to do? Now the question is, what kind of a machine is a hazardous machine? Any machine that a girl can be hurt on? MR. POWERS, of Saginaw: Our experience has been that the girls in the winter would lay off a part of the time. The girls frequently ask for more money, not because they need the money to live, but be- cause they need the money to play. WM. E. FITCH, of LaSalle, 111.: As long as the power laundry keeps up its proper sanitation, the use of modern methods and machinery, etc., there will be great difficulty in competing with Chinese labor. The Chinese work 18 or 19 hours a day while we work 8 or 9 hours. They are depriving the American girl of work because one Chinaman can do as much work as two American girls, , and by figures being coin- piled it is estimated that about 100,000 American girls are kept from laundry work by these yellow men. 296 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. ME. WALKER, of the Commission: Speaking of efficiency and the need of efficiency, and that seems to be the general need of the hour, is there anything more in your judgment, Mr. Fitch, that the State can do toward increasing that efficiency? MR. FITCH: I think that Mr. O'ConnelFs suggestion is along the right line, and I think that the State ought to work along that line. MR. GRENELL, of the Commission : I want to ask one question. Is female help less efficient now than five years ago? What is the ex- perience of laundrymen? Take a factory employing one hundred per- sons. Do these one hundred persons produce less than they did five or ten years ago? MR. FITCH: Comparatively less than they did five years ago, by a long way. They turn out less work now than they did five years ago. The question of minimum wages will come back to the question of effi- ciency. APPENDIX F. ORGANIZED LABOK AND THE MINIMUM WAGE. Not only did the Minimum Wage Commission ask employers to give their opinion of the advisability of a minimum wage for women, but the labor organizations of the State were appealed to, to aid in solving the problem. The following letter was sent to several hundred unions, as well as to individuals with known labor sympathies: TO ORGANIZED LABOR IN MICHIGAN. The Commission of Inquiry into the advisability of establishing a minimum wage for Michigan's wage working women desires to ascer- tain the opinion of organized labor on the proposition. The Commis- sion is approaching this important subject open minded, and wants all the information possible before attempting to reach a conclusion. (1) Is there danger that a minimum wage will become a maximum wage? (2) Are employers or employes best able to decide the prob- lem? (3) Will a minimum wage law be such a recognition of the present wages system as to make it inadvisable? (4) Is it the busi- ness of the State to step in and protect defenseless women from ex- ploitation by unscrupulous employers? (5) Will not demand and supply be a better regulator than can legal enactment? (6) What should be the basis for a minimum wage? (7) Do not all or most trade unions enact a minimum wage scale? (8) Should beginners come in under any state regulation of wages? (9) Will a minimum wage tend to weaken or strengthen organized labor? (10) What should be done to an employer who persists in paying less than a fair minimum wage? (11) What should be done to an employe who re- fuses to use due diligence in her work, yet demands a living wage? These and a score of other questions might be asked. The Commis- sion will welcome immediate short arguments on any or all these points from organized labor, either officially or individually. It is suggested that city federations as well as individual trade and labor unions appoint some one to formulate the official opinion of the body. By order of the Commission. Respectfully, LUELLA M. BURTON, Secretary Commission of Inquiry. In all, seven replies came to hand. The Detroit Federation of Labor's reply was headed: "Minimum Wage Has Its Dangers." But accom- panying this was a demand, on the part of the Federation, that the electors of Detroit establish a minimum wage for city employes. This read: MINIMUM WAGE No employe in the classified service, doing com- mon labor, shall receive compensation in a sum less than two dollars and twenty-five cents per diem for an eight-Hour service day. No em- ploye in the classified service doing the work of a skilled mechanic 298 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON shall receive compensation in a sum less than the highest prevailing wage in that particular grade of work. Whenever practicable, the per diem plan of employing common labor shall be in force. All wages and all salaries in the classified service shall be paid weekly. Any employe in the classified service who shall receive compensation for service rendered at a rate less than the minimum fixed herein, may by an action for debt, recover from the city the balance due him hereunder with costs. In this case the minimum wage" is a living wage in fact, the highest wage paid by employers to unskilled labor. And the thought occurs that if a minimum wage, as stated by the committee of the Federation will have a tendency to weaken organized labor, will not a minimum wage established by the city for its employes have the same effect? However, the general tone of the conclusions of the Detroit Federation of Labor is admirable, even though it socialistically advocates'the use of the police powers of the State in collecting from offending employers in the mat- ter of low wages "twice or more times the amount of the difference." The report of the Grand Rapids Trades and Labor Council is also moderate in tone a thoughtful attempt to aid the Commission in com- ing to a wise conclusion. One paragraph reads: We would therefore recommend the creation of a permanent commis- sion to investigate conditions and wages in the various industries and occupations in which women are employed. Whenever one was found in which the wage paid was insufficient for proper living, it should have power to enforce the payment of a sufficient amount. Organized labor in Grand Rapids does not fear a minimum wage will do any permanent injury to the growth of organized labor unions. "While a general minimum wage law might be a detriment," the report says, "it is not believed permanent injury will result from a law limited in its application to those industries which are underpaid." The replies of the Trades and Labor Council of Sault Ste. Marie, and of the Trades and Labor Council of Escanaba are also given herewith. In botk instances the establishment of a minimum wage for women is urged "Division No. 343," of Kalamazoo, says that legislative enactment of a minimum wage law is no such recognition of the minimum wage problem as to make it inadvisable. And it also believes it will strengthen, instead of weaken, organized labor. It is regretted that a larger number of the labor organizations of Michigan did not send in replies to the Commission's circular letter ; but perhaps sufficient is given to show the prevailing opinion of organized labor toward the minimum wage proposition. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 299 FROM THE DETROIT FEDERATION OF LABOR. To the Michigan State Minimum Wage Commission: We would recommend upon the letter of the Commission of Inquiry rol alive to the advisability of establishing a minimum wage, that it be presented as the opinion of the Detroit Federation of Labor that a grave danger in legislating a minimum wage lies in the probability of its being accepted as a fixed prevailing rate and because it may become also a maximum wage. If a minimum wage law should be enacted the rate should be fixed reasonably high. Second, employes and employers are able to fix a reasonable wage, reasonable in the social order of things, only when they are able to meet on a common plane. A law protecting the right of labor to or- ganize would affect such a condition and, in the opinion of labor, would be more effective for the purpose of the Commission than a minimum wage. Such right could further be supported by a companion law pro- tecting labor against the importation of strike breakers or laborers, the purpose of the importation of whom is clearly to control wages. Without, organization, neither party is competent to deal with the question. Decidedly, a minimum w^age law would be a full recognition of the present wage system and would be accompanied with any hurtful influ- ence incident thereto. However, that may not be a reasonable objection to such a law, as, under the present system, the wage system is a factor not to be denied. It should be the business of the State to prohibit the exploitation of women and children. Such exploitation, it appears to us, can be pro- hibited by consistent state police law, protecting labor in its rights to organization. An appropriate taxation law would be helpful. In our opinion, there is positively no such thing as regulation by de- mand and supply. There is always demand and there is always supply or the source of supply. Trade unions enact their own minimum wage scale. It is one of the purposes of the trade union. In the event that beginners should not come under any law enacted, employers would take advantage of such exemptions. A minimum wage law, in our opinion, would have a tendency to weaken organized labor. When an employer persists in paying less than a fair minimum wage, there should be a State police law to enforce the collection of a deferen- tial tax twice or more times the amount of the difference. There is no such thing as an employe who refuses to use due diligence her work, being in a position to enforce a demand for a living wage. May we beg of your Commission to use due diligence in the promotion legislation that will protect wage-earners in their right to organize d protect them against the importation of strike breakers, gunmen and ivate detectives, and to prohibit the employment of espionage unknown 300 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON to workers, and to protect employers from black-list. Such laws should support any minimum wage purpose of your Commission. Respectfully submitted, JOHN CLARKIN, Chairman. HENRY KUMMERFELD, JAMES J. SPILLANE, R. L. REEVES, Secretary, Legislative Committee. FROM THE GRAND RAPIDS TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL. To the Michigan State Commission of Inquiry Into Wages and Condi- tions of Labor for Women, Lansing, Michigan: Gentlemen : In answer to your communication requesting the opinion of the Grand Rapids Trades and Labor Council relative to the establish- ing of a minimum wage for women, we respectfully submit the follow- ing: There is some danger that a minimum wage will become the maxi- mum wage if a laAV should be enacted which would be of general appli- cation. Some employers would probably seize upon it as an excuse for lower- ing the wages of those receiving over the nlinimum on the plea that they cannot afford to pay over the minimum provided by law. Also the creating of a minimum wage should not be done by direct legislation, because if a certain amount was named which would apply to all industries, there would be a great danger that such would soon become the maximum, and for the further reason that the cost of living de- pends to some extent upon local conditions. Also, the conditions sur- rounding some occupations require a greater expenditure on the part of the worker for clothing, etc., than it does in others. That something should be done to prevent the exploitation of women by unscrupulous employers is self-evident, as witness the fact that some have accepted the opportunity given by the creation of the 9-hour law to cause a reduction in the wages of women by retaining the same wages per hour as were in effect prior to the enactment of that law. Supply and demand would perhaps be a better regulator if it could be assured that all would receive a living wage, but, unfortunately, when the supply exceeds the demand there are always those who will work a little less in order to exist, and we find numerous employers who are ever ready to take advantage of this. It tends to bring down wages to a point where it is barely suiHicient for a mere existence, and becomes a menace to proper social condi- tions, and it would seem to be the duty of the State to provide a remedy, if one can be found, which can be applied without doing an injustice to either party. Labor organizations, as a rule, establish a minimum wage, but this MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 301 does not prevent the more expert from receiving greater compensation, nil hough this increase is rather the exception than the rule, and the minimum becomes also the maximum for the great majority. However, this minimum is subject to adjustment from time to time to meet changed conditions, and no law should be enacted which would not permit of ready adjustment. This may demonstrate the danger there is of the minimum wage be- coming the maximum, but the fact that many women are receiving less than a living wage should be taken into consideration and a remedy pro- vided, either through legislation or education. The pressing need for a remedy would, however, preclude the slow process of education and cause us to turn to legislation to gain the desired end. We would, therefore, recommend the creation of a permanent commis- sion to investigate conditions and wages in the various industries and occupations in which women are employed. Whenever one was found in which the wage paid was insufficient for proper living, it should have power to enforce the payment of a sufficient amount. The Commission should have power to call for a committee of employers and employes, and if these can agree on a wage, it should have power to enforce the same, if in the opinion of the Commission such a wage will permit of proper living conditions. The decision of the Commission should not be subject to review by the courts, and should remain binding until changed by the Commission upon a proper showing. The Commission should not have power to lower any wage already paid, but should have power only to change where a Avage has been established by its decision. Provision should be made that no wage approved by the Commrs- sion can be lowered by the imposition of fines, as is at present the prac- tice in some places. If possible, the payment of the same wage to women as men for equal work should be required, in order that men may not be displaced by women through a willingness to work for less. Where organizations of skilled trades exist, the question of wages should 'be left to employer and employes by collective bargaining, for while a minimum wage may prove of benefit to the unregulated trades, the conception of a living wage formed by the skilled worker may not conform to what might be agreeable to the unskilled. The establishment of a minimum wage will tend to eliminate the unfit and Avill prove a stimulus to those who through indifference fail to give a fair return for the wages paid, for only those who are able to give an adequate return will receive employment. The elimination of those physically unfit may prove a hardship to some. There are employers in industries where such are able to work who take advantage of this fact to keep wages down for the physically fit to the same standard as that received by the cripple. How- ever, provision might be made permitting those physically unfit to work for less in order to assist in their maintenance, but this should be sur- rounded by stringent safeguards and only permitted where a consider- able difference existed in the amount of work performed, and which would prevent the exploitation of opportunities. Where a minimum wage has been established in an industry, regu- 302 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON lations should be made for the wages of beginners or apprentices, and care should be taken that the amount and increases at stated times should be such as to assure to the apprentice every opportunity to be- come proficient and entitled to the full minimum wage at the earliest possible moment. While a general minimum wage law might be a detriment to the growth of labor organizations, it is not believed permanent injury will result from a law limited in its application to those industries which are underpaid. It is not believed that the establishment of a minimum wage for women will be such a recognition of the present wages system as to make it inadvisable, for the basis of a minimum wage should be governed by local conditions and the amount that industry will bear after allow- ing for a reasonable profit to the employer, but such a wage should never be placed below what is necessary for proper living. An industry which, after a fair trial does not yield sufficient revenue to pay a living wage should not be tolerated as it places an added burden upon others to make up this deficiency, or where the difference is not made up, society pays through loss of health and strength to the individual by being im- properly nourished, and causing discontent, and unfitting women for the duties of motherhood. The employer who persists in paying less than a living wage when the profits of his business will permit of so doing, should receive the severest condemnation, as he places a share of his just burden on so- ciety and pockets the difference. If he should prove unwilling to remedy conditions after proper representations, he should be forced to either close out his business to one who will pay a fair wage or it should .be confiscated. Respectfully, GRAND RAPIDS TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL, By A. T. Kilbourne, Secretary. FROM THE ESCANABA TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL. To the Michigan State Minimum Wage Commission of Inquiry: Your communication relative to the minimum wage for women has been considered by the Trades and Labor Council of Escanaba and the sentiment of this body has been clearly expressed in favor of the es- tablishing of a minimum wage for women. The reasons advanced by our members for this belief are as follows: 1. The great body of women workers do not belong to organized unions and have not the protection that is afforded by the minimum wage scales set by the unions. 2. The establishing of a minimum wage would benefit that class of women workers who need protection most; those without the ability to hold positions as teachers or bookkeepers, and who must depend for their living upon manual labor, and whose lack of ability forces them to take positions that are offered and at the wage offered. For this class of MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. :;<>:; labor there seems to be no hope of a living wage unless strongly organ- ized or unless the State establishes a minimum wage. .'. The payment of a living wage to women would relieve much pov- erty among them, and prevent much of the evil that some of them are forced to resort to because of poverty. Very truly yours, TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL, Escanaba, Michigan. By G. F. McEWEN, LOUIS FOLLO, F. JOERGENSEN, Committee. FROM THE SAULT STE. MARIE TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL. Mlcli'ujnn tftatc Minimum Wage Commission of Inquiry: Your letter of inquiry as to the minimum wage question was duly received, and in reply would say that the question is a vital one, and a good deal of common horse sense is required to come to a proper solu- tion. There is no question but that a minimum wage law is absolutely essential for the moral protection and uplift of our working girls, and our next representative will certainly be instructed to use his influence to pass a law to that effect. I have consulted all of our leading union men in our city and the gen- eral opinion is as follows: Answer to question No. 1: In some instances they may, but pro- ficiency will compel advanced wages over the minimum wage unless the employers combined and agree on a wage. 2. They have been trying for years, and haven't succeeded as yet. :!. There does not seem to be any system. It is simply get help as cheap as possible. So I can not see why the law could possibly make conditions anything but better. 4. By all means, yes. 5. If the supply of employes were scarce it possibly would, but with the constant influx of immigrants the supply of labor is in excess of the demand. The result is that the immigrant must work and he will cut wages to get employment. The result is that a reduction of wages makes our American girl's standard of living such that she must sell her very virtue in order to live. A close inspection will convince anyone wishing to investigate that the unreasonably low wages of our girls is that which makes our country what it is fast approaching to-day; a country of im- morality. This is a hard assertion to make, but come in contact with the working people as I have, as an A. F. of L. organizer, and the conditions make you think some. 6. Every union that I know of has a minimum wage scale. 7. That would depend upon the class of employment. Some employ- ment requires but a few hours in which to become proficient; others days, weeks, and two to three years. The Commission will, however have to separate the various vocations. 304 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. 8. Strengthen organized labor. If the unorganized get fair wages it will help organized labor a good deal. There is a vast difference of opinion on this question, but rny contention is as stated. 9. Make a legal statute imposing a penalty, and if the courts do not hold it unconstitutional they will be glad to pay living wages if the penalty for paying low Avages is heavy enough. 10. That is the easiest question of them all. Just discharge them and put in new help who will use due diligence. You could not expect an employer to keep help that is of no value to him. Hoping I have been of some assistance, I am, Respectfully, JAMES W. TROYER, Organizer A. F. of L. President Trades and Labor Council. FROM "DIVISION NO. 343," KALAMAZOO. To the State Minimum Wage Commission: 1. Don't think so. 2. Employes. 3. No. 4. Yes. 5. Yes. C. Supply and demand. 7. Yes. 8. Yes. 9. Strengthen. 10. Give him a straight prison sentence. No fine. 11. Due diligence is required by all employers, and those who refuse ought to be discharged to make room for the great number of people who will work with diligence. F. STERNE, Chairman of Division No. 343. Committee Division No. 343: A. R. NEWKIRK, D. A. BOWMAN, W. R. JUDKIN, Recording Secretary. E. N. MIDDLETON, President. APPENDIX G. EMPLOYERS AND MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION. "Please state your opinion as to whether a minimum wage is prac- ticable in your business," was asked by the Commission of some 1,750 employers of women. Most of those who answered at all contented themselves with a simple negative or affirmative. Others' answers run from a few words to elaborate essays. Most employers are either di- rectly opposed or doubtful of its utility. Here and there one is found who has already established a minimum wage in his business, regarding the idea as feasible for all industries and for the entire State. Others insist that if a minimum wage is established, it should be a National law. In addition to these answers, extracts from which will be found here- with, there is given an interview with W. G. and H. B. Herpolsheinier, of Grand Rapids, proprietors of a large mercantile establishment in that city. This is particularly interesting and timely, from the fact that the establishment is paying a commission on sales the "incentive" system, it is called in addition to wages, and it is the belief of the Herpol- sheimers that it has in a great measure solved the problem of better contented help. The letters and interview follow: A MINIMUM WAGE ACCORDING TO AGE. THE J. L. HUDSON COMPANY, DETROIT: We believe that a minimum wage for women is practicable in our business, and in fact we have a minimum scale of wages in vogue at the present time, this scale being based upon age as follows: 1 Minimum for girls 14 to 18 years, $4 per week. 2 Minimum for girls 18 to 21 years, $6 per week. 3 Minimum for women 21 years and over, $8 per week. Our average wage in each group however is much higher than the minimum. In the late summer of 1913 we had in our employ : 107 girls from 14 to 18 years at an average wage of $4.79 per week. 86 girls from 18 to 21 years at an average wage of 7.38 per week. 363 women over 21 years at an average wage of 10.65 per week. This latter group does not include any of our women buyers or as- sistants at salaries above $25. Out of this total of 556 it might be in- 39 306 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON teresting for you to know that 308 lived at home with parents, 66 kept house and 192 board and room. We do believe that a minimum wage is practicable in our business, but not a minimum wage law based on a single minimum wage for all female help. We firmly believe that only minimum based upon economic fairness to the employer and to the employe alike is one with an age scale attached. It is obviously unfair to make a minimum wage law for all female help of say $8, because this would at once bar the services of all girls under a mature age who are incapable of producing services equal in value to this minimum, and thus work a great hardship on many families where one or more of the wage-earners are in this class. The minimum wage question is one of tremendous importance, not only to the employer and employe, but also to the community at large. Notwithstanding all popular clamor it is generally true, in the retail business at least, that the employe of to-day gets what he or she is economically w r orth, and just as true that the employer pays no more than this. Hence it logically follows that a minimum wage law, if above the present standard of wages will simply cause a process of economic selec- tion which will result in the best grade of labor being hired, and the unfit rejected to be taken care of by the family or community. Another consideration is the influx of labor from states where such laws do not exist. In our opinion the minimum wage is of such far-reaching im- portance that legislation upon the subject should only come after long and careful study by the greatest available authorities. We approve of the investigation, and also of the law if worked out on fair and economic principles. COMPETITION, EFFICIENCY AND APPRENTICESHIP. PRINCESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Detroit: We know of no industry on as close a -competitive basis as the women's and chil- dren's wear business, and any added burden of wages placed upon this industry in the State of Michigan will have a serious effect upon our ability to manufacture and market our product on a basis that will enable us to compete with similar goods manufactured in other states which do not have a minimum wage law, or which have a minimum wage law lower than any that might be in effect in the State of Michigan. Second If a minimum wage law was put into effect we would feel compelled to establish in our factory a standard of efficiency or produc- tion, which would unquestionably operate against the slow or inefficient worker and result in many girls being shut out of employment due to their inability to reach the specified standard. In other words, we would be obliged to disregard the personal element, and could not afford to be paying a slow worker even if her work was done well, because of the necessity of receiving from each worker an output that would balance with the wages paid. Third Unless some provision was made for the apprenticeship an injustice would be done to the employer as the incentive for girls to learn work and become proficient as rapidly as possible would be greatly lessened. A. E. ROBERTSON COMPANY, Saginaw: We do not think this law would be a practical one on account of women not being endowed MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 307 ith equal ability. The world owes a living to only him or her who earns it, and gives it only for "value received." A GROSS INJUSTICE. STRENG & ZINN COMPANY, Kalamazoo: I consider a minimum wage a gross injustice to the woman whose ability enables her to pro- duce only three or four dollars, as it effectually bars her from getting a position. GOOD FOR BUSINESS, IP NATIONAL. THE PRINCESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Flint: A mini- mum wage law we believe would be good for our business, if applied to all people in the business. We, for instance, have no competitors do- ing business in Michigan. Our competitors are principally in New York City, Philadelphia and Cleveland. A law compelling us to pay more in wages than our competitors would put us to a serious disadvantage. We therefore firmly believe such a law should be National in its scope. Such a law should be based on a definite number of hours per week. We have a number of women working for us who cannot, owing to domestic duties, put in full time per week. A law compelling us to pay all girls a minimum amount per week irrespective of the number of hours work done, would mean dismissal for these girls. SCHOOLS OP SALESMANSHIP COME FIRST. THE M. W. TANNER COMPANY, Saginaw: We believe that the minimum wage for department stores, without first providing schools of salesmanship, either as a department in the high school or otherwise, would work great harm to those young women who now begin their business careers to assist in the family expenses, with the stores that pay from $3 to $5 per week. Girls with ability will advance from such stores to those that require higher efficiency and that pay in propor- tion for such service. If a minimum wage law is passed it should pro- vide for beginners a minimum wage of not less than |G per week for a period of two years, thus those who are unable to afford the time and expense of a school in salesmanship, could obtain experience for ad- vancement to the minimum wage. NOT FAIR. THE GIFFORD-WEIFFENBACH COMPANY, Adrian: We do not think a minimum wage fair to either the very efficient or to the slow, conscientious worker. The latter would suffer seriously if they could not keep to the quantity and quality of the standard day's work. The very efficient would suffer by being restricted to the standard set by the very slow workers. WOULD WORK AN INJUSTICE TO GIRLS. GRAND RAPIDS MALLEABLE WORKS, Grand Rapids: We do not think that the minimum wage for women is practical in our business, as in our own employ we have several girls working for us who might not 308 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON be capable of earning the minimum wage set by the Commission. Of course, at this time, we do not know what the minimum wage is to be, but we feel it would be working an injustice to these girls to discharge them on account of their not being able to earn the minimum wage. We also would feel that as soon as we found out that a girl was not capable of earning the minimum wage set, that it was our privilege to discharge her from our services. As an illustration: Should the minimum wage set by the Commis- sion be fS per week, AVC have girls in our employ, and living in our neighborhood, who would much rather take |7 per week from us and ' have steady employment and be able to go home at noon, save car fare, etc., and take $1 per week less. PLACES PREMIUM ON INCOMPETENCY. THE HENDERSON-AMES COMPANY, Kalamazoo: The principle of a minimum wage as applied to our business, and as we see it as applied to most lines of business, places a premium on inefficiency and incompetency. We do not think the theory is well-grounded as applied to adult workers, because where the system of piece-work is employed an ample wage can be earned if the worker takes reasonable ad- vantage of her opportunity. NOT PRACTICABLE IN ANY BUSINESS. CHARLES P. LIMBEET COMPANY, Holland : You ask our opinion as to whether a minimum wage is practical, and we say most de- cidedly, NO, and we cannot see how it can be practical in any busi- ness. If you establish a minimum wage in this State you discriminate against all of your home manufacturers who are handicapped in com- petition with manufacturers of other states in similar goods. Further- more you put a premium on inefficient workers and you will practically bar them from employment. Manufacturers would be looking only for help that was worth more than the minimum wage amounted to. You might think this would make a dearth of help and force wages up, but it would not. If it had that tendency, then men would be employed. INADVISABLE. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GARMENT MANUFACTURERS, Detroit: With reference to the advisability of establishing a mini- mum wage for women, the matter has been thoroughly considered at a convention of the above association held in Chicago last May and it was the consensus of opinion that it was inadvisable and imprac- tical, but if such a law must come it should be through National legis- lation. Personally I have given the matter of fixing a minimum wage much thought. I regard labor a commodity and is subject to the same law of supply and demand, although I am willing to consider there is an element of sentiment that enters into the transaction. You cannot legislate sentiment nor value. You might by law fix the price of MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 309 labor, but yon cannot compel manufacturers to employ labor that is unprofitable. If Ihe minimum fixed by law were too high, manufacturers could not develop operators as we do at present. In my experience I have seen women who could not earn $2 the first week develop in a short time so as to be able to earn |15 and over per week. The fixing of a high minimum would in no way affect the effi- cient operator, but what would become of the girl who is indolent and shiftless, or physically handicapped? I believe it is to better their condition that suggests the fixing of a minimum wage, but I fear it might serve to deprive them of employment rather than benefit them. Ability, like water, finds its own level and the individual generally obtains her level of compensation commensurate with her ability. The condition of the garment industry in Detroit is peculiar in that we cannot obtain sufficient help to supply the demand and many of the manufacturers are obliged to open branch factories in other cities. We are at present concerned with the problem how to increase the efficiency of the individual operator, thus automatically increasing the earnings of the operator and also the production or output. SUCH A LAW IS INEVITABLE. GAGE PRINTING COMPANY, LIMITED, Battle Creek: If all employers were willing to deal justly by their employes, there would be no need of a minimum wage law. Inasmuch, however, as many em- ployers are actuated only by their desire for personal gain, it is evi- dent that such a law as this must inevitably be enacted. Whether a minimum wage law would eventually lower the average wages paid to women employes, is, of course, a debatable point, and probably can only be decided in the light of experience. WILL THROW SOME OUT OF EMPLOYMENT. F. J. KELLOGG COMPANY, Battle Creek: A minimum wage law for women would not be practicable in our business. Our work is so much different in each department. We have work that is difficult and complicating and requires time and experience for a girl to become proficient in that particular line of work. Such help is valuable and deserves high wages. Then again we have work that requires little or no experience. We have several girls that have been in our employ for a num- ber of years, and these are the ones that are receiving the highest wages. We also have a few that are not capable of earning more than $G per week, and while they really need the work more than some of those that are receiving higher pay, should the minimum wage be $7 or |8 we would be forced to let them go. 1IKAKTILY IN SYMPATHY. CHEVROLET MOTOR COMPANY, Flint: We believe a general minimum wage law should be passed, and we are heartily in sympathy with its passage if it is started with a fair minimum, even though we 310 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON do not know the conditions in such businesses as candy factories, corset factories, telephone exchanges or big department stores, but we are inclined to think that their employes should have a better minimum wage than they have been getting in the interest of morality, even if the public has to pay a little more money for the goods which it buys, but we do not think the public will have to pay more, but we believe that some of these old and well-established businesses which pay low rates to women employes will be called upon eventually to shrink their net profits to "themselves. SHOULD BE ON AN HOUR BASIS. BELDING BROS. & CO., Belding: We have established a mini- mum wage of $5 per week which we pay to beginners, increasing them by two-week periods as they become proficient^ until they become piece- workers. We have, however, some workers who receive less than $2.99 per week; some that receive from $2.99 to $3.99 per week. Of course, this is under the |5 minimum wage for fifty-four hours work. The reason that they receive less than the $5 per week was, of course, that they did not work a full week. We see no objection to a minimum wage law, and in all probability one will be enacted; and we are thoroughly convinced it should be on an hour basis, or on the basis of a full week of fifty-four hours. DETRIMENTAL TO THE WOMEN. KALAMAZOO LOOSE LEAF BINDER COMPANY, Kalamazoo: In connection w r ith the advisability of establishing a minimum wage for women, that while the motive underlying the plan may be very com- mendable, the ultimate result, to my mind, cannot be anything but detri- mental to the women of the State. The efficient and capable woman can command and invariably is obtaining very good wages. The inefficient and incapable woman cannot command wages of a like character, and it is not within the possibility of business "to fix a minimum scale or rate of wage for this type of help. The result of legislation will nec- essarily work a hardship on this class of female help, as it would be better, more economical and a more sane business policy to employ men at a higher rate, which some of our worthy legislators without any knowledge of business conditions or training whatever may de- cide what they should receive. What we require in Michigan is not more laws, but better laws based upon economic conditions, and hav- ing in mind the welfare of the masses, not for the immediate, but for the ultimate time. It is absolutely an impossibility for any legislature to enact laws that will govern an economic condition and my observa- tion would lead me to believe that every manufacturer is desirous of doing all that he can for his employes, and it is just as necessary to keep the wheels of industry turning as it is to pay a high rate of wages. If the rate of wages paid to women in this State prevents com- petition in the field, due to an increased cost of production, it would be necessary to dispense with a large number of female help, and they will be thrown out of employment, which, to my mind, is in- finitely worse than to work for the wages which the character of em- MINLMI'.M WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. .311 ploynu'iit aiid the nature of the business would enable the employer to pay for their services. MAKE IT APPLICABLE TO SWEAT SHOPS AND PRISON LABOR. LOWELL MANUFACTURING CO., Grand Rapids: We do not be- lieve a minimum wage law would be practicable in our line of business, as it would be a detriment to the employment of inexperienced help, and also to those who, though experienced, lack the ability to turn out sufficient work to meet the requirements of the minimum wage and who will necessarily have to be discharged if they cannot earn it. If it could be made a National law, applicable to sweat shops and prison contract labor throughout the country, it might make a differ- ence in the price of labor by eliminating that low-priced competition. WOULD HANDICAP MICHIGAN MANUFACTURERS. MONROE GLASS CO., Monroe: We are in favor of the highest pos- sible wages for all help at all times, but a minimum wage law in Michigan at this time, high enough to confer any benefit on women will handicap Michigan manufacturers as against their competitors in many of the states not so progressive along this line. In our particular case we have to compete with manufacturers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia whose progress along this line has not been so rapid as Michigan. Our largest competitors are in Pennsylvania. That par- ticular state is many years behind us, much to the advantage of their people in the open markets. If a minimum wage law would be made National in scope and the increases could be added to the selling price, we would have no objection whatever. MORALLY AND LEGALLY WRONG. VALLEY SWEETS COMPANY, Saginaw: We do not believe the State has a right, morally or legally, to compel an employer to pay an employe more than the employe earns. Parents are, and should be, re- sponsible for the support and maintenance of their children. If, to assist their parents, these minors and dependents become employes, it does not lessen the responsibility of the parents nor obligate the employer to make a donation to the support of that particular family. EITHER SUPERFLUOUS OR DETRIMENTAL. SAGINAW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Saginaw: A law fixing a minimum wage at a less figure than the lowest wages paid would be superfluous, and one fixing a higher minimum would be at ;ill times to the financial disadvantage of the employer, and much of i lie time would be detrimental to the interests of the employe. IN FAVOR, BUT SEES DIFFICULTIES. SHEFFIELD CAR COMPANY, Three Rivers : As to a question of minimum wage, I have always been in favor of this, but there are some difficulties in the way, as for instance, until a woman becomes 312 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON familiar with her work, she cannot earn what would be a fair mini- mum wage, and in any law upon this subject, some leeway or time should be allowed for this purpose. This is more in some cases than in others. Usually a girl will become familiar with the work in the course of a few weeks, so that she can earn a fair wage on piece-work price. NOT A GOOD THING. BUTCHER FOLDING CRATE COMPANY, Vassar: Relative to the minimum wage law, we do not think under the circumstances it is a good thing for the State to set a minimum wage. Labor is a com- modity that enters into the manufacture of goods and we cannot see the advantage to the employe unless the State is in position to guaran- tee the employer or manufacturer a fixed price for his goods. By fix- ing the minimum wage you prohibit the employe and the employer from getting together for their mutual benefit. WILL FAVOR THE PROFICIENT. BANNER LAUNDERING COMPANY, Detroit. We do not think that a minimum wage for laundry employes is fair to the employe or em- ployer. It will give preference to those who can qualify as experienced, to get any advance that they are now receiving, and cutting out those who are less proficient. The employer will be obliged to lose on an em- ploye who has had little experience during probation period, and should then not qualify, be discontinued altogether. Unless there be a recom- mendation that apprentices should receive a wage of f 5 for six months. HAS A MINIMUM WAGE OF FIVE DOLLARS. THE L. H. FIELD COMPANY, Jackson : As to the question whether a minimum wage for women is practicable in our business, we would say that entirely depends upon the amount of the minimum named. We ourselves have established a minimum wage of $5 per week. In doing this we realize that we take several girls in starting to our worth quite less than |5 a week. However, it makes us much more keen in the matter of selection, and we decline any except bright, attractive and promising girls, so that it is not very long before they become worth to us f5 a week or more. Any minimum wage above |5 a week would prevent our hiring in- experienced girls, and oblige us to engage only those who have had previous experience, and have been taught something of the art of salesmanship at some one else's expense. It would seem to us that a minimum wage might not work a seri- ous hardship on the employers, but it would have disastrous effects upon a large number of girls, whose mental equipment is not such as to enable them to earn the amount named as a minimum, and yet whose services would be of some value were they permitted to sell their services for that value. As far as the employers taking advantage of the absence of a mini- mum wage fixed by law, we think that the natural law of a demand MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 313 I'm- efficient help will have a tendency to continually increase the salaries of girls working for commercial establishments. THK IIKKI'OLSIII-MMKU SYSTKM AS S1IOWX IX AX IXTKKYIKW. W. (1. Herpolsheimer, of Grand Rapids, explained to the Commis- sion that they were operating their large establishment under the "incentive" system, started by him 22 } r ears ago. He said he got the idea in Paris at that time. To illustrate what he meant by the "incentive" system, he took the cases of two of their saleswomen, whom he had studied. . One was phlegmatic. She could not sell goods. They cut her wages to a cer- tain sum and placed her on a commission basis. All sales which she made above this fixed sum, would net her a certain percentage. They at the same time took one of their best saleswomen, cut down her wage to a certain sum, and placed her also on a commission basis, i. e., under the "incentive" system. As a result, in a very short time the clerks' sales had increased 50 per cent. They were now working for themselves. The good saleswoman became a better saleswoman; so also did the one who was indifferent under the old wage system. He explained that they pay a commission on all sales, whether in- creased or decreased, depending on the girl. They said that before adopting this system it was difficult to run their business on a paying basis. The firm had to furnish the energy. The system now in vogue makes 50 per cent better clerks and keeps them more alert. Where under the old system a clerk only received |5 or f 6 a week, under the "incentive" system there was no reason why she should not make much better wages. It was said that the men work harder under the com- mission basis. They wait on more customers. MIi. (JRKNELL: Do you ever find clerks where the commission basis is not an incentive? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: Yes, some clerks do not respond; others want to keep with the more ambitious ones. Some clerks do not possess "push." If clerks cannot succeed under this system, they never will under any. The firm lias carried on a much bigger busi- ness since adopting the "incentive" system. Take young clerks, for instance, who are just learning. If they receive a commission their sales at once increase. In this way the firm knows what each clerk is worth. It makes business much easier. If the minimum wage system were adopted and every one received the same wage whether nr not they earned it, we would feel like going out of business. MR. WALKER: How do you fix the minimum wage paid to clerks? H. P. HERPOLSHEIMER: Take a clerk, for instance, applying for a position, who has had some experience. We find out from her the amount of goods she has sold, and we ask her if she can easily keep up to that amount. We then ask her what wages she wants. We then fix her salary at what we think she is worth to us, on a salary and commission basis. \Ve try her out for three months. If she falls down in amount of sales within that time, we make up the amount in salary. We guarantee her a certain sum while on probation; if she makes over that amount, it is her "velvet." 314 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON MR. WALKER: You say, then, that you base salary on amount of goods the clerks can sell? H. B. HEBPOLSHEIMEB: Yes, that is the idea. SIX TO EIGHTY DOLLARS A MONTH IN COMMISSIONS. MR. GRENELL: What is the highest and lowest commission you pay on the dollar? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: The commissions earned run from $6 per month to $80 per month, varying with the months and the seasons. Per cents vary from one-half of one to two and one-half per cent. MR. BEADLE: Does not that system make more bookkeeping? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER : Yes, but we are glad to do it. To illus- trate: We had a certain man in our employ for 15 years. We noticed that he was getting that "tired feeling." He became a "setter." We called him to the office and told him we were going to put him on a salary and commission basis, taking the smallest year in sales he had made on which to base his wages, and that we intended to try him out under that system for three years. We told him that he should be able to sell a certain thousand dollars' worth of goods in that time. He said that he would not continue with the firm under those conditions. He left our employ, but was back in two days willing to accept our terms. MR. BEADLE: How did he do the first year? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: First year, he came out ahead. W. G. HERPOLSHEIMER: If the minimum wage system were adopted, certain persons would either never get positions, or if they did, would not hold them long. When our clerks get that "tired feeling" and we feel that we are paying them all they are worth, they some- times leave and go to work 'for others, but usually return and ask to be taken back. < MR. BEADLE : How do you find the permanency of your employes to be, i. e., the number of years they now remain with you as compared with the old system? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: We keep them as long under this sys- tem as under the old one. Take .the head of a department, for in- stance; under this system if the stock is $15,000 and he reduces it to $10,000 in a certain time, he gets a certain "rake-off" over and above his regular commission, provided it does not hurt the profits. MR. GRENELL: It then, is a question of incentive all the way through? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: Yes, that is the idea. MR. BEADLE: Don't you think a minimum wage possible with in- centive added, if the minimum wage were State wide, or made National? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER : It might be. W. G. HERPOLSHEIMER: We find that the girl who is "adrift" as a usual thing is the girl earning the highest wage. MR. GRENELL: How long does it take a "green" hand to reach a certain standard? If you start her at $4 would she be able to come up to a $6 standard in six months? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: No; not as a usual thing. It all de- pends on the girl. The majority do not move ahead as fast as that. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 315 The greater proportion would within one year. We now have a girl in our employ who has been with us one year and who has not made good. MB: AYALKKK: Do you know wlial (hat particular girl is filial for? H. 15. HERPOLSHEIMER: Yes, but not a clerk. Mil. WALKER: How do you keep your pay roll, i. e., have you any uniformity? Can you trace a girl's work through the year? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: We could show that from the time-book svstem and our commission book. We pay every two weeks. ' .Mil. BEADLE: How long did it take to make out this employer's blank? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: I should think it took about five hours. A MINIMUM WAGE FOR "GREEN" GIRLS. MR, WALKER: Do you now have a minimum wage system in your business? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: Yes, to some extent. MR. WALKER: If you hire a "raw" girl who never sold goods be- fore, wiiat do you do then. H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: The best we can. MR. GRENELL: Do you give all "green" girls in the same depart- ment the same wages to start with? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: We do as a usual thing. It depends somewhat on age. We hire them as cheaply as possible. MR, WALKER: What do you know about what it costs a girl to live in Grand Rapids, to dress as she should, and to provide room, board, etc.? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: I have no idea. W. G. HERPOLSHEIMER: She couldn't live on less than |G per week. H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER : Some figure closer than others. I do not ili ink they should have less than |6 if they live away from home. Mil. WALKER: There are some places paying less, are there not? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: I do not know. MR, WALKER: Do you find your girls clean morally? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: Yes, you will not find a cleaner lot of girls anywhere. We have a personal talk with such girls as we have reason to believe may be going wrong. MR, BEADLE : Would a minimum wage inconvenience you if your competitors had to conform? W. G. HERPOLSHEIMER: It would take away all ambition. MR. BEADLE : How would the minimum wage and incentive system work together? W. G. HERPOLSHEIMER: Would not the minimum wage discour- age those who are slow, as they would be rejected by merchants? MR, BEADLE : Do you think industrial training should be taught in the public schools? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: Yes, that would be a good idea. MR. GRENELL: Do you have to meet competition outside of Grand Rapids? 316 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON W. G. HERPOLSHEIMER: None. ME. GRENELL: Have you a waiting list? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: Yes. MR. GRENELL: A large number of employers say that a minimum wage is possible and some say that they now have such a system. Others say they cannot see how it is practicable under the "piece" system. We find some employers very conscientious with their employes. If they do not fit in one department, they try them out in others, until they find where they do fit. H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER : We do the same thing. Often poor look- ing material works out best in the end. MR. WALKER: Do you have a savings department? H. B. HERPOLSHEIMER: No. SOME' OF THE EMPLOYERS WHO FAVOR A MINIMUM WAGE. A minimum wage law is entirely possible in this factory. Supt. Amer- ican Wire Fabric Co., Niles. Yes. Prefer it if skilled and unskilled labor be taken into considera- tion. Albert B. Scott Laundry, Hancock. I believe a minimum wage of f 6 will benefit all. Manager Union Steel Co., Albion. Yes. We require a grade of help that would command good pay any- where. Their cost of time is simply added to the cost of production. The customer can and is willing to pay for same. Treasurer and Man- ager, Gage Printing Co., Battle Creek. Yes, if followed by the entire printing trade. Manager Good Health Publishing Co., Battle Creek. Yes. Cheboygan Paper Co. We see no objections. Provisions should be made for beginners. Vice-president Oval Wood Dish Co., Traverse City. Yes. Heartily in favor of it. Imperial Automobile Co., Jackson. Yes, if different for different trades, and apprentices. F. F. Ingram Co., Detroit. See no reason why not. Should serve an excellent purpose. R. M. Kellogg Co., Three Rivers. Yes, if not too high. Wright, Kay Co., Detroit. Believe we could adjust our business to a minimum wage in a very short time. Chas. J. Markham Co., Houghton. Practical with us, if not too high. Supt. Stewart Laundry Co., Battle Creek. Yes. If high enough men would displace women, and put women where they belong, at home. T. Stroh Brewery Co., Detroit. Yes, with proper provision for incompetent girls. Branch Manufac- turing Co., Coldwater. Yes, if not too high. Acme White Lead Color Works, Detroit. Yes. We pay more than the law would ever exact. Sommers Bros. Match Co., Saginaw. Yes, but apprentices should be considered. Cadillac Printing Co., Detroit. Yes. It would be possible to figure out cost of manufacture figuring on minimum for girls. Crown Hat Manufacturing Co., Detroit. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 317 Yes. Would be productive of better working conditions for women. Sulphite Pulp & Paper Co., Detroit. Yes. At present, minimum of $6 for girls. Hargreaves Manufacturing >., Detroit. Yes, in our business as well as in all others. Twist Drill and Tool Co., Detroit. Yes. It would give girls a better chance. C. L. Pemberton & Sons, Durand. Yes. Our lowest wage is $6 for beginners. Chicago Hosiery Co., De- troit. APPENDIX H. WOMEN AND CHILD WAGE-EAKNERS IN THE UNITED STATES. (Condensation of an Investigation Conducted by the Federal Govern- ment.) By the Secretary. Interesting facts relating to "Women and Child Wage-Earners in the United States" have been adduced from the investigation conducted by the Federal Government, under Act of Congress approved January 29, 1907, which provided "That the Secretary of Commerce of Labor, be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to investigate and report on the industrial, social, moral, educational, and physical condition of women and child workers in the United States wherever employed, with special reference to their age, hours of labor, term of employment, health, il- literacy, sanitary and other conditions surrounding their occupation, and the means employed for the protection of their health, person and morals. Vol. V of the report of this investigation covers the study of women and children employed in department and other retail stores, factories, mills, etc., in Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis and St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia and St. Louis. The number of wage-earning women visited in these cities for the purpose of study were 8,475. From 7,893 of them detailed information was secured. The following table shows the number and per cent of female wage- earners in department and other retail stores, factories, mills, etc., in the seven cities specified, who were found to be living at home, and the num- ber and per cent who were without homes and entirely dependent upon themselves, together with number interviewed from whom information was obtained concerning age, experience, and earnings. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 319 Table No. 44. NUMBER AND PER CENT OF WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS INTERVIEWED IN SEVEN LARGE CITIES WHO WERE FOUND TO BE LIVING AT HOME AND NUMBER AND PER CENT WHO WERE WITHOUT HOMES AND ENTIRELY DEPENDENT UPON THEMSELVES TOGETHER WITH NUMBER INTERVIEWED FROM WHOM INFORMA- TION WAS OBTAINED CONCERNING AGE, EXPERIENCE, AND EARNINGS. Place of employment and living conditions. Number. Per cent. Age. Experience. Earnings. Number reported. Average years. Number reported. Average years. Number reported. Average weekly. Department and other retail stores: Women at home Women adrift 1,673 486 77.5 22.5 1,153 431 22.5 28.1 1,124 284 4.7 6.7 1,235 421 $6 88 7 88 Total 2,159 100.0 1,584 24.1 1,408 5.1 1,656 $7 13 Factories, mills, etc.: Women at home Women adrift . 4,135 879 82.5 17.5 3,089 927 21.1 26.1 2.736 620 3.9 7.4 3,338 822 $6 40 6 78 Total 5,014 100.0 . 4,016 22.2 3,356 4.5 4,160 $6 48 According to the foregoing table, 1,673 or 77.5 per cent of the number <>l women interviewed, who were employed in department or other retail stores, lived at home. The total number of women employed in depart- ment and other retail stores in the seven cities is shown to be 108,616. It is pointed out that in considering the percentage given to those living at home, it should be remembered that such a percentage, while ac- curate so far as the actual number of women visited is concerned, can only be approximately correct when applied to the group of wage-earning women employed in stores as a whole. Six dollars and eighty-eight cents proved to be the average weekly earnings for all the department and other retail store women visited. This also took into account losses through sickness, and "lay-offs" as well as increases through commissions. Of these women wage-earners, a goodly number were employed in the smaller retail dry-goods stores, some in novelty stores, and still others in the 5 and 10 cent stores. An experience of from four to five years seemed to have been the rule among those earning this weekly wage of $6.88, and their average age was 22.5 years. Of the women personally interviewed who were em- ployed in stores, 486 or 22.5 per cent were found to be "adrift." For the purpose of the study of ihe self-supporting women, the adrift women were arranged in four groups: (1) Those keeping house; (2) Those living in private families; (3) Those living in boarding or lodg- ing houses; and (4) Those living in organized boarding houses. Under the classification "organized boarding houses" is implied such as live in houses financed by philanthropic institutions, so managed as to give the woman board and lodging under moral and sanitary condi- tions at a nominal um. Only households where there were not to ex- ceed three boarders or lodgers were classified as private families. The table of summaries indicates that the earnings of the women em- ployed in departmental and other retail stores, who were adrift, was 320 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON higher than for those who live at home. Against the $6.88 for those who live at home, was the average wage of $7.88 for those who were adrift. But there is another factor which enters into the equation. The aver- age experience for women adrift was 6.7, against an experience of 4.7 years for home women; likewise there was a higher age average of 28.1 years for adrift women against 22.5 years for home women. One of the distinct hardships that was uncovered in these investiga- tions, it was found, arose from the fining system which obtains in de- partmental stores. These penalties are levied upon girls who are tardy; who give a wrong address ; who make a mistake in the price of an arti- cle, etc., each mistake involving a fine of a fixed amount. This system falls heavily upon the poorly-paid workers. The girls admitted that this system was in vogue, but they were reticent about acknowledging they had suffered personally therefrom. At a certain New York store, where 800 women are employed, it was ascertained that $225 is collected monthly in fines, or $2,700 a year. In many stores, such moneys collected in fines were turned over to the benefit association, membership in which was usually ob- ligatory. A small part of the earnings of each girl was retained each pay-day and thereby a fund was created by the establishment, which may be drawn upon in case of sickness or death. The dues ranged from 10 cents to 60 cents per month, and in case of sickness the benefits may amount to one-half the salary, but these were limited, usually to $5; the weekly payments may run from six weeks if necessary. The reten- tion of the dues, when they are compulsory, has often been the subject of complaint from the workers, particularly because the benefits are not available until after from three to six months' employment in an establishment. Many, too, had not steady employment in one establish- ment, and to them the system proved a hardship. Departmental-store officials quite openly expressed a preference for girls living at home, frankly admitting that the wages offered did not permit a girl to live honestly elsewhere. This stand taken by the employers, in many instances has created a tendency among the girls to misrepresent her circumstances to the employer, she often intimating that she is living at home or witli rela- tives, when in reality she is entirely dependent upon her own resources. One girl, being questioned by the superintendent of a big establishment, and refused work when she answered "no" to the query: "Do you live at home?" hastened to state that she lived with "a married sister," and was given employment. The girl explained that she had no married sister, but knew the "only way to get the job" was to make the super- intendent think she was "practically at home." The total number of women employed in factories, mills, etc., in the seven cities visited, was given as 294,506. Data secured from 5,014 of these women workers showed the proportion living at home to be 82.5 per cent, while 879 or 17.5 per cent were adrift. It will be observed that with the factory women, as in the case of the store women, those in the higher age group received the higher wages. The store employes adrift were a little older than the factory employes of the same class. The average age of the factory employes adrift was 26.1 years, while the average age of the store girl adrift was 28.1 years. The average years of experience of the factory employes living at home MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 321 was ;$.!) years, while that of the factory employes adrift was 7.4 years, from which it might be implied that the girl worker living at home and not entirely dependent upon her own resources was more inclined to drift from one class of employment to another. In many instances it was found that the earnings of certain factory workers more than sufficed when the work was normal, but when the busy season was over their savings quickly melted. In many cases it was found that the girls lived with families, who were willing to trust them for board until their work started anew, but this implied that the next busy season would find them badly in debt. The seasonal indus- tries, it was found, worked women full speed during the campaign, then turning them loose for the remainder of the year. The managers real- ized fully that the following season would find the same girls available for work. Thirty-five per cent of the factory workers reported having done overtime work during the busy seasons. The "piece-rate" method of compensation prevailed in a large number of the establishments. If the season was good and the demand for the factory's product was great, a woman doing piece-work was allowed to "speed-up" throughout the day. If, however, there was little demand for the product, her output was restricted to the exigencies of the season, but she was often required to remain during working hours. It was said that "piece-workers" rarely maintain their maximum for any great length of time. While the average weekly earnings of the factory workers were shown to be lower than those of the store employes, the difference was prob- ably due to the irregularity of their employment. The following table shows the number and per cent of female wage- earners in department and other retail stores, factories, mills, etc., liv- ing at home who did or did not contribute to the family fund, with amount paid to family as board or contribution. Table No. 45. NUMBER AND PER CENT OF FEMALE WAGE-EARNERS IN DEPARTMENT AND OTHER RETAIL STORES, FACTORIES, ETC., LIVING AT HOME WHO DID OR DID NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE FAMILY FUND WITH AMOUNT PAID TO FAMILY AS BOARD OR CONTRIBUTION. Paid to family as Number Number contributing. Per cent contributing. board and contribution. reporting contribu- tions. All their earnings. Part of their earnings. None of their earnings. All their earnings. Part of their earnings. None of their earnings. Number contrib- uting. Average weekly. Department and other retail stores 1,214 832 327 55 68.5 27 4.5 1,225 $5 38 Factories, mills, etc.. . 3,370 2,601 723 46 77.2 21.4 1.4 3,313 5 46 Total 4,584 3,433 1,050 101 74.9 22.9 2.2 4,538 $544 1 1 p There is a striking conclusion to be drawn from the above table, in the large percentage of the wage-earners who live at home and who turn over all their earnings into the family fund. Of the 1,1M4 women em- loyed in stores. Soli or 08.5 per cent were reported to be contributing 322 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON their entire earnings to the family. Similarly 127 or 27 per cent, pave part of their earnings; and but 55 or 4.5 per cent were reported as con- tributing nothing toward the maintenance of the home. The average weekly contribution to the family exchequer was found to be $5.38. In the factories, mills, etc., 3,370 women and girls were interviewed and of this number it was found that 2,601 or 77.2 per cent gave all their earnings home. Seven hundred and twenty-three or 21.4 per cent gave part of their wages home, and 46 or 1.4 per cent gave none of their earnings into the family fund. The average weekly contribution of these workers was $5.46. Many foreign-born families consider children as an investment, and accordingly they hold that they have a just claim to the earnings of their offspring as long as they remain at home. The girls are each week ex- pected to turn over to the families their \veekly envelope with the con- tents intact. In many instances the mother, when asked the question : "What does Mary do with her wages?" shrugged her shoulders, and answered: "Sure, she gives it all to me. We have a large family to keep." Frequently the answer was : "The girls support the family, their father is dead, and I cannot work." This seems to disprove the popular conception that a large proportion of the wage-earning women living at home, work merely to earn spending money. Analysis of the findings covering the number of women wage-earners keeping house, the number living with private families, in boarding or lodging houses, or in organized boarding houses, with average weekly earnings and cost of living (food, shelter, heat, light and laundry) is shown in the following table: Table No. 46. NUMBER OF WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS IN SEVEN CITIES KEEPING HOUSE, LIVING WITH PRIVATE FAMILIES, IN BOARDING OR LODGING HOUSES, OR IN "ORGANIZED BOARDING HOUSES," WITH AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS AND COST OF LIVING (FOOD, SHELTER, HEAT, LIGHT, AND LAUNDRY). Character of information. Number reported. Average weekly earnings. Average cost of living. Women keeping house , Women living in private families Women living in boarding or lodging houses Women living in "organized boarding or lodging houses" 267 636 542 162 $6 57 6 78 7 31 7 16 $3 IS 3 43 4 24 3 62 Total 1,607 $6 96 $3 66 Of the 1,067 women and girls interviewed 267 or 16.6 per cent were found living in homes of their own making. They include the married or widowed women left dependent upon their own resources. While in a few cases the earnings of some relative were added to the general fund, it was always the woman who was the mainstay of the family. The average weekly earnings of these 267 women were $6.57, and the average weekly cost of living (food, shelter, heat, light and laundry) was $:US. This amount included only the cost for the worker herself, and did not include the contributions toward the support of those dependent upon her. Figures secured by the investigator show that of the 267 women noted 4-6 have a total of at least 87 persons entirely dependent on them for MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 323 support, an average of two persons beside themselves for whom 1hey have to provide on an average weekly wage of fG.57. There were 03G, or 30.0 per cent reported living or boarding in pri- vate families. Their average weekly wage was $(>.7S and average weekly cost of living was $3.43. In this group were found many foreign-born women living in families of their respective nationality, and as a general rule in very poor and over-crowded quarters. Thirty-one of these women paid less than $1.50 per week for room and board, but their manner of living would not be endurable to American women. Tn one household, there were five people in two rooms, the girl lodger, the landlady and her husband sharing one room, and a male lodger sleeping in the kitchen. One third of these women earned an average less than ff> per week. The women in the better class of private families usually had pleasant surroundings, living in homes where every comfort was provided, and with people of education and refinement. Only 30 or 4.7 per cent of this group had others entirely dependent upon them, and there were only 35 such persons, while 78 women or IL'.L' per cent had a total of 01 persons partially dependent on them. While the cost of living for this group of women is shown to be $8.43 per week, 50 per cent paid more than that amount. Five hundred and forty-two or 33.7 per cent were living in boarding or lodging houses. The summary table shows this to be the most expensive way to live, cost- ing on an average |4.24 per week. The average weekly wage received by this group was (7.31. Forty-five per cent of the women boarding and lodging had the use of the general sitting-room. With the high city rents, many of the lodging house keepers feel that it is impossible to give up their largest and best paying room, "the parlor," for a public sitting-room. It will be observed that between the expenditures for the necessaries of life and the average earnings there was little margin. When it was necessary to purchase clothing, something had to be cut from the ex- penditures for the necessaries of life, and usually the amount was made up through greater economy practiced in the purchase of nourishing food. One girl, who came to the notice of the investigator was living in a comfortable boarding house. On a second call she was found in a much cheaper lodging house, where she prepared her own meals. Her only explanation was that it was time to get some new clothes, and she had "to save it out of her board." "Oh, my; where would we get our clothes if we bought meat every day?" was the way one of a group of four housekeeping girls answered the query as to this detail of house- hold expenses. The opportunities for recreation and amusement offered to working women were about the same for all. Asked what they did for amuse- ment, the answers ranged from church to fancy-dress ball, but the most common form of amusement seemed to be "taking a walk," recreation parks, moving pictures, theatres and dance halls. As a general rule, I he younger women amused themselves in this way. The older workers were glad to remain at home after a hard day's work. For them, too, the day's work was not over when they left the place of employment. Mislead there were home duties to keep them busy until long after the time they should have retired in order to regain their strength for the morrow. 324 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Fifty-five per cent of the women lacked one of the important elements of the home; a pleasant room in which to receive friends. Often the rooms were furnished to look like parlors, with couches or folding beds. Many said they would not use a parlor if there was one, because of the publicity and the possibility of meeting undesirable fellow-lodgers. It was not the rule for a landlady to refuse permission to a girl entertain- ing her gentlemen friends in her bedroom, provided they did not make such a noise as to disturb the whole house, and did not remain too late. It had become so much a matter of course for these girls to receive men in their rooms that nothing wrong was thought of the custom. The only alternative was to meet them on the street. A girl living in a private family had an advantage over the girl living in a lodging or boarding house as she Avas treated as one of the family, and had the use of the general sitting-room in which to entertain her company. The smallest group of women lived in the "organized boarding houses," only 1G2, or 10.1 per cent. These girls were found to be the youngest of any group, yet they were earning next to the highest wage, $7.16 per week, which indicated that houses of this type attracted the most in- telligent girls. The average weekly cost of living was $3.62. The chief objection offered by girls to living at these organized lodg- ing houses seemed to be the iron-clad restrictions imposed. All had a definite hour for closing usually 10 o'clock and in some cases the girl who was not in by that hour was locked out for the night. The girls were permitted to receive their gentlemen friends only in the parlors provided for the purpose. An attractive, intelligent girl in one of the homes was asked why more girls did not come. "Because they won't stand for the restrictions," was the reply. "They don't want to be watched and interfered with all the time." She concluded sagely; "And those girls that kick most about the regulations are the ones that need them most." Vol. XVIII of the same report presents the study of women and girls employed in 23 industries located in 17 different states, Michigan being included among the number. In but four of the industries were there less than 1,000 employes. The percentage of women and girls in each industry ranged from 8.6 per cent in core-making to 84.7 per cent in the making of shirts, overalls, etc. In only one instance did the proportion of female workers fall below twenty per cent of the working force, and in other cases it rose to one-half or over. Data were secured from (>1 ,528 females employed in the 23 different industries covered, and figures sub- mitted show tiiat they formed 54.9 per cent of the total number of work- ers. In some of the industries investigated girls as young as eight years were found, while in more than half of them women of 65 or over were found. Only 3.0 per cent (2,160) of the whole group entered the industrial field under 15. The investigation covered the study of nationality of the workers, their age distribution, to what degree married women were found among them, their earnings, ami the conditions of their work. The individual slip was used to secure data from the workers, and contained questions as to exact nature of work done, sex, age, conjugal condition, race, and also number of hours at work, the money earned during an actual week taken as generally representative of normal conditions, and the rate, whether by time or piece. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 325 Special sludy was made of the actual competition between the sexes in the different industries under consideration. One general conclusion was found that in nearly all the industries where both sexes were em- ployed, the women predominated in the unskilled work, probably be- cause these could be secured at a lower wage than what is usually paid the men. It was reported that women were making no progress in the skilled occupations, and that their relative increase in the industries was due to the growing use of machines which require little training, strength, and sometimes not much intelligence on the part of the oper- ator. The men were usually given the heavy work, and the machine work requiring skill or knowledge of machinery, while the women were assigned to the lighter work, in which their defter touch make them turn out a neater and more marketable commodity. Another conclu- sion was: Women rarely displace men in the skilled trades. Women were not, as a rule, found to be learning a trade, because they did not always expect, to be wage-earners, but rather looked forward to matri- mony. The industries covered in Michigan were those manufacturing tin cans, boxes and pails, cigar boxes, tobacco and cigars, corsets, hosiery and knit goods, paper boxes and woolen and worsted goods. No defi- nite information was available as to the growth of can making, which included the manufacture of all kinds of tin cans, boxes, pails and other receptacles for package goods or liquids. It is a matter of common knowledge that this industry has increased enormously within the past few years following the more general demand for prepared meats, fruits, vegetables, oils, soups, etc., which heretofore w r ere only put up for the local market, and which necessarily had but a limited sale. There were 97 women and girls employed in this industry in Michi- gan, 13 or 22.3 per cent of this number being under 16 years of age. This was found to be largely a machine industry, the women workers being the operators. While the nature of the work was light, the em- ployment was considered dangerous owing to the type of the machines, which are difficult to guard against accidents. When the machines are not properly adjusted, it involves a physical strain which often proves harmful. The work was found to be extremely dirty and noisy, and for that reason did not attract the more intelligent class of women workers, 90.3 per cent of these workers in Michigan and Illinois being Polish women. Louisiana showed the largest proportion of employes under 10 years of age 22.3 per cent of its workers being in that group; Michi- gan came next with 18.3 per cent under 1(5. As this investigation was completed in April, 1909, and the 54-hour per week limitation law passed did not become effective until June 2nd of that year, the total number of hours worked per week in this industry was GO, with but 30 minutes allowed at noon for lunch. Overtime had been required fifteen times during the year, with an average of four hours each week when worked. Fifty-six of the women were 18 years of age and over, and 21.43 per cent of this number earned under $5 per week; 42.80 per cent were earning under $0 per week and 75 per cent were reported as earning under $8. None was given as earning S10 or over. In the cigar box industry an unusual condition obtains since a larger proportion of the male than of the female workers were found in the youngest age group; 1.02 per cent of the male workers as against .00 326 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON per cent of the females were under 16. Women and children did not form so large a proportion of the working force in the cigar box in- dustry as in the manufacture of paper and fancy boxes. Most of the work is entirely unskilled, and is easily learned, although it requires practice to gain speed. The industry to a great extent was found to be carried on by the young workers. Eighty women were interviewed in Michigan, of which number 54.17 per cent of the workers were under 18 years of age; 61.11. per cent were under 20 years of age, and only 13.89 per cent were 25 years or over. One-fourth of the total number of female employes interviewed in the cigar box industry earned less than |4 during the given week, while two- thirds earned less than $6, and 84.48 per cent earned less than $8 dur- ing the week under consideration. It was found that of the 71 women reporting age, 35.21 per cent were under 18 years of age; 59.15 per cent under 20 years of age, and but 8.45 per cent were 25 years or over. The largest percentage of the work- ers were of German parentage, 91.9 per cent of the total German repre- sentation being found in Maryland, Ohio, and Michigan. The average number of hours worked per week was 57 with GO minutes for lunch. Overtime was required 10 times during the year, with an average of six hours when worked. The Thirteenth Census of Michigan Manufacturers gives 729 establish- ments engaged in the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes, chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff, employing 6,026 females. All but 14 of this number were engaged primarily in the manufacture of cigars and cigar- ettes, but the value of their output formed only about three-fifths of the total shown for the entire industry. Detroit was shown to be the center of this industry as it reports over three-fourths of the total value of the tobacco products for the State in 1909. The largest number of female wage-earners under 16 years of age of any industry in the State was found in the tobacco manufacturing industry, in which 54 children were employed, representing 6.3 per cent of the total number of wage- earners employed in the industry. Eleven hundred and twenty women and children were personally in- terviewed in the cigar industry in Michigan, of which number 120 were under 16 years of age. Eighty and forty-three hundredths per cent were under 20 years of age, and only 3.02 per cent were 25 years or over. Of the 254 women interviewed who were 18 years of age or over, 1.1.4 per cent earned |5; 23.2 per cent under |6, and 33.5 per cent were paid fS and over. Considering the distribution by state, Michigan shows the largest pro- portion of female workers; Florida the smallest. In only five of the states visited, Maryland, North Carolina, Louisiana, Indiana and Michi- gan, were there as many as one-tenth of the female workers under 16. In Michigan 54.80 per cent of the female workers were under 18 years of age; 80.43 per cent under 20 years of age, and only 3.02 per cent 25 years or over. Considering only those states in which there were more than one hun- dred women employed in the cigar industry, New York showed the smallest proportion 1.8 per cent of white Americans and North Caro- lina the largest 91.9 per cent. The Cubans, Spanish and Italians were relatively more numerous in Florida than elsewhere; the Germans most numerous in Maryland, the Hebrews in Pennsylvania, and the Poles in MINIMUM WAGJE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 327 .Michigan. The average working week was 'found to be 531/2 hours, with 45 minutes for lunch. Overtime was required 20 times during the year, with eight hours average per week when worked. Women predominated in the unskilled work probably because they could be secured at wages which did not attract men. The tobacco industry in Michigan was represented by 770 women and girls, of which number 58 per cent were under 16 years of age; 52.34 per cent under 20, and 15.43 per cent were 25 years or over. The work was not considered seasonal, although some establishments reported a slack time in December. There seemed little possibility of advance in this in- dustry, as the occupations tilled by women could be learned, as a rule, in from a week to two months, according to the ability of the workers. A large part of the women's work was performed standing, many of the workers preferring to do so as they think they can work faster. Of the 515 interviewed in Michigan over 18 years of age who reported on earnings, 39 per cent earned under |5; 55.1 per cent earned under |G and 63.3 per cent earned under $8, while 0.3 per cent reported they earned $10 or over. Nine establishments, located in four states, were visited where women were employed in the corset industry, with a total of 4,857 employes, both sexes. In Michigan 768 women and girls were interviewed. Of this number 03 were under 10 years of age. Work was reported as not being seasonal, yet overtime seemed to be common. Of 742 reporting age and wages 33.15 per cent were under 18 years of age; 56.47 per cent under 20, and 15.63 per cent were 25 years and over. Those of Irish parentage /were most numerous in Connecticut, which state in 1909 employed 45 per cent of the total wage-earners in this industry and turned out 46 per cent of the total product. There was also a large percentage of English, Americans and Hungarians employed in Connecticut, while the Germans and Polish, both races in which the age level was found to be low, were relatively numerous in Illinois. The Germans formed more than two-fifths of the Michigan corset workers. The average hours worked per week was given as 54, and 45 minutes the average time allowed for lunch. Overtime was required 12 times during the year, but the number of hours worked overtime each week was not reported. Fifteen and eight hundredths per cent earned under >C> per week; 16.78 per cent under |6, and 13.09 per cent earned under |8, while but .71 per cent were reported as earning |12 or over. In 1909 when data covering the hosiery and knit goods industry were gathered, 64 establishments were visited in 15 different states, employing 16,951. workers, and data were secured covering their employment. In Michigan, 62!) female workers were interviewed, and 8.07 per cent were under 16 years of age; 51.21 per cent under 20 years, and 14.72 per cent were 25 years and over. As to age, the Americans showed the largest proportion of young workers. Practically all of the young girls under 14 found at work were Americans, while 14 per cent of the American female workers were under 16. The average work week was 581/2 hours, with 45 minutes allowed for lunch. Overtime was required 12 times in the year, with an average of five hours per week on weeks worked. Twenty-eight and one-tenth per c^ent of the female workers over IS years of age earned under $5; 50.3 per cent earned under |6, and 85. 9 per cent earned under $8, and but 2.9 per cent earned $10 and over. 328 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. The Census of 1901) reports 10 establishments engaged in the manufac- ture of fancy and paper boxes in Michigan. There were 202 female work- ers interviewed, of which number 12 were under 10 years of age. Of the 135 females interviewed as to age, 29.03 per cent were under 18 years of age; 52.00 per cent under 20 years, and 22.22 per cent were 25 years and over. The age level was shown to be very low in this industry, 10 years being the age at which the greatest number of the workers were found, over one-eighth of the whole number being of that age. Nearly three-fifths of the whole number 58.44 per cent were under 20, while only one-fifth are found to be 25 years or over. In the manufacture of the cheaper grade of boxes it was found that experience counts for prac- tically nothing, and for that reason the wages were low and did not at- tract the older workers. Also in work of that nature the greater speed of the young worker was found to be one reason for her employment. Only 7.30 per cent of the total number of female workers found em- ployed in the paper box industries in the states visited for that purpose were or had been married. The average work week was 55 hours, with 30 minutes for lunch. There was no overtime reported. Most of the work was performed on a piece-rate basis. Nearly three-fifths of the female workers earned less than fG in a "specimen" week. The work was light, was not found to be necessarily unpleasant, although most of it involved standing, and women and girls were often found employed on dangerous machines. The manufacture of woolen and worsted goods was found to be largely confined to the New England and Eastern States. Massa- chusetts in 1905 employed over one-fourth of the average number of wage-earners in the industry. During this investigation 40 establishments, located in 11 states, and employing 12,724 wage-earners were visited. The women w r ere almost entirely employed at machines, and a large part of the work demanded skill and nearly all parts of the work requires some experi- ence, Most of the work involves constant standing, frequent stoop- ing and lifting. None of the machines were reported as dangerous, al- though belts and gearings were very frequently found unguarded. Ninety-four women and girls were interviewed in this industry in Michigan, and only one was found to be under 10 years of age. Of the total number of women interviewed, 74.05 per cent were single, although the proportion of women who were, or had been married, was found to be unusually large. The investigation revealed the following: Sixty hours work per week; 50 minutes for lunch; 12 reported overtime, with four hours per week as the overtime worked. The age level in this industry was found to be considerably higher than in many of the industries studied. Of those reporting, who were 18 years of age or over, 20.5 per cent earned under f>5; 48.2 per cent earned under fG; 71.1 per cent earned under f8 and 10.8 per cent earned $10 or over. Pennsylvania and North Caro- lina have the largest proportion of females under 10, and Massachusetts and Michigan were found to have the smallest. Massachusetts at that time was the leading state in the manufacture of woolen and worsted products, while Michigan was not well represented in that particular industry. APPENDIX I. SI'KCIAL INVESTIGATION OF THE CANNING INDUSTRIES OF MICHIGAN. BY H. W. BREMER. Sometime ago there \vas considerable agitation throughout the coun- try on the long hours worked by women and young girls in canning factories. H. W. Bremer, who had special training along this line, was brought from New York by the Michigan Labor Bureau to conduct an investigation of the canning establishments of Michigan. The report has never been used, but as it has in it points applicable to this par- ticular investigation, and as this Commission has not of itself investi- gated the canning industry, it has been thought proper to incorporate the pertinent portions of it in this report. Mr. Bremer says: The canning industry presents two serious problems to the canner. One is the perishability of his crop, and the other the labor problem. The canner has to deal with a product that must be canned within a very few hours after it has ripened. How to do this without working excessive hours at times, he does not know. His problem is made harder by the action of nature in ripening his crops. If the weather is not just right the crops will be retarded and will ripen up at the time some other crop is ripening, thus making a surplus of goods at the fac- tory. Or the weather may be so fair that the crops will ripen much ahead of time, again throwing them into the factory at the same time some other crop is being worked. Out of this difficulty of more goods than he can handle in a normal day the canner sees only two ways. He may let the crop that he cannot handle go to waste, or he must work at night until his goods are canned. The other problem is the labor supply. In some factories the canner cannot get sufficient help to handle his crops during the rush season. This means that his workers must work longer hours, or the products will be wasted. FACTORIES VISITED. The following factories were visited : Mikesell & Company, Traverse City, Central Lake Canning Company, Central Lake, Fremont Canning Company, Fremont, 330 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Sears & Nichols Company, Peiitwater, W. R. Roach & Company, Hart, Oceana Canning Company, Shelby. Thomas Canning Company, Grand Rapids, W. R. Roach & Company, Kent City, Win. M. Traver & Company, Hartford, S. M. Carpp, Hartford. Most canning factories contract for the vegetables they can in the early spring. They make an agreement with the farmers of the neigh- borhood by which he takes their seed and plants it and they agree to take all the crops that he raises. In addition to crops raised by contract some canning factories raise part of their products on their own farms. The attempt is always made to distribute the plantings of seed so that the crops will mature at different times and prevent an over-supply of ripened products at the canning factory. Most can- ning factories employ field men whose duty it is to assist the farmer in determining when to plant his seed and to advise him when to gather his ripened crop. These field men are employed with the pur- pose on the part of the canner to harvest the crop at the time that it is in the best condition for canning. The factories at Fremont, Pent- water, Hart, Grand Rapids and Kent City employ these field men. PERISHABILITY OF CROPS. The following crops are very perishable: Strawberries, peaches, Lima- beans, peas and string-beans. These crops must be "worked up" shortly after they are brought to the factory, otherwise they deteriorate in quality and even spoil. Other fruits are perishable to a less de- gree than strawberries and peaches. Berries can be kept from twelve to twenty hours before being canned, depending on the climate. Peaches in some places can be kept two or three days without injury, but most canners consider it absolutely essential to "work them up" the day they are received, in order to retain their flavor. Peas arc very perishable and should be canned within about six hours after cut- ting, otherwise they "heat" and get sour. Peas can be kept over nigh I by being spread over the ground before they are threshed, but peas so treated become hard and cannot be put up as a fine grade article. Lima-beans are about as perishable as peas and cannot be kept over. String-beans, most canners agree, can be kept one night without de- terioration. Some canners extend this period to two and three nights, even. The perishability of crops, coupled with the uncertainty of weather conditions, causing crops to ripen out of season, is what causes over- time in canning factories. Distribute plantings as he may, the canner cannot be sure that his crops will not double up on him at the canning season. HOURS OF WORK. Canning factories plan their work on the basis of a ten-hour day. During rush periods they work very much longer than this. During slack seasons they work much less, and sometimes are shut down al- together. The hours depend altogether on the way the crops come in. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 331 Kvery runner but one treats overtime inevitable at certain seasons. .Mr. Mikesell, of Traverse City, operated his factory on a ten-hour day. What goods he cannot can one day he carries over to the next. Most canners plan to work up each day's receipts the day they are received. If they did not do this, they say, the products would ac- cumulate, and much goods would spoil on their hands. At Central Lake the factory ran overtime on string-beans, and occa- sionally on corn. Five or six weeks would cover all of the overtime for the entire canning season. At Fremont the overtime lasts about two weeks in the early pea season, and one week in the late pea season. There is usually at least a week of very light work between these two periods. At Pen (water overtime lasts two to three weeks on the pea crop. Another period of about ten days occurs between the tenth and twenty- lifili of August, when string-beans, Lima-beans and corn are worked at the same time. At Shelby overtime lasts two to three weeks on strawberries, ten days to two weeks on cherries and two to three weeks on peaches. In- tervals of light work separate these periods from each other. At Grand Eapids the factory did not run later than midnight in 1911. This was due to a breakdown in the machinery. Overtime is usually avoided by employing a double crew. This season (1912) the factory has not operated later than ten o'clock at night. WORKING CONDITIONS AT FACTORIES. The working conditions at these factories are very good. The places where the majority of the women work are large, well ventilated and light. The sanitary features are very good. In most of the factories sanitary drinking fountains are provided, together with wash rooms and soap and towels. The worst conditions under which women work are found at the capping lines and the bean grading machines. With scarcely an exception these places are not well ventilated and sometimes the heat is intense. The noise made by the machinery and the dropping of cans is quite deafening. In all the factories seats are provided for the women at most occu- pations, the exception being some forms of piece-work as apple paring, beet peeling and can filling. At the other occupations, chairs, stools or benches are provided for each worker. These seats are satisfactory except for the boxes. The boxes require the ones using them to main- tain a cramped posture for long periods. Benches or chairs might be used in place of these. LABOR SUPPLY. All of these factories employ local help and in most cases this is sntlicieiit for all periods of the season. Men are used for the machine work and all rough work. Women are used on the lighter work. In no instance did I find women doing any heavy lifting or carrying. This is all done by men. At Hartford these factories divide the available labor supply. One of these factories is operating this year for the first time. In spite 332 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON of its entrance in the field, the heads of two of the factories say the supply is sufficient for all needs. Even in rush periods they can se- cure all the help they want. Additional help more than he uses on peas would not aid Mr. Traver at all, since in his pea rush his machinery is taxed to its utmost capacit}^ The number of people employed fluctuates during the season. During rush periods the factories will be crowded and this may be followed by a time of very light work and even an absolute shut down. The labor supply understands the situation and gladly returns when work or new crop starts. Most of the canners say that it is easy to get help for their rush periods. One canner stated that he could get all the help he could use, but with that could not get his crops ready to can fast enough. Practically all the work is done at the canning fac- tory, but during the string-bean season some factories distribute bags of beans to be strung through the homes in the village and so increase their labor supply. In some cases advertising is resorted to as at Shelby in 1911. This is not very successful, however, since outsiders do not find it easy to secure places to live in the village. This difficulty, with the irregularity of the work, deters people from leaving their homes to go to the place where the canning factory is located. In no case were children employed in the factory, or even permitted to work with their parents. In two cases children were seen with their parents, but they were not working. The parents could not come to the factory unless they could bring their children with them. A num- ber of minors have taken out working certificates this year and are employed at times in the factories. There are nineteen males and fifty-eight females who have thus secured working certificates. In practically every case the superintendent assured me that chil- dren under 14 are of very little use as workers. Children between 14 and 16, if watched, will do good work. WAGES. Men in canning factories usually receive 15 and 17i/> cents an hour. Boys are paid 12i/> cents and sometimes less. A few men receive more than 17 j /i> cents the cook and engineer always do. The prevailing rate of pay for women is 10 cents an hour. The factory at Central Lake pays only 8 cents to women. Some occupations for women pay 12 ^ and 15 cents an hour. Piece-workers' wages can be gotten from the schedules. OVERTIME. At Kent City overtime on early peas lasts about ten days, and on late peas about five days. An interval of about a week separates these periods. Overtime also occurs on corn and Lima-beans for about ten days, and for about one week on string-beans. In 1911 on a big peach crop the factory ran until ten or eleven at night, for about ten days. At Win. M. Travers' factory at Hartford the women in 1911 worked in two crews on peas, and so did not have to work overtime but very little. One crew would start at 9 A. M. and work till 8 or 9 P. M. Then fresh girls, who had not been working before on that day, look their places and worked till all the peas were canned. During (his period the men had no change at all, but worked right on through the night. They were given a rest of a half-hour and a lunch at mid- I MINIMUM WACJR LRCUSLATTON FOR WOMEN. 333 night. This condition lasted one week. A period of overlime also or- curred on strawberries, and lasted one week. On siring beans over- time lasted two weeks, and during that lime the factory operated as lale as twelve or one o'clock at: night. Between strawberries and peas a period of two weeks of light work came in and a period of e<|iial length between peas and beans. In 1012 girls worked on the capping lines three nights till 4 A. M. They returned to work the following morning at o'clock. A double crew could not be nsed this year because of scarcity of women. At the Tarpp factory at .Hartford women were replaced by men if the factory had to operate after 1) P. M. At the Shelby factory during the rush period they did not work over fifteen hours. In one case only did a fifteen-hour day come on two consecutive days. The same is true of fourteen hours. The hardest period came between September 11 and September IS, when the women worked thirteen hours a day for seven days out of the nine. At Pent waler the first period of overtime began on the 21st of June and lasted until the 8th of July, a period of sixteen days. It will be noted that two Sundays and the Fourth of July are included in this period. On those days the factory was not in operation. The next period of overtime was between the 20th of July and the 20th of July. During this period only a few women worked overtime. The next period was between August 28 and September 23. During this period some women worked excessively long hours, some working as high as twenty hours and one twenty-two hours and one twenty-four and one- half hours on September Oth. These periods of overtime were separated by periods of very light work. This condition of rush periods preceded and followed by periods of light work is the rule in the canning industry. In the first rush the crops worked on were perishable strawberries, peas and cherries. The same is true of the last rush. On the day of the longest hours, September Oth, peaches, plums, apples, Lima-beans, string-beans and tomatoes were canned. Of these, the apples were the only ones that might probably have been held over. INDIVIDUAL RECORDS. The individual records of three women were obtained at this fac- tory. These records show the same condition. The capping girl usually works as long as the actual canning of the product takes place. She usu- ally arrives at the opening of the factory in the morning and stays until the last can is capped and ready for cooking. She worked overtime from the 22nd of June to the 8th of July. For three consecutive weeks she worked sixty-one hours, eighty-four hours, sixty-four and one-half hours. This was followed by a period of light work for six weeks and then by a period of overtime for five weeks, beginning on August 21st and lasting until September 2:>rd. During these five weeks she worked respectively seventy-three hours, seventy-four hours, eighty- four and one-half hours, eighty-two and one-half hours and sixty-four hours. This again was followed by a period of light work. Excessive as these totals may appear, her average for the entire season of twenty weeks was only 22.4 hours. The fore-ladv worked more than sixty hours a week (the time usually 334 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON considered by canners as a normal week) every week but three out of a total of twenty weeks. She worked as high as one hundred and fif- teen hours between the 3rd of September and the 9th of September. Her average for the twenty weeks is 78.8 hours. These hours are exces- sive and cannot but do injury to the person working them. It is fair to assume that some form of double shift might have been used so that she would not have had to work such long hours. She worked overtime during the same period as the capping girl did, from June 22nd to July 8th, but not as many hours. She worked respectively sixty hours, seventy and one-half hours and sixty and one- half hours for three weeks. On only six other days did she work more than ten hours and her weekly total did not again exceed fifty hours. The hours for these women are practically the same for all of the women in the factory. None worked as hard as the fore-lady. Three or four may have worked as hard as the capper, but the hours for the majority of the women would closely approximate those of the fore-lady. PIECE-WORK. The women who work on sorting tables during the pea season gener- ally do the piece-work on succeeding crops afterward. The girls on the capping line, of whom there are usually three, seldom do any piece-work. Piece-workers' hours are not as long as the hours of those w T ho work on machinery, for the reason that piece-workers work only in the preparation of the products. It takes from one-half hour to two hours to finish canning after the piece-workers have ceased working. The hardest work for a woman is the work on the capping line, particu- larly the operation of putting caps on the cans as they move past on the conveying chain. They usually go at the rate of sixty a minute. Some- times this is speeded up to eighty or more. One girl can cap cans at the rate of sixty a minute. At Fremont and other places two girls are used for each position on the capping line. This means that each girl will work one-half hour and rest one-half hour. This is neces- sary since the strain and the heat otherwise would be very injurious. These girls are paid for the time they rest as well as for the time they work. WOMEN'S OCCUPATIONS. Women are employed at the capping lines, at piece-sorting tables, at bean graders, at labeling machines and at apple parers. On the cap- ping line they cap cans and inspect them after they are soldered. Many factories use men in place of women as inspectors. They claim they cannot use men for capping the cans, since this work requires ac- curacy and speed. At the piece-sorting tables women sort out hard peas, broken peas and other foreign matter as the peas pass in front of them on a moving belt. The work at the bean graders is of the same character. The beans are first graded and then are carried by a moving belt past the women who sort them. When women are em- ployed at labeling machines they usually feed cans to the machine. Men do all the other work. This is light work, but requires standing. The work at apple parers requires standing in one position and placing MINIMUM WAGE LRCISLATION FOR WOMEN. 33f, ipples on tin 1 plunks jo be pared. A certain rhythmical motion is icedcd i'or Ihis work and cannot be had sitting. Oftentimes men work the apple parers. Women cannot work i'or long periods on these lachines. Resides the machine work all the piece-work in the preparation of irodncts is done by women. Most of this is done under very good conditions and the women sit at their work. MACHINERY FOR WOMEN'S WORK. Machines have been devised to do some of the work that women now do. These are machines i'or placing the caps on the solder-top cans. One factory has these and uses them. Superintendents of other fac- tories say that these machines are impractical. In some places women pit cherries by hand, but there is a cherry-pitting machine which does the work very acceptably, and faster than women can do it. The AV. ]{.. Koach Company has two bean snipping machines, one at Hart and the other at Kent City. Mr. Nott, at Hart, says that this machine works well, but he says he does not use it, because he prefers lo give the work to the women. Another says the machine works well on straight beans, but fails on crooked ones. Corn-husking is usually done by hand. Men and women do this. At Hart they have a corn-husking machine which can husk corn as fast as tive women can feed it. This machine also Mr. Nott does not use, because, he says, he would rather the women should have the work. DATES OF TACKS. The following table gives the total pack for the year 1911 of eight of the factories investigated and the dates between w^liich they are usually packed. I was unable to obtain the packs of the Thomas ('aiming Company, at (irancl Kapids, and of the S. M. Carpp Company, at Hartford. PRODUCTS DURATION DATES Strawberries June 6 to June 30. Cherries June 15 to July 15 Gooseberries June 23 to July 8 Peas June 20 to July 31. Raspberries July 1 to July 26. Lima-beans August 21 to September 28. Beets July 22 to November 15. Blackberries July 21 to July 31. Apples July 27 for early apples and October 2 for late apples to November 1. Plums August 8 to September 1. Peaches August 8 to October 11. String-beans July 15 to September 1. Tomatoes August 26 to October 31. Pears September 1 to September 24. Corn August 17 to October 11. Succotash August 17 to October 11. Pumpkin October 19 to December 1. Spinach October 15 to October 22. Sauerkraut November 21 to December 31. Blueberries July 3 to July 29. These dates are approximate merely. The crop may be earlier or later than the periods given here. 336 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY. MR. BRBMER'S CONCLUSIONS. From consideration of the facts herewith presented, the canner is warranted in asking for an exemption from the strict limitation of hours. Just how much that exemption should be and how the law should be worded to be fair to the interests of those looking after the welfare of the workers and to the canners is a difficult problem. While on perishable crops the canner might be permitted to work overtime, on non-perishable crops and during intervals between rush seasons no overtime should be permitted. I would recommend a ten- hour day for canning factories with exemption from this on such crops as berries, peas, Lima-beans, string-beans and peaches. I would not favor, however, the absolute absence of restriction on these crops for this opens the way for such excessive hours as women worked at Pent- water. Canners say that four or five hours overtime during the rush sea- son is sufficient to take care of their surplus. Some insist that there are times when they must work a good deal more than this. If this latter is the case they should either be compelled to employ a double crew of women or have men or machines do the work the women would do. I think a fifteen-hour day for these perishable crops with a maxi- mum of seventy-five hours a week would be fair. The law should pro- tect women from working seventeen, eighteen, up to twenty-four hours a day at any time. A clay's rest following such long hours is not sufficient to repair the injury done. A limitation as to the number of hours that can be worked or one that sets a definite time after which no woman shall work would protect her from this injury. The law should be very explicit regarding the crops on which overtime is permitted. Overtime should not be permitted on labeling and any other form of work, even though it seems to the canner to be necessary in order to get his shipment out on time. APPENDIX J. MINIMUM WAGE FOR WOMEN. * Four states in this country have now established a minimum wage for women and minors. These four states are Washington, Oregon, Minnesota and Massachusetts. The wage rate of Minnesota was an- nounced only three days ago, and we are not yet certain as to whether it will be obeyed, or whether the courts will, sustain the ruling which lias been made. It seems probable that they will, because this rate has been based upon exceedingly careful and painstaking study of the cost of living of women and detached minors in the state of Washington, and because of the other three rates which have been established. In Washington, where the rule was declared fifteen months ago, the com- mission established a rate of $10 a week for all employments of women, except domestic service. They say the cost of living in Wash- ington should not be less for a woman employed in a factory than in a store, because they are supposed to establish the minimum rate, and it could not be realized if there was a difference between the factory and the store. In Oregon they were earlier in establishing the rate. In Portland they established the rates fourteen months ago and fixed the rate of $8.64 for adult women over eighteen years of age working in the factories and $9.25 for women over eighteen years of age working in the stores in Portland ; and for every factory outside of Portland, $8.50. I am not quite certain about the stores outside the city of Portland. SUSTAINED BY SUPREME COURT. The Supreme Court of Oregon sustained the rulings as reasonable and the ruling of $8.G4 for fifty hours, no day to end later than eight o'clock in the evening. The fight commenced in a paper box factory. The maker of these boxes applied for an injunction and the court refused to enjoin. The paper box manufacturer was sued and the statute was upheld by the courts in every instance and was upheld unanimously by the Supreme Court. It is now in the United States Supreme Court and was placed on the calendar for the October term. We expected to have a hearing yesterday and hope to have a decision by to-night, as the case may have been argued. Mr. Lewis Brandeis, whose priceless services we have secured to help *As stenofrraphically reported for the conference at the Michigan Conference of Charities and Cor- rections in Grand Rapids, October 28, 1914. 43 338 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON us when the statute is attacked, is in Washington for the purpose of arguing the case before the Supreme Court. We have filed a brief of many hundred pages in defense of this statute. We are entirely con- fident that the decision will be favorable, based upon the fact that Mr. Brandeis has handled analogous statutes for the last six years where a number of cases have arisen and with an unbroken record of success. The Supreme Court of New York reversed its own unfavorable de- cision, Washington reversed its unfavorable decision, and the United States Supreme Court has spoken twice regarding the working hours of women. Where employers reduced the hours of work, thereby cut- ting their income down, women are not insisting upon the enforcement of the law; that provides for a little more sleep and less food; so we are hoping the United States Supreme Court will at this session of the court sustain the Oregon law. PROGRESS IN THE EAST. In the East we have not been going forward as rapidly as in the West. Massachusetts began first, but Massachusetts is always con- servative in movements of this kind. They began first with a provision that there should be an investigation of the subject of minimum wage. They appointed an unpaid commission of men and women, but they were left without money with which to do anything. A very public- spirited woman in Boston offered her house for headquarters. The investigation was a thorough one, and it caused considerable astonishment when it was ascertained that a woman working in Bos- ton, working regularly, and living alone, received only |5 a week for her work, when a most careful investigation showed that the cost of living in Boston for a woman in continuous health, with frugal comforts, was |8 a week. The result of that report published at that time was the creation of a permanent commission giving very wide powers of search into the cost of living, but there was no penalty attached to force any one to abide by the decisions of this commission. However, they went to work. The law provided that the rulings of the commission must be made not only in view of the cost of living and health of the workers, but also into the conditions peculiar to the industry that is under in- vestigation. They investigated the industry of making brushes, in which there were less than 2,000 men, women and children employed, and in the larger industry of candy making. They made a rate of fifteen and one-half cents an hour, and ruled that no more people should be on the pay roll than can be employed continuously. In many cases there were found to be as many as three times the number of people on the pay roll as could be employed regularly. This rate only applied to July 15th, and that no more women could be kept on the pay roll than could be given a reasonable amount of employment, and that after July 1st the rate would be raised to seventeen and one-half and eighteen and one-half cents an hour, which rates would be recommended by the commission. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 339 I:.MI'I.OYI:I:S A<;UI:I: TO oitnv TIIK LAW. \ In the course of the investigation the manufacturers learned a great deal about eaeli other. They had no organization and every man was a law nn to himself. In the course of the investigation they were brought together and individually they all agreed to pay this rate. It remains to he seen whether they will live up to their promise. It is the first time in the history of labor that the law was effectually worked out without the penally clause. PUBLICITY. When the commission was formed it was made mandatory that four representative papers in every county in the state of Massachusetts should publish the names of the manufacturers who would not agree to abide by the findings of the commission. That would have ruined the commission; it would have killed any appropriation they were apt to get from the legislature and it would have interested very few people in the many counties. This has been amended, and we have now instead, publicity discretion given to the commission to publish the names of manufacturers who refuse or fail to obey the rulings of the commission. There is one strange provision in this law, and that is that any one who dismisses an employe for giving evidence before the commission will be subjected to an exceedingly heavy fine. No employer who dis- misses an employe would give that as a reason, but rather would give the excuse that they were slow, or late or a thousand and one other reasons rather than the one with the penalty attached. SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF WAGES OF HEAD OF FAMILY. We believe in New York that we are going to get a better law than any law now in force. Besides these four states which have estab- lished a minimum rate ^Washington, Oregon, Minnesota and Massa- chusetts seven other states have appointed a commission of inquiry. Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, California. Colorado, New York and Indiana have commissions of inquiry. New York for three years has had the fac- tory investigating commission, which has been a wonderfully helpful commission. It has immeasurably improved our labor code, and we re- gard it with the deepest gratitude. This commission has not contented itself with investigating the cost of living of women and minors, but it believes that the wages of the heads of families are enormously of more social importance than the wages paid detached women and minors, and our commission has been investigating cost of the living of men, as well as women and children, and its report will be issued about the middle of January. Our hope is that we may follow the action of Ohio. When Ohio changed its constitution, two years ago, it put into its constitution by the largest vote given to any amendment, a pro- vision for regulating hours of labor and wage rates. 340 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON WAG'E RATES FOR MEN. In England more men are under the wage board. The mining in- dustry is under a wage board, and in Australia its whole system of industry is under wage boards. Sheep shearers, railway employes and every one outside of those employed in domestic service are subject to this kind of legislation. We have been afraid to attempt to include men under the wage rates in this country for fear of the constitution of the United States, but have thought it wiser to proceed state by state and get the opinion of the courts in the different states. We can- not include men until from our own knowledge we have learned what the exact cost of living really is. This great National conference has been going on for 47 years with- out ever finding out the exact cost of living. We have been dealing out money for people to live on without knowing how much it costs to live in any systematic or scientific way. The result has been that the poor have suffered, children have been demoralized, have been sent to institutions without the fact being known that it would cost less for the mothers to keep them, and it has taken 47 years to find out how much it costs for people to live, what industry could afford to pay men, women and children to maintain themselves and detached women to maintain themselves in health and frugal comfort, to use the words of the Oregon statute. We hope when the courts have spoken and we have this matter under control as it is controlled in Australia and England we can do away with this enormous charity which has been kept up by people of large means partly to amuse themselves. THREE PROCESSIONS OF YOUNG WOMEN. In the city of New York the case of insufficient wages paid to women has brought about three gigantic processions of young people eternally headed toward charity. There are processions of young people who are tubercular. Every sanatorium now has a large waiting list. There are in New York city, county and state private sanatoria and otherwise for the care of tuberculous young girls. We have a series of institutions carried on by private individuals for the express purpose of building up 3 r oung working girls, a frightful travesty on American industry that we should have to have repair shops to build up young people who can- not do the w^ork required of them and keep them in health in the strong- est years of their lives. Every institution is full, every institution has a waiting list. A new institution was opened on Staten Island recently holding 2,500. Two thousand five hundred were placed in it and 3,000 were left on the waiting list. I believe that kind of suffering will be greatly reduced when minimum wage legislation has been in force in New York state for ten years. RECRUITS FOR INSANE ASYLUMS. The second procession is one of young people immigrants who are headed toward the institutions for melancholy and the insane. In our large hospitals we have wards for young people who could not literally keep body and soul together under the terms industry imposes. One MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 341 the nurses iu one of these large institutions, and the nurses are very intelligent women, reported that year after year the over-crowding is heroin ing greater. Cases of insanity and melancholy increases from year to year in spite of our night courts and associations for taking care of young women; in spite of our commission of corrections and charities. The procession of young working girls on the streets of New York, who have honestly attended school -up to the age of fourteen years, who have gone out into industry and failed to make good, and who have forever abandoned the idea that they can make a living, is larger to-night than it has ever been. It grows and grows, and we believe that this procession will be greatly reduced when the people know what it costs year after year to live, as the Oregon law says, "In continuous health and frugal corn- fort." DISCUSSION ON MINIMUM WAGE. CI1AIIIMAN: Some of the members of the Michigan Minimum Wage Commission are present, and we would be glad if they would take part in the discussion, giving us information in detal about the conditions the}' have found. MR. GRENELL, Chairman of the Minimum Wage Commission: Mr. Walker, of the Commission, will represent the Commission in the dis- cussion. MR. AVALKER: I might say a word or two perhaps just a word with regard to the history of the Michigan Commission appointed to inquire into a minimum wage rate for women. We were appointed a little more than a year ago under an act of the last Legislature requiring the Gov- ernor to appoint a commission of three, who should inquire into the condition of wage-earning women of the State of Michigan in relation to conditions and employment, the wages paid, whether they were sufficient to support them in health, and report to the next Legislature its findings as to the necessity for a minimum wage for women in Michigan. The Commissioners receive no pay, but a salary is paid to the Secretary and to the field workers or investigators. It is a non-salaried Commission. Much statistical information has been gathered from employers and from women employes. We have a large amount of data already com- piled at Lansing for the purpose of making records and furnishing tables which we hope will be helpful. A COMPLICATED PROBLEM. The depth of the problem is growing upon the members of the Com- mission the importance of it to employer and employe, and to the State at large. It involves not only the question of morals and living- wage, Iml it involves also the question of economic law, at least it is supposed to do so. Some say that the provision of economic law is regu- lated by supply and demand in the labor market and the price to be determined by competition. Others think a minimum wage Is practical and desirable. It is said that the labor of women is a commodity, and 342 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON that the price is regulated as is the price of any other commodity, and that when we talk about a living wage we involve a problem for depart- ments of economics and might seriously retard the development of trade and the carrying on of business. I am simply stating this to show the possible questions involved. I think, however, if I may say one more word in the matter, the question which impresses us more in the estab- lishment of a minimum rate wage is the question of efficiency of the employe. THE MATTER OF EFFICIENCY. It will be exceedingly difficult to adopt a minimum rate law which amounts to any advance in wages without the women and girls are going to become efficient girls and women, and able to give a greater return to their employers. What is the public going to do about train- ing for efficiency? What are the public schools doing? What are the employers doing in training for efficiency? And if the minimum wage rate goes into effect a large number of employes will be discharged because they cannot earn for their employer that minimum wage. There is no law which will compel them to keep inefficient workers. What will society do for them? I think where a minimum wage is adopted in a state, it is the duty of the state and the public schools to see that every opportunity is given for increased efficiency for girls and women who are to become wage-earners who can return to their employers an amount sufficient to permit a living wage, and a minimum wage can do that. AIDS IN IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF THE DEFECTIVE. MBS. KELLEY: The accumulative experience of Australia and England is of the greatest importance. It indicates two things which are very important in the enactment of a minimum wage laAv. In in- dustry, minimum wage laws are checking permanently the employment of mentally defective people who ought not to be there. This law is putting the defectives where they can get proper care and treatment. Secondly, it is found that there are a certain number of people who are physically defective. There are near-sighted people and convales- cents of various kinds. The number of people a factory is allowed to employ is a subject that has to be carefully worked out, otherwise the candy maker and the paper box maker cannot meet the rate. A majority of girls employed are only working perfunctorily until they marry, and they are doing their work without that kind of zeal that men develop who are going to stay all their lives in trade. For these girls it is no kindness to let them drag along in this perfunctory way and if a minimum wage was adopted this girl would receive a stimulus to work. No employer will keep them if they cannot earn more than |2 or |4 a week. We have just finished a canvass of the wages in New Orleans, and it was found that one-third of the girls received only |4 or less, when they are paying f 10 in Washington or |J).25 or $S.C4 in Oregon or #7.75 in the brush industry in the state of Massachusetts. The experience of Australia and England in the last four years MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 343 show that it will place in the category of charity tbe mentally defective people and will reduce the number of employes in factories who are in some measure physically defective and it has made the employes learn to be more efficient, for a man cannot afford to pay for efficiency unless he receives it, and the worker has got to learn how or he will the work to some one else. APPENDIX K. THE NEED FOK VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. (From the report of the United States Commission on National Aid to Vocational Education, as printed in Public Document No. 1004.) The commission recognizes at the outset that the term "vocational education" is employed in current discussion to describe a wide variety of schools and training. For the purpose of this report, however, its use will be confined to that kind of practical education which the commis- sion feels has been largely neglected up to the present time, and which most urgently needs encouragement, namely, that which prepares boys and girls for useful employment. In thus limiting the use of the term in its own work, the commission disclaims all intention of attempting to define the scope of vocational education as a whole, or of restricting its meaning for ordinary usage. It is clearly recognized not only that a stronger vocational element is needed in general education but that no vocational school is worthy the name which fails to give a considerable amount of general education along with special preparation for a voca- tion. The purpose of restricting the term in this report is entirely that of securing clearness in the presentation of the findings and recommen- dations of the commission. For the reasons hereinafter given, the Commission is strongly of the opinion that the kind of vocational education which is most needed at the present time is that which is designed to prepare workers for the more common occupations in which the great mass of our people find useful employment. Vocational training, to be most effective and thorough- going, should be restricted to persons over 14 years of age who have laid the foundation of a general education in the elementary school. Because of the kind of workers to be reached and the character of instruction to be given this vocational education should be of less than college grade. The states, aided in part by the National Government, have already given substantial encouragement to and offered fairly adequate opportunities for training in the professions, in the arts and sciences, and for leader- ship in commercial and industrial activities. What we need now is practical education of secondary grade to reach the great body of our workers. Wherever the term ''vocational education" is used in this report, it will mean, unless otherwise explained, that form of education whose controlling purpose is to give training of a secondary grade to persons over 14 years of age for increased efficiency in useful employment in the trades and industries, in agriculture, in commerce and commercial pur- suits, and in callings based upon a knowledge of home economics. The MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. .'Mf, occupations included under these are almost endless in number and va- riety. As illustrative of their general character, a few of the common pursuits may be noted: In the trades and industries: The work of the carpenter, the mason, the baker, the stonecutter, the electrician, the plumber, the machinist, the toolmaker, the en- gineer, the miner, the painter, the typesetter, the linotype operator, the shoe cutter and laster, the tailor, the garment maker, the straw-hat maker, the weaver, the glove maker. In agriculture: The work of general farming, orcharding, dairying, poultry raising, truck gardening, horticulture, bee culture, and stock raising. In commerce and commercial pursuits: The work of the bookkeeper, the clerk, the stenographer, the typist, the auditor, and the accountant. In home economics: The work of the dietitian, cook and housemaid, institution manager, and household decorator. SIZE OF THE PROBLEM. The immediate need of providing vocational education for this coun- try is well illustrated by the size of the problem before us. According to the census of 1010, there Avere 12,050,203 persons in the United States, both male and female, engaged in agriculture. While it is impossible to secure accurate figures, it is probable that less than 1 per cent of these have had adequate preparation for farming. This means that there are over 12,000,000 people engaged in agriculture in this country who are not trained to deal with the soil in such a way as to make it produce, through scientific methods, what it should yield in order to sustain the present and future life of this Nation. Engaged in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits and allied indus tries there were 14,201,376. It is equally correct to say that not one out of every hundred of these workers have had, or are having at the present time, any adequate chance to secure training. The American people have hardly begun the work of providing for the practical education of these millions of our wage-workers. In this whole country there are fewer trade schools than are to be found in the little German kingdom of Bavaria, with a population not much greater than that of New York city. There are more workers being trained at public expense in the city of Munich alone than in all the larger cities of the United Stales, representing a population of more than 12,000,- 000. It is substantially true that practically every German citizen who could profit by it may receive vocational training for his life work in the schools and classes supported out of the public treasury. Since commercial prosperity depends largely upon the skill and well-being of our workers, the outlook for American commerce, in competition with that of our German neighbors, is under present conditions not very promising. To provide in our educational system some opportunity for our work- ers to improve their efficiency and thereby better their own and the com- munities' well-being, is a social obligation which can not be avoided with impunity. But, disregarding for the moment this obligation, even to re- place the annual mortality and superannuation of our great army of workers, each year 1,000,000 young people are required. Simply to main- tain the ranks of our working population, therefore, the immediate prob- lem of vocational education is the problem of equipping for the success 346 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON fnl pursuit of some useful trade or occupation the youths who go to work at the rate of more than 1,000,000 a year. If it be assumed that three years' special training are required by each one to prepare for a calling, our vocational schools must provide for the continuous instruction of more than 3,000,000 persons, without taking into account the work which should be done in behalf of the mil- lions more of untrained adult workers already on the farm and in the shop or making any allowance for the growth of our population or of our industries. For this great task the facilities and resources of our public schools are entirely inadequate without the help of the larger resources of the National Government. THERE IS A CRYING ECONOMIC NEED FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. The two great assets of a nation which enter into the production of wealth, whether agricultural or industrial, are natural resources and human labor. The conservation and full utilization of both of these de- pends upon vocational training. 1. VOCATIONAL TRAINING Is KEQUIRED TO CONSERVE AND DEVELOP OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. As the asset of natural resources lessens or falls in the scale, the asset of human labor rises in importance. American agriculture has prospered in the past because it rested upon the basis of the richest soil in the world a fertility which, with the usual prodi- gality of this people, has been treated as if it were inexhaustible. This favorable condition itself has delayed for a century too long in the United States the co-operation of the National Government with the states in the systematic training of the American farmer. Only thorough- going agricultural education, making the farmer an intelligent user of the natural wealth with which Providence has blessed us as a people, can restore and preserve our boasted agricultural supremacy. A virgin fertility of soil is no longer available for unintelligent ex- ploitation over any considerable area in the United States, and in the future a permanent and increasingly productive and profitable agricul- ture can be achieved throughout the country only by scientific culture. In agriculture, science has advanced far beyond practice, and it has be- come essential for the welfare of our increasing population that the farmer be made an expert. For intelligent farming our soils are an in- exhaustible source of wealth. The American manufacturer has prospered in the past because of four factors : (1) The abundance and cheapness of raw material; (2) The inventive genius of this people; (3) Organizing ability leading to production on a large scale; (4) A great body of cheap foreign labor of the first generation work ing its way upward in our midst to civic and industrial worth. With the opening of new sources of supply in foreign countries and with the gradual depletion of our own virgin resources in many lines, our advantage from an abundance and cheapness of raw material, at least so far as regards commercial competition, is a decreasing one. We can not continue to draw indefinitely on Europe for cheap labor, nor will cheap labor in the immediate future meet the urgent need in Amer- ican industry for the more intelligent service necessary if we are to MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 347 satisfy (lie rising demand for a hotter product from our domestic as well as our foreign markets. In the proportion that our resource factor fails \\c must increase the efficiency of human labor in the shop as well as on the farm. The conservation and full utilization of our natural resources can be accomplished only in proportion as we train those who handle them. Public discussion and legislative fiat must be supplemented by an agri- cultural education which will teach the farmer how to make the soil yield an abundance and at the same time leave it rejuvenated, and by an industrial education which will teach our workers in shops and factories how to use material without waste, and how to turn, the products of our forests and our mines into articles of higher and still higher value. 2. VOCATIONAL TRAINING is NEEDED TO PREVENT WASTE OF HUMAN LAP.OR. The greatest treasure \vhich this country holds to-day is the undeveloped skill and vocational possibilities, not only of the millions of our workers everywhere, but of the great army of our school chil- dren, hundreds of thousands of whom pass annually from the doors of our elementary schools to serve in the shop, the field and the office. So far we have given but little attention to the conservation of our human resources. 1 Vocational education will reduce to a minimum the waste of labor power, the most destructive form of extravagance of which a people can be guilty. In any community there are always to be found three characteristic forms of waste labor power: (1) The army of the unemployed or the involuntary idle. (2) The imperfectly employed or the untrained. (3) The improperly employed, the acquisitively rather than the pro- ductively employed. It is sufficiently obvious that the waste of labor by imperfect or by improper employment can be largely avoided by vocational training in the elements of useful crafts. Such training is, moreover, the most cer- taiu remedy for unemployment. As bearing upon this point and upon the general advantage of vocational training, the following statement may be quoted: If by means of training you can transfer unskilled labor into the scarcer and more needed work of management, you provide a demand for the army of unem- ployed and increase the productive power of the community. Upon the distribution of labor power upward from the unskilled and overcrowded occupations toward and into remunerative occupations depends more than anything else the expansion of our industries. It takes no miracle to see it; it requires only education. - .">. VOCATIONAL TRAINING is NEEDED TO PROVIDE A SUPPLEMENT TO AP- PRENTICESHIP. The American industrial worker, with all his native qualities, is, relatively speaking, becoming more unskilled. Since the schools have as yet assumed no responsibility for those who go to work, " In the present conservation movement it is highly important that we realize two things: (1) That our most valuable resources are our own people; and (2) that we are wasting people more than we are wasting anything else. If we forget either of these things, we shall probably find ourselves trying to save at the spigot while we are wasting at the bunghole." (Prof. Carver, as quoted in Vocational Education in Europe. Report to the Commercial Club of Chicago by Edwin G. Cooley, 1912, p. 27.) 2 Prof. Carver, as quoted in Vocational Education in Europe. Report to the Commercial Club of Chicago by Edwin G. Cooley, 1912, p. 28. 348 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON the youth must get the rest of his education in an industrial organiza- tion, which no longer is able or willing to train its own workers. Large- scale production, extreme division of labor, and the all-conquering march of the machine, have practically driven out the apprenticeship system through which, in a simpler age, young helpers were taught not simply the technique of some single process, but the "arts and mysteries of a craft.-' The journeyman and artisan have given way to an army of machine workers, performing over and over one small process at one machine, turning out one small part of the finished article, and know- ing nothing about the business beyond their narrow and limited task. The age of science and invention has brought in its wake a great body of knowledge, related to the work of the mechanic, and necessary to his highest success, which the shop can not give without the help of the schools. In the skilled callings the young worker seldom gets the breadth of ex- perience or the information which he must have in order to realize himself, and he must, under present conditions, remain on a relatively low level of skill. Most of those who leave school at the age of 14, finding the doors of the skilled occupations closed to them, lend to enter all sorts of low-grade skilled and unskilled industries, affording little or no opportunity for better wages or for promotion to a desirable life work. In the absence of a system of education which will follow them to these tasks and, by continued training, show them a way to efficiency and happiness, the time which most of these children spend in the factory is unprofitable, both to themselves and to society. The few adolescents who rise to success as wage-earners, whether by accident, rule of thumb, or sheer force of native qualities, acquire their skill and insight in ways that are wasteful to them and to business. 4. VOCATIONAL TRAINING is NEEDED TO INCREASE WAGE-EARNING POWER. The practical training of workmen in any pursuit brings both imme- diate and lasting economic returns in increased production and wage- earning capacity. The returns of our older trade, technical, and appren- ticeship schools show that the wage-earning power of their graduates steadily increases as a direct result of their training. For the thoroughly trained worker wages advance from year to year with age and in- creased capacity with no fixed limit, and while the average increase is large the increase in individual cases is often very large. 5. VOCATIONAL TRAINING is NEEDED TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR TRAINED WORKMEN. With the constantly increasing demand upon our industries for more and better goods, the supply of trained workers is, relatively at least, diminishing. We are already beginning to fed the inevitable economic results in a relatively low output, increased cost of production, and stationary or diminishing wages as measured by their purchasing power. The product of our factories is being restricted in quantity and quality, if not actually diminished. High prices are due in part to inefficient labor and low profits to the same cause. In- action means the promotion of poverty and low standards of living and a general backwardness in industry. 0. VOCATIONAL TRAINING is NEEDED TO OFFSET THE INCREASED CO OF LIVING. With a farming area practically stationary, a rapidly in- creasing population, and an agricultural class whose ability with pres- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 349 enl mot hods to meet the demands for larger production is relatively diminishing, our national appetite lias outgrown both our national larder and our national pocketbook. Population tends to press upon subsistence. The cost of the necessaries of life has risen faster than the earning power of the consumer and has operated to reduce the actual income of the wage-worker and make the struggle for existence very hard, not only to the common laborer, but even to the trade worker of small means 1 . For millions of our people life has as a result been narrowed and sombered. 7. VOCATIONAL EDUCATION is A WISE BUSINESS INVESTMENT. In the last analysis, expenditure of money for vocational education is a wise business investment which wilt yield larger returns, not only in educa- tional and social betterment, but in money itself, than a similar amount spent for almost any other purpose. The commission recognizes that boys and girls can not be valued in terms of dollars and cents, save as these represent returns in social well-being both to themselves and to society. The financial argument below is offered from that stand- point alone. There are more than 25,000,000 persons 18 years of age and over in this country engaged in farming, mining, manufacturing and mechanical pursuits, trade and transportation. 1 If we assume that a system of vocational education, pursued through the years of the past, would have increased the wage-earning capacity of each of these to the extent of 10 cents a day, this would make an increase in wages for the group of $2,500,000 a day, or $750,000,000 a year, with all that this would mean to the wealth and life of the Nation. This is a very modest estimate, and while no complete figures are available it is probably much nearer 25 cents a day, which would make a total increase in wages of $0,250,000 per day and $1,875,000,000 per year. In 11)10 there were in the United States 7,220,208 children between the ages of 14 and 18 years. It has been estimated that the total cost of bringing a child from birth to the age of 18 represents an outlay of $4,000. This is about $220 per year and includes approximately $00 per year not coming from the parents, but contributed by the State and Nation. At present this great body of more than 7,000,000 youths represents on the whole an untrained army needing vocational education to make it efficient. If we assume that it would require on the average an outlay of an additional $150 per person to prepare them for useful- ness so that society might realize more fully upon their vocational and civic possibilities, certainly no business man would hesitate a moment to expend that amount in order to make his investment of $4,000 secure and remunerative. It is even more shortsighted for the State and the Nation to neglect these investments since national success is dependent not alone on returns in dollars and cents, but in civic and social well- being. Lei us assume further that the expectancy of lite ahead of these youths 'The total engaged in agriculture, mining, manufacturing and mechanical pursuits, trade and trans- portation in 1910 was 30,585,249. The number in these pursuits to-day probably exceeds 34,000,000, and even assuming the same distribution by age for these persons as is found in the total population in \t-ars of age and over the, number 1 8 years of age and over exceeds 27,000,000. The proportion under 18 years is certainly less for those gainfully employed than it is for the total population 10 years of age and over. 350 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON at 18 is only 30 years. An increase of 10 cents a day in wage-earning capacity would on this assumption amount to $30 a year, or $900 in 30 years, in additional wages. An outlay of $150 in training between 14 and 18 years of age would thus be made to yield a return six times as great. In five years the increase in wages would cover the total cost of vocational training for each worker. If the increase in wage-earning capacity was 25 cents a day, the increase in the wage re- turn in one year would be $75 and in 30 years $2,250, an amount 15 times as great as the original outlay. On this assumption the increased wage-earning power could repay the cost of instruction for each worker in two years. 8. OUR NATIONAL PROSPERITY is AT STAKE. We have become a great industrial as well as a great agricultural nation. Each year shows a less percentage of our people on the farms and a greater in the cities. 1 Urban population. Rural population. Percentage. Urban. Rural. Census of 1880 14,772,438 22.720,223 30,797,185 42,623,383 35,383,345 40,227,491 45,197,390 49,348,883 29.5 36.1 40.5 46.3 70.5 (W.n 59.9 53.7 1890 1900 1910 Our factory population is growing apace. Our future as a nation will depend more and more on the success of our industrial life, as well as upon the volume and quality of our agricultural products. It has repeatedly been pointed out that the time is not far distant when our rapidly increasing population will press hard upon an improved agriculture for its food supply, and force our industries to reach out over the entire world for trade wherewith to meet the demands for labor of untold millions of bread winners. 2 In volume of output the United States leads the four great manufac- turing nations of the world. More than a billion and a half of people outside of these four countries are largely dependent upon them for manufactured articles. "The rewards offered in this world trade are beyond comprehension. They are to be measured in money, in intel- lectual advancement, in national spirit, in heightened civilization." 3 Yet we have only begun to invade this market, where we find our competitor too often in possession of the field and strongly entrenched against us. It is true that we have a large foreign trade in manufactured articles, but of our exports a very large proportion consists of crude materials. 4 (lernum, French and English exports represent on the average a much 'The number and percentage urban and rural in (he total population of the United States is shown in the following table for the last four censuses: 2ln 1880 food stuffs constituted 06 per cent of our total exports, in 1912 only 10 per cent. In 1S80 manufactured articles made up only l. r > per cent of our total exports, in 1912, 47 per cent. sReport of the Committee on Industrial Education, National Manufacturers' Association, 1 ^Of our exports in 1913, according to figures published by our Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, 7.48 per cent consisted of "foodstuffs in crude condition and food animals"; 13.19 per cent of "foodstuffs partly O r wholly manufactured": 30.10 per cent of "crude materials for use in manu- facturing"; 16.84 per cent of "manufacturers for further use in manufacturing" and only 32.' cent of "manufactures ready for consumption." The development of our foreign commerce m Die future undoubtedly depends largely upon our ability to increase the proportion, in our exports, of manufactures ready for consumption upon our ability to enter the markets of foreign countries with the products 'of the skilled labor of our factories and workshops. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 351 greater value in skill and workmanship than do those from our own ports. Lrss than one-third of the volume of our foreign commerce is made up of manufactures ready for consumption. A very large proportion consists of raw and semi-raw materials such as lumber, cotton, meat, coal, oil and copper bar, to secure which we have robbed our soil and the earth beneath our feet of the riches we have been foolish enough to regard as inexhaustible. The statistics of our foreign commerce show that the proportion of these raw products, in the total volume of our exports, has been declining during the past three decades and that the maintenance and development of our foreign trade is coming to depend each year to a greater extent upon our ability to compete with foreign nations in the products of skilled labor upon our ability to "sell more brains and less material." The volume of our foreign trade has in the past depended upon the exploitation of a virgin soil and of our other national resources. In this crude work we have had no competitors. Our profit has been the profit of the miner working in a rich soil. The volume and profitable- ness of our trade in the future, however, must depend much more largely upon the relative skill and efficiency of the vocationally trained artisans of England, France and Germany. Our products will find a market in foreign countries only in those lines of industrial activity in which the labor is as efficient and as well trained as the labor of the countries with which we must compete. The battles of the future between nations will be fought in the markets of the world. That nation will triumph, with all that its success means to the happiness and welfare of its citizenship, which is able to put the greatest amount of skill and brains into what it produces. Our foreign commerce, and to some extent our domestic commerce, are being threat- ened by the commercial prestige which Germany has won, largely as the result of a policy of training its workers begun by the far-seeing Bis- marck almost half a century ago. France and England, and even far-off Japan, profiting by the schools of the Fatherland, are now establishing national systems of vocational education. In Germany, within the next few years, there will probably be no such thing as an untrained man. 1 In the United States probably not more than 25,000 of- the eleven or twelve million workers in manu- facturing and mechanical pursuits have had an opportunity to acquire an adequate training for their work in life. SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL NEED FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS EQUALLY I URGENT. This conclusion is based on such considerations as the following: 1. VOCATIONAL TRAINING is NEEDED TO DEMOCRATIZE THE KDUCATION F THE COUNTRY: (a-} ttij rcr<)f/ni:iii(/ fllffrmif /f/.v/rx i(' children who be- come wage earners at 14 years of age. The period from 14 to 18 years of age is the one in which the youth is finding himself in society and set ling up standards which will largely determine his future conduct and career, and it is, therefore, important to continue his training both for general civic intelligence and for vocational preparation. If al- lowed to drift during this period, or if placed in an unwholesome or degrading environment, he may fail to realize his own possibilities of development and may become a dependent or injurious member of so- ciety. The adolescent period is, therefore, the critical period during which the individual wage-earner needs training for citizenship as well as training for work. '2. VOCATIONAL TRAINING is NEEDED FOR ITS INDIRECT, BUT POSITIVE, EFFECT ON THE AIMS AND METHODS OF GENERAL EDUCATION: CM Hi/ ]>i>i(/ a better teaching process through which children irho do not respond to hook instruction alone may he reached and edu- cated through learning by doing. There are many over-age children in the grades, many who fail to be promoted from year to year and soon lose interest and drop out of school. Many of these retarded chil- dren are present in the few elementary vocational schools already estab- lished in this country, and many teachers in these schools have testi- fied to the remarkable progress made by these children under a kind of instruction which is suited to their interests and abilities, which utilizes the experience of the child and relates the instruction to his motor ac- tivities. This is the most successful way of teaching the normal child or- man. At the same time it should be pointed out that so far as vocational schools themselves are concerned they are by no means institutions for the primary purpose of dealing with slow or retarded children. These schools are such as to call for the best efforts of study of vigorous and intelligent boys and girls seeking preparation for an im- portant life work. (6) By introducing into our educational system the aim of utility to take its place in dignity by the side of culture,, and to connect education with life by making it purposeful and useful. The mission of vocational education is not only to provide definite training in the technique of the various occupations, but to relate that training closely to the science, mathematics, history, geography and literature which are useful to the man and woman as a worker and a citizen. Under such instruction the student worker becomes familiar with the laws of health and with his rights and obligations as a worker and a citizen in relation to his employer, his fellow employes, his family, the community, the State and the Nation. I>y thus relating education closely to the world's ex- perience it becomes purposeful and useful and enables the worker to see the significance of, to use, and to interpret in terms of his own ex- perience, the knowledge and culture which the race has accumulated. Such education is at least entitled to a place in dignity by the side of the more formal and literary culture now given by the schools. .'5. IXIUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL UNREST IS DCE IN LARGE MEASURE TO A LACK OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING. The absence of opportunity for creative 45 354 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON work and, hence, for full self-expression is, without doubt, one of the causes of much of the present unrest. The tendency of large scale production to subdivide labor almost indefinitely and to confine a worker to one monotonous process, requiring little save purely manipu- lative skill, while effective so far as the material product is concerned, is serious when measured in terms of human values. It is safe to say that industry in its highly organized form, with its intense specializa- tion, is in the main narrowing to the individual worker, and while "hands" alone may satisfy the immediate demands of industry, the failure to recognize and provide for human progress and development is pro- ducing a restless and discontented people. Out of this unrest comes a demand for a more practical education for those who toil, an education that will better fit them to progress in industry and enable them to rise to ranks of leadership and responsi- bility. Everywhere it is the opinion of those who are studying the conditions of society that the lack of practical education is one of the primary causes of social and industrial discontent. Evidence such as that presented by bureaus which are struggling with the problem of unemployment emphasize this need. One of these bureaus states that less than three out of fifty men who apply for work have ever had any sort of trade training or apprenticeship. Most of them have been forced to fit into some particular niche of industry as young untrained boys, have been too readily thrown out with the introduction of new inventions or devices, and help to swell the army of the unem- ployed. A former state pardon attorney has said that "nearly three- fourths of the persons found in our penitentiaries are persons unable to earn a living excepting at the most rudimentary form of labor." 1 4. HIGHER STANDARDS OP LIVING ARE A DIRECT RESULT OF BETTER EDUCATION. Better standards of living are in the main dependent upon two important factors namely, an increased earning capacity for the great mass of our people and a better understanding of values. Voca- tional education aims at both. Where there is intense poverty there is little hope of developing higher standards. The one hope of increasing the family income lies in better vocational training. It is equally true that vocational education enlarges the worker's vision and arouses within him a desire for progress. This is shown by the number of men and women who, by means of further training and education, raise themselves from the ranks of unskilled labor to take positions requiring large directive powers and responsibilities. Our only hope of progress is in helping the individual to help himself. This is at the bottom of all social uplift. To educate boys and girls to perform their chosen tasks better; to understand the relation of !The following quotations are from Causes and Cures of Crime, published in 1913 by Thomas Speed Mosby, former pardon attorney of the State of Missouri: "The effect of the trades and the practice of the useful arts is in all instances beneficial and without doubt is a most potent element in crime prevention" (p. 134). "Nearly three-fourths of the persons found in our penitentiaries are persons unable to earn a living excepting at the most rudimentary form of labor, whose means of livelihood are limited to the most primitive methods, and whose earning capacity is at the lowest possible stage. We find, therefore, the maximum of dishonesty with the minimum of earning power. In other words, men who are not especially skilled in the arts and processj of trade, and who are wholly untrained as to honorable and profitable occupations, are most likely to try to gain a living by unlawfully taking the property of others" (p. 135). "Only about one-fourtl of our penitentiary convicts are illiterates. Three-fourths of them are incompetents" (p. 138) schools are cheaper than reform schools, and manual training than convict labor (p. 139). An<1 there is not a prison warden in the United States who will not concur in the observation of John J. Fallon, of the Blackwell Island Penitentiary, that 'The statement that the lack^f a trade is a potent and a permanent cause of crime is borne out by all close observers of penology'" (p. 140). MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 355 their particular work to the whole; to know what their labor is worth and demand a proper return for it, and to broaden their horizon so that both their money and their leisure time may be spent for the things that are most worth while this is the task of vocational education. r IT, LIC SENTIMENT SHOWS THE NEED FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. The testimony in behalf of practical education comes from every class of citizenship from the educator, the manufacturer, the trades n n ion 1st, the business man, the social worker and the philanthropist. In answer to the question as to whether there was need for vocational education in the various states, the 44 state superintendents of public institutions who replied, all answered in the affirmative; out of 305 city and town superintendents replying to this question, 369 declared that there was urgent need for a system of practical education for the wage- workers of their respective communities; 14 out of the 25 national labor organizations replying to this question said that the wage-earners whom they represented were in favor of a system of industrial education in this country; 27 out of the 37 manufacturers who replied, representing skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled industries, selected by various na- tional organizations to answer the question, said there was a great de- mand for the systematic training of workers for the business in which they were engaged. At previous hearings before various committees of Congress, national organizations, representing millions of people, appeared to urge upon their Representatives the advisability of national grants for various forms of vocational education. During the hearings held by the com- mission in the preparation of this report some of these organizations either sent representatives to urge again the need of practical education in the United States or sent communications to the same effect. The movement for vocational education in this country, although of slow growth during the past ten years, has already gained promising impetus and a few of the states have passed some legislation. At least ten states have provided officially for commissions of one kind or an- other to investigate the problem of vocational education, all of whom have declared strongly in its favor, have recognized the imperative de- mand for it, and have recommended legislation of one kind or another for it. While, as a result of these investigations, a number of states have made commendable beginnings in vocational education of one kind or another, the progress made has been very slow. This is due both to a lack of funds necessary to initiate this new form of education while con- t inning the regular education, and also because of the lack of prestige for vocational education, such as would be gained by national grants. In 1910 the royal commission appointed by the Parliament of the Dominion of Canada began investigations of the need of vocational edu- cation for that country. The commission has recently issued its re- port, which indicates an overwhelming sentiment throughout the Domin- ion in favor both of practical education and of grants out of the treas- uries of the Provinces and of the Dominion as a whole for its encourage- ment. It should be noted in passing that the similar economic conditions 356 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON existing between this country and our great northern rival make the findings of the Canadian commission most significant. One of the strongest indications of the great need and demand for practical instruction in this country is shown by the eagerness with which opportunities to secure it, even at private expense, are grasped by great numbers of students. The United States Department of Agricul- ture reports that the registration in short courses and in schools for farmers at the agricultural and mechanical colleges for 1013 was 40,416. Even more significant are the figures which show the extent to which correspondence school instruction is being given. There are in the United States a large number of correspondence schools of instruction, the great majority of whose students are employed in wage-earning pur- suits and pay their hard-earned money to secure additional training. It has been impossible to secure for this report all the facts regarding these correspondence schools, because they are private organizations and sel- dom publish information as to the number of their students or the ex- tent of their business. One of the largest pf these schools has, during the past 22 years, enrolled 1,651,765 pupils in the United States and Canada and is enrolling new students at the rate of 100,000 a year, most of whom come from the United States. With the exception of a few part-time and evening schools, the total number of whose students probably is not more than 25,000 for the en- tire country, there are no opportunities for ambitious workers to secure instruction by direct contact with the teacher in the schoolroom. The exceptional workman undoubtedly profits by correspondence school in- struction, but would profit more by schoolroom teaching. The average workman neither takes advantage of, nor could he profit much by, corres- pondence school instruction. Whenever, on the other hand, part-time or evening schools are established, many of these workers do attend and receive large benefits. Just as the Smith-Lever Act is designed to meet the vocational needs of the farmer who has already gone to work on the soil, so part-time and evening schools must be established for the purpose of meeting the de- mands of the wage-earner in the shop and in the factory. A national statute giving grants for this purpose as at least one of its provisions is the necessary complement of the Smith-Lever Act, both of which are important at this time in order that this nation may safeguard its fu- ture prosperity by the further education of its two great productive fac- tors the industrial worker and the farmer. OPINIONS OF STATE SUPERINTENDENTS. Illuminating indeed are the reasons given by various state superin- tendents of public instruction for the need of vocational education in their respective states. State should point the education of every child leaving its school system, at what- ever age he may leave or whatever grade he may be in at the time, with the prac- tical education that will fit him into something in the outside world. No education tends to function that is not secured with a definite aim upon the part of the child as to the future application he will make of it. The development of this State will turn upon the intensity of its reality. Vocational education tends to strengthen the link between the school, the home, and the after-school life. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. :'>.TT They develop the natural products of our State and give our youth an opportunity to become experts along these lines. On account of our geographical position and resources. Because 80 per cent of the population follow this business. To hitch up the schools with life. There is special need for trade and industrial education and almost no provisions are made by local communities for this form of instruction. Agriculture is one of our chief sources of productive wealth, and as an occupa- tion needs special encouragement from us. To help those who must work at 15 and 16 years of age. For vocational guidance. An economic necessity. Efficient preparation for trades, industry, commerce, agriculture, and household arts is a State responsibility. We believe in preparing the people for practical life and to make them self- sustaining. Because skilled workers are needed in large numbers. Because 80 per cent of our people live on the farm. Because girls should be prepared to do the work at the home in the most ap- proved fashion. Because trained high-school students make efficient business men and women. Business needs trained clerks and stenographers. This State is distinctly a State of husbandman. For better homes and community life. For the general welfare. APPENDIX L. THE CANDY INDUSTRY. The candy industry is distinctly a pursuit where women and girls form the greater proportion of its workers. The Thirteenth Census re- port shows that over 62 per cent of those employed in the entire country were women and girls. Owing to the large number of occupations with- in the candy industry which can be done by semi-skilled workers, a largo proportion of its workers are young and inexperienced. This undoubtedly accounts for the low wages paid. Because of this condition the candy industry was selected by the Commission for investigation. The United States Census report for 1910 gives the number of candy establishments in Michigan as 5G. These establishments employed 1, .'>:';") wage-earners. Of this number, 66 were proprietors and firm members; 38 salaried officers, superintendents and managers; 178 office clerks 86 of whom were women or girls. The factory workers 16 years of age or over were 1,248. Of this number, 728 were women or girls. There were 25 girls and 3 boys employed under 16 years of age. The amount of capital invested was $1,769,809. Salaries paid to officials amounted to $79,192; to clerks, $141,907, and to wage-earners, $361,097. These 56 establishments turned out annually products valued at $2,943,761. Value added by manufacture was $1,146,333. The Michigan Department of Labor report issued in 1913 shows that approximately 575 women were employed in this industry in 14 establish- ments employing 10 or more women and girls. Investigators for the Commission personally interviewed 296 of these workers in seven of the cities of the Lower Peninsula. A SEASONAL INDUSTRY. The industry is seasonal, the dull period lasting about eight months in the year. The busy season usually begins about the middle of Septem- ber and lasts until December 15. During the dull period the hours of work are shortened, and the working force decreased. Those who have proved to be the best and most valuable workers are kept on as long as possible. This can be accomplished best by shortening the hours of work both by day and by week. The other workers are forced to find other employment. This, no doubt, accounts for the large proportion of young workers found in this industry. The hours the factories operated at the time of the visit of the investi- gators varied according to the system established in each particular plant. In some the workers were employed 1Q hours per day for five days and for four hours on Saturday. This was to conform with the law in Michigan, which limits the hours of employment to not more than 10 hours in any one day nor more than 54 hours in any one week. Other MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 350 establishments operated 9 hours each day; one establishment was found lo be operating but 8 1 -,. hours a day. The usual time allowed for lunch was one hour. MACHINERY USED. The larger establishments were equipped with the latest devices for the manufacture of their product. The cooking and molding is done by men. Women or girls are employed as tenders for the chocolate dipping machines. This machine is used only in the manufacture of the cheaper grades of chocolate creams, and unskilled girl workers are employed as tenders. Chocolate dipping by hand is the most highly skilled operation in the manufacture of candy. The processes involved in the manufacture of candy differ considerably according to the kind of candy to be made. The making of the candy, the mixing of the materials and the molding is always done by men, although girls are employed as assistants. In the manufacture of hard candy, after it has been pulled and cut in sticks, girls are employed to wrap them in oiled paper and pack them in pails or boxes. This work is not in any sense hard, since the girls work seated at long tables, and often have relief periods while waiting for another batch to be brought them. HAND CHOCOLATE DIPPING. The first thing to be considered in the manufacture of chocolate creams is the preparation of the cream centers or "fondant." This work is done by men employes. The materials are cooked in a large ket- tle until of the right consistency, then put in the beater, which is a large kettle fitted with a spiral coil of metal, which turns as the kettle is operated by electricity, and cooled to a certain temperature; when it is cooled the beater is started until the mixture creams off into "fondant." It is then taken to a marble slab and is rolled by girls into different molds; it then goes to the chocolate dipping room to be covered with chocolate by the "dippers." The temperature of the dipping room is usu- ally kept at from G5 to 68 degrees. In one of the most modern establish- ments visited this room is cooled by an exhaust fan which continually brings in the cold air. The air is drawn through running water and is forced up into the chocolate room by an exhaust fan through a large pipe. Girls work with low waisted necks and short sleeves, and feel no ill-effects. The chocolate is first melted in a large mixer or melting kettle, which is operated by electricity, and heated by means of a little gas jet directly underneath the kettle. This keeps the chocolate at an even temperature, just warm enough to be handled by the "dippers." Inside the kettle is a dasher or beater which also runs by electricity, and is to keep the chocolate from getting hard as well as to blend the chocolate. The chocolate dippers, who are all women or girls, are seated at a long table where there is a pot or kettle of chocolate. The girls begin work in the morning with a clean marble slab, but before noon they will have an accumulation of at least five pounds of chocolate. This, the next morning, is remelted and can be used over. 360 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON GETTING THE KNACK. The chocolate dippers are first taught to work chocolate on the slab ; if they don't know how to handle it, it will "freeze up." After they can handle the plain chocolate properly they are first put to work on the nut clusters, where they can't spoil the candy, as there is no uniformity re- quired in the dipping of nut clusters. An apt girl can learn to dip the cheaper grade of nut clusters in two days, although a week is usually required to learn. When they become further advanced, they are allowed to dip single nuts. This process, too, requires about a week to learn. When they have acquired the knack of doing this part of the work they are put on the cheaper creams creams, which the manufacturer of high- grade goods has not been able to "work up" the day before. They are then taught the art of making "strings" on the top of the chocolate cream after the creams have been dipped in the chocolate. When they have become sufficiently adept at this, they are allowed to work on the better grade creams, where skill is required. One manufacturer of high grade chocolates told the investigator that he usually tried a girl out for three or four months in dipping the "common goods," before putting her at work on the creams which retail at from 80 cents to $1 per pound, when she must have had at least one year's experience. MUST DIP A TON A MONTH. Aii experienced plain siring chocolate dipper is expected to dip 100 pounds per day and 80 pounds of the fancy string chocolate creams. It takes a girl at least two months to learn to handle the dipping of the one string chocolates right, while, with the fancy string, three or four months and often a longer time is required to learn. There is a peculiar twist or knack to this operation which some girls are never able to acquire. Piece-workers on milk chocolate can dip faster than those working on the heavy bitter chocolate. The more experienced chocolate dippers are usually piece-workers. Wages paid this class of workers were found to vary according to the location of the plant and to the competition each manufacturer meets in hiring his workers. Wages paid varied from $3.82 a week, paid by one manufacturer to a dipper with five months' experience, to $4 by another manufacturer to dippers with from 10 months' to one year's ex- perience, and to $12 a week to a dipper with many years' experience. In one establishment two chocolate dippers of three and four years' exper- ience received for a full week's work of hours per day or 54 hours per week, $5 each. While this was their earnings for a full week's work, they received for the week immediately preceding the visit of the invosli- gator, respectively, $4.37 and $4.22. BON BON DIFPliV.'. Bon bon dipping is not done in a cooled room. The girls are seated at small tables. In the center of these tables is a small kettle in which the soft cream is placed and kept at the right temperature by means of a small gas-heater located directly beneath each kettle. These dippers use a wire dipping fork expressly made for this work. The center, com- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 361 of soft cream, mil, cherry, etc., is dropped into the kettle, covered with cream and dipped out with the fork and placed on a tray. When these trays are filled they are packed in the same room since they do not require cooling. Experienced bon bon dippers can dip 70 pounds of nut tops in one day. Those bon bons requiring fancy string tops" are not turned out with equal speed 50 pounds a day being considered a good day's work. These workers often complain of the excessive heat especially in the summer mouths the nearness of the gas-burner used for keeping the cream at the right temperature being responsible for this. Electric fans would prove a great relief to employes in these departments. Bon bon dippers receive from $4 to $10 a week. One manufacturer paid one of his dippers of five years' experience $5.40 for a full week's work, or at the rate of 10 cents an hour. Another paid $6 to a worker of three years' experience; and another paid $7.20 a week to a girl with two years' experience. TACKING ROOM. All experienced girl packer will average 8 dozen pound boxes per day. Both skill and speed is required in this work. The girl must be able to tell at a glance whether the candies to be packed are perfect and to judge of flavors of chocolates by the strings on the top of the chocolate. Flavor is told in that way by an experienced packer and wrapper. She must also be able to tie a pretty bow. The fore-woman usually selects for this work a girl who is a tasty dresser. If the piece-workers show any tendency to slight their work there are inspectors who are always on the watch, and the candy is turned back to the girl to be done over again. The girl packers are first tried out on pail packing, which comprises the cheaper grades of candies. The girls can do this work in the beginning nearly as well as when they have had experience, but will not turn out as much work, in other words, not much skill is required. Speed is what counts here. Girls 1 * in this department are usually required to keep the floor space near their tables in a clean condition. This class of candy workers receive from $4.50, with one year's exper- ience, to $12 with 11 years' experience. Girls attending machines re- ceive $4.48 to $10 a week. Girls wrapping slick or other hard candy re- ceive from $3.50 to $6.50 a week for a full week's work. Fore- women re- ceive from $6 to $13 a week; wrappers- receive from $4 to $0 a week. Those receiving $6 as wrappers for a full week's work had four years' experience. One girl was paid $2.50 a week as errand girl. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. The general sanitary conditions in most of the establishments visited were good, although there were exceptions. Until within recent years the manufacturers thought that it was more economical to have 1he chocolate dipping department iu the basement. Tuder those conditions the rooms were often insanitary and damp, and the employes were forced to work by artificial light all day. The major- v of the manufacturers have gotten awav from this idea, and Hie choc- 362 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. olate rooms arc now on one of the upper floors, where good light and ven- tilation is available. There were a few, however, who still had the chocolate room in the basement, and in these, conditions might be im- proved, both as to cleanliness of the establishment and the healthfuluess of the employment. Table No. 47. SUMMARY OF CANDY INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited Establishments investigated Employes interrogated American-born Foreign-born : Living at home Adrift Receiving less than $6 per week Receiving less than $8 per week Receiving $8 per week and over Working under 1 year Working under 3 years Working 3 years and over Have followed other occupations Under 16 years of age Under 20 years of age Under 25 years of age 25 years of age and over Single ." M arried /*. Widowed Separated or divorced 7 18 296 244 52 248 48 122 226 69 110 203 93 168 21 105 243 53 256 32 4 4 82.4 17.6 83.8 16.2 41.2 76.6 23.4 37.2 68.6 31.4 56.8 7.1 55.7 82.1 17.9 86.4 10.8 1.4 1.4 APPENDIX M. CORE-MAKING. Core making is not an independent industry, but is one of the occupa- tions within the industry of casting or molding iron, steel or brass. It is not an occupation where there is a large number of women or girls employed, although each year they are found to be supplanting men and boys who formerly handled this branch of foundry work. It is an oc- cupation generally looked upon as not within woman's sphere; and for that reason it seemed wise to include it with those to be investigated. The following processes cover core-making in ordinary brass foundry practice : The majority of brass castings are not made solid, but with indenta- tions or hollow interiors. A comparatively few castings have these open- ings formed in the process of molding, but the majority of castings re- quire what is termed as "dry sand" core. Briefly stated, a dry sand core is made of a mixture of fine dry sand, to which is added a binder ; this binder may be flour, resin, or some com- pound which is used as a binder. Water is then added, and the sand, hinder, and water incorporated into one mass, hand mixed or machine mixed, according to the quantity of sand that is prepared. This mix- ture is made by men, and carried into the core room, where women and girls convert it into cores. The women usually sit at a long table divided into separate compartments for each individual worker. The process is to take the necessary quantity of sand mixed, and fill into the iron, or other mold that is the right shape to produce the neces- sary core form. The sand mixture is worked into the mold so firmly that it will still retain its form when the mold is removed. To accom- plish this it is usually necessary to force the sand into all the parts of the mold by sharp blows with a mallet. Vent-holes, which are made by means of a wire made for that purpose provide a means of escape for the gases formed by the heated materials composing the sand mixture. When the mold is lifted off, the core is placed on iron plates and a man takes the plates containing these cores into an oven where they are baked. When they come from the ovens, girls called scrapers even off with a knife any imperfections which may occur. i PART HANDLED BY GIRLS. The only part of the process that is handled by girls in the core room the forming of the sand into cores by means of the iron forms calico 1 re boxes. For brass foundry practice, the cores are usually small, ny of them do not weigh an ounce others might weigh several nces, lint very few of them ever run into pounds. The usual core box provided for the making of cores is of light con- 364 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON struction, so that it can be handled without fatigue on the part of tlie operator. Mostly all women making cores are provided with tables on which is placed their sand mixture, and they nearly always are seated at their work. The making of the majority of cores is not a skilled operation. The work is constructive, however, requiring more than mere mechanical movements. While instances were not found of any woman having learned the trade as a whole, they seemed a fairly contented lot of work- ers. They are required to make different kinds of cores and this keeps the work from becoming monotonous. One manufacturer told the investigator that they had tried out young boys of foreign birth or parentage, but that they had not proved as rapid or as careful workers as the women and girls and were not content to remain at this work indefinitely, but were anxious to work on up as soon as they had mastered this branch of the work. AX EASILY ACQUIRED TRADE. While in the foundries in the larger cities foreign women or girls, who usually are not able to speak English, are employed, in the smaller cities women and girls of the same social standing as those found in other employments are employed as core-workers. One woman who was found clerking in a dry-goods store at the time of the visit of the in- vestigator said that she was a core-maker by trade and expected to re- turn as soon as the dull season passed. She made double the wages as a core-worker that she received as saleswoman and had Saturday after- noons and evenings off. It does not take an apt girl longer than two weeks to learn the work and in a few months she can become a proficient core-maker. The usual practice is to take a green operator, and start her at hour work, the fore-woman teaching her the process. This usually requires about a week, and during this time she is paid by the hour; after that she is usually employed at piece-work, thus obtaining a higher wage than at hour work; in this way being compensated for her proficiency and in- dustry. (JKNERAL COXIUT10XS OF EMPLOYMENT. There is no dangerous machinery and no speeding up in this occupa- tion, and the work in itself is not injurious, as the mixtures handled contain no poisonous matter. However, in a few instances, the oven was in the same room with the core-workers and the gas fumes are then apt to fill the room. This was found to be true in two of the foundries visited. In one, the heat was intense during the hot summer months, and while an electric fan had been provided and placed near the window where the workers were located, it seemed to have a ten- dency to draw the hot air toward the workers rather than away from them. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. T,,U, No. 48. SUMMARY OF THE CORE INDUSTRY TABULATIONS Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 3 Establishments investigated 9 Employes interrogated 9(1 American-born 55 55.6 Foreign-born 44 44.4 Living at home 74 74.7 Adrift 25 25.3 Receiving; less than $6 per week. 17 17.2 Receiving less than $8 per week ::> 34.7 Receiving $8 per week and over 04 65.3 Working under 1 year IS 18.2 Working under 3 years 62 62.6 Working 3 years and over 37 i 37.4 Have followed other occupations 70 79.8 Under 16 years of age 3 30.3 ruder 20 years of age 45 45.5 Tinier 2"> years of agi 1 70 70.7 25 years of age and over 29 29.3 Single 78 78.8 Married 16 16.2 Widowed .. . 2 2.0 Separated or divorced 3 3.0 APPENDIX N. THE CORSET INDUSTRY. The corset industry is largely a machine industry, the sewing machine, equipped with special attachments for the various kinds of operations being the chief one used. It is an operation in which the larger pro- portion of its workers are women and girls. The United States Census for 1910 gives the number of establishments in the United States as 138, employing 19,520 men, women and chil- dren, and 16,395, or 84 per cent, were women. While Michigan, in point of number of establishments, stands fourth on the list of states, it is second in the total number of persons employed, having in 1909 some 2,875, of whom 2,311 were women and girls. Of this number 47 were under 16 years of age. Connecticut, with 17 establishments, heads the list in number of persons employed, having 7,177, of whom 6,173 were women and girls. Of this number, 211 were reported as being under 16 years of age. While New York has the greater number of establishments (47), there were only 2,787 persons employed; 2,104 were women and girls; 11 were under 16 years of age. Michigan stands second in amount of capital invested ($3,038,479), and third in the value of the annual products $4,367,516. The 1914 report of the Michigan Department of Labor gives the num- ber of persons engaged in the corset industry for the year 1913 as 2,712. Of this number 2,311, or 85 per cent, were women or girls. The num- ber reported under 16 years of age is 64. The investigators for the Commission personally interrogated 871 of these workers in the four cities where these establishments are located Detroit, Kalamazoo, Jackson and Saginaw. Specialization and the division of labor have within a few years been extended to the corset trade perhaps to a greater extent than in many other processes of manufacturing where the labor of women enters chiefly in the process of manufacture. Necessarily, the same results have obtained from the application of these two industrial principles as have been noted in the industries confined chiefly to men. This is to be expected. The mere purpose of mentioning the entrance of these factors into the consideration of those problems that affect female labor is the same as in the case of the men, they have contributed to the raising of the standard of wages and likewise they have increased the production of the individual operators, which in practice, should bring about a reduction in the cost. Corset making has developed within recent years from a work in which one or two employes did all the work, until now many contribute their specialized skill to the process of manufacture. 1 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 367 THE OCCUPATIONS. Iii corset milking, the division of labor plays an important role. The number of operations involved in the making of a corset varies according to its style and quality. As many as 40 different operations are re- quired in the making of corsets of certain styles. To trace every ramification of the industry one would necessarily have to start with the purchasing agent, who secures the materials that enter into the process of manufacture. Some of the commonest varieties of cloth used are known as jeans. The jeans are usually made into the cheaper grade of corsets. Coutils range from ten cents to fl per yard. Pecan, Gibraltar batiste, mercerized batiste, silk batiste and silk and cotton brocades enter into the production of the higher-priced corsets. .Many colors were used formerly. Most manufacturers still have a stock of the old fancy materials on hand, which, of course, has involved a loss to the manufacturer. Another source of loss to the manufacturer follows the change of styles. For instance, at the present time corsets are made with high busts; last season, they were cut with very low busts or no busts at all. These also had rubber gores at the hip and bust and some had elastic around the top of the corset. Some of the corsets are known to the trade as dancing corsets or girdles. These have become the prac- tical corset for the general trade. They have very little boning. While the corset may or may not be just a whim, the manufacturer must keep up the demand, follow the passing style and otherwise meet his com- petitor, or lose the trade. Constant change of styles necessarily mean a consequent financial loss, when a large stock is carried. One material conies in twills. Some are known as herringbone strip- ping which are used for bone pockets, which come in different quali- ties and vary in price, according to the corset. Figured silks are also bound of the same material to enhance their appearance. Prussian silk tape is used as a binding for the higher-priced corsets. Very little whalebone is used in the manufacture of corsets. Corset steels are usually made from a tempered wire and these are covered in a variety of ways. Paper is used as a covering in the cheaper corsets. Mus- lin is used on medium-priced corsets, and celluloid or wabone on higher-priced corsets. Some of the cheaper embroideries are made in the corset plant on automatic machines and from different materials. Cotton, mercerized cotton and silk are used according to the garment. Ribbons of various widths and quality are used as trimmings and bows and on some of the higher-priced corsets ribbon is utilized to cover the hose supporters. BOXING AND CUTTING. Different sizes and priced boxes are used, according, of course, to the price of the corset. Crating boxes are made to ship the goods in; some are bought in shocks ready to be nailed together. Corrugated paper boxes are also used for packing. The cloth is carefully examined and is carefully assorted as to shades before it is put on the cutting tables. These tables vary in length from .">() to 100 feet and most of the spreads are laid 24-ply, 368 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON unless the material is of such a nature that it will make it practical to cut it thicker. The pattern is laid so that it will cut with the great- est economy. Most of the cutting is done by hand; although a cutting machine is sometimes used, but it is not as practical as the curves in the patterns are difficult to accomplish. Twenty-four thicknesses of cloth mean a dozen to a cut. These are then tied and work tags are attached bearing a list of the various operations involved in manufacture. The next operation is the cutting of the bone pockets. These are cut in lengths or strips .and sewed on the wrong side of the corset to make bone pockets or casings. The usual method of cutting cloth in a large factory is on a machine having circular knives. This machine unwinds the bolt, cuts and rewinds the bolt in the proper widths in a single operation. STITCHING. These corsets are sent to the stitching room in the respective bundles. The first operation is folding for the lap-seam, or in other words, a fell seam. However, there are some factories which have a folder attached to their machines doing this stitching and folding in one operation. JOINING, SEAMING AND CLOSING. A gauge row was used in closing in the old-style corsets. This is no longer used now. The operator, whether a one or two-needle operator, had to be very efficient and to understand how to put it together, so as to assemble the corset properly, which in itself, is an important opera- tion. There are V-shaped gores, or darts, to give shape to the corset. Skill and care are necessary to make a smooth seam. This is one of the best-paid operations, since great skill is necessary. Corsets, with fewer gores, are manufactured at the present time, however. The belt or waistband on the inside of the corset is either pasted or basted in by hand or machine. When basted the stripping is then put on which holds the belt in place. This tape determines the waist line of the corset and adds greatly to its strength. FRONT CLASP STITCH I XG. The clasp is provided with an interlining which keeps the clasp from cutting the outer cloth. The front clasp is stitched on a Iwo-needle machine, after the same has been folded, where the style of the corset will permit, since it makes the stitching uniform,, while other styles use the single-stitching machine. On the cheaper grade of corsets, slots for the clasps are cut with a chisel and just the proper width in which to insert the hooks. The higher-priced corsets have a strip of the similar material to the bone pockets which is stitched with a single- needle machine. On the hook side a margin is left for the hooks to slide through, instead of cutting through the cloth with a chisel, which has a tendency to ravel. This is described as skip-stitching. BACK-STITCHING. The corset then goes to the back-makers. These use a four-needle machine, although in certain cases a single-needle machine is some- MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. ;5C,0 nies employed. This machine stitches tho back strip, lining and inter- lining and in sonic cases sews tlirco inlerlinings and 1\vo hack wires in at one operation. STRIPPING, STEEL STITCHING AND HONING. Next comes the stripping, which, at the present time, is done on the 1 luce-needle machine, which takes one, two or three flexible wires, ac- (oi ding to the number of wires to be inserted, and two linings besides the si rips which are all stitched in at one operation, thereby making a bone casing, and wires put in in one operation. The next is a side steel, which is a wider wire, usually five-eighths inch in width and about the same gauge as the other wires. It is stitched in in the same manner as the other stays with a two-needle machine, the side steel stripping and interlining being completed in one operation. The practice of filling or boning the corset by hand at present is very seldom carried on, in some factories practically all these being put in when the stripping is stitched on. EXAMINING. Now the corset goes to the examiner. Experienced examiners inspect the corset and all defects and rips are repaired by special repair girls. Formerly a large number of fillers or boners were employed to put the bones in by hand, but at the present time the work is being done by machines. SHAPING. Then follows the shaping. The corset now has the steels and wires and it is ready to be shaped. This operation is to cut the ends of the strips and the ends of the backs without interfering with the shape of the corset, and was formerly done by a large force of men with large shears made expressly for heavy work. This is now done by ma- chines with rotary knives, whereby a man or girl will do three times as much work in the same length of time. The average wage before was about $\'2 per week Avitli very hard work for the hands. At the present time, while the operator is obliged to stand all day, he can make one-third more wages on about half the price per dozen. EYELETTING. This is done by automatic eyeletting machines that punch a hole for the eyelets and put the eyelets in in one operation. The old method used to be by means of a small punch, making one hole at a time. The eyelets were inserted Avith the same operation, but the more up-to-date method is more satisfactory. Originally, this was done by men on a weekly wage, but at present, it is done by piece-workers with more satisfactory results to the worker and manufacurer. 47 370 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON DRAW-STRINGS. Formerly, the higher bust corsets were made with a draw-string at the top of the bust, stitched in with the binding to make the bust adjustable. While there are quite a few styles that now have a bust high enough to demand a draw-string, still they are not used as ex- tensively now. This operation was done by having the draw-strings cut the proper lengths and basted on the top of the corset, these being afterward bound in. At the present time, the draw-string is put in at the same time the binding is put on. It is caught in the binding, so as to make the two operations in one, thereby making it an im- portant operation. This part of the work requires an experienced operator. LACE AND EMBROIDERY. Most laces and embroideries are put on plain and have no provisions for a ribbon to be strung in the same. Machines are now used to string the ribbon in the laces and embroider in the holes, an opera- tion which is done at a great reduction in cost over the old ways of stringing by means of bodkin needles. BINDING. Quite recently other operations have been combined with that in- volved in the binding of the corset, which makes it more complicated and a very important operation. It requires an experienced operator. This is also a very profitable operation to the operators. The top of the corset, as stated above, includes the draw-string and the bottom the hose supporters, which are now bound in, instead of being put on separately, consequently this work now includes three and sometimes four operations in one. FLOSSING. This operation is sometimes done by hand on the more expensive arti- cle. It is more generally done on machines made expressly for the pur- pose. Flossing might be termed staying around the top and bottom of the wires to keep them in place. This operation is a difficult one and it requires both time and experience to make an efficient operator. Floss trimming is done entirely by hand. It consists in cutting the loose ends of thread and silk that are left on the under side of the cor- set from the flossing or staying machines. LAUNDRY. There has been a very progressive jump in the laundry department, which was changed from time to time from the old slug iron which was heated by a coal stove and inserted into an iron to hold the heat. Later, gas irons came into use with a blower to blow the air and gas into a pipe. This supplied a regular heat. Within a short time the electric iron has come into use. This improvement enables a girl of reasonable ability to do three or four times as much work at a less cost than a strong man with the ordinary gas iron. This operation is MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 371 sometimes divided into two operations. The corsets must be sprayed 01- dampened before .they are pressed. In some factories starch is used in the sprayer to stiffen the goods, but most of the manufacturers at ih is time find there is enough dressing in the goods to give the neces- sary finish to the garment. This, too, is a very important operation. In all of the larger corset factories visited, automatic irons were in use. These were heated by electricity. The girls operating these irons are seated in comfortable chairs in front of a padded board, and these irons move back and forth over these padded boards by a slight pres- sure of the foot press. The operator shifts the corset back and forth under the moving iron until every part has been ironed. These ma- chines have been recently installed at a considerable cost to the manu- facturer, and are a great labor saving, for they can be operated by girls or women at much less cost than when the work was formerly done in the old way by men. LACE STITCHING. Lace stitching is done on the single-needle machine. However, there are some kinds of lace that are stitched on with a two-needle machine made expressly for the purpose. Some styles of trim used on the top of the corset serve as a binding. HAND SEWING AND TACKING. On the better grade of corsets, the lace is tacked on by hand by ex- perienced operators so that the stitches will not show. The ends of the trimming are also turned in and stitched down by hand. Others are tacked on by the flossing machines made expressly for the purpose. This is done more quickly by means of this labor-saving device. Formerly, when done all by hand, a sewer could do only a very few dozen a day. With the machine, an operator is capable of doing at least five or six times as much, thereby reducing the cost of production. TYING BOWS. Bows are used very extensively on the corset as a finish at the top and are sewed on through the goods on the lace. Sometimes it is a part of the ribbon that is run through the lace. Others are tied and made separately and set on by hand. The tying of the bows is a very in- teresting operation and in some instances a machine, or small device, is made for measuring the ribbon and the bows are tied by hand; in other cases the ribbon is held at any length desired and cut on a ma- chine and tied by hand. They are afterward sewed to the garment. END FASTENING. Knd fastening is done on the ends of the lace, or anywhere where raw edges need fastening. While there is a great deal of hand finishing of this description, machines are now in use that do Hiis work auto- matically. 372 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON LABELS. Manufacturers usually have a trade-mark which is attached to the corset. This consists of a silk ribbon with fancy lettering; at other times it is stamped on cloth or some other material and is sewed on by hand, or gummed onto the corset. This, to many manufacturers, means a great deal. HOOKS AND EYES. Various kinds of hooks and eyes are used at the bottom of the clasp. Some have one and sometimes as high as four or five at the bottom of the clasp to hold the soft part of the corset together. This, also, is done on a small press that is made especially for the purpose. LACING AND HOOKING. There are several kinds of corsets, including front lace, side lace and abdominal corsets, etc., which in addition require laces put in, in order to hold them together. This is usually done by young girls with little experience, as no great skill is required here. The corsets go through the works as a rule without being hooked. When the corset is finished, young girls are employed to hook these together, these having been numbered, each half corresponding, before being sent for final inspection. The final examiner's business is to inspect very carefully the corsets and repair any defects from start to finish. BOXING. The corset is then ready to go to the shipping department. It is then rolled and boxed in individual boxes except in the case of very cheap goods which go into large boxes holding half a dozen or a dozen, according to the price of the goods. The sizes have been already stamped on the corset and on the outside of the box as well as the style number which is on the tag that accompanies the garment through the works. The goods are then sent to the shipping department, where they are packed in cases, made in sizes to correspond with the re- spective number of dozens on the order. This case is then stenciled with the customer's name and address; also usually bearing the maker's name, where shipped from, etc. It is then sent to its destination through various channels of transit freight, express and parcel post. SPECIALS. The foregoing general idea of corset manufacturing in many cases covers i most numbers; however, there are several numbers which take zones, i. e., a shaped piece which goes around the waist of the corset, sometimes to strengthen it and sometimes to make a girdle. Tabs and buckles are also used in various ways in reducing corsets, abdominal supports and adjustments of various kinds, some of which have be- come very popular. These operations are done by the more experienced operators. Clasp buttons are used in various kinds of corsets, such as on (lie MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 373 nursing corsets, these to hold the reducing straps and flaps. These call for sonic special operation, according to the particular style. This docs not apply to many operations which apply to corset waists, which in sonic factories becomes a part of the corset business, and are usually made of softer material with fewer wires used. In many eases a soft jute coid is used, which is usually stitched on with a tape. Many of the operations are similar to the operations in the making of corsets proper, except cording, which is a very interesting operation, and which to do neatly, requires expert operators. Cording machines vary from one to twelve needles each. Multiple needles are used to sew on the wide strips with several cords side by side, which in some instances, are slit died on the outside of the corset waist as a stiffener, and at oilier times is a part joined to the corset between the sections. The waist business is usually carried on by manufacturers who make that a specialty. However, many corset manufacturers make accessories such as corset waists, brassieres, hose supporters, belts, etc., of various kinds. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT. With (lie sudden and extreme changes in styles of women's dresses seriously affecting that industry, a like condition is found in the corset industry. When one style of corset was produced, the industry was not seasonal. To-day many manufacturers will tell you that since the fit of the outer garment depends on the style of the corset \vorn, and since a variety of styles must be manufactured to meet the exigencies, the industry is becoming, to them, an alarmingly seasonal one. The factories visited were, with two exceptions, in buildings erected for their own occupancy; were well lighted and ventilated, and the sanitation was good. In one of the factories, the women working in the center of the large work rooms, said that during the afternoons, or all day when it was cloudy, they were unable to see except with artificial light. This was a strain on their eyes and contributed to a nervous condition which many of the workers reported. The work in itself does not involve any physical strain. A number of those interrogated reported that sitting all day had brought on kidney and bowel trouble. Others said that continually bending the head over the work in order to save or rest the eyes had affected both the head and the back. Another said the continuous: operation of the ma- chine in feeding the material in straight made her arm ache. An- other said her hearing had been affected from the noise made by the hundreds of machines operated at high speed. One girl said the in- side work had affected her lungs, which were already weak. She spends from 75 cents to $1 each week for medicine. Her father, she said, is inclined to be tuberculous. 374 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY. Table No. 40. SUMMARY OF THE CORSET INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 4 Establishments investigated 8 Employes interrogated 835 American-born 617 74 2 Foreign-born 215 25 8 Living at home Adrift 531 304 63.6 36 4 85 10 2 472 56 9 Receiving $8 per week and over Working under fcyear 358 337 43.1 40.4 Working under 3 years . 577 69.1 258 30 9 Have followed other occupations Under 16 years of age i 516 16 335 61.8 1.9 40.1 629 75.3 25 years of age and over 206 752 24.7 90.1 37 4.4 25 3.0 21 2.5 APPENDIX 0. HOSIERY AND KNIT GOODS. In 11)0!) Michigan had 35 establishments making hosiery and knit goods. These 35 mills had 2,545 wage-earners and 254 salaried employes on their pay rolls, and 50 were reported as being girls under 16 years of age. At least 2,170 of the total number of employes were women. The capital invested was f 3,734,803, the value of the product $4,029,105, and the value added by manufacture f 1,982,499. Michigan was in 1909 seventh in the number of establishments in the United States, and tenth in the number of employes. As noted by the tabulations in Part III of this report, -the wages paid are neither the highest nor the lowest; and it is with general working conditions as it is with wages; the environment of the workers are neither the best nor the worst. Only the superintendent of a thoroughly up-to-date knitting mill, of which Michigan possesses a number, can accurately enumerate in chrono- logical order the various processes through which the raw material passes before it can be shipped to the buyer; and no one but a skilled machinist can intelligently describe the marvelously intricate machinery that has invaded what was once an exclusively "home" industry and made hand-knit goods practically a commercial impossibility. FROM THE COTTON TO THE FINISHED ARTICLE. "From the opening of cotton in the bale, as it passes through I he opener, first, second and third lapper, cards, and first and second draw- ing-frames these several operations are accomplished through the labor of men," writes the Amazon Knitting Company, of Muskegon, to the Commission. "These operations are for the purpose of cleaning the cotton of all foreign substances such as leaf and dust, the same being accomplished through the medium of suction fans depositing the refuse in a dust- room built for the purpose. Thus insuring the operators working under the most favorable conditions possible. "The cotton as delivered from the above last named machine (draw- ing-frame) is called a 'sliver,' consisting of cotton fiber paralleled to make a rope or sliver, but contains no twist. From this point it passes to the several intermediate machines, purpose of which is to draw the sliver and give to same the required twist necessary to final spinning. "The above intermediate machinery is composed of slubber, inter- mediate, and roving machines, all of which are operated by women. Occupation in this department is clean, although same involves the pro- duction of some lint which, however, is not allowed to accumulate <>n the machinery, shaft ing or pulleys men (not boys) being hired to keep 376 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON this room in a neat and tidy condition. The female operators are re- quired to see that the machines are filled with spools of roving (the product of the operation just before) and the doffing of the finished product of the particular machine she is running. The operators are re- quired to watch the machines and piece up broken ends, but are fur- nished stools to sit on, and are enabled to take advantage of same for fully half of their time. "The product of the above named machine is called 'roving/ and in its construction all of the labor necessary to preparing cotton for the spinning frames has been performed. IN THE SPINNING ROOM. "The roving now passes to the spinning room. There is less lint in this room for the reason that the cotton has been partially spun. "The operator's duty is the replacing of empty bobbins of roving with full bobbins, and the doffing of full bobbins of spun yarn, and same is accomplished by females. The accumulated lint on machinery, shafting and floor of this room is kept clean by boys. "From the spinning frames the small bobbins of spun yarn pass to the cone winders which are operated by females. This machine con- sists in the main of two rows of rotating spindles, one holding the cones, and the other the bobbins which are to be unwound. The work consists of watching the machines, replacing spools, tying broken threads, mid removing filled cones. "The workers must stand most of the time while the machine is run- ning, but have occasional opportunities to sit down when the w^ork is running smoothly. Also they must to some extent move about while tending the machine, which is some alleviation of the strain of continu- ous standing. The work is clean and the machine has no dangerous features. "From the winders, the coned yarn passes to the knitting machines, all of which in this mill are circular, producing a tube of cloth which when cut into suitable lengths and trimmed with lace is known to the trade as ladies' jersey ribbed straight vests. Operators on knitting machines must see that broken needles are replaced, machine kept full of yarn, and doff the completed rolls of knitted web, which does not in- volve heavy lifting. Stop-motions are attached to these machines for I lie purpose of automatically stopping same in the event of a broken thread or imperfect knitting. Stools are provided for these operators, who arc females, and practically no skill is required, as their work can be learned in less than a day. BLEACH-HOUSE WORK. "From the knitting machines the knitted web passes to the bleach- house, operation of which is solely accomplished by men. After bleach- ing, the web is dried, and passes on to the next operation, which is cutting. This work is done by women, and is accomplished by the operator laying the bleached web in lengths and cutting same. The op- erator has to stand during most of this work. Stools are provided. "From the cutting tables, the cut web passes to the sewing machines, MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN\ .177 and is tailored, tape inserted in the lace, folded, pressed and boxed labor of which is all accomplished by females. "The packing of boxed garments, and handling through the warehouse is done by men. "Incident to the manufacture of ladies' jersey ribbed vests is the manufacture of tape. Operators in this department are women and their duties are winding skein yarn on spools, and the placing of these spools on braiding machinery, the operators being required to keep their machines filled with spools and to pick up loose ends. It requires no skill. Stools are provided for the operators. "In the lace department, the placing of various kinds of yarn on beams (large spools) is performed by men. The spools are then trans- ferred by men to the lace machines, these operators being women whose duties require stopping of machines to replace broken threads. These operators have chairs provided which they occupy most of the time. The lace is wound upon spools by girls who are seated during this operation. These spools are then taken to the sewing-machine operators." UNDKRWKAR WORK. 'The knitting process is practically alike, both for men's and ladies' un- derwear," says the (Jlobe Knitting Works, of Grand Kapids. "When the yarn arrives, whether on cones or cops, it is wound on spools and trans- ferred to tlie knitting machines where the fabric is knit in a tubular web in the various sizes required and in lengths from 50 to 200 yards accord- ing to the weight of the fabric. From, the knitting machine the fabric, after being weighed, is transferred to a turning machine which turns the web inside out. Next, to the laundry where the fabric is either washed, dyed or bleached as the case may be. Next, to an extractor and then to a drying machine where the tubular web is run over a spreader, in order to give it the proper width required into the drying machine. Next, to a turning machine to be turned right side out, and then to a folding ma- chine, which folds the goods in a flat fold. "The web is now ready for the cutting process, which is done in var- ious ways; some by hand and some by machinery. In our plant in the tirst process the web travels through a machine which' cuts the fabric into proper lengths required, after which it is transferred to the inspec- tors' table, where each length is examined for imperfections, and piled up ready for the marker, who marks the bundle from patterns. After the marking process it passes on to the cutting machines, of which there are several kinds. From the cutting table it is tied up in dozen bundles and passed to the next department, where the small pieces, and cuffs and ankles are added to the bundle. So far the operations are alike for prac- tically all kinds of knit goods. NEARLY THIRTY Ol'KRA'l lo.\ S. "The following are the operations on men's union suits: Cutting, cull's sewed on, first crocheting, reinforcing, hemming, two needle button-hole facer, shoulder straps sewed on, overseaming, shoulder straps, seaming on collarettes, overseaming collarettes, basting, facing, seaming, over- seaming, marking buttons and button-hole stays, neck hangers, button- 378 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON holes, buttons, tacking, inspecting, buttoning, measuring, pressing, fold- ing, boxing, labeling. "The operations on ladies' suits are as follows: Cutting, cuffs, first crocheting, side seaming, shoulder straps, seaming, overseaming, lace, second crocheting, basting, facing, neck hangers, button-holes, buttons, tacking, inspecting, buttoning, taping, measuring, pressing, folding, box- ing, labeling. NEW TYPES OF MACHINES CONTINUALLY BEING INVENTED. "First and second crocheting are practically the same operation, ex- cept on union suits there are certain small pieces that we crochet first, before the garment is seamed, in order to obtain a neater finish, besides the seaming operation fastens the ends of the crocheting at the same time. This also applies to the various seaming operations. The entire process of seaming could be done in one operation except for the fact that we obtain better results by dividing same. In seaming elastic knit fabrics, you realize we have a different problem than seaming non-elastic fabrics, and it requires the skill of the operator to handle the fabrics so we do not get stretched seams, especially where the seams run cross- wise of the goods or on the bias. The first seamer trims and sews the goods, leaving a raw edge and the overseaming is the second operation which covers the raAV edge. "Sewing-machine manufacturers in the last ten years have been very active in fitting up new types of machines for seaming up underwear, providing for the elasticity which the seams require as well as >to make a seam as small and Hat as possible and at the same time strong and durable." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEtf. Table No. SO. SUMMARY OF THE HOSIERY AND KNIT GOODS TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited g Establishments investigated 13 Employes interrogated 462 American-born 388 84 2 Foreign-born 73 15 8 Living at home 387 83 8 Adrift 75 16 2 Receiving less than $6 per week Receiving less than $8 per week. 130 301 28.1 66 2 Receiving $8 per week and over. \ 154 33 8 Working under 1 year . . 97 21 \Vorking under 3 years . 277 60 Working 3 years and over 185 40 Have followed other occupations 362 78 4 Under 16 years of a^e 17 3 7 Under 20 years of age 211 45 7 Under 25 years of age 353 70 6 25 years of age and over 108 23.4 Single. . . 421 91 3 Married 20 4 3 Widowed 17 3 7 Separated or divorced 3 0.7 Not reporting marital relations 1 APPENDIX P. LAUNDRIES. Every town in Michigan of any considerable size contains at least one laundry. An industry once peculiarly and exclusively a home occupa- tion, has been so invaded by machinery and the factory system, that to- day a considerable proportion of the washing and ironing O f clothing has become a business involving the use of considerable capital. The tub, the Avashboard and the sad-iron are replaced by the washing ma- chine, the mangle, the starching machine and the body ironer. There is some hand work bnt it plays a small part in the sum 'total of the bus- iness. As the Chinese laundries and the hand laundries play a very unim- portant part in Michigan, this report deals entirely with motor laun- dries, employing from 10 women, which is about the fewest number that a full-fledged laundry, can get along with, to 181. In small towns the laundries take all kinds of work that comes their way, including hospital work, but in large cities they are inclined (<> specialize. Small metropolitan laundries, employing as few as 18, sit- uated in rooming districts, will take only the shirt and collar trade, and fancy ironing, thereby saving the price of the large mangle. Laun- dries in the resident districts make a special flat rate to families, and Monday morning the wagons, the tops of which rise marvelously high with bundles, are seen making their house to house calls. Other laun- dries seek only hotel and restaurant trade, believing that the handling of big orders enables them to operate with fewer employes and to count upon a trade that is less inclined to fluctuate. The majority of laundries, however, are prepared to handle all and every kind of washing, even to lace curtains. OCCUPATIONS IN A LAUNDRY. In the order in which the materials handled by laundries are treated the principal occupations for women are listing, marking, sorting, hand washing, shaking, mangling, folding, starching, dampening, dry- ing, machine ironing, hand ironing, finishing, mending, and wrapping. Listing consists in checking up the contents of each bundle as it conies to the laundry. When the clothes are listed they go to the marker, and are passed on to the sorter who separates 1 them into their respective- piles for the washing. Women do the listing and marking and sometimes this first sorting, 1 hough in large laundries this is done by men, as it is the most disagreeable part of laundry work. It is thought to be dangerous, but in large cities where hospitals have their own laundries, the possibility of contracting contagious diseases is slight. In small towns where the laundries do the hospital w T ork, cases of this sort have MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 381 been known. In such a laundry, one sorter said that after handling one bundle her hands broke out in some kind of skin infection. However, the health officials of most cities are sufficiently strict to prevent any serious results to the laundry worker. And once in the washing ma- chine the heat and chemicals used properly sterilize all articles. The operation of the washing machines is always done by men, though the hand washing of fine fabrics and flannels is done by women. The splash of the washing machines keep the floors continually damp, though in modern laundries where there are cement floors, properly drained by grooves which carry the water into troughs beneath the machines there is no water lying on the floor. But in old buildings converted into the use of laundries the floors are water soaked and often puddles are lying about. Even in the modern ones there is always a dampness in the wash room, and the odors and vapors from the chemicals make the atmosphere stifling in all but the best ventilated. When the clothes are washed they are put into an extractor, which removes the water by cen- trifugal force. These machines are usually operated by men. When the clothes are taken from the extractor they are put in a large boxed-in sort of truck, and pushed into the mangle room, where girls, called shakers, pick up the pieces from the tangled, twisted mass in which they leave the extractor, shake them, fold them and lay them on horses which are usually placed just behind the mangle feeders. The shakers are, as a rule, either young girls or foreign women, as the work is of the simplest nature. It involves standing and is very hard and tiresome to the arms and back. THE MANGLE. The mangle is a huge piece of machinery consisting of many iron cylinders heated by steam. The flat pieces pass in wet and come out the opposite side dry. Mangles are of three kinds one a mass Of cylinders that rise from the feeder's side to a peak in the middle and descend to the folders; another is perfectly flat, and a third descends from the feed- ers to the folders in a long slope. The iirst two kinds necessitate both the feeders and the folders standing at their work, as the height is about waist high. The third permits the folder to sit at her work. Properly guarded, there is nothing injurious about the mangle itself. However, it is often placed in the wash room, if the laundry is cramped lor space, and then the girls sutt'er from the steam and moisture from the washing machines. This work, like shaking, is usually done by young girls and foreigmspeaking women. The feeders take the straightened lowels. sheets, tablecloths or whatever the flat work consists of, from the "horse" behind them, place them on the canvas belt which carries them into the revolving cylinders. As they come out at the other side, the folders place them in neat piles, to be taken to the sorters, wrappers, etc. The family wash, when taken from the extractor, is carried to the ironing room. The starchers stand at tables with the starch mixture in basins before them, and rub the starch mixture into the articles. In the newer laundries the starching is done by machines, collars and cuffs are passed between cylinders that press the starch into them. The bosoms of shirts are placed on a machine that forces the starch into 382 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON them from the wrong side. All this work is done by women and in- volves standing. These articles are now ready for the drying room. In the small and not well-equipped laundry the articles are hung on racks and these are pushed into the drying chambers, which are small rooms heated by steam pipes. In the newer laundries there is an end- less chain with suspended hooks on which the clothes are hung, and which slowly carries them through the drying room in and out through many twists and turns between the hot pipes, bringing them out dry at the other end, dropping the dried articles into a basket as they emerge from their heated journey. The endless chain is then ready for the next batch of damp shirts and collars, which are hung on the minute the last cargo is dropped. The chain moves slowly, but does not stop. The clothes are hung on while it moves on its way. MACHINE IRONING. Dampening is done both by hand and by a machine which consists of a tank with sprayer around the top of it, through which the garment is passed until it is sufficiently dampened. The collars and cuffs are next fed into a machine which is made up of two small cylinders heated by gas. Then they are run through a machine that turns and shapes them, a machine moistening the edge with a spray of steam and giving them the essential smoothness that is desirable on the edge of a collar, and lastly a machine that rounds them to the required neck shape. They are now ready for the sorter and the wrapper. Meanwhile their companion, the shirt, has gone its own separate way through the body ironer (which consists of two cylinders about two feet in length, heated by gas), the sleever, the neckband and wristband machines and the bosom press. The body ironer is a heavy piece of machinery for a woman to handle. After the shirt is slipped over the cylinder it is raised by a foot lever to the cylinder above, and by the means of an- other lever the cylinders are revolved till the shirt is ironed. The sleever, neck and wristband machines are similar to the body ironer, only smaller. The bosom press is broad and flat. The shirt is clamped to it, a foot lever brings the upper part, a heated surface, down upon it. It is then swung around while another shirt is clamped to its op- posite part. When it is swung back the shirt is ready to be removed. The finisher irons by hand any small creases the machines have per- mitted to escape them, and it is ready to be sent to the sorter and wrapper. If there is a missing button or a tear it is handed to the mender, who sits at a sewing-machine with a large Assortment of but- tons before her. MUCH HAND WORK. lu every laundry there is much work that does not come in eon- tact with machinery after leaving the washing room. The line waists and muslin lingerie of women are starched mid ironed by hand. There are a large number of women in every laundry known as fancy ironers. Their tools are the same as the housewife's the ironing board and the iron. The nature of the latter differs according to the equipment of the establishment. In the newest and best, electric irons are always MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 383 used. In some laundries gas-heated irons, smaller, but similar to those used by tailors, are found. In the small towns and in a few city laundries the old-fashioned iron heated on a conveniently placed gas plate is still in use. In one small town laundry was discovered a coal stove heating the irons and also the room on a hot August day. The reason given by lauudrymen for not having electric irons is thai when the electricity is furnished by the city, if a girl does not disconnect her iron there is danger of fire. More than one laundry has been burned down by this cause. When a laundry is large enough to install machinery to furnish its own electricity, this danger is obvi- ated as the power is cut ofT when the machinery is stopped. Fancy ironers are usually middle-aged and elderly women. The skill required is that obtained in the home. It is one of the few occupations where the apprenticeship is served at home. It is the work that the house- wife, thrown suddenly on her own resources, can come to experienced if she has done her own washing and ironing. Sorting is the assembling of the articles under one mark, checking them by the laundry slip, and giving both to the wrapper, who per- forms the last rite of wrapping them, before passing them on to the driv- er to begin their homeward journey. The sorter must be a woman who is careful and quick, and with her mind on her work, or else the laundry- man suffers from the irate customer who finds in his bundle part of his neighbor's clothing while his own is missing. The wrapper is usually a young girl working under the direction of the sorter, and hers is the fifteenth operation that a shirt passes through while in the laundry building. REGULARITY AND HOURS OF WORK IN LAUNDRIES. As the washing of one's clothing is a daily or at least a weekly neces- sity, (he work can hardly be called seasonal, though summer, with the advent of white suits and dresses, brings additional work to the laun- dry man; consequently the force is usually increased at the approach of hut weather, and decreased when the autumnal chilliness drives the wash fabrics into trunks and coaxes out the furs. Out of 746 workers only nine gave "slack work" as the cause of lost time. Tevhaps the industry hit hardest by the 54-hour-a-week law for women, especially the teu-hour-a-day limit, is the laundry. When a holiday conies, that week brings extra work, for does not the housewife use more linen when she ha guests, and the master indulge in an extra shirt? The laundry, however, has to do 54 hours of work in 50 hours, with the possibility of a diminished supply of employes, for the church holidays cluster around the National ones. The hours of work in a laundry are usually from 7 or 7:30 A. M. to .">::>() P. M., with 45 minutes or an hour for lunch. On Monday morning the employes arrive from 7 to 12 the mangle girls and starchers coining tirst and the i rollers later. On Saturday they leave in the same order from 12 to r>, as their work is finished. ' A few, mostly fancy iruiiers, nut come at all on Mondays. In the small towns where one girl dues several kinds of work, they all come at the same hour on Monday, usually at S. and help one another finish up on Saturday afternoons. 384 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON WAGES. It is difficult to discuss the wages paid the different occupations within the laundry, as there is a great variance, depending upon the town, the laundry and the work required. Mangle girls and shakers are paid from f3 in the small town to |7 in the large cities. The other operations arc paid from |5 to |15. All the work is done by women except the washing, the first sorting and some of the ironing, There are a few men who iron the heavy goods such as porters' and Avaiters' white duck coats. Some are paid as high as f 18 and $20, a condition the girls resent, as they say they are doing the same work for $8 and $10. In some of the same es- tablishments the girls do several kinds of work. When the mangle girls finish their work they do plain ironing or finishing. Laundries usually pay at a weekly rate, but some pay by the hour, from 10 cents to 15 cents, according to the nature of their work. When their work is over the women leave, receiving credit only for the actual time they are em- ployed. This custom is not in favor with the girls, as it sometimes means a dollar or so less at the end of the week if the work happens to be a little slack. THE EMPLOYES. Laundry work is usually considered as belonging to the unskilled trades, since no apprenticeship is necessary. However, some skill and experience is required to be a good fancy ironer. The sorter and marker have to learn their work, though it consists more in care than in skill. Laundry workers have a way of drifting from one laundry to another, and from housework to laundry work and back again into domestic service. Only a few laundries can boast of an unchanging force. The women are of all ages, from 14 to 73, and of 19 different national- ities. Many married women, especially widows and those who are separated or deserted, turn to this work. Out of 746 interrogated, 111 were married, 73 were widows and 44 had been deserted or separated. HEALTHFULNESS OF THE WORK. The handling of soiled clothing seems at first glance to be a very in- jurious sort of work, especially as it is done in an atmosphere of damp- ness and excessive heat, but the investigators of the laundries heard very few complaints from the workers. Out of the 746 employes inter- viewed throughout the State only 82 or 10.9 per cent said they found the work injurious. As this 10.9 per cent falls so noticeably below the govern- ment report of 26.1 for Chicago and 29.7 for the cities of the eastern states, one is led to believe that Michigan has better laundries and more considerate and humane employers, or else a sturdier race of women. However, as 284 out of 746 reported illness as the cause of lost time, much of this may be due to the nature of the work, even though not recognized as such by the worker, as the proportion of illness is greater than in other kinds of employment; but this can not be accurately de- termined, as the nature of illness was not reported. Probably the most dangerous piece of machinery is the extractor, but this is almost always in charge of a man or a responsible woman. so that seldom are there accidents reported from that cause. Formerly MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 385 ie mangle injured many women, but in Michigan they are now all well-guarded, so that it is almost impossible to get the fingers even of a careless girl caught between the cylinders. There is an atmosphere of dampness even in the best ventilated and most perfectly drained laun- dries, so that many report rheumatism as a result of the work. The heat in summer is a necessary evil that can be alleviated to some extent by proper ventilation. Most laundries have installed the "blower," but there is still room for further experiments in reducing the temperature of a laundry in July and August. Many complain of the gas from the body ironer and collar press, but this is unavoidable until these pieces of machinery are heated by some other method. The most universal complaint is that of fatigue and as nearly all of the work has to be done standing, there is nothing that can be recom- mended beyond improvement in the machinery. The body ironer is operated by treadles involving the use of both feet and it is not only fatiguing, but often causes sprained and swollen ankles. While there is little welfare work done in laundries, three of 'those in- vestigated had lunch rooms and nearly all sanitary toilet rooms. There were a number of exceptions, especially throughout the State, one small town laundry providing for employes only a wretched outhouse on the river bank in the rear of the laundry. But it is not necessary to go to the small town for bad conditions, for Detroit, although for the most part revealing satisfactory and sanitary toilet accommodations, and a general regard for the health of the employes, had three very bad exceptions. One had one filthy toilet for 30 girls in a dark corner of the basement. Another laundry got all its ventilation from little win- dows opening onto a stable. A third packs its girls into an overcrowded room with a low ceiling from which the plaster had fallen in spots and threatened to come down on the heads of the girls in other spots. 49 386 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. Table No. 51. SUMMARY OF THE LAUNDRY INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 21 Establishments investigated 63 Employes interrogated . 746 American-born 600 80 5 145 19 5 505 67 7 Adrift 241 32 3 Receiving less than $6 per week Receiving less than $8 per week 171 505 22.9 69 2 225 30 8 235 31 5 491 65 8 255 34 2 Have followed other occupations 499 11 66.9 1 5 Under 20 years of age ' 262 35 1 Under 25 years of age 475 64.4 263 35 6 Single 518 69.4 111 14.9 Widowed 73 9.8 Separated or divorced 44 5.9 APPENDIX Q. THE OVERALL INDUSTRY. In the inauuf act nre of overalls, machinery and the specialization of the processes necessitates both room and capital, hence the establish- ments are usually large, and the employes many. Eight establishments were investigated and 685 employes interviewed. One pair of overalls passes through the hands of 14 employes. First Ihe material is piled upon a long table to the height of 108 layers- of the goods. The top layer is marked by a stencil pattern, which has been so perfected that scarcely a scrap of cloth is wasted.- The man operating an electric cutting-machine cuts the 108 layers on the white-marked lines. This work is done entirely by men. The electric machine has supplanted the "long knife," shaped some- what like a sword, which was apt to cut the fingers of a careless op- erator. Boys trim the cut material, and it is taken to the "give-out department," where it is distributed to the women employes operating the sewing-machines. One woman handles only fronts, joining them and sti tolling on the pockets front pockets, rule pockets, watch pockets, combination pockets, depending on the need of the particular kind of overall. Another woman joins the backs and puts on the hip pockets. These two halves of the garment go to the two-needle machines, where the in- side and outside seams of the legs are put together. A one-needle opera lor does the hemming and another the tacking and putting on of i lie suspenders, which have been separately made by the young opera- tors. The operators of the button, button-hole and eyelet machines add their contributions. The twelfth operation is the joining of the flys, and the garment is ready for the inspector and the folder, who places the finished garment on the racks to await packing and shipment. All this work is piece-work. REGULARITY AND CHARACTER OF WORK. The work is not seasonal, although May and June are the slack mouths, and often the plants work on shorter hours. No unusual skill is re- quired and the beginner learns to become a capable operator in a few months. Speed is, of course, attained with experience. In the large factories each worker has only one kind of work to do, and it is re- peated over and over. HEALTHFULNESS OF THE WORK. The manufacture of overalls involves no injury to health where the 388 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON rooms are properly lighted and ventilated, and in those investigated all these requirements were adequately met. A few workers complained of the lint and some of them, of the dye. All the overall factories have large, well ventilated, well lighted work rooms, clean, sanitary toilets and ample cloak rooms. The three largest factories have emergency rooms for the ill and injured, and pleasant dining-rooms having the cafeteria method of serving substantial noon- day meals to the employes at cost. Two of the firms have social secre- taries. One has gone to even greater expense in the care of the em- ployes. Bathrooms and showers are provided, and the charge for the use of the room, a towel and soap, is three cents. There are laundry tubs where a girl may wash her clothes, a dryer and ironing boards, and electric irons for her use. A rest room with rattan couches, easy chairs and magazines await the nerve-fagged girl, so that she may be able to rest and resume her work. There are sewing-machines on which she may do her personal sewing, should there be a delay in the "give-out department," and a wait for materials. WORK OF THE SOCIAL SECRETARY. In the reception room is a cabinet filled with toilet preparations for sale at cost prices, and a pile of daily papers are at hand for the rider on street cars to purchase and read on her way home. There is also a large, attractive assembly room where dances, parties, lectures, etc., are held for the recreation of the employes. Classes and clubs are a part of the educational work, and a library owned by the company and supple- mented by the public library, furnishes the girls with reading matter. A monthly paper edited by the social secretary gives all the news of the factory with insertions of helpful articles interspersed with a few humorous stories and sayings overheard among the employes. In addition to looking after the welfare of the employes, the social secretary does all the hiring of help, keeps tab upon them, sees that they earn enough to live on, and in case 'of illness, visits and advises them, sending medical aid and anything else that is essential to comfort-and recovery. PRICES. The prices paid for making overalls are: Front pockets 16c a dozen. Hip pockets lOc a dozen. Rule pockets 4c a dozen. Watch pockets 3c a dozen. Combination pockets 8c a dozen. Flys 9c a dozen. Buckle straps stitched at each edge 8c a dozen. Hemming bib and suspenders 7c a dozen. Felling bib and suspenders 2c a dozen. Sewing bib with front 6c a -dozen. Side-facing on back 5c a dozen. Under-hem double stitched 4c a dozen. Sewing on back bands and center tack 15c a dozen. Out-seams and in-seams 3c a dozen. Sewing from front to fly 2c a dozen. Suspender folded and stitched rubber inserted with loop- buckle and loop 13c a dozen, Hemming bottoms 5c a dozen. Sewing on size figures Ic a dozen, MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Tahie No. 52. SUMMARY OF THE OVERALL INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. 383 Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 3 Establishments investigated 9 Employes interrogated 685 American-born 483 70 5 Foreign-born 202 29 5 Living at home .. 504 73.6 Adrift... 181 26.4 Receiving less than $6 per week 69 10 1 Receiving less than $8 per week 205 30.0 Receiving $8 per week and over 477 70 Working under 1 year 147 21.5 Working under 3 years 330 48.2 Working 3 years and over Have followed other occupations 355 371 51.8 54.2 Under 16 years of age Under 20 years of age Under 25 years of age \* 206 471 0.3 30.1 69.1 25 years of age and over ... . 211 30.9 Single ' 4C2 71.8 Married 167 24.4 Widowed 24 3.5 Separated or divorced .... 2 0.3 APPENDIX R. PAPER BOX AND CIGAR BOX MAKING. Paper box and cigar box making are two distinct industries. Investi- gation was made of both. There is nothing injurious to health in the paper or pasteboard box making. Only one machine exposes the user to the chance of accident. This is a corner-staying machine. The unpleasant feature of the work is the odor and "stickiness" of the paste and glue. The designing, cutting and scoring are done by men, the two latter processes with the aid of machinery. Beginners start on "turning in," and helping the machine operators. The best grades of boxes are made entirely by hand, and all covering, lining and decorating is done after the pasteboard has been manipulated into box form. The cheapest boxes are simply uncovered pasteboard, and ordinary boxes, such as corset boxes, are made of cardboard that is covered before cutting. The best grades of these, however, may be covered by machinery after being made. There is a machine, used particularly for "rush" orders, that fastens in the shoulder or inner piece of cardboard to keep the cover even when the box is closed. On cheap boxes, paste is used; on the best, glue. This glue must be kept warm, and it is generally applied with the box maker's finger. Boxes may be covered with various kinds and qualities of paper, or with silk, velvet or leather. They may be trimmed with embossed labels and bands; with bows of ribbon and embroidery; or with pictures in narrow brass frames which are tacked on afterward. Some are trimmed with "plastic trim," made of putty and glue formed in molds. The plastic is made in a picture frame factory. It is only applied at the box factory and then painted or bronzed. WAGES. In paper box factories wages are low. In this as in many other in- dustries, the largest factory, or the one making the highest grade work, may be the poorest for the wage-earner. While occasionally some girl in the small factory where all the work is of the most ordinary kind, and done mostly by machinery, may make as high as $12 per week, yet as a rule, few of those doing the best grade of hand work, even, make over $8.50 per week after years of experience. In one large factory visited girls with 11 and 12 years' experience were receiving $8.10 for a 54- hour week. Those with three years' experience averaged $5 per week; one and one-half years, $4 per week. Girls reported that they had started at $2.25 per week, and one at the end of three years averaged $5.90 per week. Accidents to operators on corner-staying machines seem to be due MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 391 partly to carelessness, and partly to a disinclination to use the guards provided, for guards reiard speed. .Many workers are paid by the hour. Most girls prefer piece-work. Modern conveniences as to lunch rooms were generally absent, and poor provision was in most cases made to care for the clothes in which the girls appear upon the street. The work necessitates a change of dress for the street, and where there is no adequate provision made for taking care of these clothes, the girls complain that it increases their cost. In the factory making folding boxes used for delivering suits, etc., the girls operate heavy presses, and are paid by the piece, and it takes a steady, quick worker to make f 10 per week. A man receives for the same work f 15 per week. For this difference it was explained that the men were able to do other things, such as setting the cutters on the presses, etc. TOILET FACILITIES AND FIRE ESCAPES. In the paper box making factories in Detroit toilet facilities were in most cases less than "fair." In some factories neither soap nor towels were provided by the employer. In one factory, where many girls were working on the fifth floor, there was no proper provision for fire escapes. The materials used in box making are highly inflammable, and many girls spoke of the danger in case of fire. \Yhere heavy boxes are made there is complaint about the strain of lifting them; but the fault is with the girls, as they lift at one time more than they should in order to make speed. This is one result of piece-work ; no time must be "wasted." Most of the paper box factory girls live at home. Of 37 interviewed in one factory, 30 lived at home, five lived with relatives, and the other two lived with friends. CIGAR BOX 'MAKING. Cigar box making proper is done by men, and only the finishing is done by women. This is all hand work. It consists of pasting top labels, inside labels, front pieces, lining and edging all around box and cover, pasting "Caution"' on bottom of box, and sometimes an extra strip, with name, inside and outside the box. Wages are low, and even after nine or ten years' experience, a good worker will average only from f 7 to $9 per week. It is possible that one or two out of a hundred may reach f 10 per week ; many steady workers are never able to earn more than $6 per week. The factories visited were open from 7 A. M. to 5:30 P. M., but piece-workers are usually irregular as to the starting hour ; some begin at 7 o'clock, and others at 8 o'clock. In most of the factories the girls were "finishers," and took the boxes just as they came from the men's department, doing all the pasting, each on her own set of boxes. In one factory, however, the .work was sub- divided, so that some of the 'girls were edgers, some liners, etc. Under this system the girls made higher w^ages. There is nothing about the work to injure the health. The factories were generally well ventilated. The women may sit or stand, there is no 392 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON eye strain, no nerve strain from jarring machinery, no danger of acci- dent, no heavy lifting. Work is monotonous, however, and the hands are always covered with glue. Still, no one complained of the glue injuring her skin. All said that the hands did not "chap" in winter. RANGE OF PIECE PRICES. The lowest price paid for 50 boxes (finishing) is 50 cents; the highest price is 84 cents. Shells (edged only, not lined or labeled), 21 cents for 50 boxes. The highest paid worker, a pasting girl making sample boxes, received $10.25 per week. She had been a box finisher for the same firm for 15 years, was capable appearing, and looked as if she would be worth a good deal more to herself in other lines of business. When some of the better appearing girls who were dissatisfied with their earnings were asked why they did not try something else if they had reached the limit in that line of work, they explained that there were others dependent upon them, and as they could not get $8 in a new employment to start with, they did not dare make a change. The usual plan is to pay beginners $4 per week for a couple of weeks. It usually is a matter of months before the worker makes that sum at piece-work. One girl reported that, she had received $4 per week as a be ginner for four months. For the first two weeks the employer also pays the girl next to the beginner a dollar extra per week to explain the work to her. NO ORGANIZATION. The girls in. box factories have not organized, but in the cigar box f ac tories they "stick together" better than in some other industries. Once when a favorite fore-woman was discharged, all hands walked out au<] stayed out until she was reinstated. A girl who starts to work during the noon hour or overtime, is soon made by the other girls to understand that this is not the best way to get along. In one factory, when a new pasting machine was put in, all the girls refused to give it a trial, saying that it was a "job stealer." In consequence the machine stood idle in a storeroom. Girls change from street dresses to work dresses, and in this way save some clothing expense. Most cigar box makers take all their money home Moving picture shows on Sunday was the only amusement Teported. The girls do not like to finish the same kind of box many days in suc- cession; they prefer a variety of sizes. Managers think the girls could make better wages if they kept at the same style of box all the time: but the girls say that some are harder to finish than others, and that each girl should have all kinds. The hinging girl is always paid by the week or the hour. Hinges are usually a strip of cloth, which the printed edging afterward covers, but some of the cheaper boxes have a brass hinge instead, and will not have edging. Some of the labels are cut on a machine, which is the only ma- chine in the girls' department. The girls using the machine are time workers. The covers are lightly tacked to the box when they are pre- pared for the finisher, and after the hinge is in place the tacks are pulled by a girl "tack puller." She receives about $4 per week. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 393 Table No. 53. SUMMARY OF THE PAPER AND CIGAR BOX INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visiled . 7 Establishments investigated 18 Employes interrogated 360 America n-born . 296 82 5 Foreign-born . . . 63 17 5 313 86 9 Adrift 47 13 1 120 33 3 Receiving less than $8 per week. *. 269 76 4 Receiving $8 per week and over. . 83 23 6 Working under 1 year 99 27 5 Working under 3 years ; 214 59 4 Working 3 years and over . 146 40 6 Have followed other occupations ' 188 52.2 Under 16 years of age 34 9.4 Under 20 years of age . 198 55.0 Under 25 years of age 302 84.8 25 years of a^e and over 54 15.2 Single 336 93.6 Married 12 3.3 Widowed 7 2.0 Separated or divorced . . . 4 1.1 APPENDIX S. MICHIGAN'S SEED INDUSTRY. Michigan's seed industry is not of large proportion, yet it is important. It is distinguished from "beaneries" in that the latter pick over peas and beans for food consumption, while the former prepare package seed for the market. In Detroit there are three seed companies, all of which were visited by one of the Commission's investigators. One handles seed only in bulk, dealing with canning farms; the other two prepare seed for the farmers and general retail trade. The advertising, which is an import- ant part of the business, is done by the seed houses through the issuing of catalogues describing the various kinds of seed and the method, soil and time of planting. In this industry there are a large number of operations, from the printing of envelopes and packages to their attrac- tive arrangement in boxes to tempt the gardener to new experiments. These boxes are the property of the companies, and are placed by them in grocery stores, the goods being sold on commission. In addition to this commission business, there is a mail order trade based on catalogue ad- vertising. The seed houses in the State were not visited as they had closed by the time the investigation had extended beyond Detroit. At the time the three Detroit houses were investigated the season was at its height, and 212 women out of the 628 employed were interrogated. REGULARITY OP THE WORK. In all the seed "factories," as they term themselves, the work neces- sarily is seasonal, lasting from eight to nine months. In August and September, when the "returns" (unsold packages of seed) come back and the new seed is beginning to come in, the girls are hired. In March and April, when each consignment has been put in packets, packed in boxes and shipped to its especial general store at the cross-roads, or to the neighborhood grocery, as the case may be, the girls are laid off to spend June and July at home, if they are young girls or married women merely helping out the family fund; or, if dependent upon their own efforts, to hustle for another job. In the two Detroit companies handling a retail trade, only about one- eighth of the regular force are kept the entire year to meet the require- ments of the mail order business. Naturally in work of such a seasonal character the employes are recruited for the most part from unskilled workers. It can find favor only with those thrown suddenly upon their own resources, who must find employment where no apprenticeship need be served. The operations are all simple; each one can he mas- tered in a day or two. It is also attractive to that shifting class wan- dering from one kind of unskilled work to another, as is shown by the MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 395 table of "other occupations." Out of 212 interrogated almost two-thirds reported "oilier occupations," and some as many as four other occupa- tions. Only 7."> out of 212 said they had done no other kind of work, and ."-' of these were on their "first job." Only one-half of those interviewed had worked more than a year. The Detroit interurban cars enable the daughters of farmers to go back and forth daily from their homes in the country, and many of these are attracted to this work during the win- ter months. OCCUPATIONS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. When the factories open in August for the season's work,- the "re- lurns" are made note of in order that the most salable kind of seed peculiar to each particular locality or neighborhood can be sent out another year; then they are sent to the top floor to be sorted and put through the machines that tear the packages, separating the paper from the seed, and sorting the good or vital seed from the unfit, the former in be mixed later with new seed and sent out again. This 1 work of sorting the "returns" is very dusty. The workers, all women, stand on a platform or "stage" as they call it, under a skylight, picking the packages from trays and putting them into the right bins, the contents of which are taken by men to the machine rooms where they are fed into the machines by girls. In the same department with the sorting of the "returns," the old boxes, both the "walnuts" and the plain large wooden boxes, are scrubbed, repaired, revarnished, relabeled and sent down to the packing rooms. This work also is done by women, the scrubbing done entirely by old women and those of foreign birth. On the top floor, also under the skylight, the bean pickers extract the warped, discolored, and undersized beans and peas as they pass before them on slow moving broad bands of canvas. This work is done almost exclusively by foreigners. Another department employing women only, is devoted to washing and mending the canvas bags used for the ship- ping to the wholesale trade. The seed is next put in packages by machines, the machines operated entirely by women. The more expensive seeds are carefully measured and the packages filled and pasted by hand. They are then ready for the shipping department, where the orders are filled, the small walnut boxes packed, and the large ones made ready for their journeys. In one seed house there is also a printing department, where the envelopes and packages are prepared for the filling machines. WAGES. In one company dealing exclusively with the wholesale trade, the em- ployes in the bean picking department were paid by piece-work, making from $5.50 to $8 a week. The others paid the bean pickers a weekly wage of $6 the first season and |7 every season thereafter. The pack- ers receive a weekly wage of from $5 to $7. There are a few piece- workers in the packing departments, and some make as high as $10 a week; but piece-work is said not to be practical in this work as the or- ders must be carefully checked to avoid errors. One piece-working girl was discovered filling an entire box with onion seed. 396 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. HEALTHFULNESS AND SANITATION. The handling of seed is not necessarily injurious. The dust of the sorting could be eliminated by the "blower" method of ventilation, though no factory had seen fit to put one in. The machinery is not dangerous. The packing involves standing, but there are benches for the girls to sit on between "orders," and a fifteen minute recess is allowed morning and afternoon. As in most factories dealing with a seasonal kind of work, the seed houses are not well equipped in the matter of wash room and toilets. One of these factories was an exception to this rule, in that it had a very good wash room adequately provided with toilets, wash stands and paper towels. The other two barely kept within the law. The toilets were of old plumbing tucked away in the corner of storerooms. The only facilities for washing were granite wash basins in iron sinks in the work rooms, and roller towels for the common use of both men and women. Table No. 64. SUMMARY OF THE SEED INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 1 3 Employes interrogated 212 American-born . 164 77.4 Foreign-born 48 22.6 159 75.0 Adrift 53 25.0 53 25.0 Receiving less than $8 per week 191 90.1 21 9.9 102 48.1 164 77.4 48 22.6 139 65.6 3 1.4 107 50.5 167 79.1 44 20.9 Single 178 84.0 Married 28 13.2 Widowed 1 0.5 5 2.3 P APPENDIX T, ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN BIG AND LITTLE STORES IN CITY AND TOWN. In 1910, according to the United States Census of that year, there were 8,268 saleswomen in Michigan. A few 93 of these were "demon- strators"; a few 177 were "sales agents." The remainder were em- ployed in stores. As there has been no apparei^t diminution of the em- ployment of women in stores since 1910, it is probable that to-day 10,- 000 Michigan women are earning their living in this manner. Following the classification of the United States Census, this report differentiates saleswomen from clerks. Those employed in the office are "clerks"; those employed behind the counter are "saleswomen," whether working in a 5 and 10 cent store or selling suits, and even though the first may receive only, say, $5 a week, while the second (as in the case of one saleswoman in a Detroit store who sold $27,000 worth of suits in nine months) makes as much as some superintendents of large establish- ments. NEED FOR DRESSING WELL. The saleswoman is an employe who comes into direct contact with the public. The factory girl never sees her employers' customers. They have little interest in her, and she has little interest in them. Only the telephone operator is on as intimate terms with her employer's custom- ers, though this is by word of mouth rather than by sight. The sales- woman, because of this direct contact and because she stands somewhat in the relation of an agent for her employer, must dress better than women employed in the mechanical trades. The office clerk is also re- quired to dress well, but this is another story. This necessity of dressing and looking well requires the saleswoman to pay more money in these directions than is required of most other women in gainful occupations. This -necessity should be reflected in the pay envelope. STORE TE IMITATIONS. If the clever woman in the employ of a large department store has an opportunity to advance to the head of any department and to near the top of the salary list, the inexperienced but pretty young girl may be tempted to choose the lower level of life presented to her in the course of her employment. "It depends upon the girl." At least, that is the way the successful girl, and the employer look at it. Many managers pride themselves upon the fact that any girl suspected of being immoral in her life outside of the store, no matter how well she may attend to her duties as saleswoman, is discharged. It may be 398 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON the end of all hope for the girl, but that seems to be of no concern to such a manager. An illustration: Two young saleswomen, employed on the first floor of a certain store in a large city in the State, told of a young girl in their department who had been discharged for immoral conduct. She was getting only $7 a week, and had been going out evenings with men she met at the store. The recreation appealed to her, perhaps the suppers were needed. The men became more careless, and went to the store to make appoint- ments. The manager discharged her. Her companions said that she not only did not have a cent of money, but that she almost always had to borrow a little to manage to get along until "pay day." They never saw her again, but she had no one to turn to in the city, except these men she had met in the store. In a sense, it did not depend upon the girl. Another example that was worked out to a different conclusion was that of a little saleslady in a toy department, which was not on the first floor, and where men had little to attract them. She also received $7 per week, and had to economize on meals to get enough to wear. She was always in debt to the other girls, and always sick with a cold. She paid $1.75 a week for a small, badly ventilated room, and frequently lost time on this account. She was, of course, not as valuable to the firm in her weakened condition, and could not improve on her present income. It was not altogether a up to her to make good" either. The good appearing girl, with selling ability, has a fair chance for advancement in the millinery department, though the long "dull sea- son" in that line, reduces her yearly earning capacity to a considerable degree. The woman with the physique and the selling ability, has good op- portunities to advance in position and wages in the ready-to-wear and suit and cloak departments. In the large cities it is not unusual to find saleswomen receiving from $25 a week up to $45, and even more in ex- ceptional cases. SHIFTING STANDARDS. Conditions in stores are of no particular standard. They vary per haps more than in any other industry investigated in the State. One large department store may have a social secretary, splendid lunch anc rest rooms, a system of instruction in selling, splendid hospital room with trained nurse in charge, and a humanitarian system of looking after the welfare of the women employes while in the store, and if in need, outside as well, calling on the sick, providing care in hospital when necessary, and looking after the girls who prove unable to meet the requirements of the store, and have to be discharged. A firm has even paid the fare of girls found to be pilfering to help out on expenses, back to their home towns, and seen to it that they went there. Another store, equally large, in the same city, may have none of these helps. And yet salaries will be no lower in the former place because of the help ful and healthful environments. In some of the stores girls receive commissions on sales in certain de partments, either on regular sales, or on certain goods. The latter com mission is termed a "P. M." It is not very clear just what the letters MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 399 stand for, some saying "Premium Money" and some "Pin Money." How- ever, it means that the goods are a little hard to dispose of, and the girls are rewarded for pushing them. Certain stores, large and small, have meetings of all the selling force, when all matters of interest are discussed. Some have a "Question Uox" where suggestions and advice and inquiries are dropped, to be taken up at the meeting. Where this is in vogue, all seem to be quite enthusiastic over the plan, but many managers are not in favor, con- sidering it but so much lost time to have such meetings. Certain stores send the young cash-girls and wrapper-girls one forenoon each week to the high school, where they are given lessons in English, arithmetic, salesmanship, reading, with talks on personal hygiene, and may take up either sewing or cooking. Two hundred and eighteen girls from the different stores in Detroit spend half a day each week in this way. This plan, of course, is not used in small towns. CONDITIONS IN SMALL TOWNS. The small town merchant may be as progressive as the one in the large city, and give commissions, and a fair percentage of the sales as wages, and he may be quite the reverse. There is little opportunity to become a buyer in a small town store, and wages, as well as living ex- penses, are lower. However, there is usually none of the terrible strain of selling, partly because most of the customers are friends of the pro- prietor or saleswoman and therefore trade in that store, while in the city the customers must be largely hurrying strangers, who are able to buy in any one of a dozen stores nearby. There are seats provided in stores for the girls to sit on when not busy, but there is often the complaint that if they do make use of them, the managers soon warn them that they will have to take a rest some- where else. WAGES. Some departments never pay a good wage, though the work is very hard. The notion counter, or the pattern department, come under this head. It does not require as much ability to sell a paper of pins, or wrap up a pattern, as to sell a suit, nor does the girl standing behind the counter have to wear the same grade of clothing as the saleswoman in the suit or millinery department. But the saleswoman can become quite as exhausted selling hundreds of articles day after day, and there is no hope of ever becoming really self-supporting, except in the most frugal way, in many of the departments of a store. Instances have been found where the saleswomen have been promised commissions, to be paid at the end of the year, and have worked hard to make sales, and have never been paid the commissions. There are in- stances, happily more numerous, where employes have shared unex- pectedly in the profits of the concern. While some 5 and 10-cent stores may start girls at low wages, it is a fact that they usually take the girl who has had no experience and train her as far as it is necessary to sell their grade of goods, when she seeks for a better paying position. So the "10-cent store" be- comes in a sense a training school for saleswomen for the other stores. 400 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON They are burdened with the largest percentage of "drifting'' workers of any of the industries investigated. Many of the stores make gifts of money at Christmas, and the girls in many of the 10-cent stores receive a regular increase of Christmas present money, $5 for each year of service, and a wedding present of money, depending upon length of service, should she marry. VACATIONS. In the upper part of Michigan, the vacation with pay is invariably the rule; in the lower part of the State, some stores give vacation with pay, but many do not. One system which gave good satisfaction, and did away with the loss of time during the year, to a great extent, was to allow each saleswoman twelve days' loss of time with pay, to be taken at any time and in any way she desired. She could be out a day or so at a time, or take it all as a two weeks' vacation. Toilet facilities in the stores, particularly in the smaller towns where they are shared with the public, often leave much to be desired in clean- liness, though they are of good and modern construction. To the successful saleswoman the store offers one of the best fields for the wage-earning woman to enter. For the majority it is nothing but hard work, long hours Saturdays and holidays, and in the small town two or three nights each week and a mechanical politeness to unreason- able customers, with a hope that something will happen to lift her out of it for good. To a few it is the gateway opening upon the broad road down the hill. A NERVE-STRAINING BUSINESS. It may have been mentioned before, but it will bear repetition, that standing behind a counter trying to keep up one's end of the sales, is a nerve-straining business. As one of the saleswomen in a large depart- ment store told an investigator: "It is very wearing, you bet it is. Gets you so nervous some days, you don't know whether you are standing on your head or on your feet. Girls are lucky who stay at home. Girls behind a counter ought to have on a clean pair of stockings every day. I couldn't do more than I am doing now; I have reached the limit of my endurance. The floor managers are after you. You can't take a breath. It gives you a nervous breakdown." Another investigator, interrogating the saleswomen in a large Detroit department store, looked around her and wrote: "When I think of this store I think it is fine. I think I should like to work right in this store. I see a big growing place of exchange. I see this automatic industry, if I may call it "so, providing for the all-round needs of its workers, in order to better serve the community. "But when I hear throughout the store, 'Cash, Cash,' I feel different. I hate to see 'Cash.' She's a little human girl under 1G thrust out of school into industry. You MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 401 couldn't possibly laugh while seeing or thinking of her. "And those feet those tired feet. "And then the kinds of things sold so many useless things, so many useful things, so many things made not to endure, but to be sold. Such flimsy, undesirable shirt- waists and summer dresses. "Each girl is trying to make a penny for the firm, in order to hold her job." STATE REQUIREMENTS. One Michigan labor law provides "That no female shall be employed in any store, shop or any other mercantile establishment for a period longer than an average of nine hours a day or fifty-four hours in any week, nor more than ten hours in any one day. "All persons who employ females in stores shall be required to pro- cure and provide proper and suitable seats for all such females, and shall permit the use of such seats, rests or stools as may be necessary, and shall not make any arbitrary rules, regulations or orders preventing the use of such stools or seats at reasonable times. "Xo employer of female help shall neglect or refuse to provide seats, nor shall make any rules, orders or regulations in their shops or stores or other places of business requiring females to remain standing when not necessarily in service or labor therein." STORE CONDITIONS. The following are samples of what the Commission's investigators re- ported on store conditions, not only in Detroit, but also throughout the State. There is a sameness about them that makes it unnecessary to re- produce the report of each individual store. One gives a hint as to dressing : BLACK AND WHITE WAISTS. "Your attention is called to the rule in the better stores where black or white waists are always worn. Can we all agree to white Saturdays and black the rest of the week? At least, please do not come to work in your party, society or church dresses no more than you would wear working dresses to parties, etc. Your hair should be in keeping with plain clothes that is minus some of the curls and ribbons some- times worn. They are nice for parties, but not for business." This sign was posted in one rest room: "If you think that money with holes in it is good we shall pay you with it and see how good it is when you try to pass it elsewhere." The rest room is described as follows: "Rest room in basement, cement floor, dirty, no ventilation except when door of rest room opening in stock room is left open. Toilet room used by girls opens off from this small rest room. The only furniture in the room is three wooden chairs. 51 402 REPORT OP COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON PUBLIC USE GIRLS' TOILET. Department Store. Floor space used, first floor and basement; seats provided and use permitted; closets in basement, these were not kept in a sanitary condition; general public permitted use of toilet; one wash basin, not often clean ; one roller towel provided daily, not clean at time of visit of investigator; no women of loose character knowingly employed. Manager said that the girls employed in certain departments and girl apprentices were not getting as much pay as they will receive later; that he was going to arrange a bonus system; said they preferred to employ girls living at home, although they did not have a rule re- quiring that none but girls living at home or with relatives be given employment. Firm does not interfere with the outside associations of the girls if they can sell goods; believes that late hours have a bad effect on the workers the day following; offers bonus or commissions at certain times in the year to any girl who increases the amount of her sales over those of any previous week; have no benefit organiza- tion; no school of instruction. THIS FIRM DISCUSSES BUSINESS METHODS WITH EMPLOYES. This department store consists of three floors and basement. This firm said they preferred to employ girls who live at home and this was one of the first questions asked an applicant for position. Will not permit women or girls whom they know to be of loose character in their em- ploy; girls are told they may stay as long as they keep straight. One of the managers explained that they were going to place their sales- women on a commission basis within a very short time. The girl re- ceiving |6 per week would be expected to sell $100 worth of merchandise; as she increased her sales her earnings would be increased correspond- ingly. This firm had no organized benefit association; no school of in- struction; the manager said that at certain intervals the employes were invited to remain after closing hours to partake of a supper provided by the firm, and to discuss business methods; the employes were en- couraged to ask questions and the firm hoped in this way to create and stimulate an interest in their business. None of the employes who had previous appointments were made to remain to the supper, but it was the general impression throughout the store that it was best to remain. The toilets were located on the top floor; well ventilated; adequate washing facilities were provided. The toilets for the use of the custo- mers were entirely separate from those provided for the use of the women employes. Seats are provided and the girls were permitted to use them when not waiting on customers. THREE TOILET CRITICISMS. In regard to the toilet (in a 5 and 10-cent store), all the girls at first interviewed said it was dreadful. By the time I got around to seeing it (says the investigator), it was fixed. One girl said that one toilet did not flush for three mouths, and the other smelled so you couldn't MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 403 stand it. After it was fixed this sign was put up one night: "This toilet is for ladies. If you art* not one do not use same." The toilet (in a small city store) is on the first floor and is all right, although there is no toilet paper. Torn tissue paper lies on the floor to be used. The toilet (in a small city store) is in the basement. Clean, but dark and musty. One stumbles over boards in getting to it. The towels are dirty. There are not enough of them, even for the few workers. One girl told me that the ventilation is very bad in winter. Store is close. Smells bad when you come in in the morning. UP TO DATE. On the ninth floor of this department store, with over a thousand employes, is a rest room couches, chairs, tables, books fine in every way. There is also an educational room, with an educational secretary. Every girl comes to a class every week. The secretary teaches them salesmanship all the things they need to know in a business way, and in dealing with customers, and personal matters. Every girl comes to her for instruction except the cash-girls and the little inspectors. These under 16 years of age are compelled to attend the Cass Technical School one morning a week. The firm considers the educational work done this last year a fine thing for it financially. The store has added, since last June, 2,000 charge accounts, due to increased efficiency of service, coming to a large extent from the educational training given the sales force. The firm hires a trained nurse. The girls are free to go to her at any time. They can also get excused by the head of the department in which they work, and go to the rest room and rest. The nurse finds that since Saturday night closing the girls are much better in health "twice as well," she puts it. IMPROVEMENTS NEEDED HERE. The girls in the basement and on the first floor (this is not a de- partment store) use a toilet in the basement. It is dark, and not ventilated. One girl said it was very disagreeable to go in there and get a drink, because at times the odor was so bad. The lockers used by the girls on the first floor are right there. Separate towels are fur- nished the girls. The first time I visited the store there was no paper in the toilet room, and no liquid soap in any holder; there was a solitary dirly towel. The second time I was there there was paper and snap. The basement is not ventilated. There are two ventilating shafts, but they are in partitioned-off corners, and are full of merchandise. No daylight nothing but electric lights. The rest room, on the fourth floor, it seemed to me, was neither quiet nor restful. The girls used it very little, except at lunch time. MUST LIVE AT HOME. This store is well located; first floor only used for store purposes; well lighted and well ventilated; proper toilet facilities; general public per- 404 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON mitted to use toilet upon request; provided with clean towel every other day. Manager told the investigator that he always asked the girl appli- cant for a position if she lived at home or with relatives; will not em- ploy them if they are entirely self-supporting; told of two girls who had recently applied for and had been given a position; they told him that they were living with an aunt. He said that the girls knew of his rule never to employ girls who lived away from home influence. He found later that the girls were living at the Y. W. C. A. and in order to make both ends meet were ringing up but a part of the amount of their sales, and slipping the balance into their shoes. The girls were from a neighboring city, and upon promising to return to their homes they were released without prosecution. He admitted that girls could not afford to work for the wages they could offer unless they were living at home. He used to have a school of instruction every two weeks, but the girls were getting along so nicely now that there is, in his judgment, no longer a need to continue the school. WAGES DEPEND ON PROFITS SHOWN. The first floor only in this store is used for selling purposes. It is well lighted and ventilated; stools provided and their use permitted; floor-woman sees that the girls keep their department counters in pre- sentable condition, and well supplied with stock. Girls are not permit- ted to leave their counters to go to the toilet or for a drink, which is kept in the basement, without first receiving permission from the floor- woman or the manager. The manager told the investigator that they were instructed from the main office to raise the wages of the girls as soon as they showed effi- ciency; he said that the salaries of the managers depended on profits shown, which has had a tendency to keep down wages until the mini- mum wage agitation in the different states began. The basement is dark and damp ; toilet and combination rest and lunch room are located in the basement ; toilet is located near outside window, thus local ventilation is provided; toilet was not kept in sanitary condi- tion owing to the condition of the plumbing; not enough flush to prop- erly clean the bowl. "REST ROOM" UNDER SIDEWALK. There is no welfare work whatever done in this department store. They have a room called "rest room and lunch room." In reality it is neither. There is a long table covered with white oilcloth, with benches on either side of it, where the girls can eat their cold lunches. There is a sagging couch in the corner where a girl can lie down if she feels very ill, but she can not rest. The room is under the sidewalk, and over- head is the continual tramp of feet of customers passing in and out of the main door. The room has no means of ventilation, and flies are buzzy and numerous. The building is new. The toilets are satisfactory. The girls are provided with stools behind the counter, and they may sit down if there is no customer on their side of the store. There is no system of raising the girls' wages either by per cent on their sales or by length of service. A girl has to beg for a raise, and when MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 405 she gets tired asking she quits. With only one exception, that of the assistant buyer, no girl had been employed in the store over six years, and the majority of them had been there less than two years. HOW ONE STORE IS MANAGED. One linn, at the request of Miss Burton, Secretary of the Commission, furnished the following brief outline of that store's organization : We have fixed a minimum wage of $8 for salesladies of twenty- one years and over. We require that the applicants shall have com- pleted the eighth grade or its equivalent, and that their physical con- dition is such as to guarantee their fitness for the position. All applicants are required to file a written application, giving at least three business references (firms they have worked for) also three personal references other than relatives. By these applications we determine whether or not they are dependent upon themselves for support entirely or in part. All applicants are required to take instruction in our school of store system, where we train them in the routine of store work in- cluding every transaction which they will be required to handle as employes. The applicants who cannot pass this school of instruc- tion are rejected on the grounds that if they cannot handle their work in the schoolroom it would be impossible for them to succeed either for themselves or for us. When the applicants leave the school- room they are assigned to certain departments. This assignment is based upon their past experience and their showing in the school of instruction. Their salaries are also gauged by these two standards. Our store is divided into fifty departments. There is a certain sell- ing percentage fixed in each of these. For example: In five per cent departments a saleslady at $8 per week is required to sell $160. If, however, this saleslady averages $180 per week her salary is then in- creased to $9. If by her experience and aggressive work she can again increase her sales to an average of $200 per week her salary is in- creased to $10. This puts every sales-person in our employ upon a fair and just footing and they share with us fairly their increase in sales. In addition to the school of instruction, we have lectures on store system and salesmanship. These lectures are held in the morning during business hours and our employes attend in classes averaging from sixty to o.ne hundred twenty-five. This gives an opportunity to reach all our people without requiring them to stay after closing hours. In cases where it is necessary to address the entire force, we close the store twenty or twenty-five minutes early. Employes' instructions are given on the time of the firm. Our employes are not required to give their hours of recreation to a study of store system and policies. Our store has provided a girls' rest room; a light, roomy, airy, place situated on the sixth floor, away from the noise and confusion. Ad- joining this are the lavatories, also employes restaurant where we serve to the ladies of the organization at less than cost. These rooms are open only to the girls and ladies employed. Our trained nurse is constantly in attendance, with her head- quarters in the employes' rest room where she is always available for consultation or medical attention to the employes of the firm. We have also provided a hospital room in which emergency cases are cared for. The locker room for girls and ladies is in an entirely different building than that of the men and is reached by a separate entrance. In fact, we have thrown about the women of this store every protec- tion possible. It has been our aim and desire to make this store a de- sirable place for young women to work. 406 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. Table No. 55. SUMMARY OF THE STORE TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited . 22 Establishments investigated 155 Employes interrogated 2,148 American-born . . 1,879 87 5 Foreign-born 269 12 5 Living at home 1,551 72 2 Adrift 597 27 8 608 28 3 Receiving less than $8 per week 1,221 57 2 Receiving $8 per week and over 913 42 8 Working under 1 year 494 23 Working under 3 years . 1,083 50.4 1,065 49 6 1,125 52 4 Under 1 6 years of age 48 2.2 Under 20 years of age 631 29.4 Under 25 years of age 1,213 57.5 25 years of age and over 895 42.5 Single 1,697 79.1 Married Widowed 200 170 9.3 8.0 Separated or divorced (3 not reporting) 78 3.6 APPENDIX U. WORKING CONDITIONS OF TELEPHONE OPERATOKS. The telephone business is run to pay interest on money invested and dividends on stock. The people engaged to carry out its policies are not free to follow humanitarian impulses. They are hired to make this big machine work, and they keep their jobs "according to their ability" to do what they are expected to do. So the kindest-hearted man or woman in the world cannot raise wages or shorten hours, when he is em- ployed to make money returns on the investment of the stockholders. The kindness and big-heartedness of the people, and the general co- operative spirit found in the telephone service, are the fine things. While interviewing the girls in a Detroit telephone exchange, one of the head men asked the Commission's investigator to be careful what was said to the girls; not to make them discontented with the pay or 1he hours. He said the company could not give the girls more, or shorten their hours, with present rates. He believes in welfare work; he would like to extend that, and have a roof garden. SCHEMES TO PROCURE OPERATORS. The company has advertised a great deal in the newspapers for girls. In 1913 it spent $1,598.15 advertising in Detroit newspapers. Besides this it paid six solicitors to go around just for Detroit exchanges, asking girls to take up telephone work. It paid these girls and gave them 1 Minuses besides on the girls they procured. Operators, too, were asked to procure girls, and were given bonuses. If an operator got a girl to come, and she stayed two months, the operator got $3. In one exchange the operators got 2GG girls, of which 163 stayed the required time. To procure these 163 girls the company paid in bonuses $489 for one ex- change only. hi January, 1913, the company started another bonus scheme. It con- tinued until September, 1913. This scheme promised the girl who was getting the minimum pay ($25 a month at that time), $25 extra if she slaved a year. When April came it increased the minimum pay to $28 a month and continued the bonus system. But in September it discontinued the bonus system, and increased the general pay roll, raising the minimum pay to $1.10 a day. The following table illustrated the necessity for raising the wages, in oider to keep the girls, and so improve the service. For notwithstanding the training a girl gets at the company's school, no operator is thoroughly competent at a switch-board until she has served three months: 408 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. 56. TABULATION OF NEW TELEPHONE GIRLS. Entered. Discharged. Experienced. New. Received bonus. Not entitled to receive bonus. January .... 165 118 60 58 24 9-J February March April 123 138 151 86 102 106 45 40 44 41 62 62 25 17 30 14 19 15 May 147 94 16 78 44 g June 223 154 49 105 47 99 From May, 19.13, to May, 1914, there had been engaged for the serv- ice 1,925 girls. Of these 1,329 had never before worked, and 569 had. The average time a girl stays in the service is from 18 to 22 months. The fact that many stay not longer than three months brings down the average. And also, in figuring the averages, the fact that many of the girls who re-enter have had some previous experience, is not taken into account. They re-enter as new, with the minimum pay, or sometimes with some time-credit. If a girl worked six months before, she re-enters under the three months schedule. There w r ere on the pay roll, July 4, 1914, some 2,117 local operators, 38 of whom were public pay station operators. There were also 110 long distance operators. In all, 2,227 girls. Of these, 1,925 were hired in the last twelve months. July being the time for girls to take their vacations, 117 were away; 117 schoolgirls took their places. It has since transpired that all of these permanently left school, in order to keep up the family purse, which suffered from the non-employment of the men. With work slack, and with so many men out of work, thus compelling their daughters to seek jobs, the telephone company in 1914 inserted in the newspapers an "ad" only half the size of the one used in 1913. No bonuses are offered and no solicitors are being paid. The company gets all the girls it wants and can pick and choose. REQUIREMENTS. In Detroit the company is very careful not to take a girl without her working paper unless they are sure she is 16. It desires girls between the ages of 16 and 25. Girls are quick to learn and act at that age. Many of the girls who enter are very young, many 16, very many 17. Girls under 16 are not much good. They can't work after six o'clock, .and are not capable of doing heavy day work. They are not taken, except when necessary, as in 1913, when the service was so rushed. Older women are not desired. They are not quick enough, but they are taken to fill the ranks and to do night work. The law prohibits any girl under 18 from working after 10 P. M. Therefore, older women must be used. The women need the extra 10 cents given to night w r orkers, and need the work badly enough to take it. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 400 HEALTH AND EDUCATION. When one enters the school or the service, there is no examination. They have to answer a couple of questions on the application blank. The service is trying now not to take a girl who is apt to develop a goitre, but otherwise so great is the demand for girls no effort is made at all to protect the girl against possible injury to herself. Efforts are made to keep out the "undesirable" girls, but the thing that raised the standard was the increase in pay. Not much is required in the way of an education. A plain enunciation is demanded, and enough of an education to do the school work. Girls are turned away who cannot spell "yes" and "no." Some blanks were examined. "Yes" is spelled "Yess,". "Yass," "Yas," "Yeas," etc. On one blank it was spelled three different ways, all of them wrong. The girl was 17 and in the eighth grade. "No" is spelled "know" and "now." One blank was made out this way: What is your general condition of health? "Oridgt" (all right). Girls like this are turned away. THE SCHOOL. The school is most interesting. One woman not only receives all ap- plicants and supplies all vacancies throughout the different exchanges, but also has charge of the school. Twelve teachers are employed. The largest number of girls in the school at one time is 110 to 115. New girls are coming in every day. In order to appreciate the school one would have to see it. And if you should see it you would certainly admire the wonderful patience and ability of the teachers. You would be impressed by the faces of the little girls learning to be those in- visible operators called "Central." When you say "Central, give me Main 2359" and Central repeats "twoj three, fi-of, ni-en?" what do you see? Do you see a young girl thrust out to earn her living because the average wages of a working-man in the United States of America is $514 a year, and the girl must eke out the family income? The school course lasts a week, at the least. The girls get a dollar a day while they learn. SCHEMES TO KEEP THE GIRLS. Some things are absolutely necessary. Girls cannot work at a switch- board without rest periods. Her efficiency is obviously impaired. The company so well recognizes this that rest periods are counted in as working time. These rest periods are reduced to the minimum that "efficiency" demands; not the minimum that lifetime of efficiency de- mands, but which day-by-day efficiency demands. It is called welfare work, but after all, if one must rest, one must rest somewhere, and if one has only 15 minutes, that place must be near. So rest rooms are a necessity. Every exchange in Detroit has a rest room. These vary. Some have pianos or pianolas; the main exchange has a branch of the Public Library, and once a week the girls can draw books. They all have couches and chairs. The couches and the piano are in the same room. Some of the girls rest by throwing themselves down on 410 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON the couches for 10 minutes; some by dancing. One couldn't help wish- ing that the couches were in some quiet, restful room, and yet there ought to be pianos. Legs cramped all day need exercise. In the main exchange girls utterly fatigued can go to a smaller rest room used as an emergency room, where it is qyiet. That is the only exchange that has one. These rest rooms are very pleasant. CAPES. In some of the exchanges there are no lunch rooms. In these the girls for the most part live so near that they can go home. The other girls have to bring lunches, or buy something from a near by store. But in most of the exchanges visited, there were lunch rooms on the cafe- teria system food sold at cost. This department might be called real Welfare Work. The company loses by it, if anything, and it doesn't have to do it. A great deal of care is given to this department. Some fine, conscientious women have charge. It is a big job. The girls can get at reasonable prices all their meals, and lunch in between. The food served is good. The cleanliness and atmosphere of each exchange cafe depends more or less on the woman in charge, and upon the ability to get help. They are more or less alike, and yet everyone is different. Some of the buildings, too, are newer, and have better accommodations for their lunch rooms. One does not see it anywhere more than in this department the lives of folks that are being spent to provide for the needs of others. All this personal service combined produces a sort of automatic result. More than ever you feel that the Workers are the Brains. It seems unfair to criticise these lunch rooms at all. One would like the kitchens to be a little away from the tables, and the tables always immaculately clean. A NURSE IN CHARGE. In Detroit at the Main exchange there is a trained nurse. It is a matter of keeping the girls on the job. Efficiency must be maintained. The service must not suffer. If health cannot be sacrificed without les- sening the efficiency required to-day, or without hurting the service, it must be considered. The woman who was the first welfare worker hired in Detroit and who had charge of the girls till the trained nurse came, was talking with the present trained nurse about the girls giving out. She said when she first came as welfare secretary she didn't know what to do. She had to do something. She discovered the value of gin- ger tea. By the use of ginger tea and hot water bottle and resting half an hour, the girls can go back to work. The nurse is a welfare worker hired by the company. Perhaps some day the work of the nurse will be included in a compulsory examination of girls before entrance; she will give instruction to girls in. hygiene and morality, and it will be her duty to see to all sanitary matters, from the sterilization of headpieces to the cleanliness of toilets. The toilets are cleaned, but are not kept clean. They are used con- stantly by so many. Sometimes, it is sickening to use them. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 411 The girls use common drinking cups or glasses. In one exchange a cup was chained down. Th< lowels arc cotton, often changed, yet used in common. These tilings spell syphilis and tuberculosis, toilet seats everywhere should be open in front and of metal, frequently disinfected, and the seats should flush of themselves to instantly dispel odors. Paper towels should be used in spite of the fact that people are careless. Girls should be instructed as to their part in keeping the toilet clean. In- struction along these lines should be a part of the industrial instruc- tion given a girl in school, and in the industrial schooling offered by the industries. Girls entering any industry should have regular and frequent instruction given her in personal and social hygiene. Next to pay and hours of work, there is nothing more important. If all the girls who say the toilet arrangements are satisfactory, think so, it is proof education is needed along these lines. "Toilets should be as sanitary as kitchens." EXCURSIONS AND VACATIONS. Another plan the Detroit exchange has tried in order to keep the girls, is free excursions for the summer. The excursions average from 15 to 170 girls. The excursions are free, but not time off. The girls at the different exchanges are encouraged to be sociable. They give dances and moonlight excursions for themselves. The vacation is only one week with pay. In order to keep the girls at their work they are allowed 10 days with pay if they are absent only one day during the year, and two weeks with pay if never absent. The ji'irls say: "I could have had a vacation, but worked vacation time to make up for time lost on account of sickness. I have had no vacation in two years except when sick." "I stay home. Cheapest place, I guess." "I just stay home, around town; all I have money for." "I stay home during vacation and take excursions. I never go away. A week isn't long enough to stay." "Vacation seems so good!" BENEFIT SYSTEM. The benefit system does not benefit anyone who has not served two years, the average term of service is from 18 to 22 months. For em- ployes whose terms of employment has been two years or more, but less than five, the Sickness Disability Benefit is as follows: Full pay four weeks; half pay nine weeks, after first seven days' absence. For em- ployes whose term of employment has been five years or more, but less than 10 years; full pay 13 weeks; half pay 13 weeks after first seven days' absence. The following is copied from a blank : Age 25. Worked for the company five and one-half years out of eight years. "I can't complain of the company. I don't want to make out this blank if it is a criticism." She feels more than grateful for the company's treatment of her during her illness. She was out eight months. She had congestion of the kidneys caused by being on her feet as supervisor. She was supervisor four years. She received 412 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON half pay for three months, then she resigned because she didn't "have the conscience to take any more money from the company." So she was out five months without pay. Then again she has been out with a nervous breakdown for 10 weeks. She received full pay for nine weeks. She has had to pay the doctor $120 this year. "The doc- tor has gotten all I earned for the last three of four years," she said. The Benefit System is fully explained in a booklet the company issues. One of the plans to keep the girls is to reduce their pay if they leave and come back. Sometimes a girl can get a leave of absence, but if not, and she leaves, when she conies back she is only allowed pay in accord- ance with half the time she has served the company. This would keep most girls from taking a vacation longer than their regular week. It not only means less pay, but reduced pay when they return. EFFICIENCY AND THE BONUS SYSTEM. There is a bonus system for keeping the girls in the service. Prizes are offered to the most efficient teams, a team consisting of a supervisor and eight girls. Prizes are given the teams with fewest black marks which represent the mistakes of the operators, as kept track of by "listening in" operators. The prizes in the different exchanges awarded to the most perfect team run from $5 to $12. The team uses the prize for a celebration, such as a theater party. It would seem tha't the best way devised for keeping the girls in the service, as well as for increasing their efficiency is to increase their pay. One official said: "The increase in wages last September (191.3) has made a big difference in the service." HOURS. The "Working Curves" as published by the company show that the work which the girls have to handle varies considerably. When a load is heaviest it is spoken of as the "peak" load. At that time all the boards are occupied. The "peak" comes at the middle of the morning and the middle of the afternoon. It varies somewhat in different local- ities, and several things influence it. Let us imagine it is 1 A. M. The night girls are on; there aren't many of them. There are very few calls, so the girls take this time to test out the lights, requiring from one to three hours. One thinks of the night girls as having nothing to do, but this is not the case. By five o'clock in summer the girls must have finished their testing, and have had their rest hour, and be ready for work again. The load be- gins to increase. The commission merchants are at work. Business brightens up. By nine the world is all awake. If it is a rainy morn- ing, one calls up a neighbor and has a chat. So do other women. And that means a busy morning for the telephone girls. Between 10 and 11 is the "peak." Then things get easier till the afternoon, and at five o'clock, when the department stores close, the load at the main exchange, according to the load chart, drops down a precipice. In other exchanges the drop is more gradual, depending on the nature of the patronage in the district covered. All these things have to be planned on. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 413 Then too, girls have to be planned for. They don't like to work evenings. So evening shifts have to be shortened to persuade the girls to take them. The girls don't like the broken shifts and night work, so these have to carry with them a higher remuneration. And the ser- vice must go on Sundays and all. A GIRI/S TIME FOR A WEEK. In order to figure out the regular time a telephone girl works take for example a regular nine-hour-a-day girl. She says : "I work from seven to four-thirty every day but Sunday, one week. I work nine hours a day. I am in the Telephone Building nine and one-half hours a day. I am in the Telephone Building 57 hours a week that week. I have half an hour off for dinner. I swallow my dinner, wash up, rest five minutes, and go back to the switch-board. I have a quarter of an hour off to relax in the morning and another quarter off in the afternoon. I clean up, dance or rest five minutes, and go back to the switch-board. "The two quarters of an hour are the company's time, given to main- tain my efficiency, and so I am not docked for them. "So that week I work 54 hours, 51 of which I sit up with my feet on rungs facing the switch-board. "The next week I work from seven to four-thirty, five days a week. I work Sunday instead of a week day. Sunday I work from seven to four; nine hours. They call it a Long Sunday. It is. I am in the Telephone Building nine hours. I get a half-hour off to eat, and 15 minutes morning and afternoon to relax. I work eight and one-half hours. I face the switch-board eight hours. That's my long Sunday. That week I am in the Telephone Building 56% hours, and I work 53% hours. I am facing the switch-board 50% hours. "My short Sunday I work six hours, with only 10 minutes off in between, so that week I am in the Telephone Building 53% hours; I 'work' 51 hours, and face the board 48% hours. So this is the result: In the building one week . . 57 hours. In the building one week .56% hours. In the building one week 57 hours. In the building one week 53% hours." The Load 'runs as follows : Main A operators 168 calls per hour. Cherry A operators 163 calls per hour. Main B operators 360 calls per hour. The "A" girls receive the calls from the subscribers. The "B" girls, or the "Busy Bees" as they are called, connect all calls with the people asked for. The telephone girls do not come under the 54-hour law. The schedule time of the company so far as Detroit is concerned does not work them over 54 hours. They are allowed a day off for the Sunday they work. The company can, however, work them overtime. But whether or not the company by working them overtime causes t liein to work more than 54 hours a week, or more than 10 hours in one day, this is true, that the girls can, of their own accord work overtime, and the company is glad to have them. The company can in this way accommodate the service without hiring so many girls. 414 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON PUBLIC PAY STATIONS AND PRIVATE BOARDS. All pay stations in hotels, etc., are owned and run by the company. In many ways, hotel work is not desirable, but the work is easier and the girls get pay and tips. The company often supplies other people with operators. This helps out an employer and gives the girls a chance. It sounds at first like pure philanthropy on the part of the company but isn't. It is certainly co-operative and nice, but the company finds that the service is so demoralized if a private board has an inexperienced girl that it pays to help put a reliable operator at it. PAY. In figuring up the pay offered the girl operators, the company inves- tigates the different localities, finds the market price of the labor re- . quired, and makes out a schedule designed to enable it always to get the girls it needs. In spite of this, however, the company always needs girls. And girls help to fill this need by working overtime. You must figure in comparing the yearly pay of the telephone girls of Detroit that the present schedule went into effect September 1, 1014. The pay in the report is reckoned from March, 1913, to March, 1914. If the girls had all the years been paid according to the present schedule, the yearly figure would be much higher. The minimum wage in April, 1913, was $25. It is now $29.92 a month. The yearly pay is larger than it would be if it included only regular working hours. It includes overtime. Since September, 1913, the girls have been paid at so much a day; it is a great improvement over pay by the month. Considering the ever varying schedules and the varying scales of overtime,, and .the docking and fining for keys, and all, it is next to impossible even now for a girl to know if her pay envelope is correct or not. A girl just starting gets $1.10 a day. A girl who has worked three years gets for her fourth year $1.65 a day, and her 10th year she gets $2 a day. There is a regular schedule. The girls never know what the schedule is, or when their raise is due them. Pay is reckoned from the 1st to the 15th and is paid on the 20th. Fay is reckoned from the 16th to the 30th or 31st, and is paid the fifth of the following month. Girls are paid time and a half for overtime. If absent, the time is counted against their vacation and pay. For this reason, girls pay each other and work for each other, if a girl pays a girl in money and not in time, she pays her 25 cents for a whole hour, and 15 cents for a half hour. This is going the company one better. The girl has to work for the company eight years before she gets 25 cents an hour. Divided shifts mean 15 cents a day extra. All night shifts mean 10 cents a day extra. In case a girl can't be accommodated at the station nearest her home she is given 10 cents extra. It is called a Long Trip. Senior operators get 10 cents, and supervisors 20 cents, more than operators. Report nights go in "spasms." Different "loads" call for them at different exchanges, or they may not be necessary. If a girl gets four hours off Saturday afternoon, she makes it up MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 415 sonic night by working three hours. When Saturday afternoon is slack the company likes to have the girls do this. FINES. A new key for a locker costs 25 cents. It seems to be hard to hold on to keys when one is young and thoughtless. But one learns. In speaking of pay, the investigator was told : "If you don't take your day off and have split hours, you get a fancy salary. Take a senior operator, for instance. She would get 10 cents extra for being a senior operator and 15 cents extra for working split hours. This is the rule for docking, if late: Any operator late from 45 to 75 minutes shall be docked for one hour. Any operator who is late from 75 to 105 minutes shall be docked for one and one-half hours, etc. It is hard for a telephone girl to keep account of how much she should be paid. She gets $1.10 a day to start with. In a few months it is increased to $1.20 and in a little while it goes up to $1.30. So she knows she is continually getting raised, which encourages her. But many do not know that there is a regular schedule. For every other Sunday she gets time and a half. Then that week she will be out a day and so not get paid for that day. Then too, some months she works three Sundays, but is only paid for one time. She is docked if late and fined for keys. And then she isn't paid until four or five days after the half month is over. FIGURING PAY. In order to figure out what a telephone girl gets a week you have to do this: "Calculating there are five Sundays in August and 31 days. I work Sunday the 2nd, 16th and 30th. I get $1.30 a day. I do not work the 5th or the 19th, having worked the 2nd and 16th. I divide the month from the first to the 15th and from the 16th to the 31st. From the 1st to the 15th I work 12 regular days and two Sundays. From the 16th to the 31st I work 14 days and one Sunday. In my pay envelope that I get August 20, I find $19.50 (plus overtime and minus deductions). And September 5 I receive a pay envelope with $20.15 in it (minus deductions and plus overtime). That month I received $39.85. The next month it won't be that much, because I'll work only two Sundays." It must require some bookkeeping. One girl says : "I am 18 years old. I get $1.40 a day. I don't know how long I've been getting it, or how much I got before. I'm satisfied. I didn't ask." Another girl says: "I am 19 years old; have worked three years for the company. I did not use to take a day off, but do now. I need it more than the money. I did work report nights but don't now. Can't stand it to work so long. I look well but can't stand it ... I don't know about pay. Never kept track, didn't take interest in it, but just took pay as it came." (She is not self-supporting. She gives her envelope to her mother.) "We are paying for a home. My salary helps .... Lots of things I want but really can't have, you know*" 416 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON THE JOB. One would like to express the feeling one has when thinking of the telephone service. Department stores and little corner groceries, and automobile factories, and city homes and lonely farm-house, and all the places where folks are, including the red light district and the churches, are able to communicate with each other in a minute. Thou- sands of girls make the connections, thousands of girls usually be- tween the ages of 16 and 25, sitting up with feet on the rungs of high stools, facing a switch-board many hours a day, saying, "Number, please?" and repeating "Two, three, fi-of, ni-en?" handling many pairs of cords at a time, watching many lights to see if the connections are made, or to see if the parties are through talking so that she can disconnect the lines; ears and eyes and fingers and arms constantly alert, and nerves constantly under tension. She is taught precisely what to say, and she is not allowed to say anything else. She has a supervisor at her back constantly, helping her when necessary, watching her always. She knows that somewhere there is a "listening in" operator who can at any time listen to her and keep track of her ability and her voice and her mistakes and her behavior, all without her knowing it. If she so much as says to a subscriber. "I did give you that number," and is heard saying it, she is reprimanded. She must say "Please" and always be courteous* and never answer back. IMPATIENT GIRLS AND IMPATIENT SUBSCRIBERS. In order to keep her from "going to sleep" on her job she works in connection with those on either side of her. If she is not busy, and they are, she assists them, so there is no relaxation at the board. Just remember this, subscribers, if the girl is impatient. It's irritat- ing just to telephone isn't it? Well, it may be the last hour "which is so long," and she may have been sitting with her feet on rungs facing a switch-board and answering calls for all sorts of subscribers for five long hours with only 15 minutes off to keep her nerves from breaking and to "maintain her efficiency." If subscribers only knew their reputations! The investigator was talking to two chief operators, one for the "A's," and one for the "B's". She said she had heard that the "A's" work was easier than the "B's" for the latter had so many more connections to make. The chief operator for the "B's" said: Well, when you are a "B" you don't have to take any impertinence from the subscribers, and of course the operators are always polite; if they aren't you can report them." In discussing subscribers, one said: "He thinks two seconds are 10 minutes." Another said: "I always think I don't know what has. come across them during the day to make them so irritable. I always think of that. I try to have patience, and give them all the attention I can." MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 117 TAKIN(i CARE OF A "FAMILIAR" SUBSCRIBER. If a man tries to be familiar with a girl operator, to make a "dak 1 " with her or anything like- that, or to be perhaps in less serious ways familiar, she. can turn him over to the supervisor, who ran pass him along to the chief operator, who in turn plugs the "trouble clerk/ 7 who is a man. It's about then that the friendly subscriber hangs up his receiver. It is wonderful to see the girls change places, when the new shifts come on. They come in quietly, they get their headpieces, take the places of the girls who leave, and the service goes on connectedly. If you have asked for a number and your party has not answered, pres- ently another voice says, "Did you get them? No? I will ring again," and that is all. You didn't see the change that took place in a minute; !."> "iris displacing 15 other girls. In the evenings, too, it is interesting. Things become quieter and quieter. Some leave at 8:30, more at 9. At 10 the night shift comes on. A few are left besides. At 11 these leave. It's all very quiet now. and airy. If it Were not for sitting up all night and working under artificial lights, it would be otherwise quite pleasant. In the day time the voices make a constant humming noise; the air isn't so good, with so many sitting together, and so close to the switch- board, and though in summer with the windows open it is well ven- tilated out in the room, so close to the board the air is bad, unless the fans are carefully located. As you come into the room the ventila- tion strikes you as good but it is direct ventilation, not indirect, so at times it means either draughts or closed windows. WORKING CONDITIONS. In the Detroit Main exchange the long distance operators work in a place that is close and is always artificially lighted, day and night. Also, in the Main exchange, they have a platform and lower seats, in "A." This prevents the girls from ever standing while they work. "Used to be allowed to stand. Can't any more. I don't like it at all, sitting all day. It's tiresome we can't stand up." The girls wear headpieces. Each girl is supposed to have her own, but doesn't always. These headpieces are seldom sterilized. The cords that the girls handle carry infection. Girls come to the nurse with infected fingers. Girls faint from heart trouble and poor blood. They have hysteria from nervous exhaustion. They have weeping sinews in the wrists that may become tubercular. One had a cist tumor on her wrist, but continued to work. They should have a physical examination before entrance, and they should be guarded carefully against infection from headpieces and cords. They should have short hours and sufficient rest periods. One girl, nearly 20, and who has worked for the company three years out of the last four, says: "I was supervisor for three months, -but couldn't stand it being on my feet, so I went back to the board. I do not take a day off. I lose so much time otherwise, that I hardly feel that I can afford it. I weigh 107 pounds. Four years ago I weighed 125 pounds." 53 418 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Public opinion should demand a written or unwritten law every woman should have one day oil', with pay, each month. that Table No. 57. DETROIT TELEPHONE OPERATORS' SALARY SCHEDULE. Local operators, per day. Long distance operators, per day. Clerks, per month. 1st month $1 10 1 10 $1 10 1 10 $32 50 32 50 3rd month 4th month 1 20 1 20 1 20 1 20 35 00 35 00 5th month 6th month 1 20 1 30 1 30 1 30 35 00 37 50 7th month 8th month 1 30 1 30 1 30 1 30 37 50 37 50 9th month 10th month 1 1th mouth 12th month 1 30 1 30 1 30 1 30 1 30 1 40 1 40 1 40 37 50 37 50 37 50 37 50 13th month 14th month 1 40 1 40 1 40 1 40 40 00 40 00 15th month 16th month ". 1 40 1 40 1 50 1 50 40 00 40 00 17th month 18th month < 1 40 1 40 1 50 50 40 00 40 00 19th month. . 20th month 21st month : . . . . 1 40 1 40 1 50 50 50 50 40 00 40 00 42 50 22nd month . ... 1 50 60 42 50 23rd month 1 50 60 42 50 24th month .... 1 50 60 42 50 25th month 26th month ' 27th month 1 50 1 50 1 50 60 60 60 42 50 45 00 45 00 28th month 29th month 30th month 31st month 32nd month - 33rd month .... 1 50 1 60 1 60 1 60 1 60 1 60 60 65 65 65 65 1 65 45 00 45 00 45 00 47 50 47 50 47 50 34th month 35th month . . . 1 60 1 60 1 65 1 65 47 50 47 50 36th month 1 60 1 65 47 50 4th year 1 65 1 70 50 00 5th year 1 70 1 75 55 00 6th year 1 75 1 80 r>o 00 7th year . . ...... v .. 1 80 1 90 60 00 8th year 9th year 10th year , 1 80 1 90 2 (X) 1 90 1 00 2 ID School $1.00 per day. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Tahlc No. .7.S'. DKTKOIT TKLKIMH >N K STPKH VISORS' .SCHEDULE. 419 Time. Daily basis. >i :;< 1 40 (i months 1 50 1 60 1 70 8 months 1 80 1 85 8 months 1 90 1 95 8 months 2 00 2 10 24 months 24 months 2 20 2 30 24 months *2 40 'Long distance only. PAY IX SMALLER TOWNS. It is interesting to compare the pay rolls of the different towns. Is it less expensive to live in Saginaw than in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor? Is the work less strenuous in Flint and Saginaw than in Ypsilanti nr Ann Arbor? The telephone operators know how much they get a month, but when it comes to figuring up for overtime, and Sunday work and all, they really do not know how much is due them. Neither do they know how much they get a week. If you ask them they divide their month's sal- ary by four the result is quite different from multiplying by 12 and dividing by 52. Throughout the State the pay roll has been increased since the in- crease in Detroit, in September, 101'?. In Detroit a regular operator begins at S1.10 a day, or $0.90 a week. After a year she gets $8.78. (Before September, 1913, she got $6.16, and before April 1013, she got s.").TT a week). In Ann Arbor, since May, 1014, she begins at |4.(>1 a week. (Before that she began at $3.69). After working a year she gets -SO a week ; after 10 years she gets $8.7(> a week. In Ann Arbor the chief operator, after 13 years of service receives si 1 ..">() a week. The next highest, after nine and one-half years of ser- vice, receives s7.74. This she receives as supervisor after nine years as an operator. ruder the old scale of wages $384 was her earnings last year. Nine years ago she started with $12 a month and got no extra pay for Sundays. In Ann Arbor the girls can have an extra day off without pay in place of the Sunday they work few take it. Many girls work every day and every Sunday. One said "I have never missed n day yet. I've been here two years." She works seven hours a day, a regular shift from one to eight I*. M. She is also going through high school. In Ann Arbor the increase in pay, January 1st, 1014, was impera- tive. The pay was so small the girls would not stay any length of time. Just as a girl began to understand her work, she would leave. This was so hard on the service and there was so much complaint that wages had to be raised. 420 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON In Ypsilanti since November, 1914, an operator starts with |4.61 as in Ann Arbor. The increase is slow, and the maximum is $7.84. Can take a day off without pay. In St. Joseph, since May, 1914, the minimum is $4.61; the rate of increase differs from both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. All operators get a day off. In Saginaw, since January 1, 1914, the minimum is $4.15 a week (less than in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti). After working a year, the girl gets $5.54; after 10 years, $8.76. The monthly pay roll in Saginaw increased in January, 1914, $360. And yet to-day the minimum is less than in Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti. All operators get a day off for work- ing on Sunday. In Flint, since April 1, 1914, the minimum is $4.15 a week. After working a year a girl gets $5.76. After 10 years she gets $8.32. All operators get a day off for working on Sunday. In Menominee the minimum since April 1, is $4.15. After working a year a girl begins to get $5. After 10 years she gets $7.84. No opera- tor gets a day off for working Sunday. In Calumet the minimum since July 1, 1914, is $4.15. After a year a girl gets $4.38. After 10 years she gets $6.92. No operator gets a day off for working on Sunday. In Calumet there is no relief for rest. In Ludington, since April 1, 1914, the minimum is $4.15. After a year a girl gets $4.61. After 10 years she gets $7.38. No girl gets a day off for working on Sunday. The Citizens Telephone Company in Ludington starts the girls at $3.46. After a year she is still getting this. In Hancock and Houghton, since July 1, 1914, the minimum is $4.15. After a year the girls get $4.38. After 10 years $6.92. No operator gets a day off for working on Sunday. In Marquette, since Ap*ril 1, 1914, the minimum is $4.15. After a year $4.61. After 10 years $7.38. No operator gets a day off for work, ing on Sunday. In Sault Ste. Marie, since April 1, 1914, the minimum is $4.15. After one year $5. After 10 years $7.38. No operator gets a day off for work- ing on Sunday. In Traverse City the minimum is $4.61. The minimum for the Citi- zens Telephone Company is $4.15. In Manistee the minimum is $4.15. In Cheboygan -the minimum is $4.61. In Alpena the minimum is $4.40. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. ''able No. 59. SUMMARY OF TELEPHONE EXCHANGE INVESTIGATION. 421 Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 18 Establishments invest i (r a tod 24 Employes interrogated 474 American-born . ,. . 451 95.2 Foreign-born 23 4.8 Living at home 367 77.4 Adrift 107 22.6 Receiving less than $6 per week 209 44.1 Receiving less than $8 per week 336 71.2 Receiving $8 per week and over 136 28.8 Working under 1 year 144 30.4 Working under 3 years 323 68.1 Working 3 years and over 151 31.9 Have followed other occupations 228 48.1 Under 16 years of age 8 1.7 Under 20 years of age 241 50.8 Under 25 years of a?e 417 88.2 25 years of age and over 56 11.8 Single 446 94.3 M arried 21 4.4 Widowed 3 0.6 Separated or divorced .... 3 0.6 APPENDIX V. THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY. CIGAR MAKING. Cigar making is one of the best paid industries in Michigan, vet it is almost wholly in the hands of the children of foreign parents for the most part German and Polish. For this condition several rea- sons' are suggested: Some young women do not like to cover up their dresses with long blue gingham aprons, or soil their hands with to- bacco leaves and paste. Some perhaps all expect to marry, and can- not see the necessity of devoting at least a year to learning the trade. A third reason advanced is that making cigars shuts the worker from immediate contact with the outside world. In short, there is little op- portunity for romance in a cigar factory. Because the children of foreign parents have monopolized this trade, the outside English speaking world does not know that skilled cigar makers earn as high as $25 and $27 a week, or that it takes one as long to become skilled in cigar making ils it does to become pro- ficient in stenography. The trade once acquired, is never forgotten. If the husband loses his job, or runs away, or is sick, it immediately offers a livelihood. One woman, returning after seven years of mar- ried life, said she expected to get back her old. speed in a week. Cigar making is one of the few industries that have not profited by the introduction of machinery. The best cigars are still made by hand. The machines invented are used only in the manufacture of the cheaper grades. A woman who had made cigars for .'>() years was asked if the process had changed much in that time and she replied '"scarcely at all." Because of the simplicity of the tools many cigar factories are very small. A cigar can be made in any room where there is good light and a table to work on. However, cigar making is not limited to small ''shops'' or "buckeyes" as they are usually called. Every cigar factory in Detroit employing live or more women was visjted. The complete number of establishments visited in Detroit were 22, in the State eight. Of the 22 in Detroit, two employed about 1,0-00 women, three between 400 and 000 ; six bet \veen 100 and GOO; and the remainder less than 40. Cigar making was once a trade entirely in the hands of num. The men still outnumber the women in the east and south, but in Michigan at least women have almost entirely supplanted men in factory work. In onlv one factory in this State do the men outnumber the women. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 423 The -- factories visited in Detroit employ r>,07X women, and 60(5 of Iliese were interrogated. The eight factories in the State (hat were visited employ .">:>(> women, and 141 of these were interrogated, making a total of SOT in six localities that were interrogated. THE REGULARITY OF WORK AND HOURS. Cigar making is not seasonal. But because of the large number of Polish workers, and the unwillingness of the factories to work with half a force, the factories usually close for all the holidays as well as for two weeks of inventory, making five wteeks in all. Many girls plan to take their vacation during these weeks, so there is a very small per cent reporting on vacations. Hours in a cigar factory range from' 7 to 9V, depending upon the factory. The majority work 8 or 8 l / 2 hours, and those having appren- tices sometimes 9 or more. In some of the small factories the hours are left entirely to the girls. Each roller is matched up in speed by a bunch maker, and as they work together they have to decide upon the number of hours they want to work. The bunch maker arrives a little earlier in the morning than the roller, so as to have a dozen or so bunches awaiting her. The roller stays a little later in the evening to finish rolling the bunches prepared for her, as the tobacco dries if left unfinished over night. They arrive between 7 and 9 and depart between 4 and 5, working only a half day on Saturday. OCCUPATIONS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY. The tobacco used in making cigars has usually gone through some process of cleaning and sorting by the shippers, so that when it reaches the cigar factory it is ready to be cased. This work is always done by men and consists in moistening the leaves, placing them on racks, and covering them with damp cloths. When the leaves have been suf- ficiently "sweated/' they are ready for the strippers. Stripping is always done by women, usually old or foreign women as the work is very simple. The main requirement is care not to tear the leaves. Stripping consists in taking out the midrib or stem of the leaf of tobacco while it is still moist and pliable from the casing. To- bacco leaves used in cigars are of three grades; the filler, the binder and the wrapper. As the filler is not injured if torn, less care- is required than in stripping the binder or wrapper, and so the beginner is put upon this work. The stripper sits beside her pile of tobacco leaves either at a table or in a sort of box like enclosure. As she strips the midrib from the leaf she places it on a scale in front of her as it is put up in packs; she is paid by the piece, the rate being set by the weight. Binder and wrapper stripping is done in the same way, only more care must be used not to injure the leaf in any way, especially in the case of the wrapper, as it is the outer covering of the cigar and must be without a defect of any kind. (ireat care must be used in stripping Sumatra tobacco, as it is the most expensive and cannot be used for fillers, and if it is torn it is a complete loss. In some factories stripping is done by machines, the 424 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON work of the woman operator consisting merely in spreading the leaf out carefully and feeding it into the machine. Machines are only found in the largest factories. * BUNCHING AND ROLLING. When the stripping is done the leaves must be "booked." This is done by the "selector" who sorts the leaves with regard to size and color, piles them smoothly one on top of the other, and ties them in bundles for the cigar makers. A number of stock girls are used in this department to bring the tobacco to the strippers and carry the products of her work to the sorters. Formerly bunching and rolling was done by the same person, but this is seldom found now except in small factories turning out only high-priced cigars. Hand bunching is of two kinds. Sometimes it is done without accessories of any sort. The filler is arranged in the palm of the hand and the binder fastened around it and the cigars laid in neat piles for the roller. This method requires skill and a buncher can keep only one roller supplied. The more general method of hand bunching consists in placing the filler in the binder and press- ing it into a mold. When a dozen bunches have been made the two halves of the mold are clamped together to await the roller. One bunch maker can keep two rollers supplied, and she sits between them at long tables. She is expected to get a certain number of cigars out of her allotment of tobacco, and her rate of pay is often determined by her economy in the use of her supplies. Upon the bunch maker de- pends the weight and size of the cigars, whether it is firm or will draw properly. Machine bunching is not common. ROLLING. Boiling is nearly always done by hand. The roller's tools consists of a smooth block of hard wood, a knife, a little dish of licorice-flavored paste, and in some cases a cigar cutter, if the roller is making the kind that has the ends clipped off. She sits beside her bunch maker at a long table, and spreads her leaf of tobacco out on the block, cutting it the proper size and shape without the aid of a pattern. This she has learned to do in her apprenticeship days. Having cut the wrapper the roller holds it flat in her hand and places the bunch on it, wrap- ping the leaf carefully around it, shaping and rounding off the head, pasting it down and cutting off any stray ends. The cigars are placed in racks and carried to the examiner. In a few factories suction table rolling was used. PACKING. The room where the packing is done is on the top floor, usually under skylights, as the packer must have good light to properly sort the cigars, and arrange them by size and color. Sometimes the packer is surrounded by screens or curtains of green burlap. The packer usually works standing, although in some cases high stools are provided though seldom used. The packer spreads out the finished cigars be- fore her, and groups them according to the shade of the tobacco, and MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 425 arranges them in rows, examining them for irregularities and defeHs. The best are saved for the top layer and the others put in the lower layers. When all are put into the boxes or cans, the paper or tinfoil are folded over them and the box is placed in a hand press. The boxes are next taken to the banders who open the lids, take out the cigars, being careful to keep them in the order in which they have been packed, paste bands around them, replace them in the box, and they are again placed in a press. Sometimes the name of the factory is stamped on the cigar by a machine, but this is not often done. In addition to these operations girls are employed to label the boxes and paste government stamps on them. In some factories, especially those who have apprentices, an effort is made at repairing the defec- tive cigars. Young girls are seated at long tables pasting bits of tobacco leaves over broken spots. In one factory there were two machines for steaming the cigars so that the ends could be remolded, but as these are sold as "seconds," most factories do not consider the expenditure of time and money worth the saving of the work of be- ginners. Where cigar making is taught, one or more teachers are employed, usually women, though sometimes men. There are several girls called "side workers," who carry supplies to the workers, and who usually later take up some branch of the work and learn to become expert workers. WAGES. More than half the employes interrogated in cigar factories receive |8 and over a week and these were for the most part bunch makers, rollers and packers. After the cigar makers have learned their trade, which takes from six months to a year they make from $7 to $20 a week. A few have reached $25 and $27 a week but they are exceptions. In one factory having only a few apprentices the average tor the week was $14.75. From one family, four sisters showed to the investigator pjiy envelopes containing $19, $14, $13 and $12. These daughters are so profitable that the father is able to retire from work. Cigar packing can be learned in half the time it takes to learn cigar making. The wage seldom reaches $18, and with the majority it falls below $14. Banders do not often make over $8. Wages in a cigar factory are all piece-work rate except for apprentices and some of the miscellaneous tasks such as side workers, repairers, stemmers, examiners, etc. Strippers are paid both by a Aveekly rate and a piece- work rate according to the custom of the factory. When they are paid by the week they receive from $5.50 to $8; when paid by piece-work they make from $3 to $11. Labeling is paid at the rate of 20 cents a 1,000 cans and the workers make from $7 to $10, $7 being the more usual pay. Examiners and teachers receive $15. Stemmers, repairers, and side workers- get from $4 to $5.50. Returning to the cigar makers, for theirs is the most important phase of the work, it is interesting to note the number of cigars made a day and the prices paid to achieve these wages. As there is a great differ- ence in the length and size of cigars, the rate for bunching is from $1 to $1.90 for machine bunching, and $2 to $6.75 for hand bunching. The 426 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON numbers bunched a day range inversely to the price. With the use of the machine a girl can bunch from 1,000 to 1,400 a day. If she bunches 1,200 a day she does 0,600 a week and at the average price of f 1,60 makes |10.56 a week. Those making the high grade cigars and receiving $5.50 a thousand can only bunch 500, which enables a girl to make $15.12 a week. Out of 104 bunch makers who reported on the number bunched a day and the price paid a thousand, the largest number received |2.5(), and the next $3.50. As some of these bunched as many as 1,000 at the rate of $3.50, they made $19.25 a week. However, as the usual number produced in a day by bunch makers lies between 700 and 900 and the average rate is $2.50; the average wage lies between $10 and $12. One hundred seventy-two rollers reported upon the number of cigars rolled a day and the rate paid. The prices run from $2 a thousand to $7 a thousand. One hundred sixty-eight out of the 172 received $3.50, $3.75 and $4. The number of cigars rolled a day ran from 250 to !M)0, the majority rolling 500 a day. A girl rolling 900 cigars a day at $4 a thousand receives $19.80 in her pay envelope at the end of the week, but as the majority roll 500, the average wages for rolling falls between $10 and $12, as in' bunch making. Packers receive from 30 cents to $1 a thousand and pack from 1,500 to 4,000. Fifty-one reported on numbers packed and prices. The largest number received 55 cents a thousand. Those receiving 30 cents packed cigars in cans and packed from 5,000 to 7,000, making about $9.90 a week. Packing 3,000 at $1 gives the packer $16.50 a week, but the ma- jority pack 3,000 at 55 cents, which makes the average wage for the packer $9.07. APPRENTICESHIP. While few industries enable their workers to make as much money as cigar making, none require so long a time to learn. The majority of girls learning to make cigars take six months to attain the proficiency that enables them to turn out a perfect cigar, and another six months to acquire the speed that sends the weekly pay above the $7 mark. After the first year the rapidity with which a girl advances depends upon the deftness and agility of her fingers, and the energy with which she ap- plies herself to her task. As the Polish girls marry young and are lost to the trade when they pass the age of 25, unless adverse circumstances a husband ill or out of work force them back to the factory, the cigar factories do not care to take the trouble to teach a girl over IS years of age, as they desire a few years of her time before the period of her domesticity. According to their reckoning the younger a girl begins, the better; and so 106 girls out of the 807 interviewed were under 16 years of age, though at the same time the teacher of cigar making admits that the 16-year-old girls learn faster than those of 14. Out of the 807 employes interrogated 158 were apprentices. The first two weeks the beginner learns how to handle her tobacco, but her results are, as a rule, entirely useless as cigars, and are ground up and sold as '"scrap" for smoking tobacco. After three weeks of MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 427 "cigar making" she lupins to turn out cigars Hint will smoke, though they are more or less defective, and arc sold only as seconds. The number of usable cigars made and the rate of speed during the first few mouths, depends wholly upon the girl, and there is some variation. The following figures were taken from interviews with 46 bunch maker ap- prentices: At the end of the 3rd week 25 to 150 usable cigars are bunched. At the end of the 1st month 50 to 250 usable cigars are bunched. At the end of the 3rd month 100 to 300 usable cigars are bunched. At the end of the 4th month 250 to 450 usable cigars are bunched. At the end of the 5th month 300 to 550 usable cigars are bunched. At the end of the 1st year 450 to 1,000 usable cigars are bunched. The prices paid the bunch makers the first year range from $1 to s50 a thousand, as there is much waste of tobacco, and iirst year girls are never put on the higher grade goods. Hunch making is learned quicker than rolling that is, the girl is able to acquire speed more easily. Figures taken from interviews with 1)0 rollers give the following rate of progress: At the end of the 3rd week 25 to 100 usable cigars are rolled. At the end pf the 1st month 50 to 200 usable cigars are rolled. At the end of the 3rd month 100 to 250 usable cigars are rolled. At the end of the 4th month 200 to 300 usable cigars are rolled. At the end of the 5th month 250 to 400 usable cigars are rolled. At the end of the 1st year 300 to 550 usable cigars are rolled. Kollers are paid the first year from SI. 75 to $:j a thousand. Ten and 15 years ago apprentices paid to learn cigar making, but now cigar factories pay girls while learning. There is some variation among the factories taking apprentices in regard to their rates and methods. Several factories give the beginners a check for f2 every week until the seventh, when the girl is put on piece-work and paid for what she is able to produce. When she has been with the company six months she can get her six S2 checks cashed. This is to insure the girl staying so that the cost of teaching and the tobacco spoiled will not be a total loss to the firm. One factory pays girls $1 a week for six weeks, and then puts them on piece-work. Another pays $2.50 a week for the first six weeks. Two factories require the girls to give their first two weeks, and then they are paid piece-work rates. WOUK FOR KK;IIT hours daily, and a half-day on Saturday. OCCUPATIONS WITHIN THE INDrSTRV A XD THE WAGES. At the warehouses situated near where the tobacco is grown, the leaves arc sorted and packed in hogsheads and stored for months to im- prove the leaf by ''sweating." When it arrives at the factory it is taken lo the top floor where the hogshead is removed by men. The huge mold- ed mass of leaves is pulled apart by women and is called "opening the tobacco." It is then placed in a large machine where it is steamed. This is always done by men. It is then ready for the strippers, who remove the stems. The strippers are usually old women or immigrants who cannot speak English. Jt is a very simple operation, as there is not the necessity for care that is required of a cigar stripper, because the leaf may be torn or broken without injuring it. The strippers are usually paid by piece-work, and the rate is made on the pounds of stems removed to make sure that none are left in. In some factories the strippers are paid by the day and receive $1 or sl.-j.") a da\. depending upon the speed and care used. A few of the best strippers are given the special work of stemming the leaves that must be kept whole 1 with which to wrap the plug tobacco. When the leaf has left the strippers' hands it is mixed in large vats with a liquid flavoring made up of licorice, sugar, molasses, maple or whatever flavor the manufacturer wishes to give his goods. The mixture is made by a man trusted with the secret recipe. All this work is done by men, though sometimes women assist. The tobacco is then put in large bins and dried and stored for a month or more, when it is spread out on the floor, and moistened by means of sprinkling from a sprinkling can a liquid containing more flavor. This is also done by men, though one girl was found at this task. The tobacco is then cut or shredded, depending upon what its next stale is to be. If smoking tobacco, it may be left in its sweetened leaf form, and is known as "scrap," or it may be chopped up if it happens to be the mixture intended for "cut plug," or it is shredded and is called "line cut." Chewing tobacco is shredded and becomes "long cut," or it is coarselv cut and made into plugs, or left uncut and converted into -twists." PLUG TOBACCO. In the making of plug tobacco, the cut, moist, sticky leaf is weighed by women, and thrown into a machine which shapes it into long, oblong cakes. The machine work is done by men. It is then taken to tables where girls wrap the cakes with large leaves, and it again passes through a pressing machine operated by men. The wrapping is piece- work, and the girls make from si to $i:>. At the end of three months a girl can make $7. If a girl is speedy she can make $11 a week at the end of her first year. However, they sometimes reach $10 after six 432 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON months' experience. One little girl of 16 was taken from the stamping department, where she was paid f 5.50 a week, and taught to wrap plug tobacco, and at the end of three months the amount in her pay envelope was |10.25. To accomplish this she must wrap more than 4,000 plugs a day. When the plug tobacco comes a second time from the press it is ready to be boxed or labeled or have a tin tag attached, according to the way the factory w r ishes it to appear on the market. Young girls are em- ployed to do this work, and are paid from $5 to $6 a week. Twist chewing tobacco is made entirely by hand and the work is all done by women. This pays from |8 to |11 piece-work and requires more skill than \vrapping plugs. It is the stickiest and most unpleasant of these operations. "Long Cut" tobacco requires no further treatment after leaving the machine except packing it in cans or packages, or in pails to be sold in bulk by the ounce. SMOKING TOBACCO. The smoking tobacco is fed directly from the cutting machine to the tables of the packers on the floor below by long chutes, which can be shifted back and forth to feed the table of each girl. Packing has been done by hand for years, but packing machines are beginning to replace the hand packer in the newest factories. The machines are expensive but can be operated by young girls. Should all the factories adopt them a number of women who have acquired skill in hand packing will be out of jobs. At present hand packing is most generally followed, except in one establishment. The hand packers either sit or stand at tables piled high with sweetened cut leaf. With a hand trained by long practice, the packer scoops up just the right amount from her pile, puts the tin upon her scales to verify the weight, places the bag on the end of an oblong funnel, turns it right side up, throws in the measure of tobacco, plunges in a wooden mold to press it down, pulls out the funnel, draws the siring, puts it on the rack, and it is ready to be carried away and credited to her, for this is all piece-work. These women pack from 1,000 to 2,000 packages a day, making from $6 to $12 a week. Some can make $6 at the end of two weeks, and reach $10 at the end of five months' experience, but the majority cannot make over $8 a week at the end of the first year. In this hand packing there are ten movements in handling each pack- age, so that a woman handling 2,000 packages a day, or 222 an hour, has made 20,000 movements in the working hours, which is less than two seconds for each mcrvement. In the machine packing factories, the tobacco comes down a chute in the same way, and is measured and fed into machines by women. An- other set of women put bags on these machines, or feed in waxed paper. In the case of the bags, when they come out they are ready to be stamped. From the others come the waxed paper packages which are put into tins or wrapped with tinfoil. These women are paid by the week and receive from f 5 to $7.50. Upon all these packages must be placed government, stamps and this is done both by the young girl at her first job, who receives $5 a week, MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 433 and by the speedy piece-worker who can make as high as f 18. Some packages must be labeled, and this is also done both by the day and piece-workers. The girls are usually kept on week work the first year at from |5 to $7, when they are put on piece-work, where they quickly go up to $9 and $10. There are several miscellaneous jobs, such as the clerk who gives out the government stamps, the little girls who put the packages into large pasteboard boxes called "cartons" and "cannisters." Three women in one factory stood on a platform watching the tobacco as it came from the dryer to locate and extract any stray stem that had been left in by the stripper. Another group tossed the "fine cut" about on a table to prevent any bunching or massing from the shredding machine. Other girls took packages, freshly pasted with labels or government stamps, from the dryer, which they had entered on a belt that carried them from a labeler or stamper. In one of the older factories where the supply of tobacco was not fed to the tables by chutes, a girl filled a large can from the trucks and carried tobacco to the tables as needed. This was the only heavy work done by a woman. The lifting and moving of trucks are done by men, unless a girl pushes one to get it out of her way. This is not, however, required of them. These miscellaneous jobs pay from $5 to $7.50 a week. ' HEALTHFULNESS OP THE WORK AND SANITATION OF THE FACTORIES. A pei-son passing a tobacco factory and getting a whiff of the strong pungent odor of molasses soaked tobacco leaves may think that work in such an occupation must be injurious. This impression is not veri- fied by reports from employes. From the 162 workers interviewed only 11 complained that the work was injurious. Of the 11, three said the work was dusty, and one complained of a lack of ventilation; two said the odor made them sick, two complained of the effects of speeding, and three found the cans and cases of tobacco to be lifted too heavy. Except the two complaints of the effect- upon the stomach, all these reported injurious results can be remedied by employers. The strippers' room could be freed of much of the dust by some mechanical system of ventilation, and the strippers could be made more comfortable by a bet- ter arrangement of seats. The stripper usually sits on a low bench, and while there were no complaints concerning them, they appeared to be uncomfortable. The strain of the rapid movements of the speeding piece-work packers will eventually be relieved by machine packing. One girl jerked head and arms while she worked, and another had her wrists bound to pre- vent them from swelling as a result of plunging in the mold to press the tobacco into the bags. The machinery used by the women is not danger- ous. The girls stand at their work, as a rule, because they can work faster, although stools are in nearly every case provided. The two largest factories had lunch rooms, and one supplied coffee free of charge. The newest of these factories had adequate and well kept and arranged toilet rooms. Two housed in old buildings had satis- factory accommodations, but they could be improved by a thorough scrubbing and a coat of paint, as the marks of tobacco stained hands were on every door. Two of the smaller factories had very bad toilets 55 434 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. opening directly from -the work rooms; and sinks with granite wash basins were the only means by which sticky tobacco could be removed from the hands before leaving the building or eating lunch. No welfare work of any order was found. THE WORKERS. Over half the employes in the tobacco factories are Polish women speaking no English. As these women do the stripping and unskilled work and, because of the difficulty of obtaining an interpreter the 162 interviewed represent the English speaking women. Of these 48 wore foreign-born and 114 were born in this country of foreign parentage with the exception of 16 who reported American parents. Out of the 162 interrogated 104 expected to make more money: .">() piece-workers by attaining more speed, 44 week workers by getting a raise, and 10 by being put on piece-work. Of the 50 who reported that they could see no chance to make more money, several confessed that they had no speed, and many that they had acquired as much speed as was possible for them to attain. These are usually the older workers. At the end of three years the piece-workers reach their maximum, and after that either hold it or lose it, depending upon the girl's youth and vitality. Table No. 61. SUMMARY OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Percent. Localities visited 1 Establishments investigated 5 Employes interrogated 162 114 70 4 48 2(i li Liv'ing at home 1151 80 9 31 19.1 Receiving less than $6 per week 31 19.1 Receiving less than $8 per week 88 54.3 Receiving $8 per week and over 74 45 7 Working under 1 year 64 39.5 Working under 3 years 103 63.6 50 36.4 Have followed other occupations ., 78 48.1 TT d Ifi f 21 13.0 u iiutT 10 yeaix 01 age . Under 20 years of age 95 58.6 Under 25 years of age 142 87.7 20 12.3 Single 138 85.2 Married . 17 10.5 Widowed 4 2.5 S d d' r d 3 1.8 eparae APPENDIX W. GARMENT MAKERS. Eleven garment making factories in Detroit were investigated, em- ploying from nine to 900 women workers each. There were 374 interro- gated. They manufacture ladies', misses' and children's dresses, for home and street wear; aprons and middy blouses, and, in one factory, a few overalls, shirts and nightshirts, pajamas and cheap pants. There were also places where kimonos -and dressing-sacques were made. Factory conditions vary, some are in clean, light and airy modern buildings, equipped with restaurant, rest rooms, emergency first aids, sprinkler system in case of fire, fire escapes and sanitary toilet rooms; one was poorly lighted, unclean, without anything in the shape of a fire escape except the words '"Fire Escape" printed on the door leading to the roof, from which there was no way of reaching the ground, except by jumping. WAGES. Wages vary. Experienced girl operators in the best factories set the prices for piece-work as the styles come in each season. A machine operator may make as high as |20 per week, though girls are not able to continuously keep up the speed producing this wage. From $10 to |12 is a fair average for good workers to make in the busy season, with a falling off during the summer months to fS or less per week. In the poorer class of factories, and where the workers are mostly foreigners, wages for good workers will not exceed $6.50 even for the busy season. High-class workers, making from $8 to |12 per week, generally set the living wage amount at $10 per week, but say that with care, a girl should be able to provide for the usual loss of time, which is about five weeks, and for ordinary doctor and dentist bills, besides living expenses, and should not need help unless on account of long illness 1 . Even if the girl receives $10 every week during the year, with the exception of the average five weeks lost, they said she would not be able to save much, if any, above the yearly expenses, or to provide for such an emergency as loss of position, serious illness, etc. Girls in the low grade shops, em- ploying foreigners exclusively, many of whom have been here but a few months, set the living wage at $5 per week. When such a girl has a better grade of workers near her, she will, of course, say "$10," as the others do. A LIVING WAGE. The girls who set $10 as the lowest proper living wage were, in some cases, living at home themselves and paying little or nothing for board. 436 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON They based their estimate on "what it would cost a girl alone, who had to pay for everything," and said that, even if living at home, a just amount should be paid for board. The girl who has always given all of her earnings to her mother, gen- erally has no idea of the cost of living, and if she has, it is often be- cause her people keep a girl boarder, or because she has girl friends who have to pay all expenses. The home girl usually shares her room with one or more members of the family, and if she lives with relatives, often has to sleep with one of the children. Laundry is always a trial to the girl away from home, and she has either to allow an undue proportion of her wage to pay for it, or is obliged to do it herself Saturday or Sunday. They always do their own laundering, if there is an opportunity to, but in regular rooming houses it is impossible. CO-OPERATIVE HOUSEKEEPING. Very few girls reported furnishing their own rooms, but the few who have done so, are gainers. After the first struggle to pay for the furni- ture, the cost of meals, laundry, amusements, and even clothes, becomes lower. Friends spend the evening with her; she has better meals for much less than she had been forced to pay at restaurants, and she can press her clothes and keep them looking well until discarded. One rea- son so few girls adopt this plan lies in the fact that few people will rent to women who are alone, if they can dispose of rooms to men or couples. Occasionally several girls join forces. There was found one instance where four rented two rooms, did their housekeeping and had a jolly time being together. Each paid $4.50 per week as her share for rent and groceries, and 50 cents for laundry. If any money remained at the end of the week, it was laid aside for amusements. It was sometimes a month or two between "treats," but they were well satisfied with their plan. Each one had to pay 43 cents a week for laundry. The balance of earnings went for clothes, dental and doctor bills. They had no sav- ings accounts, but kept a little "ahead." The girl here but a short time from Russia pays little for clothes at first, but a larger percentage of earnings for board. If her room is separate, she pays usually $4 per month for it, but her meals average $3.50 or more a week. They try to live near the factory, and spend the balance of wage for clothes, unless they have some one at home need- ing help, when the $G-a-week girl will send them as much as $25 a year. There is one other expense these girls seem to have more than their just share of, and it is the dentist bill, probably due to lack of care of teeth. None of these garment making factories have a social secretary. No case Avas found in which the employer favored the self-supporting woman, or the one who had others dependent upon her, when laying off help in slack times. If two are equally efficient, one living at home, and the other without relatives in the city, it is possible that the latter will be laid off, and the former kept at work. MOSTLY MACHINE OPERATORS. The large proportion of these garment makers are machine operators. ^A great many kinds of machines are used in the different factories. The MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 437 work is of so many styles and patterns, that it would be impossible to slate that work proceeded in a certain way, and have that method apply to all kinds of garments made. However, after the patterns are made, several tons of paper may be used in a single season in the largest es- tablishments for patterns alone. The material is first sent to the cut- ters, who are always men, this part of the work being too heavy for women. A great many thicknesses of material are cut at one time, and these bundles of parts of garments are then sent to the dividers, who separate' them into the sets that go to make up a certain kind of gar- ment. The pieces belonging to each garment are made into a bundle, and the machine operator begins to sew them together. There are many varieties of machines used in the different factories. The best factories use not only the plain sewing-machine, set to make sixteen stitches to the inch, but also: Over-casting machine, Binding machine, Hemstitching machine, Feather stitching machine, Pleating machine, Scalloping machine, Embroidery machine, Eyelet making machine (for embroidered eyelets), Button covering machine, Button-hole machine, Button sewing-machine, Hook-and-eye sewing-machine, Perforating machine (for making embroidery patterns). Besides these operators of machines, there are: Designers (of garments and embroidery), Pattern makers, Stampers (who also perforate the patterns for em- broidery), Dividers, Hand sewers (who sew on buttons, hooks and eyes, make belts and ties of ribbon, velvet or silk, and fasten them on garments, and make other kinds of trimmings.) There are also : Fore- women, Instructors, Examiners, Girls who lace ties in middy blouses, Ironers, Folders and pinners, and sorters (who prepare the finished garments for packing.) The packers are men. VARIETY -OF SYSTEMS. There is as much variety in the systems used in different factories, as there are factories. A girl beginner may be employed by a firm that 438 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON will give her some help while she is learning. One plan is to give a weekly wage of $4.50 for the tirst two weeks, and |5 for the third and fourth. Account is kept of her work, and if she earns more than these amounts, at the regular piece-work rates, she will receive what she earns. There are many instructors, who constantly help the beginners. An exceptional woman of forty, who had never used a power machine be- fore, was able to earn more than the |5 per week from the first. This was unusual. Many become discouraged and leave without being of any benefit to the firm when put on regular piece-work wages at the end of the four weeks. A few are determined to succeed, although progress is slow. Another plan is to pay regular piece-work rates, and 30 per cent extra for the first four weeks. Another employer made no promises, but if the girl looked like a possible future operator, he gave her enough over her earnings to make her wages |5 per week, until she got a start. lie said that if he did not feel willing to do this, he let the girl go in a day or so. The majority, however, pay just what the girls earn, but give beginners the benefit of extra instruction. WHERE A SMALL FACTORY IS PREFERABLE. A small factory may be more desirable from the employe's standpoint, than the best equipped large one. In fact, where the work is not so complicated, and where the work is subdivided into more separate oper- ations, the operators are able to make more money, although the manu- facturer pays no more per garment for the making. Another benefit of the extra subdividing of work is to give the oper- ator an opportunity to complete all of her work each week, and receive full pay. Where the girl who sews up a garment, must let it go to other operators for binding, to another for embroidering, etc., then back to the first operator to be stitched further, and then to be examined before she can receive her pay, it can be seen that it will often happen that much of her work will be in an incomplete state at the end of the week, through no fault of her own. It happens in these cases that a girl may receive but $4 at the end of one week, and |12 the next. This is a great hardship to the girl. In smaller factories employing from 150 to -500 girls, where fewer numbers of styles are made up, and where there are none of the fancy stitching machines, the operators are able to make better wages, on the whole. In one factory 150 girls finished 100 dozen misses' and children's dresses, of good style and quality, per day. This factory manufactured about 150 different styles, while a larger factory would make 250 or more. A small, new factory, employing from 10 to 15 girls only, made up about 50 numbers for samples first of the season, but the orders came on but six numbers, and the operators became so used to the six styles thai they were able to make more garments than in larger factories. Amusement was provided by one large firm. It had a phonograph that played during the luncheon hour, and was greatly enjoyed. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 439 (JOOD FACTORY CONDITIONS. On the whole the factories were light and clean, with ample space between each machine, and good aisles, free from obstruction. Only one factory had the aisles blocked with work, and it was also in this factory that the machines were closest together. There was no way of getting around the workers, except by walking over the work. In one room the work was piled up to the top of the lower sash of the windows, and the room was already a dark one. Machines in this factory were placed along a solid brick partition, where the operators had to use artificial light all the time. This was in order to save the installation of another motor. This was in the room where the work blocked the windows. However, the manager's office was even more badly placed than the ma- chines. While there* were things to condemn in this particular estab- lishment, the firm took a goo!' 20 employes; all three situated in one moderate-sized city. These three factories were visited and S4 women were interrogated. ALL IN GOOD BUILDINGS. All three factories occupied good buildings; the work rooms were clean and well lighted, and the sanitary conditions met with the stipu- lated legal requirements. To all appearances they seemed like ideal places in which to work. But on investigation it was seen that the mak- ing of silk gowns, like the trimming of hats, depends on the fickleness of Fashion. If not seasonal to the extent that the liat business is, there is a slack season of two months in the late autumn, and of three months between the first of April and the end of June. This does not apply to every one, as the makers of sample gowns work all the year, and the others are laid off as their services are not needed. Those inter- viewed reported "lay-offs'' of from two to 16 weeks, depending upon what they did and the years of service with the factory, the last coiners being the first to be u let out." FIXING STYLES. The designers first make their models and the firms send salesmen out to department stores and suit houses to obtain orders. As orders come in the force is engaged and the style and materials are made up accord- ingly. This year, 1914, the spring lay-off lasted longer than usual be- cause the orders came in so slowly. The styles of this year were of such marked departure from those preceding, and of such extreme cut the merchants were wary of placing their orders. During the past year the fashion in skirts changed so rapidly that they were overstocked with out-of-date garments three months after their goods had reached them. To change the fashions often may be good business, but to overdo it is to destroy confidence. The woman who can afford only one silk gown a season is afraid to buy .unless she is sure that the new style is really going to be worn. And so the operators on silk gowns have to take a longer enforced vacation while Fashion is making up its mind upon just what models to settle. As the kimono sleeve was very easy to copy, the home dressmaker looked in the windows, bought a pattern and made her own waists and gowns. This cut off the output of the factories last year, so this year we have the set-in sleeve, the shirred basque, and the accordion pleated skirt, complicating dressmaking so that the woman who desires to keep up with fashion must buy her clothes ready made. It is an irony of fate that economy practiced at home, in response to the lectures to women against extravagance, means that her sister in the factory will have her season of work shortened. When it takes but a few yards to make 1 a dress the silk mills close because they sell less material, so we are back to fullness of skirts and many buttons and button-holes and fluthigs and pleatings. Will this mean more work to the silk gown operator? MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. . 443 OCCUPATIONS WITHIN THI: i.xnrsTuv AND WAUES. The operations at a silk gown I'acloi-y fall into two kinds machine and hand work. In addition there arc a IV w women, those who have readied the top of their business, who design, cut, lit models, drape, and inspect the finished work. These are paid from *12 upward. The machine work is of three kinds the makers of sample gowns, the ojM'ralors of special machines, and the routine machine work. The ma- jority of the operators are in the last mentioned division. They are given the waist or skirt cut out with all the trimmings done up in a bundle. Tnlike other garment making the operator does all the work, makes the entire waist or skirt. The waist operators make from $2.75 for those beginning, to $12 for the experienced ones. It takes six months' experience to make $5, and several years before they get as high as ss or flO. A skilled operator can make three complete waists a day. The skirt operators make from f 7 to f 12. The work is all piece-work, and the machines have single needles. The girls complain that they lose much time in waiting for work, as only one waist or skirt is brought to them at a time. And they can not bring- any of their own work, as no bundles are permitted to be carried in or out of the work room, because of the expensive materials they work on. MANY MACHINES. There are numerous special machines cording machines, tucking machines, hemstitching machines, fluters, button machines, and button- hole machines. The button making and the fluting are done by the in- experienced girls, as the operation consists in merely feeding the ma- chine, and they are paid from $4 to $7 a week. The other special ma- chines are like an ordinary sewing-machine run by power with a special kind of "foot." This work requires much care so the operators are paid a weekly rate of from $7 to $11. While the making of sample gowns is exactly like the making of the gowns on order, there is no opportunity for speeding by becoming familiar with a certain kind of work. Kach sample gown is apt to be just a little bit different, so these operators are selected from the best of the experienced girls, and they are paid a weekly rate of from $!) to f !'>. Hand sewing consists of finishing off the ends; sewing on buttons, and hooks and eyes; making trimming such as bows and covering buckles, and sewing them on waists; making girdles and collars and cuffs. This work is usually done by the very old, and the very young fhose timid, about operating the power machines. The young girls, just out of school, sew on buttons and hooks and eyes. For the latter operation they are paid four cents a dozen, making from s: 1 ,..")!) to s7 a week, piece-work. The making of trimming and girdles require more skill and the worker is paid from $5 to $!), piece-work, according to her weekly output. The finisher gets from s5 to $8 piece-work. The girls who assemble the various parts of the garments, the lin- ing, the special work, such as cording or fluting, or hemstitching, 444 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON for the machine operators and tied them into bundles- are called "lay- out" girls and they are paid a weekly wage of $G. IIEALTHFULNESS OF THE WORK. No criticism can be made on the conditions under which the girls \vork. The rooms are light and ventilated. During the heat of last summer numerous electric fans helped to make the workers more com- fortable. Complaints of the injurious nature of the work were based on the actual operation rather than on the surroundings, and these are conditions of the work itself. Fifteen of the complaints were of eye and nerve strain caused by operating the power machines and keeping the eyes fixed upon the path of the fast moving needle. One girl said sitting still so long made her nervous; another complained of stomach trouble from sitting; one girl said her eye strain was not due to the ma- chine but to working on black waists; one beginner was nervous for fear her skirt would be Caught in the belt operating her machine. All these complaints are common to machine work. THE WORKERS. Fifty-seven out of the 84 women interviewed have been engaged in no other occupation. Of the remaining 27, ten gave dressmaking as the other occupation engaged in before coming to the silk garment factory. If dressmaking is not closely allied to the operating of a power machine, it is at least sufficiently similar to make a garment factory a natural succession to sewing for one's next door neighbor. Eighty out of 84 girls said they were American-born, and over half of these gave their parentage as German, which may account for the fact that they are not wanderers in the industrial market. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. Table No. 65. SUMMARY OF THE SILK GARMENT TABULATIONS. 445 Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 1 Establishments investigated 3 Employes interrogated 84 American born 80 95.2 Foreign-born 4 4.8 Living at home 75 89.3 Adrift 9 10.7 Receiving less than $6 per week 34 40.5 Receiving less than $8 per week 48 59.3 Receiving $8 per week and over Working under 1 year 13 15.5 Working under 3 years 29 34.5 Working 3 years and over 55 65.5 Have followed other occupations 27 Under 16 years of age Under 20 years of age 37 44.0 Under 25 years of age 68 81.0 25 years of age and over 16 19 . Single : 83 Married 1 1-2 Widowed ' Separated or divorced THE PETTICOAT INDUSTRY OF MICHIGAN. / The genesis of the petticoat industry is an interesting one. As a commercial enterprise it started in 1895 in Kalamazoo. A woman canvasser, taking orders for a dressmaker, sold a garment of this kind to the wife of the blacksmith of a Kalamazoo buggy company. To the husband, the price seemed exorbitant. He told his wife that a petticoat of much better material could be made for 50 per cent less. Realizing that if he were able to prove his contention there would be a promising business opportunity awaiting him, he decided to test his judgment. He rented two rooms in a down-town business block and purchased on contract two ordinary foot-power machines and a bolt of heavy weight black sateen. He engaged two women experienced in dressmaking. The women were to pay back out of their weekly wages a certain sum until the machines were paid for. The petticoats were introduced to the trade through canvassers. 446 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON IT CATCHES ON. Within three months' time the business had grown to such propor- tions that it was found necessary to seek larger quarters and to install more machines. In six months, they were forced to move to yet larger quarters. Each operator was still being required to pay for her own machine. Merchants in all parts of the United States found a great demand for these garments and mail orders began pouring in. it is stated that at this period the overhead expenses of the plant were so small that the profits for the first two years were at least 100 per cent. Inside of three years the volume of business had so increased that 65 machines were in use. About that time it became possible to buy machines especially adapted to this kind of work; machines for tapeing, flouncing and ruffling all of which had previously been hand work. The installation of this labor saving machinery improved the garment as well as materially increased the output. In the beginning they could cut but a few dozen garments at one time as they were cut with tailor's shears; then the sharp knife was used; then came the electric cutter such as is found in all up-to-date cloth- ing manufacturing establishments to-day. When they had from 20 to 30 machines operated by foot-power, they turned out from 50 to 75 dozen petticoats per day. Girls, who at that time, made two dozen petticoats per day -( these garments were plain with one ruffle each girl finishing her own garment) received eight cents apiece, making on an average of $1.92 per day. In 1897-98-99, the mail orders received from all parts of the United States often amounted to from $2,000 to $3,000 daily. These orders came from all sections of the country from Portland, Me., to San Francisco, Calif., and from Detroit, Mich., to New Orleans, La. The firm had salesmen and women canvassers on the road at that time taking orders, and there was no competing firm. The firm purchased the raw material direct from the East and shipped the finished gar- ment back to Boston, where the cotton had been purchased. At that time, changes in the styles were unknown, and this con- dition continued for five or six years. Of course there might be a slight variation in the number of ruffles on the skirt from year to year. One being added this year one taken off the next year. However, there was but one grade of material used and but one color, viz., black. It was not a matter of choice they the buyers took black or noth- ing. COMPETITION BEGINS. About the fourth year petticoat factories began to spring up all over the country. Competing manufacturers cut prices in order to got ilic business. With competition came the changes in the styles of gar- ments and in the grades of material, variety of colors and tones. In this way did the new manufacturer appeal to the trade; About the time their salespeople began clamoring for different styles, different colors and different shades, and different materials the pioneer Michigan manufacturer decided it was about time to go out. of tlu> business. At the outset of the industry there was no dull season; to-day there MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 447 are bu ( few manufacturers who have survived the sudden and extreme changes demanded in the style of petticoats. Now it is necessary to carry in slock many different grades and colors of materials. AVith these changes the industry has become a seasonal one. The petticoat man- ufacturer to-day is busiest from October to February. The bulk of the raw materials are still purchased from the Eastern States. BUSINESS CUT TO PIECES. Women to-day demand a cheaper skirt costing about $15 a dozen to the manufacturer and sold to the trade at fl.95 each. They prefer to buy two a month to paying |5 to |8 for a good susbtantial garment. This militates against the success of the legitimate manufacturer. This latter class of garments is produced in eastern "sweat shops" and sold through jobbers who have not a machine in the shop, nor an agent on the road, but who depend entirely on mail orders. Often these garments are produced in poorly ventilated basements, or fire-trap lofts and tene- ments. This season, petticoats were made from 24 different colors in silk ; from five to eight different colors in the cotton materials, not count- ing the different tones demanded in each color. Some of the grades of cotton materials used to come in 10 colors. Customers to-day want the colors used in the manufacture of the silk skirts duplicated in the cotton materials. BUSINESS NOW AWAITING A CHANGE OF FASHIONS. To-day the manufacturer of petticoats has his shop equipped with the latest improved machinery. In most of the establishments each part of the garment is done by a different operator, averaging from six to 13 or more operations, the number varying somewhat with the style of the garment produced or the individual manufacturer's method of production. The cutter and designer is always a man. Each operator of experience usually turns out parts of from 10 to 20 dozen petticoats per day. At this, writing, few petticoat manufacturers are able to continue in business. The extremely narrow outer skirt has made it impossible or impracticable for women who follow the changes in style to wear petticoats, and the manufacturers are awaiting the return of the fuller outside garment. A number of the manufacturers have been making as a side line tights and bloomers. This has been necessary in order to keep (heir machinery running. Even then it has been possible to run but part of each day. Some plants have closed down entirely un- til styles again return to normal traditions. 448 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Table No. ff^. SUMMARY OF PETTICOAT INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited 3 Establishments investigated 3 Employes interrogated 37 American-born 36 97 . 3 Foreign-born 1 2.7 Living at home 27 73 . Adrift 10 27.0 Receiving less than $6 per week Receiving less than $8 per week 11 30.6 Receiving $8 per week and over 25 69.4 Working under 1 year 9 24.3 Working under 3 years : 26 70.3 Working 3 years and over 11 29.7 Have followed other occupations 27 73 . Under 16 years of age Under 20 years of age 3 8.1 Under 25 years of age '. 13 36. 1 25 years of age and over 23 63 . 9 Single 21 56.8 Married 7 18. Widowed 6 16.2 Separated or divorced 3 8.1 WOMAN'S UNDEKWEAK AND INFANT'S WEAR. The character of the manufacture of woman's underwear and in- fant's wear as gleaned from a report of the National Cotton Gar- ment Manufacturers' Association, is confined to the manufacturing of woman's cotton underwear and infant's garments made of cotton cloth, embellished with machine embroidery, machine laces, hand made embroidery, hand made laces, or embellished with fancy stitches, produced by machine and by hand, and furthermore embellished and completed with buttons and ribbons. It has been estimated that there are about four hundred factories of woman's underwear and infant's wear in this country, a few of which are in Michigan. The profits of the business are small, owing to the fact that a per- son can engage in the business on comparatively small capital and on account of the competition of contract shops in the East, employing underpaid, non-English-speaking labor, of which there seems to be a continuous supply. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 449 From statistics gathered i< is shown that the entire industry docs between thirty and forty millions of business every year. It is further est minted that about fifteen millions of dollars has been actually in- vested. By reason of the keen competition that exists no one has ever become 1 wealthy through the production of this work. But one manufacturer has ever grown rich enough to retire, and he is only moderately wealthy. CAPITAL AND WAGES. So far as concerns the number of laborers employed in the United States in this industry, investigations show that there are about 20,000 wage^eamers engaged in the direct trade, and 1)5 per cent of this labor is furnished by women. This is readily understood in view of the fact that the main work is performed by seamstresses. The counsel of the National Cotton Garment Manufacturers' Asso- ciation requested the various members to send to him information re- garding the various items that enter into the cost of production and expense account of their business. The following conclusions were reached: The average factory engages hands during 292 days of the year. The average number <<(' superintendents and managers that work in a factory amount to two; average number of clerks, four; stenographers, two; salesmen, six; other salaried employes, 10, making average number of -4. The average number of wage-earners in a factory is 205, of which 104 are women, and 11 are men. The average salary paid to the wage- earners is $9 per week; the average net profit made upon the volume of business done is iy per cent; the highest profit shown by any given factory is 12 per cent. MATERIAL. With regard to the nature of the material that goes to make up the finished product known as lingerie, or embellished infant's Avear, it consists of cloth, trimmings, buttons, boxes, thread and ribbons. It is to be remembered that 85 per cent of the laces and embroideries used by the trade for the embellishment of the product is purchased from manufacturers abroad, and that but a small percentage of the product is embellished by hand embroidery or by embroidery made by machine in imitation of hand .embroidery. Furthermore the cost of the domestic material entering into the cost of production is substantially equal to the cost of foreign material, with import duty, landing charges, etc., added. About 93 per cent of the cost of making is direct operating labor. EXPENSE OCCASIONED BY CHANGE OF STYLES. Tn the lingerie business there is a constant shifting of styles de- manded by the women. This statement refers particularly to lin- gerie embellished with laces and embroideries. There is always a serious loss incurred whenever the styles shift, by reason of the fact that there remain* on hand large quantities of goods of the old style which cannot be disposed of except at a reduced price. There is a decided tendency to compel labor to perform -its function solely in 57 450 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. factories. Labor abuses, so far as concerns the seamstress are due to contractors employing emigrants who have not learned English, and labor working at home. This) last condition is being suppressed. Table No. 65. SUMMARY OF THE MUSLIN UNDERWEAR AND WAIST INDUSTRY TABULATIONS. Character of information. Number. Per cent. Localities visited , 2 Establishments investigated 3 Employes interrogated 142 American-born 131 92 3 Foreign-born . . 11 7 7 Living at home 102 71 8 Adrift 40 28 2 Receiving less than $6 per week 26 18 3 Receiving less than $8 per week Receiving $8 per week and over Working under 1 year 66 76 31 46.5 53.5 21 S Working under 3 years 66 46 5 Working 3 years and over .... 76 53 5 Have followed other occupations Under 16 years of age 93 4 65.5 * 2.8 Under 20 years of age 35 21 6 Under 25 years of age 77 54 2 25 years of age and over 65 45 8 Single . 118 83.1 Married 10 7.0 Widowed 14 9 9 Separated or divorced . . . APPENDIX X. IMH STK'IAL ENVIRONMENTS AND WAGES IN THE UPPER PART OF THE LOWER PENINSULA. The upper part of the mitten-shaped lower peninsula of Michigan was once timber land. Most of this timber has been cut, leaving only stumps, second growth and underbrush. Because of the expense of re- moving these stumps, this land is for the most part unused. No large cities have grown up on the part of the "mitten" encasing the "fin- gers," but situated at the middle joint of the first finger, the tip of the middle finger, and at each of the joints of the little finger are five fair sized towns, having populations of from six thousand to twelve thous- and. These were all lumber towns once, and are now attempting to eke out an existence taking summer boarders; for residents from large cities further south have discovered how invigorating are the lake breezes. They and the transportation companies have passed the word along until now in July and August the hotels and boarding houses swarm with tourists and vacationists. Summer has become the busy season. Aside from what little lumbering remains, and the tourist trade, there are no industries of any considerable importance. With only one exception, nothing has been done to take the place of the wealth cut from the timber lands. The lumbermen have absorbed most of the natural wealth and carried the spoils away and spent them else- where. Some logs still come down the rivers to be sawed in the few mills yet running, but it is nearly the last of the marketable timber. One of these towns has dropped behind in population 2,000 in ten years; three show a slight increase of a few hundred. One alone replacing the pine forests with fruit trees has a marked gain in popu- lation of 3,000 in the past ten years. FACTORIES ARE FEW. Where work for men falls off and they gradually migrate, no factories come which depend on women employes as the women follow the men to new fields. There are scattered through this region a few industries depending on lumber, such as paper mills, woodenware, chairs and game factories, but as these were not included in the industries selected for this investigation, no statistics were obtained. The chief industry where women find work is the so-called k 'bean- eries," where dried vegetables, such as beans and peas, are picked over; but as these beaneries are in operation only during the winter months and as the investigation took place in those. towns in July and Aligns!, they had to be passed by. Next to the beaneries come the canneries; 452 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON which are treated of in another portion of this report. So only two fac- tories were investigated from this part a candy factory and' a woolen mill. But Avhile there is no extensive manufacturing, every town has its stores, its laundries, and its telephone exchanges. How these towns use and pay the women required to keep these necessities in operation was the chief object of the investigation in these five towns. WAGES IN STORES. Most' of the stores', 18 in number, were visited, and from them 93 saleswomen and seven of the office assistants were interrogated. Their wages run from |3 to $16, the average wage being $5.76. The average age of the employes is 22 Tears/ which shows that in the smaller town the girls go to work at a later age than in large cities. All the stores remain open Saturday nights and in some towns Wednesday nights also, and the girls work the full 54 hours the law allows. Some stores have lunch rooms where the employes may eat their lunches, but most of the girls go home at noon for distances are not great. Most of the stores have only one toilet for employes and customers, some- thing the girls object to, and which is remedied in a few places by hav- ing two, to one of which the girls have a key. The work is easier than in the city, for while the saleswoman is usually very busy, her custom- ers are her next door neighbors, and are more considerate, often reliev- ing the monotony of the day by a bit of gossip or friendliness between purchases. CONDITIONS IN TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. Two of the five towns have rival telephone companies, and this brings down the rate for the user, and also the wages for the opera- tors. Thirty-eight employes from seven exchanges were interrogated. Their wages ranged from $15 a month to $36, the average wage being $5.26 a week. The average age is 21 years. The girls work in shifts of from three to six, according to the size of the town ; and a day's work is from eight to nine hours, with 15 minutes' relief in each shift. The discipline is less strict there, and the girls get an afternoon off Avhen they can arrange with another to act as substitute, and pay her from their own salary. This is arranged with the consent of the super- visor, who herself often relieves the girls when the force is shortened by illness, etc. The girls have a vacation of from one to two weeks de- pending on their length of service in five of the seven exchanges. The night shift consists of only one girl, but in one exchange there are two. The night operator works from 9:30 P. M. to 6:30 A. M., with no relief. In one exchange the night girl works from 9 P. M. to 7 A. .M., seven nights in the week, with no relief. She complained that her work was very heavy during the Summer llesort season and that she had all she could do to handle the long distance and the local calls alone. All but one exchange had a rest room and one in addition to the rest room had a gas plate and dishes where a girl could prepare n lunch and make tea or rolt'ee. With the exception of the night work, the work is less steady and exacting than in the exchange of a large city. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 4r>3 Only 11 out of the :>S interviewed complained of (lie nervous strain that is usually attendant upon telephone work. LAUNDRIES, CANDY FACTORY AND WOOLEN MILLS. Forty laundry workers from seven establishments were interrogated. Their average age was !': years, and they wei'e paid from f:> to 1(1.50, an average of -f4.r>(;. This work in the small (own is ap( to be less agreeable than in the city. The machinery is not as up-to-date, the ventilation not pel-reeled, the old-fashioned iron, heated on gas plates, is used. One laundry used a coal stove. The sanitary conditions are sadly neglected, the toilets as a rule are not clean, and in one laundry there was only an outhouse for the use of both men and women. The candy factory was new and clean and the 18 employes had all the comforts of the average modern candy manufacturing plant. The rooms were light and airy, sanitary conditions good, and ice water was provided for the girls, who make from $3.50 to $7.50 a week, an average of s.~). r)i>. They were either very young or middle aged, and the average age was 23 years. The woolen mill was situated on the outskirts of the town. They weave woolen cloth, and make it into trousers and shirts for lumber cutlers. The mill is operated only during the summer months, and is an unheated barn of a building. The only toilet accommodation is an outhouse several paces from the mill, and partly submerged in water if the rains are heavy. The drinking water is kept in a pail with a tin dipper at its side. The employes make from $4 to $6.50 per week, an average of $5. GO. The average age is 23 years. FEW ARE AFLOAT. The 104 workers interrogated were all American-born except 10, and of these six gave Canada as their birthplace. Less than half, how- ever, only 74, were of American parentage. In the towns upon Lake Huron, the majority, 33 in number, were of French-Canadian parentage. In the towns on Lake Michigan, those farthest south, 22 of the work- ers reported Sweden, Norway and Denmark and eight Bohemia as the countries of their parents' birth. Scattered throughout -the five cities were -live reporting English and Scotch, 12 Polish, five Austrian and Hungarian, and one of Swiss parentage. The great majority of the 194 women employes live at home. In four of i lie towns there were a few, less than a fifth, numbering from live to eight in a town, who were living with relatives. In the one city showing a marked increase in population, 18, more than a third, were hoarding, 11 with relatives and seven with strangers. This is the town showing the highest wages. MANY ARE NOT SELF-SUPPORTING. Fifty-seven of these 1!)4 reported that they did not support them- selves, but depended on relatives to help out Iheir earnings. Thirty helped to support others. Many snid that what ihey earned barely paid for their clothing, but that Ihey helped a little toward their board by 454 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON buying about a dollar's worth of groceries a week for the house, or else aided to dress a younger sister. In all the cities but one the store employes received vacations with pay, and in all but one telephone exchange the operators were given a vacation without reduction from the month's wages. In all seventv- six reported vacation with pay, and forty-three vacation without pav. While a majority (46) spent their vacations at home, (17) visiting, "a large proportion (27 out of 115) took trips. Those living on the shores of Lake Huron go to Detroit, while the residents of the western shore of Michigan go to Chicago or Milwaukee. FEW MARRIED WOMEN EMPLOYED. Very few married women work in these towns. There .are eight who have husbands, five who are widowed and two divorced. One hundred and seventy-nine were single women. Of the eight married women, six were working and sharing the expenses of the household with their husbands, two were contributing nothing to their living expenses, working only for money for clothing and extras. One woman's hus- band was out of work, and she was tiding over the time until he would again have employment, and one was the entire support of an invalid husband. As a rule when a girl marries in the small town she does not go on working. She has not attained to that status where she desires to be independent. Life is to her a more leisurely matter. The "progressives" are anxious to go elsewhere and try their industrial wings in a large world. In all these five towns only one has an amusement park, yet all have lake fronts and room and natural facilities for recreation of this kind. There are no town amusements to be found in. this portion of the State, other than the contribution of the moving picture man. Nothing is done to make it worth while or interesting for the young woman to stay in her native town. Is it strange that they listen to the sounds of the hustle and rush of things to the south of them? MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 465 Tall,' No. 66. SUMMARY OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE UPPER PART OF THE LOWER PENINSULA. Character of information. Number. Per cent. 5 34 194 183 94.3 11 5.7 152 78.4 Adrift 42 21.6 Receiving less than $6 per week . '121 62.4 Receiving less than $8 per week . 161 84.3 Receiving $8 per week and over . 30 15.7 Working under 1 year 51 20. 3 Working under 3 years 98 50.5 96 49 5 79 40 7 3 1 5 Under 20 years of age Under 25 years of age . 59 137 30.4 70.6 25 years of age and over . . 57 29.4 Single . . 179 92.3 8 4.1 Widowed 5 2.6 2 1.0 APPENDIX Y. WAGE AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF WOMEN IN THE UPPER PENINSULA. The Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with its large mining and lumber interests and lack of manufacturing plants, offers few opportunities for the employment of women. In some respects the conditions of the wage-earning women there, are still those of earlier times in the Lower Peninsula. The towns being smaller and the chances for change of employment few, the employer is in many cases the friend and neighbor of the family of the employe. There is little of the "shifting" "so common in the large manufacturing cities. Consequently it must not- be at- tributed to the employers' lack of interest, that there is not one social secretary in the upper part of the State. Her work has not yet become a necessity. MOSTLY LIVE AT HOME. The girls mostly live at home, and even the small number of "adrift" reported are in no sense a fair proportion, for, finding that the girls living at home had little idea of the cost of living the investigator inter- viewed all the "adrift" in the establishments investigated. The extremely low wages now shown would also be somewhat raised, had the higher-priced girls not been away on vacations. Still, as these 1 vacations were in many instances compulsory, especially in case of mil- linery saleswomen, and without pay, it is possible that the "yearly average" might not be materially affected. Many of the stores gave a vacation with pay, a few paid a small "bonus," and a few docked employes for the time lost on account of sickness. There was little time lost for sickness, however, due probably to the fact that they were almost all living at home anc| were not over- worked. In the stores a girl's sales depended more upon the size of her circle of friends, than upon her salesmanship. In fact, many were hired be- cause they had many relatives, and would attract custom in that way. In the copper mining district there are in the neighborhood of 30 dif- ferent nationalities represented, many drifting into other places and employments as they become Americanized, and a constant stream of non-English speaking workers taking' their places. This, makes it neces- sary for the merchant to keep saleswomen enough to be able to talk to these different nationalities. In many cases, perhaps in all, the merchant is obliged to have a much larger force than would be required MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 457 to sell the same amount of goods, were the customers all able to speak English. This makes the work much easier for the saleswoman, but also keeps the wages low. VACATION WITH PAY. In some of the towns the stores keep open two or three nights a week until 9 or 10 o'clock, but girls are supposed to have time off dur- ing the week to keep within the 54-hour limit. None of the girls in stores reported working overtime now, though many said they used to do so. In most of the stores girls could get time off occasionally dur- ing the day, even to do shopping in other stores, they told the investi- gator, without losing pay. There was one successful co-operative store that has been in operation for twenty-three years. Some of the firms allow the saleswomen to be absent 12 working days during the year, at any time and for any reason, a day now and then, or two weeks at one time, with pay for time. The girls were very enthusiastic about this, and preferred it to a two weeks' vacation with pay, to be taken at some stated time. Very few girls lose time under this arrangement. LAUNDRIES UP-TO-DATE. Laundries, aside from Chinese laundries employing no women, were few, and the larger ones depended upon the lake steamers for trade. Instances of overtime were discovered in these, as the girls reported wages by the hour, and the last week's earnings showed overtime in some cases. One or two admitted working overtime, but many were afraid. To lose a place would mean, not a change of places, but no work in the majority of cases. The laundries were up-to-date, well ventilated, and two had rest rooms, with cupboards and tables that the girls might use them as lunch rooms as well. TELEPHONE EXCHANGES. One telephone exchange was exceptionally well equipped with rest and lunch room, but the average exchange was not up to the standard maintained in the lower part of the State. However new buildings are expected in the near future to replace the poorer ones. It has been stated that in some respects conditions in the Upper Peninsula were not quite modern. It is illustrated, perhaps, by the fact that out of some 150 women interviewed, 20 per cent did not want to give their ages. WAGES LOW. Wages are low, but w r ith the low rents and lack of opportunities of spending for amusements, many of the girls are able to take vaca- tion trips, and a fair number are able to make savings, or invest in different ways, principally in building and loan associations. There is a lack of the harassed, wornout look in the saleswomen that is so often conspicuous in the big cities in the lower part of the State, where the higher wage seems to yield less of comfort and pleasure. 458 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON Employer and employe showed a most modern and up-to-date interest in the minimum wage question. Table No. 67. NUMBER INTERROGATED IN THE UPPER PENINSULA, NUMBER LIVING AT HOME AND ADRIFT, BY OCCUPATION. Occupation. Living at home. Paying board at home. Adrift. Assisting others. Helped by others. Candy 2 1 2 1 Laundries 19 16 7 2 Stores 73 58 14 5 3 Telephone exchange 20 14 4 2 Other occupations (shoes and woolen goods) 9 4 4 o Table No. 68. AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGES AND EXPENDITURES OF UPPER PENINSULA WAGE-EARNING WOMEN INTERROGATED. Wages. ] Expenditure' . Occupation. Reporting weekly earnings. Total weekly earnings. Average weekly earnings. Board. Clothes. Other expenses. Candy 4 $20 50 $5 12 $3 00 |0 90 Laundries Stores 26 87 173 49 658 53 6 67 7 59 2 75 3 67 1 11 2 55 27 36 Telephone exchange 24 136 30 5 68 3 36 1 05 30 Other occupations (shoes and woolen goods) . 13 91 50 7 04 2 63 1 58 17 Table No. 69. WEEKLY WAGES OF THOSE INTERROGATED IN THE UPPER PENINSULA Occupation. Under $5. $5 and under $6. $6 and under $7. $7 and under $8. $8 and under $9. $9 and under $10. $10 and over. Candy 2 1 1 Laundries 4 4 6 9 1 2 Stores 20 12 11 3 11 8 22 Telephone exchange ., Other occupation (shoes and woolen goods) 7 1 9 3 4 2 3 2 2 1 1 Total 34 26 24 18 16 11 25 MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 459 Table No. 70. NATIVITY PARENTAGE AND MARITAL RELATIONS OF 154 WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS INTERROGATED IN THE UPPER PENINSULA. Occupation. j ) it 1 j Widowed, separated or divorced. Candy 4 2 2 3 1 21 5 4 22 23 2 1 Stores (a) 69 15 (b) 33 50 84 2 1 Telephone exchange 23 1 (c) 13 10 23 Other occupations (shoes and woolen goods) 7 6 1 12 12 Total 124 27 53 96 145 5 1 (a) Not including 3, nativity not reported. (b) Not including 4, parentage not reported. (c) Not including 1, parentage not reported. Of all those interrogated in the Upper Peninsula, only one began to- work when under 12 years of age; four were 12 to 14; six were 14 to 16; 96 were 16 to 20; 12 were 20 to 25; two were 25 to 30, and but one was 30 or over. The chances for advancement were reported "good" )>y 118, either in wages or position. Only 26 had "no hope." One only reported as being under 16 years of age; 11 were 16 to 18; 30 were 18 to 20; 43 were 20 to 25; 24 were 25 to 30; 12 were 30 to 40; one was 40 to 50, and one was over 50. So considerable a number declined to state their ages, that the probabilities are that the number over 30 should be considerably increased. Thirty-four of those interrogated had from six to 11 in their families. Of these nine had six in the family; 10 had seven; seven had eight; four had nine, and four had 11. Thirty-seven had saved $1,433.15 dur- ing the preceding year, an average of |40 each; and f 799.56 of this sum had been invested, mainly in homes. Only 26 reported lost time from sickness either personal or in fam- ily. Forty lost from one to four weeks; 16 from four to eight weeks; five from eight to 13 weeks; nine from 13 to 26 weeks; and five from 26 to 51 weeks. Thirty-two had vacations with pay, and 45 vacations without pay, the vacations totaling 45 weeks, or an average of four days each. In all cases loss of pay through fining was a negligible quantity. In 32 establishments there were 17 good toilets; in 11 they were fair, and in three they were bad. In one establishment the toilet was not seen as the place was closed before the investigation was finished. So many of Hie wage-ram ing women in the Upper Peninsula live at home, with no anxiety as to whether or not they are self-supporting, that two-thirds of those interrogated, honestly admitted that they did not know how much it was necessary to have in order to be self- supporting. Three thought that |6 to |8 would be enough; five con- sidered that $8 to $9 would be none too much; three placed the figures at between $9 and $10; and 16 insisted that it would take $10 a week in order to live decently. APPENDIX Z. THE PEOBLEM OF BOOMING CONDITIONS CONFEONTING THE WOMAN ADEIFT. WHAT DETROIT OFFERS. When a girl has neither friends nor relatives to board with, her problem is twofold ; to find a nice room and to find a place to eat her meals. Many households are willing to rent a spare room to strangers, but few, except regular boarding houses, wish to have outsiders at their table. Then, too, there is a prejudice against girls. They want to wash out little things such as collars and cuffs, and they want to use the parlor to entertain their company, and all this interferes with domestic routine. On the other hand the working girl desires to avoid the expense of car fare, to say nothing of the 5 :50 P. M". jam on the cars that convey the toilers of a large city to the residential portions. The "woman adrift" seeks a habitation within the mile or mile and a half circle, with ready access to restaurants. The rooming problem in De- troit was thus confined to the down town districts. In the first house visited on Adams Ave., East, a parlor and back parlor on the first floor converted into bedrooms were shown. They were furnished in the conventional manner a brass bed, dresser, wash stand, table and two rockers. They were fairly neat and in good con- dition. They rented, $6 for the front room and |5 for the back parlor, either for one or two occupants. The bath was up stairs and the landlady said we could go back and forth in kimonos, that it was all right, even though there were men roomers in the house. As there was no reception hall or sitting-room the inquiry 7 as to where one could entertain gentlemen callers was put to her. The reply was: "You can entertain friends in your room so long as you are nice about it. You understand?" "PICK-UPS" NOT ALLOWED. A house on Brush St., had a third floor front room for $3.50 fur- nished like those first visited. The bath was on the second floor. It was necessary to pass through the family dining-room to the stairway. No parlor or sitting-room .was available in which to entertain. The usual question was put as to what one did with one's beau, and the answer was : "You can entertain your steady in your room, but not any "pick-ups." On Columbia West, a front room having an alcove for the bed and wash stand could be obtained for |6 and a side room -for $4.50. The MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 461 bath was "-nod and on the same floor. Entertaining of men was per- iniltiMl in bedrooms. ( hi Elizabeth St., West, were two good rooming houses with con venient baths and well furnished rooms, a second floor room for $5 and one on third floor for $4, but as usual, the only place to entertain was in Hie bedrooms. No one offered any objection to such a course in any of Hie places visited. WHAT A PARLOR OFFERS. When requested to do so by the Commission, it was pleasant lo imagine myself back again in the days of girlhood setting out to look for rooms. As there would have to be some proper provision for en- tertaining acquaintances of both sexes on the evenings they would call, I kept this feature particularly in mind. The first place I went to was an old-fashioned house near Woodward Avenue, full three stories and basement, soaring above the cottages nearby. It was a double house, with one porch serving for both fam- ilies. The first room shown me was the parlor, which left the prospect of but my own room in which to entertain company. The parlor was amply provided with a large, leather-covered daven- port and a showy brass bed. The only place that could serve for closet room was the narrow space behind the portieres at the double doorway at the back of the room, which had been boarded up between the two parlors. There was a bay window, an old-fashioned grate behind the davenport, and too much furniture for comfort. The furniture was new, selected without any idea of harmony. The pictures were in- artistic. The rug, clean and new, too brightly colored, and of a hideous floral design. The price was |7 a week. In starting out I had limited myself to rooms that could be paid for on a wage of $8.50 per week. I imagined myself newly arrived in De- troit, and without friends. I expected to find other accommodations later, but in the meantime I wanted si room down town, to save car fare, and as I had always lived at home, I had an idea that I could find something homelike if I looked long enough. This explanation is to show that the $7 a week room was out of the question. There was another room on the third floor for $3.50 a week, and for $4 if two occupied it. It was small, but clean, and had only a corner curtained off for a closet, and the trunk would have to stand in the room. There was a toilet and bowl on this floor, and bath on the one below. It was lighted by gas. Its one window gave a depressing view of roofs. The furniture, was unattractive, and consisted of a three- quarter bed, light oak dresser, wash stand and two chairs. But where could one entertain? The landlady was young and neatly dressed, and the house was clean. She looked like a good woman but was "surprised" that a boarder should want to have any place in which to entertain besides her room. She said she had roomed herself, and would never have stayed where she could not entertain in her room. She said she felt that she could 462 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON trust her girls and thought that they had always behaved themselves. She honestly thought it was very foolish to object to entertaining gen- tlemen friends in a bedroom. There was hot water but twice a week. She said no one wanted it oftener. GENERAL LACK OF CLOSET ROOM. Across the street there w r as a sign in the window which read "Rooms." A woman, two dogs and a cat answered the ring, and the animals had to be coaxed in and cared for, before I was shown the rooms. The parlor on the first floor was $5 a week. It was small, poorly furnished, and not very clean. There was a bay window. Same arrangement for closet as across the street. This is generally the only closet room provided in parlor rooms. There was also a room on the third floor which was |4 a week for one, and $4.50 for two. The stairs were poor to the second floor and closed and dark to the third. The landlady went ahead and lighted the gas. Here was also a front room, with four windows, dirty curtains carelessly hung, old carpet, and a few pieces of poor furniture. There was a large closet. The paper was ugly and torn. There was one gas jet near the door. It was dreadful. When I asked about entertaining the landlady was quite sharp, and seemed to think it was a silly thing to want any other place to take a friend. She said she didn't bother about rules concerning hours, "but didn't want company to stay all night, as it would give the house a bad name." Something frightened me about this place; the strange, stale odor, the dark stairs, the horrible room and the woman made one shiver. A few streets further out Woodward Ave., and across to the West side, I found a good looking apartment building. They said "they did not usually rent to girls, but that several rooms were vacant and they would take me." There was no parlor, and no entertaining al- lowed in rooms. It was really a very large rooming house. One room on the third floor was $4 a week, electric light, bath, phone, maid service, and fairly well furnished, but no closet. The halls had an awful mixture of odors. LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING IN A FRONT PARLOR. An advertisement read "Light Housekeeping Rooms." I like to do housekeeping and I imagined myself preparing such dear little meals, and saving enough to pay the extra rent, and have a fudge spread occa- sionally with a couple of the other girls. Of course, it turned out to be the front parlor. This time there was a curtain all the way across, about half way back. A crazy dresser, with a wash bowl and pitcher on it, a bed and a couple of chairs, furnished the front part of the room. Behind the curtain, which sagged dejectedly on its rope sup- port, was the "kitchen" and "dining-room." These two rooms were indicated by a kitchen table, a gas plate, a box with a pail on it, and a few dishes in it. Upstairs was another "suite." One went directly into the "kitchen" and from there into the bedroom. Furniture poor and dingy. Bath on this floor, with hot water once a week, which seems to be the usual MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 463 ill the summer in down town rooming houses where a girl could all'ord to room. When the landlady realized that I did not care for the rooms, even at: a reduced rent, and I said they were not well adapted to entertaining, she said that she never rented to girls anyway, as she would riot allow 'company," and that I could not expect to get into a nice place if I wanted to have friends come to the house to see me. At another house where lived a widow and her mother I found a room for $2.50 a week. The house was a dull frame, in a poor neighbor- hood, but there were two windows in the room, everything was clean, and there was an opportunity to "wash out a few pieces, and get a light breakfast." No bath, toilet down stairs and out in the yard, be- ing apparently used by several families. LANDLADIES WERE KIND. I visited many more rooms. Some of the landladies put the price of the rooms high, and then came down to more reasonable figures, be- cause they k 'liked my looks" or "always felt sorry for a girl who was a stranger." Some of them were willing to have me take gentlemen to my room, even though there was a bed in it. Some did not object to any kind or kinds of company, and a few would not allow any enter- taining in the house. The landladies were of all kinds. Some of them were sorry that there was no parlor, but said they had to sleep in the dining-room to be able to get the rent together. Others had no idea that anyone could object to having a man friend in one's bedroom. Some were un- mistakably unconcerned as to what happened to the girl roomer but suspected the worst of girls anyway. The worst looking places, and I think the hardest-hearted women, always finally said they did not allow entertaining in the house. HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS. In one small, new hotel, near Grand River Avenue, was an attractive room on the second lloor, with small closet, hot and cold water, phone, electric lights, for $5, for one, or $5.50 for two. There was an eleva- tor, and the halls were attractive. There was a good parlor, company to leave at 11 o'clock. This, was, and in fact all of the rooms I looked at were, within walking distance of the store in which I was supposed to be working. This hotel room, with another girl to share it with me, was what I should have taken. It was much better than the rooms in private houses. A self-respecting girl would feel much better satisfied to have friends of any kind come to see her there than at the other places I had looked at. She could have hot water in that nice clean bathroom at any time of the day or week that she wanted it, and not have to watch for the chance to get her poor share of the Saturday allowance that the other places considered ample. If a girl can get another congenial girl to share this room with her, she will have $2.75 a week to pay for room. It will cost her $3.50 for meals, at least, though only fifty cents a day is apt to at times leave one hungry. Food and lodging then, absorbs s<5.:^ a week. Can the 464 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON |8.50 girl dress and amuse herself on $2.25 a week? But how about the $6 girl. And most of the girls receive considerably less than $8.50. ROOMS AND AMUSEMENTS IN KALAMAZOO. A house to house investigation of the conditions in and about the rooms in Kalamazoo which working girls occupy, reveals the fact that the room may mean either the redemption or the downfall of a girl. Entering with zest upon the task set before me, I called at a number of houses where there were rooms advertised for rent, and inquired for a room just as though I expected to rent it. After visiting a number of private homes, blocks, small hotels, the mayor, a Catholic priest and the chief of police, I was more thankful than ever that I did not belong to the great army of wage-earners who merely eke out an existence. One of the first houses at which I called was on West Kalamazoo Avenue not far from the factory district. An untidy woman came to the door and I made known my wishes. She eyed me with suspicion and bluntly asked "Where do you live? Where are you going to work?" I explained that I was looking for a room for a girl friend of mine, who was going to work. She said "I have no room for girls. I do not want girls." When I pressed her for an explanation, she said "Well, girls always have fellers." After awhile I said, "And you have no place to entertain them?" "No! v came the blunt answer, and she turned and walked into the house. ENTERTAINMENT. Nearly everywhere was the same problem of entertainment, in a greater or lesser degree. The next place where I called the woman was very talkative, and discussed this problem freely. She showed me a room on the second floor which she said she would rent for $2 a week. It was *about 14 feet square, had two windows with shades and lace curtains, an iron bed, a commode, a mirror, a rocker and a straight back chair. The floor was painted, and had two small rugs. There was no clothes-press, but a corner of the room was curtained off for that purpose. It was a back room and seemed to be well ventilated. The paper was dark and cheerless. The room was heated with a drum on a stovepipe. The bathroom was on the opposite side of the hall. It was furnished as all bathrooms are, but had no bowl. It was not very clean. There was no way of heating the water. There were four men boarders and roomers who had their rooms on the same floor and of course used the same bathroom. I asked where a girl could entertain her company, and the answer quickly came, "Oh, I don't bother with that. When I was out in ser- vice I was compelled to walk the streets with my company and the girls are no better now. If you give a girl a few privileges she will take all she can get." "But," I said, "my friend is not that sort of a girl." Then she said that if a girl was respectable and had steady company she MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 465 would not object to her using the parlor twice a week. But she said (hat she did not want to keep girls on that account, and did not wanl to bother with them. She said she was often called up by couples who asked for rooms at 12 o'clock at night. She said, "I'm as sorry as I can be for girls, but I'm not rich, and I cannot help them." About three blocks from the factory district on Ransom Street, in a two story wooden building, I found a small room about eight feet wide and 10 feet long which rented for $1.25. It was lighted with one window, and heated with a register. The furniture consisted of a sanitary cot, a small dresser, a chair and a stand. The floor was covered with a rug. The bathroom was on the first floor. To reach it one had to go downstairs, through the hall, the sitting-room and the dining-room. The oil stove was the only means of heating the room. Three families and two roomers made up the household, and she ex- plained that the porch was full, but there was no other place to en- lertain company. She w r ould not allow company in the girl's room. She did not present a very neat appearance. Her dressing sacque and skirt were not clean, her hair was untidy and she was in her stocking feet. OFFERED A PORCH. Within a stone's throw of the Baptist church was another inter- esting place. Both of the rooms which the woman offered were on the second floor. They were furnished, lighted and heated in a very de- sirable way. The back room had a sanitary cot and rented for $1.25. The other had a large, old-fashioned bed, and rented for $1.50. There was no bathroom in the building, and the toilet was down two flights of stairs in the basement. There were a number of other roomers. When I asked about the place in which the girl would entertain her company she shook her head, and said, "I haven't any place. They can use the porch in Hie summer, but they can't sit out there howling around all night, I tell ye!" "But the porch will not last all winter," I said. -Well, there's no place," she said. On the main street in Kalamazoo is a terrace. The room which was shown me was about Hi feet square and rented for s:>.50. It was beau- tifully furnished with a double brass bed, a dresser, rocker and two chairs. A rug almost covered the hardwood floor. Two \vindows and a clothes-press made the room comfortable. There was a modern bath- room on the same floor. Everything was clean and neat. This time I objected to entertaining my company in my room, and she said, "Well, you will not find many places where girls are allowed the use of the par- lor, and the room is preferable to the street." 1 also objected to send- ing my company away as early as 10 o'clock, as she seemed to require, and she said, "You'll also find that rule wherever you go." It seemed that a mosl undesirable place was about two blocks from the corset factory. It was a two story wooden building, and from the lime I left the sidewalk I saw nothing but what was filthy the woman, the stairway, the bathroom and the sleeping room. The room rented for $1.50. It was about 12 feet square, had one window, a clothes-press, a dirty rug, a dresser, an iron bed, a folding stand and a rocking chair. The paper was torn and the shade was worn out and full of holes. Tn 59 466 REPORT OF COMMISSION OP INQUIRY ON spite of this filthy condition, I asked if I might get board there too, and to my joy she refused, giving as her reason there was nothing in board. All the profit was gone before one had finished buying the food. She had no place for girls to entertain their company. ONLY THE ROOM. There is a place where board and room could be obtained on South Edward street. The room is very small, about 8x10, and rented for f 1.50. With board it is |4. There is a clothes-press in connection with the room. One window lets in the light and a register furnishes the heat. There is- a gas jet in the room, bed, dresser and a chair. The bath- room is downstairs and can be reached by going through the hall, din- ing-room and kitchen. Everything seemed strictly sanitary. There is a saloon keeper, a traveling man and a woman with her son rooming and boarding there. The table was ready for supper and looked quite appetizing. The woman of the house was surprised when I asked about the provision she had made for company. She said, "Why, I never thought to make preparation for that. I do not know any place, only the room." "But I don't like that," I said. "That's the only place, but if you wish, you may entertain here in the dining-room." In a two story wooden building, some six blocks from the heart of the city, were two desirable rooms. One was a back room, on the second floor, furnished with a dresser, a bed and two chairs. It had a clothes-press, two windows, and pretty, light colored paper. The other room was about 8x10 feet square, and had a folding bed, chiffonier, two chairs and a clothes-press. Both were heated by a radiator. The bathroom, not clean, was downstairs, and was reached by going through the sitting-room, dining-room and kitchen. The woman of the house said that she had always allowed her girls to entertain in their rooms. She said if a girl was pure and good there was nothing wrong about it, and her girls had never betrayed the confidence she had placed in them. HOW ABOUT THE NIGHT? I also visited three blocks and a small hotel. The blocks were not "perfectly clean." One room shown had no outside light, only a window into a hall which was lighted by a window in the ceiling. One room had an inner door which was tied shut with a shoestring. The toilets were on the same floor, and were not lighted at all. Several roomers of both sexes use them. There are open sinks in the hall. The rooms are well furnished and rent from $1.50 to $2. There is nothing suspicious in the appearance of the places in the daylight. It is different at night. When I objected to letting my company go home at 12, they said I might keep him later if he was respectable. Evidently some do not care enough about keeping their places up to a good moral standard to inquire into the character or the affairs of their roomers. Y. W. C. A. HAS NO ROOMS. The Young Woman's Christian Association offers no rooms to the factory girls; it is merely for those who desire a room for a short time, because of lack of accommodations in its present quarters. The two MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 467 rooms which they have are connected by a large double door, (the doors are lacking) and contain two dressers, two stands, four single iron beds and two chairs. They are on the third floor. The toilet room (with no bath) is on the same floor. They charge 50 cents over night, or $2.50 a week. However there are many times when they do not charge a ti'irl anything for the room when she is in no condition to pay. There a iv a number of girls who take their meals at the Y. W. C. A. and who meet there for their club meetings which are held once in two weeks. They are under the supervision of the Extension Secretary. They read stories, dramas, have parties, and play in the gymnasium on the fourth floor. The parlor is open until 9:30 P. M., and the girls are urged to use it for their company of both sexes. There are about 5,000 girls and women employed in Kalamazoo, but it is not known just how many of these are living away from their own homos. The Y. W. C. A. reaches only a small per cent of these. The churches of Kalamazoo offer an opportunity for social times. But only a small per cent of the girls take advantage of this. The girls whom I know say they are too tired to attend social gatherings in the churches. The only other opportunities are the public dance halls, the skating rinks and the theatres. The chief of police said to me when I spoke to him of them, "They are breeding places for vice. Yet there is nothing tangible in the way of evidence that they are not what they ought to be. Girls are immoral because they choose to be. Everyone is what they are, because of their desires." Although the situation in Kalamazoo is deplorable for those girls who receive very small earnings, yet those whose earnings will permit, and those who have friends in the city, may choose for themselves rooms which possess every necessity and some luxuries. A girl who works in one of the large department stores receives f 7 a week. She and her room- ma te pay $5 a week for three rooms in which they do light housekeep- ing. They are less than a block from the car line. The room is on West Walnut. They have a sitting-room which is furnished with a table, a rug, two rocking chairs, two common chairs and a sideboard. The kitchen is just large enough for a kitchen cabinet, a small table and a lias plate. The bedroom has an iron bed, a dresser, a commode and a small rug. They are allowed to keep their company as long as they wish, which is 11 o'clock. Another clerk receives f G a week, she rooms almost 13 blocks from her work, and almost two blocks from a car line. She and her room- mate pay $2.50 for the room, which is furnished with a wooden bed, a dresser, two small tables and two rockers and two small chairs. The* room has two small rugs, two small windows and a clothes-press. A well equipped bathroom is on the same floor. These girls knew the people before they went there to room, but it makes no difference in the price of the room. They entertain their company in the sitting room, but the other girls entertain in their own room. They have a strict 10 o'clock rule when company should leave. A stenographer rooms on South Park St., who receives $8 for her work. She and her roommate pay $5 for their room and breakfast. Their room is 14 blocks from their work, which distance they usually walk. The room is furnished with a wooden l>e."> years old, a widow, receives f5 to $(J a week wages after two years' service. She formerly did dressmaking at home. She rents two rooms and does light housekeeping. She pays 1.50 a week for the rooms and says her grocery bill is usually a like amount. She does her own work after hours. She is not strong, and 478 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON lias been forced to receive doctor's care. "I have a hard time to keep even," is the way in which she describes her lot. One factory worker, 43 years old, claiming Michigan as the place of her birth, declared she first began work when but thirteen years old. She has had one year's experience at her present occupation, and now receives $6 a week. She has a daughter who assists in her upkeep and explains that she could not get along, but for the assistance she receives from well-to-do acquaintances and from charity. "I am afraid that a minimum wage will hurt the slow workers who would be deserving, but not worth as much," was the opinion she ventured. "I believe running a machine too many liours injures the health and makes future generations weaker, besides making childbirth more dangerous." A factory worker, 31 years old, American-born, married and having a baby seven months old was found. This woman has had two months' experience at her present work, for which her compensation is $5.40 a week. Her husband, a common laborer, none too ambitious, works at intermittent periods. This woman rents two rooms at $2.85 a week. Her groceries cost her |3 a week and fuel about 50 cents more. She pays a neighbor $1 a week to care for her child during working hours. This woman was obliged to seek work as soon as she was able to accept employment following the birth of her child. Another American-born laundry worker, who came under observation, claimed she was 3G years old, but really appeared to be 40. She said that her mother was left a w T idow, while she was still but a baby. Her mother was then forced to take in washings to eke out an existence. She had assisted the mother from the time that she was eight years old and by standing on a bench could bend over the wash tub. This woman is married and has a little daughter. For years, her husband was ad- dicted to the liquor habit, and she was forced to keep up the home. The father has since stopped drinking and is now in steady employment and earns a good salary. They are now paying for their home and when this is accomplished it is not her purpose to work out any longer. She never pursued her school studies beyond the third grade, but intends that her daughter shall have the advantage of a good education. The visits through the laundries brought another interesting case in a 26-year-old worker, American-born, and working since her fifteenth year. This- woman is not living with her husband. She has a daughter six years old -dependent upon her. She has been employed at her present work two years and her remuneration is $6 for five and one-half days' work. She makes her home with her brother and pays him $2.50 a week for herself and child. The court directed her husband to pay her $4 a month toward the maintenance of the child. This woman told the investigator that to save car fare she walked one and one-half miles to her work twice daily. She does her own sewing as well as that for her little daughter. The woman told of having just bought a coat for $8.50 at an installment house. She paid $2 down and is paying $1. a week. She says she is forced to purchase all her clothes on the installment plan. She ventured that a $15 doctor bill was causing her some worry. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 479 Another factory worker to come under observation was a Canadian- horn woman, 48. years old, who followed the calling of dressmaking for 27 years. She is a piece-worker with five years' experience, for which she earns |6 to |6.50 a week, when work is plentiful. For the week preceding the investigator's visit, she had received but $4.50. She has heen working on piece-work only six weeks; her previous average wage for two years, was $5.57 a week. This woman lives with her father, who is over 80 years old, and she has to defray the expenses of the house- hold. They own the house which shelters them. She says she cannot Milord to take a vacation. All of the housework and sewing falls on her, and which she must do after working hours. She says that she makes her clothes over and over just as long as the material will hold to- gether. One factory worker of 17, claiming Michigan as the place of her birth, receives $3.24 for a full week's work of 54 hours. For the week immedi- ately preceding the interview with the investigator she received but $2.89. Her fellow employes spoke of her rosy cheeks, when she first secured em- ployment. The bloom has long since left her cheeks. She says she can- not afford to take a much needed rest. This girl lives at home and gives up her entire earnings toward the support of the household. There are five in the family. "Mother," she says, "gives me back 25 cents and oc- casionally 50 cents each week to spend." The cases of two young Polish girls, are deemed worthy of passing attention. One of these, 17 years of age, had been working at the factory for about eight weeks; previously, she had been employed in a bean ele- vator about two years. She now works by the hour and receives $2.73 for a full week's work. To even think of a vacation, she says, is out of the question, as she is forced to give all her earnings to her mother. Her fa I her is dead, and there are eight children in the family of whom seven are girls. The ages of the other children vary from 13 down to four years old. As if their lot was not a hard enough one, their home burned down about six weeks ago and they did not save a solitary thing from the fire. Relatives helped them start housekeeping anew I iy contributing odd pieces of furniture. The other girl is of Polish- < !<'rman parentage and 17 years of age. This girl has been at work at this factory about a year. Her weekly earnings amount to $3.24 when employed full time. For the week immediately preceding the interview with the investigator she received $2.93. She told the investigator that she could not afford to take a vacation as she was in too great need of the money. This girl gives her entire earnings each week, as there are seven children to be fed and clothed. "Mother does not give me any of my money back," she said, "I would like a little to spend, but mother says she needs it all. Father works at the shipyards earning XL* a day. He can't work when it rains. As for myself, I bring my lunch to work and have a cup of hot coffee with it. This costs me six cents a week. I live 20 blocks from the factory and when I set out to work in the mornings in the winter it is awfully dark." Case. Xo. 0070 is thai of a woman 50 years old, who was horn in England. She went to work at 13 and was employed iu a corset fac- 480 REPORT OP COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON lory for 17 years. She earns |5 for a full week's work, but conditions jm> such that she works only three or four hours each day now. Bus- iness has been unusually bad for some time. Her earnings for the week preceding the investigator's visit amounted to $2.50. Work has been scarce for five or six mouths. She has saved enough money for her funeral expenses and rather than make any inroads upon this fund during the dull period, she is working for her room and board. She avers that the slack work makes her very nervous. One factory worker of Canadian birth is 59 years of age and has been working since her thirteenth year. She has been employed at this factory for four years. Her compensation is $5.40 for 54 hours' work. The week previous to the investigator's visit she earned $3.40. She cannot afford a vacation, she avers. She bought a six-room house which she pays for at the rate of $8 a month. "I have to pay that whether I eat or not," she told her investigator. "Wages are so low that I have to work at times when I should be in bed. My teeth need imme- diate attention, but I cannot get enough ahead for that purpose." One factory worker, also of Canadian birth, 60 years old, had never worked out until four years ago when her husband suffered a stroke of paralysis which left him entirely helpless. She receives $4.86 for a full week's work. For the week preceding the investigator's visit she received $3.56. She rents a house for which she pays $8 a month. "It takes all I earn to exist," she ventured to the investigator. "I cannot have any new clothes. I make my old ones over just so long as they will hold together." Among the store employes visited there was a little girl, 18 years of age, whose home was in a small town, and who had never before been away from the parental roof. In her home town, she did office work but her opportunities for development were limited. Accordingly, being ambitious, she obtained permission to go to a larger city where she might work during the day and have the advantages of the .night schools for the study of shorthand and typewriting. This young girl has been doing office work in this store for nearly two years and re ceives $6 as her weekly wage. She rents a room with friends for which she pays $1.50 a week. She dispenses with her breakfast. For her din- ner, she waits table at the Y. W. C. A. Her suppers cost her $1 a week. "On the Saturday mornings that I do not have to go to work until 9 o'clock I get up early and do my laundry work," said she. "The woman where I room lets me use the kitchen for that purpose. Mother has had to help me out with my clothes." Frances, a Polish girl has worked a few months and was found steal- ing lunches. Upon investigation it was found that she was sending the greater part of her earnings to her parents in Poland, and living in the direst poverty. She occupied a room with several others, hav- ing an old feather bed for a covering. She spent about sixty cents a Nveek for food. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. I SI Mary and a cbuin came from Kussia and worked in a garment fac- tory for |5 a week. Her chum contracted tuberculosis in the steerage on her way over, and worked but a few months. Mary fainted from lack of food, and it was found that she was spending her money for fruit and medicine for her chum, who died shortly afterward. Lena 21 years, has worked in a garment factory since she was 1-t where an older sister also works. Her mother died recently, and left a little home partly paid for. The girls do the housework at night and cannot afford any pleasures. The doctor says Lena needs a vaca- tion, but she is unable to take one and keep up payments on the home. Tillie, born with only one hand, has worked since she was 10. Her mother died when she was eight and father married a woman with eight children. The stepmother abused her and compelled her to leave home. She does all her own sewing and laundry work evenings. A little girl, 15 years of age, of Polish parentage, is bearing the burden of the support of a family numbering six. Her father, a man of 60 and ill part of the time, works odd days in a lumber yard. The brother was run over by a motor truck, and has not been able to work for a year. Three months ago this girl was taken from week work of label- ing, and put on piece-work of wrapping plug tobacco. She is able to make $8 a week now, and last week her pay envelope contained f 10.25. She was very proud that she beat her father by $2 in their weekly earn- ings. An 18 year old girl, of Polish descent, who receives |5.50 a week for putting bags on a tobacco filling machine is supporting a tubercular mother. They pay $2.50 a month for one unfurnished room and their food costs $12. They have no one to help them, and whenever the factory closes for inventory or a holiday the mother weeps because of the dollar or two less in the next pay envelope. A little Scotch woman of 54 years labels boxes all day for $6.50 a week, after 13 years with the same firm. She is quite alone in the world, and has no one to turn to if ill or unable to work. Out of her wages of $6.50 a week it costs her $3.50 for room and food which she cooks herself. She has no money for amusements, and after paying doctor's bills, is able to save only about $15 a year. 61 APPENDIX BB. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. EXPENSES OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. (From November 16, 1913 to January 15, 1915.) Traveling expenses of the Commissioners $373 09 Salary of Secretary 1,510 48 Traveling expenses of Secretary 251 17 Salaries of investigators (6 employes) 2,520 43 Traveling expenses of investigators (6 employes) 526 48 Salaries of the office employes (6 employes).. 1,721 01 Stenographers' services 86 70 Office equipment and supplies 195 31 Typewriter 87 08 Postage (including post-office box rent) 193 00 Express 17 64 Telegrams , 1 60 $7,483 99 OCCUPATION AND IMMORALITY. The following maternity table is taken from the report of the Social Service Committee of one of the largest hospitals for women in the State. It shows occupation at time of admission. Domestic 92 Factory worker 26 Housewife Office , 15 Waitress Telephone operator Living at home Saleswoman Schoolgirl 5 Vaudeville Teacher Tailoress 2 200 Of the above inmates, the 18 rated as "Housewife" were married women, the rest were unmarried girls. While in a large percentage of the cases of girls in domestic service, their trouble may be traced to improper companions and places of amuse- ment, it is surprising to those in charge of this branch of charitable work how many times the trouble is due to the man in the house, in which the girl is employed. MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR WOMEN. 483 THE WOMAN'S HOTEL. In talking with the superintendent of the new Priscilla Inn for work- ing girls, in Detroit, the advantages of conducting all kinds of housing accommodations on purely business principles was brought out. The average rooming or boarding housekeeper has to charge enough for rooms to pay for the loss occasioned by tenants who leave unpaid bills. Because all bills are paid in advance, the Inn can give the best kind of accommodations at the lowest possible price. Any girl, under 30 years of age, and earning not over $15 per week, can have in the Priscilla Inn a room by herself, breakfast and evening dinner, for $5 per week. Same, with one roommate, $4.50, and with three in room, $4. This includes the use of baths, laundry, sewing room, and extensive parlors. The rooms are steam heated. The build- ing is modern and new. It is in a good neighborhood. The manage- ment has not lost a cent since opening, and there are no vacant rooms. Is there not a good field for other hotels of a similar nature? The Inn is patronized by store and office employes; so far no fac- tory workers have applied for admission. Older women feel the need of a similar place where the younger, gayer girls would not be admitted. OCCUPATION OF WOMEN ATTENDING DETROIT EVENING SCHOOLS. Templeton P. Twiggs, Supervisor of the Detroit Evening Schools, sends the Commission the following report on Occupation of women attending the Detroit Evening Schools, during the year 1913-1914: General office clerks 367 "At home" (including married women) 260 Stenographers 179 Clerks-stores 162 Factories 113 Telephone operators 79 Teachers 66 Domestic service 64 Dressmaking 46 Musicians 5 Nurses 6 Milliners 4 Artists 4 Hairdressers 2 Total 1,357 THE WAGE^EARNER AND CHRISTMAS. The amount spent for Christmas presents happened to be mentioned during one or two interviews with girls, and the sums seemed so large that one of the Commission's investigators asked particularly about this item afterwards, just to see if many of the girls were so generous to family and friends. No table has been made of the answers, but it is safe to say that in a large proportion of the answers the amount said to have been spent for Christmas will equal the month's earnings up to the pay before the holiday. Beside this, many of the girls re- ported that they embroidered things during the year for Christmas gifts. Very few who were asked, reported giving no presents. Girls 484 REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. receiving between |6 and $9 a week reported giving as high as $15 to $25 or more for presents. RESULT OP ONE BONUS SCHEME. Early in the present year a Detroit factory tried a bonus scheme, in the endeavor to induce the girls to do more w T ork. It was calculated on the amount they had earned during the preceding four weeks. The notice read: To every waist operator who has earned between $24.00 and $27.99 a bonus of 6% amounting to $1.44 to $1.67 28.00 and 31.99 a bonus of 7% amounting to 1.96 to 2.23 32.00 and 35.99 a bonus of 8% amounting to 2.56 to 2.87 36.00 and 39.99 a bonus of 9% amounting to 3.24 to 3.59 40.00 and 43.99 a bonus of 10% amounting to 4.00 to 4.39 44.00 and 47.99 a bonus of 11% amounting to 4.80 to 5.27 48.00 and 51.99 a bonus of 12% amounting to 5.76 to 6.23 and to every waist operator whose earnings for the period are in ex- cess of $51.99 a bonus of 12% on the amount no matter what it may be. We believe that at the prices we are now paying our waist operators every girl who is anxious to earn money and will attend strictly to business, can earn at least $10 per week, and in order to encourage our waist operators to become efficient we are willing to add $4 or over every four weeks to the wages of every girl who can do so. To encourage girls to earn even more than this we are offering larger bonuses as above. As a result of this offer, out of the 500 girls who might have re- ceived a bonus, 164 only were financially benefitted; 336 earned less than |24 in the four weeks; that is, less than a dollar a day. The smallest bonus paid was f 1.45, the largest, $6.57 ; and 24 received between $4 and $6.57. The total amount paid out in bonuses for the month was $476. When the announcement of a bonus was made, it fell on indifferent or distrustful ears. Some of the girls believed it would be the means of reducing piece prices, thus actually in the end lowering wages. After a short trial, the system was discontinued, the firm decid- ing that the better plan would be to subdivide the work into more operations than formerly. This change seemed to be more satisfactory to all. APPENDIX CC. COMMISSION OF INQUIRY BLANKS USED IN COLLECTING THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT. BLANK SENT TO ESTABLISHMENTS EMPLOYING TEN OR MORE WOMEN WAGE- EARNERS. JUOSON CRENELL. CHA.RMAN. WATCftnwo CHARLES S. BEADLE. 4 McORAW BUM.. OCTIXXT MTRON M WALKER. HOUMMM BLCO . onw RAPID* COMMISSIONERS LUELLA M. BURTON. SECMTARY MICHIGAN STATE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WAGES AND CONDITIONS OF LABOR FOR WOMEN AND THE ADVISABILITY OF ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM WAGE The CommlMlon I. making ttadjr of w e . Condition* of Labor and Cost ol Living, and It to report opon the > 8 C O > r-H CO CO o o 0) CO i bo O bo S 3 03 U) 81 .2 3 ^3W a> c3 II ^ < | ii 3 I d s /H ^ H J !il. -|l t? fl ll8 fe lsg -olll f g !s 3 s SS| till I! it 55^ ;sl 111 = H s >i * S I | P- Z 50 as I i i : 2 2 a : : | S : S -* I .2 ! sT ; I - 1 J .5 ~ ^j J; 1 I I 1 i 1 1 1 - | I I I I rf f B 1 1 1 I I s i 1 i I I ! ^ O ~ l> _ - O ^--i I I * * I - i .1 s I 1 s I 1 1 1 1 1 6 I i f I 2511 "> S 2 3 & O O ! ^ O 5 C B K 1 1 a oj 5 * S 4 1 2 - P. - i I & S i K S ^ Q 5 5- 3 S ! i - - S S S Q S E K MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION FOR \VO.M I-:N. r.LAXK FORWARDED To Wo.MKXS n.nts. MICHIGAN STATE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO WAGES AND CONDITIONS or LABOR FOR WOMEN JUOSON CRENELL AND THE ADVISABILITY OF ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM WAGE CHARLES S. BEADLE 4 MCCRAW LOO.. DITROIT MYRON H WALKER = 301IMAN BLDC.. GUANO RA.IDJ COMMISSIONERS CAPITOL BUILC THE COST OF LIVING Michigan 1914. No Date 1914. Name of Club ~ .-. _ . -.. Number of Members Locality This Club considers that a wage of $. _ per week is the least adequate amount for the necessary cost of living of a wage working woman to maintain her in health at this time. Number of members concurring The items going to make this amount are about as follows: Per week. Per year. Board, including room and meals $ - $ Laundry - - $ $ Clothes, including underwear % $ Hats $ $ Shoes $ $ Churches, charity and societies 1 $ Amusements and recreations r $ $ Books, newspapers, magazines _ . . $ $ Doctors and dentisfs (probable cost) $ $ Street car fare , _ ...... ..... . . $ - -.... $ - Other incidentals (state what this includes) President Secretary INDEX Page Act authorizing State Commission of Inquiry "Adrift" women wage-earners, definition of term "Adrift" women wage-earners, how housed Advancement, opportunities for 106 Ages and wages of 8,358 Michigan wage-earning women interrogated 32-33 Amusements, cost of 95 Annual pay roll figures Appendices A to CC 187-489 A Round table discussion of the minimum wage by representatives of Michi- gan colleges 189-228 B. Public meeting held in Detroit to discuss the minimum wage 229-247 C. Public meeting held in Grand Rapids to discuss the minimum wage 248-279 D. Public meeting held in Saginaw to discuss the minimum wage 280-289 E. Meeting of the Michigan Laundrymen's Association held in Bay City.... 290-296 F. Official opinions of organized labor on the minimum wage 297-304 G. Opinions of employers on the practicability of a minimum wage 305-317 II. Condensation of an investigation held by the Federal Government on women and child wage-earners in the United States 318-328 I. Conditions in the Michigan canning industry J. Florence Kelley on minimum wage legislation for women K. The need for vocational education 344-357 L. Investigation of candy making industry 358-362 M. Investigation of core making industry 363-365 N. Investigation of corset industry 366-374 O. Investigation of hosiery and knit goods industry 375-379 P. Investigation of laundries 380-386 Q. Investigation of overall industry 387-389 R. Investigation of paper and cigar box industries 390-393 S. Investigation of seed packing industry 394-396 T. Investigation of store conditions 397-406 U. Investigation of working conditions in telephone exchanges 407-421 V. Investigation of cigar and tobacco industries 422-434 W. Investigation of women's garment industries 435-450 X. Working conditions in the upper part of the lower peninsula 451-455 Y. Working conditions in the upper peninsula 456-459 Z. The problem of rooming conditions confronting the women "adrift". 460-470 AA. Little stories of heart interest told to the Commission's investigators.... 471-481 BB. Miscellaneous information 482-484 CC. Samples of blanks used by the Commission in obtaining information 485-489 Blanks, samples of, used by Commission in obtaining information 485-489 Candy industry, investigation of 358-362 Canning industry, conditions in, investigation of 329-336 Car fares, cost of 97 Church and charity, cost of 99 Cigar and tobacco industries, investigation of 422-434 Cigar box industry, investigation of 391-393 Clothes, cost of 93-94 Clothes, itemized expenditures for 133-138 Club women, Michigan, what they consider a proper minimum wage for self-support- ing women 158-161 Commission of Inquiry, members of 3 Core making industry, investigation of 363-365 Corset industry, investigation of . 366-374 Cost of living 93-101 Court decisions on minimum wage legislation 171-185 Dental treatment, need of, reported by Michigan wage-earning women 98 Diagram of nativity and parentage by percentages and occupation of 8,358 Michi- gan wage-earning women 64 Doctors' vs. Dentists' charges, comparison of, wage-earning women at home and adrift * . 97 Earnings, for specific week 70 Employes' figures and statements, adequacy of 14-15 Employers' returns, wage recapitulation of 152 Employers, wage figures, supplied by 139-153 Expenditures, weekly, of wage-earning Avomeii j 93-101 Factory reform, necessity of 12-13 Family expenses, wage-earning women sharing in 83-84 492 INDEX. Page Federal Government report of investigation of women and child wage-earners in the United States, condensation of 318-328 Fines, discussion of 75-76 Fixing the status of women wage-earners 9 Heart interest stories told to Commission's investigators by Michigan wage- earning women 471-481 High and low paid occupations investigated 31-32 Hosiery and knit goods industry, investigation of 375-379 Impediments, economic, discussion of 17 Inefficiency of wage-earning women, duty of employers and society toward 18-19 Investments and savings - 109 Kelley, Florence, minimum wage legislation for women, discussion of 337-343 Laundry, cost of 95 Laundrymen's Association, meeting of Commission with, at Bay City 290-296 Laundries, investigation of 3SO-386 Length of service in present occupation Living at home and "adrift", definition of term Living wage, custom and a '. 10-11 Lost time, length of, causes of 79 Married women working, reasons for, discussion of 68 Michigan Commission of Inquiry, conclusions and recommendations of 22-24 Michigan wage-earning women, age at which they began to work, marital relations of 65 Minimum wage law, application of 21 Minimum wage laws, states having, names of 168 Minimum wage, legal, not a uniform amount Minimum wage legislation, constitutionality of 22 Minimum wage legislation, court decisions on constitutionality of .' 171-185 Minimum wage legislation, drastic, objections to 14"0-141 Minimum wage legislation, need of 20 Minimum wage, not specified 140 Minimum wage legislation to date 167-170 Miscellaneous information 482-484 Nativity and parentage of Michigan wage-earning women 59 Necessary wage, what wage-earning women consider 111-112 Number in families of wage-earning women living at home 91 Occupations, injurious to health, reported by wage-earning women 118-119 Opportunities for advancement, opinions on, by wage-earning women 106-107 Organized labor, official opinion of, on the minimum wage 297-304 Overall industry, investigation of 387-389 Overtime, reported by Michigan wage-earning women 76-78 Paper and cigar box industries, investigation of 390-393 Parasitic industries, applying the minimum wage law to Parentage and nativity of 8,358 Michigan wage-earning women interrogated 59 Parts 7-185 I. Report of the Michigan Minimum Wage Commission on the advisa- bility of establishing a minimum wage for Michigan wage-earning women 7-24 II. Tentative minimum wage bill 25-30 III. Secretary's report on information supplied by 8,512 Michigan women wage-earners IV. Wage figures supplied by employers 139-153 V. -Investigation of pay rolls 154-157 VI. Figures of the cost of living supplied by women's clubs 158-166 VII. Minimum wage legislation to date 167-170 VIII. Court decisions on minimum wage legislation 171-185 Pay rolls, investigation of 154-157 Pay, unequal for equal work Pleasures, many spend nothing on 95 Public hearings 229-296 Detroit 229-247 Grand Rapids 248-279 Saginaw 280-289 Bay City (Laundrymen's Association) 290-296 Reading matter, little expended for 100 Report of the Commission of Inquiry on the advisability of establishing a minimum wage for Michigan wage-earning women 7-24 Rest rooms, lunch rooms and emergency rooms, provided for wage-earning women 120 Room and board, cost of, women wage-earners at home and adrift 93 Rooming conditions, problem of, confronting the women "adrift" 460-470 Savings and investments, reported by wage-earning women 109 Secretary's report of information supplied by 8,512 Michigan wage-earning women 31-138 Seed packing industry, investigation of 394-396 Shifting of occupations, discussion of 74 Sources of information 7-8 INDEX. 493 Sources of information, adequacy of. Store conditions, investigation of Telephone work, effect of Telephone exchanges, working conditions in, investigation of Tentative hill for the creation of a Michigan Minimum Wage Commission Tohaeco industry, smoking and chewing, investigation of and welfare work Transmittal of Report of Commission to Governor Ferris Vacations, manner in which Michigan wage-earning women spend their. Vocational education, need of Vocational training, remedy for industrial inefficiency Wage-earning women, inefficiency of, duty of employers and society toward. and ages. 8.35s wage-earning women interrogated Wa-es. average, misleading Wages, comparison with experience Wages not uniform Wages, occupation and location , a paid, as shown by figures supplied by employers Woman "adrift" earns higher wage Women's garment industries, investigation of Women wage-earners, assisting others Working conditions, upper peninsula, investigation of Working conditions, upper part of lower peninsula, investigation of.... Yearly earnings Page 9,10 397-406 119 407-421 25-30 430-434 117 7-24 114-115 344-357 19 18-19 32-33 93 44 11-12 122 82-83 82-83 435-450 84-85 456-459 451-455 106 INDEX TO TABLES. Tables. No. 1. Employers' figures of number employed and wages paid per week.. Xo. 2. Pay rolls showing number employed within the year in seven estab- lishments, average number employed daily, and wages paid Xo. o. Employes' figures as to wages received when working a full week, number living at home and adrift, ages of the workers, and marital relations Xo. 4. Comparison of employer, employe and pay roll figures as to wages.... Xo. 5. The weekly wages r>7 women's clubs and 5,078 wage-earning women consider necessary in order to live decently Xo. 6. Table by percentages of the weekly wages 57 women's clubs and 5,673 wage-earning women consider necessary in order to live decently. . . . Xo. 7. Weekly wages by ages and occupation of 8,358 Michigan wage-earning women for a full week Xo. 7V2 Recapitulation of .occupations and ages o'f 8,358 Michigan wage- earning women Xo. 8. Comparison of wages with length of service in present occupation.... Xo. 9. Xativity and parentage of 8,358 Michigan wage-earning women by occupation Diagram showing nativity and parentage by percentages and occupation of S.;-5."ix Michigan women wage-earners Xo. 10. Nativity and age at which 8.358 Michigan wage-earning women began to earn their own living, with present marital relations Xo. 11. Conjugal status by occupation of 728 married, widowed, separated or divorced wage-earning women Xo. 12. Weekly wages of 7. '.!; Michigan wage-earning women for the week immediately preceding the one in Which they were interrogated, as reported by themselves Xo. 13. Length of service of 8,355 Michigan wage-earning women in present occupation Xo. 14. Xumber of occupations and length of time in which 4,484 Michigan wage-earning women have been employed, exclusive of present occupation Xo. 15. Xumber of 8,358 Michigan wage-earning women by occupation who were fined by their employers for defective work, tardiness and other causes Xo. 16. Xumber of 8,358 Michigan wage-earning women by occupation who worked overtime, as reported to the Commission's investigators.... Xo. 17. Number of weeks lost by 5,249 Michigan wage-earning women who were employed in the same occupation the full year Xo. 18. Xumber of weeks lost by <;,r>47 Michigan wage-earning women this past year, out of 8,358 interrogated No. 19. Cause of lost time of 7,491 Michigan wage-earning women by occupation No. 20. Age, experience and earnings, by occupation of 8,358 Michigan wage- earning women living at home and adrift Xo. 21. Number interrogated and percentage of Michigan wage-earning women at home and adrift, number and percentage of those paying board, number and percentage of those assisting to support others, and number and percentage of those helped by relatives Xo. 22. Xumber living at home who contribute or do not contribute toward the support of the family Page 13 14 15 16 16 17 34-41 42-43 44-58 60-63 64 66-67 69 71 73 74-75 76 78 SO 81 82 86 87 88 494 INDEX. Page No. 23. How 2.126 Michigan wage-earning women "adrift" are housed 90 No. 24. Sizes of the families of 5,884 Michigan wage-earning women who live at home 92 No. 25. How 6,232 Michigan wage-earning women living at home spent then- earnings the past year 102-103 No. 26. How 2,126 Michigan wage-earning women "adrift" spent their earn- ings the past year 104-105 No. 27. Yearly earnings,' by occupation, of 6,566 Michigan wage-earning women as reported by them to the Commission's investigators and number reporting opportunities for advancement No. 28. Number of Michigan wage-earning women reporting savings and in- vestments the past year No. 29. The weekly wages 5,673 Michigan wage-earning women consider nec- essary in order to live respectably in their localities No. 30. How 5,007 Michigan wage-earning women spent their vacations...... 116 No. 31. Conditions of toilet facilities reported by 8,283 Michigan wage-earning women employed in 503 establishments ; number reporting social sec- retary ; number reporting a woman in charge of their department ; number establishments providing rest, lunch and emergency rooms and number reporting employment injurious to health No. 32. Wages by occupations of 8,424 Michigan wage-earning women em- ployed in 30 localities and 535 establishments as reported by them- selves 123-127 No. 33. Wages by seven classifications of 8,424 Michigan wage-earning women employed in 30 localities and in 535 establishments, as reported by themselves 128-129 No. A. to G. Comparison by percentages between different cities of the pay of interrogated wage-earning women in the same occupations 129-lc A. Candy 129 B. Corsets 130 C. Hosiery and knit goods D. Laundries E. Paper and cigar boxes F. Stores 132 G. Telephone exchange No. 34. Wages paid in 159 localities in Michigan to 50,230 wage-earning women working in 1,348 establishments, as shown by returns from employers 142-14y No. 35. What 1,348 establishments in Michigan are paying 50,230 wage-earn- ing women following 197 occupations, as shown by returns from employers . . . . 146-151 No. 36. Employers' methods of employment by number and percentage, of 50,622 wage-earning women Diagram showing wages paid 50,230 Michigan women wage-earners as shown by figures supplied by 1,348 establishments No. 37. Length of service of 2,569 Michigan wage-earning women employed in seven establishments in one year, and averaging 418 women employed each day, as shown by the pay rolls 155 No. 38. Length of service of 2,569 employes in seven establishments as shown by their pay rolls No. 39. Total and average pay of 2,569 Michigan wage-earning women, and hours of labor in seven Michigan establishments as shown by pay rolls for an entire year No. 40. Average weekly earnings of 992 Michigan wage-earning women as shown by seven annual pay rolls No. 41. Weekly wages 57 women's clubs in Michigan consider necessary in order that a wage-earning woman may maintain her health at this time in their locality, and the probable manner of its expenditure. . . . 162-163 No. 42. Opinions of eighteen members of the Twentieth Century Club of Albion as to amount at which a minimum wage should be fixed and its wise expenditure No. 43. Statistical information furnished by women's clubs in twelve localities of 154 women wage-earners No. 44. Number and per cent of women wage-earners interviewed in seven large cities who were found to be living at home and number and per cent who were without homes and entirely dependent upon themselves together with number interviewed from whom information was ob- tained concerning age, experience, and earnings No. 45. Number and per cent of female wage-earners in department and other retail stores, factories, etc., living at home who did or did not con- tribute to the family fund with amount paid to family as board or contributions No. 46. Number of women wage-earners in seven cities keeping house, living with private families, in boarding or lodging houses, or in "organized boarding houses," with average weekly earnings and cost ot living (food, shelter, heat, light and laundry) No. 47. Summary of candy industry tabulations No. 48. Summary of the core industry tabulations No. 49. Summary of the corset industry tabulations No. 50. Summary of the hosiery and knit goods industry tabulations No. 51. Summary of the laundry industry tabulations No. 52. Summary of the overall industry tabulations No. 53. Summary of the paper and cigar box industries tabulations No. 54. Summary of the seed industry tabulations No. 55. Summary of the store tabulations. . No. 56. Tabulation of new telephone girls INDEX. 495 Page No. 57. Detroit telephone operators' salary schedule 413 \ ( >. 58.- Detroit telephone supervisors' schedule 419 No. f>9. Summary of telephone exchange investigation No. 00. Summary of the cigar industry tabulations 430 No. 01. Summary of the tobacco industry tabulations No. 02. Summary of the women's wash garments investigations 441 No. 63. Summary of the silk garment industry tabulations "4. Summary of petticoat industry tabulations 448 No. 65. Summary of the muslin underwear and waist industry tabulations.... 450 No. 66. Summary of economic conditions in the upper part of the lower pen- insula 455 No. 67. Number interrogated in the upper peninsula, number living at home and adrift, by occupation 458 No. 08. Average weekly wages and expenditures of upper peninsula wage-earn- ing women interrogated 458 No. 09. Weekly wages of those interrogated in the upper peninsula 458 No. 70. Nativity, parentage and marital relations of 154 women wage-earners interrogated in the upper peninsula 459 INDEX TO NAMES. Page Acme White Lead and Color Works .......................................... 316. American Wire Fabric Company ............................................ 316 Banner Laundering Company .................... ., ......................... 312 Barkey, J. A ......................................................... ' ..... 293, 294 Baxter, II. F .............................................................. 276, 277 Beadle, C. S., Commissioner, 196-198, 208, 212, 214, 215, 217, 218, 221, 222, 225, 226, 231, 239. 242, 253, 255, 259-262, 264, 268, 275, 277, 280-283, 285, 314, 315 Bean, R. R ................................................................ 252-255 Belding Brothers and Company ............................................. 310 Branch Manufacturing Company ....... : ..... , ................... ........... 316 Brooks, S. O .............................................................. 240 Buck, Frederick .............................................. 285 288 Bunting, Albert A. ... ..................................................... 232-234 Butcher Folding Crate Company ............................................ 312 Cadillac Printing Company ................................ 316 Campau, Francis D ....................................................... 266-271, 279 Carlton, Frank T ...................................................... 190-203, 206-208 Cheboygan Paper Company ............................................. 316 Chevrolet Motor Company ................................................ . 309 Chicago Hosiery Company .................................. 317 Chidsey, C. A ....................................................... [ ; . . . 291, 294, 295 Clements, Carl A ........................................... 262 263 Clements, E. A ........................................... ......... .'.'.'.'.'.'.*. 264-266 Cohen, 1 ................................................. 234-236, 238, 240, 243, 244, 246 Collins, Mr ................................................................ 236 Cornelius, L. A ........................................................ 263 264 279 Crown Hat Manufacturing Company ................................ ......... ' 316 Detroit Princess Manufacturing Company ............ 243 306 Dow, C. S ........................................... 204, 206, 212, 215, 217, 220, 222-226 Cowrie, G. W .................................... 200, 205, 207-212, 214. 216, 222, 224, 226 Dunford, C. S ......................................... 19G, 200-208, 216, 217, 222,224-226 Evans, Charles A ......................................................... 281, 283, 284 Fasoldt, Charles ........... ......................................... 259, 260, 273-276 Ferris, William H. .. 28^ Field, L. H. Company .............. Fitch, wiliiam E.. . . . ......................... .....!.!.!.'.!! I! .!/!'. I !! 7! !!! 295, 296 n Company .......... . ......................................... 309, 316 Gilbert, H. J ......................... 281 283 288 289 Gifford, Weiffenbach Company ............. .... ..'... 307 ^ ll . d , as ' W. 1 .................................................... 260, 271, 273, 275, 276 Golden, Mr ..................................... 246 Good Health Publishing Company ....... 316 Grand Rapids Malleable Works. , . . ........................ 307, 308 orenell, Judson, Commissioner, 190, 192, 197, 198, 200-202. 207. 208, 215, 216, 219, 222. 225, 226, 229, 240, 244, 246, 248, 249, 251. 253-200. 262. 263, 205, 20S. 209. 272-275 277- 285, 288, 289, 293, 296, 313-316, 341. Flamberger, Mr ...... 944 Msinson, Mr ............. Hargreaves, George ......... <>30 31 Ilargreaves Manufacturing Company" Haven rich, Mr ......... . ..... 047 Henderson-Ames Company ....." 308 Ilerpolsheimer Company . qiqqifi Hudson, J. L. Company ....... ..'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.:'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. '.'.'.'. 305 306 496 INDEX. Page Imperial Automobile Company 316 Ingram, F. F. Company 316 Ingram, Frederick F 229, 231, 232, 234-239, 241-244 246 Ippel, J. W 285, 288, 289 Johnson, Gerritt J 249-251, 255-260, 274, 275, 278 Kalamazoo Loose Leaf Binder Company 310 Kelley, Florence * 337-343 Kellogg, F. J. Company 309 Kellogg, It. M. Company 316 Limbert, Charles P. Company 4k 308 Lowell Manufacturing Company 311 Lubetsky, Benjamin 249-252, 255, 257, 258, 273-275 Lubetsky, Max 256, 257, 259, 260, 265, 271, 273, 274, 276, 278, 279 Mangold, E. ,C 258 Markham, C. J. Company 316 Mitchell, Mr 238, 239 Monroe Glass Company 311 Mosher, L. D , 276 National Association of Garment Manufacturers 308,309 Nichols, Mr 243 OiConnell, Thomas . 291-293 Otte, Mr ,. 274 Oval Wood Disti Company 316 Pemberton, C. L. and Son 317 Petzold, William A 231, 232 Powers, Joseph E 282-295 Princess Manufacturing Company 307 Robertson, E. A 280-282, 284, 287, 288 Robertson, E. A. Company 306 Ryan, John J 293, 295 Saginaw Manufacturing Company 311 Schust, Edwin 280-282, 284, 288 Scott, Albert B 316 Shanahan, L. M 260-262, 278, 279 Sheehan, Mr 237-238 Sheffield Car Company 311, 312 Silk, Fred L 240-242, 244 Sommers Brothers Match Company . 316 Stewart Laundry Company 316 Strong and Zinu Company 307 Strong, John E 271-273 Sulphite Pulp and Paper Com pan v 317 Sullivan, -Mr ". 238 Swan, Landon E Tanner, M. W 284, 286-288 Tanner, M. W., Company 307 Toole, Don P 282 Twist Drill and Tool Company 317 Union Steel Company 316 Valley Sweets Company 311 Walker, Myron H., Commissioner, 191, 194, 195, 198-201, 203-207, 209-215, 217-221, 223-226, 229, 232, 235. 236, 238. 240, 244-248, 250-255. 257, 258, 260, 262-266, 270-274, 276-278, 285, 287-291, 295, 296, 313-316, 341. Weisman, Russell 196, 212-222, 224, 225 Wesener, Hugo G Wise, Mrs 255, 256 Witters, Henry 283, 295 Wright, Kay & Company York, C. F. . 245 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY THIS BOOi. DUE ON THE T.^ST DATE STAMPED BELOW DEC 15 1S PER 28 OCT OCT 23 30m-l,'15 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY