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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1913)
T 14 THE MORNING- OREGONIAN, MONDAY. JANUARY 22, 1913. See Sunday's Papers for Details of Our First Annual 2 - WOMEN'S PA! TOO FAMOUS ACTOR WILL APPEAR IN CROWNING SUCCESS OF Price Furniture Event and Sale of Beautiful Oriental Rugs HIS CAREER LOW SAYS REPORT Last Week of Our Inadequate. Living Wage Re ceived by Many in Port land Is Declaration. Criticism to Proposed Railway Structure at Marshfield Is Resented. BRIDGE WARMLY DEFENDED Gigantic January Clearance and Original Sale of White -Last WeeK in Which You May TaKe Advantage of the Sweeping Offer of LEGAL REMEDY ADVOCATED RESIDENTS FAVOR VIADUCT Bill Submitted to Oregon Legisla ture Report Asserts Efficiency of Employe Does Xot Determine Pay. Large numbers of women are work ins in Portland for less than adequate living wages, according to a report Just completed by the social survey committee of the Consumers League. This report, which takes up in detail the remuneration of women workers In many lines of employment, will be read by Father Edwin V. O'Hara, chair man of the committee, at a special meeting to be held this afternoon s.t 3 o clock In room 306 Central building. The great amount of work done in vestigating the conditions among wo men wage workers is understood when it Is known that more than 8000 women were interviewed, hundreds of business houses were visited and nearly five months devoted to gathering statistics that would enable the committee 40 prepare the bill, which was presented recently at the State legislature. This act provides for the establish ment of an industrial welfare commis sion for women and minors and for the fixing of minimum wages and hours and standard conditions of labor for such workers. Wagre Standard Exist. The principal conclusions reached In the report of the social survey com mittee are as follows: "Each industry- should provide for the livelihood of the workers employed in It. An Industry which does not do so is parasitic. The well-being of so ciety demands that wage-earning wo men shall not be required to subsidize from their earnings the industry In which they are. employed. "Owing to the lack of organization among women workers and the secrecy with which their wage schedules are guarded, there are absolutely no stand ards of wages among them. Their wages are determined for the most part by the will of the employer without reference to efficiency or length of service on the part of the worker. This condition is radically unjust. "The wages -paid to women workers in most occupations are miserably. In adequate to meet the cost of living at the lowest stundards consistent with the maintenance of the health and morals of the workers. Nearly three fifths of the women employed in in dustries In Portland receive less than 10 :i week, which is the minimum weekly wage that ought to be offered to any self-supporting woman wage- earner fcn this city. "The present conditions, of labor for women In many industries are shown by this report to be gravely detrimental to their health: and since most women wage-earners are potential mothers. the future health of the race is men aced by these unsanitary conditions." Millinery Apsreatlre Talks. The details regarding local condi tions were gathered lr Miss Caroline J Uleason. The commission contends that no girl can live, decently on less than J10 a week, but its observation proves that a very large per cent of the women wage-earners receive much less than this. The lowest wage recorded In the In vestigation Is that of a millinery ap prentice receiving but $1.50 a week, and. she adds: "In slack time I'm laid o.'f." Prospects in the millinery whole sale houses are not very bright: St a week Is the stock girl's wage: $6 for makers, and trimmers sometimes get as high as $10 to $15, but the seasons are short. "How can the women eke out an existence the remainder of the time?' is asked. Laundry workers get from $1.25 to $2 per day. and the women have to at tend to their duties in over-heated, steam-laden atmosphere, and often under unsanitary conditions. Several laundry workers were found who earned far less than it cost them to live. : of them earning but $7 a week, and 67 getting a little less than $S.' The case of the girls employed in the 5. 10 and 15-cent tstores Is held to be truly pitiful. Nearly all of them are very young. The beginning wage is $4, and If a girl ever gets to the point where she makes $6 a week she is con sidered very lucky by her co-workers. The wages are regulated by a certain percentage of the sales set aside for the purpose. The board of directors of these stores, the committee says, does lutt care whether the superintendent spends the amount on 50 or 150 girls, as long as tlto public Is taken care of Htid the -ompany gets results. ' Hardship Are nrrllrj. One girl in a local 3. 10 and 15-cent store said: "My salary Is so small that T have to work for my room and board after working ten hours In the store. Sundays 1 wash and iron for the people I live with. My folks cannot help me." The wages paid In Portland factories are found. In some cases, to be start lingly small. From $3 to $ii a week is offered beginners In factories. Bag factories are paying it. candy factories $5. and woolen milts $6. Clothing and shoe factories offer $1 a day, and book binderies, which are unionized, pay be ginners $. Some beginners begin at 45 cents a day. which is held to be an impossible wage. Six dollars a week when the girl is learning her trade is not questioned In the report, but when a woman has to work IS years in a factory before she can make as high as $1? -a week, the outlook is declared not to he cheering. In order to be accurate in her re port and understand fully the condi tions in the factories, the investigator worked for a short time In several of the establishments. An especial feature noted In the re port is that in ever so many of the larger stores the employes are not al lowed to tell what wage they receive. Divulging tMs Information, is Is said, has often resulted in Instant dismissal, trrtalatlea nerlared Xeeded. "The Investigation haa proved be yond a doubt thiU a large majority of self-supporting women in the state are earning lees than it costs them to live decently," tt is said: "that many are receiving subsidiary help from their homes, which thus contribute to the profit of their employers: that those who do not receive assistance from relatives are breaking down In health froai lack of proper nourishing food and comfortable lodging quarters, or are supplementing their wages by money received from Immoral living. That ev.n In 'places where living wages are paid, m-orkshops are In such unsani tary condition that Immediate changes are necessary: that In certain industries- hours of labor are prejudicial to the health of the workers. For the remedying of these evils, proper legis lation seems to be the only means. Telephone girls, according to the re port. In 50 per cent of the cases in vestigated receive under $10 a week. I - - ' h - - J i - & ' - j : .-vt: t I - - if- s - i , If , A w , . i DAVID Trt'AltFIEI.D. No announcement that could be made assures more interest to theater-goers than that of the engagement of David Warfield. whom David . Belasco will present at the Heilig Theater. Eleventh and Morrison streets, f r an engagement of six nights, beginning tonight, and tr o matinees. In his newest characterization, Peter Grimm, in Mr. Belasco's latest play. "The Return of Peter Grimm." Mr. Warfield occupies a unique position in the hearts of the public. Whatever new character he presents is known in advance to be one that will endure in the minds of theater-goers: .for all his creations bear the stamp of wholesomeness and penetrating heart Interest. The character of Peter Grimm is looked upon as a success, and in both play and character the author and actor are said to present a new note in the drama fully as absorbing, dramatic and heart-compelling as was "The Music Master." Outside of Portland the average wage for the operators was found to be $33.07 per month. The telephone company pays $1 a day for apprentices who are not considered of much use for the first six weeks. After a year's work lie average wage is said to be $1.S0 j to $2 a day. Beginners are given a I chance to make extra money by taking "broken shifts.' It is asserted that op erators rarely get more than $2 a day. The amount of the salaries of some branches of telephone work were not obtained. The Bell Telephone Company has inaugurated an eight-hour day rule. Ten hours is the average time spent by girls at most other lines of work. The nervous strain upon the op erators is commented upon in the re port, but the telephone company is given credit for establishing rest rooms and In supplying a good hot lunch for a small cost. Itooin Rent Investigated. In the report, the high price of room rent is fully explained, and tables given that show just how much the rooms cost and the conveniences of fered in them. It is- stated that the cheapest for board and room Is offered by a charitable boarding-house for from $4 to $5 a week. "Evan so." they ask, "how are the girls going to pro vide for laundry, doctor's bills, clothes and other necessaries at the present rate of wages?" In the department stores, according to the report. 50 young women are earning amounts that would pay only for a decent room and car fare: 38 interviewed received under $5. Of the 207S deoartment store workers from whom data were gathered. 36 receive above $15 a week; 32S get more than $12. but under $15. The largest per centage of the girls in the big stores are getting $10 to $12. Wrappers are receiving from $25 to $30 a month. The girls who get the highest salaries are the heads of .the departments. Although the women employed In of fices are the only ones who get. on the average, -wages that pay living ex penses under present conditions, there are mnnr of this class who are pooriy pald. Fifty-nine girls were found in the recent Investigation who are get ting less than $10 a week. A salary frequently noted was $25 a month. Stenographers start at a low rate, but If competent they usually are well paid in time. BUI la Indorsed. The committee reports that countless Incidents might be cited and dozens of tabulated statements published, and then ail the story would not be told. The Consumers' League deemed that decided action was necessary, -and It Introduced the bill which is now be ing considered at Salem, and which has received the hearty indorsement of the board of governors of the Commercial Club of Portland, the Retail Mer chants Association, the Central Labor Council, the Retail Grocers Associa tion, the State Federation of omen s Clubs, the State Grange and many prominent persons. Mrs. Henry Russell Taioot is presi dent of the Consumers' League, and the members of the social survey com mittee Include hfv. K. V. O'Hara. Mrs. Millie R. Trumbull. Miss Mabel Weld er. W. B. Ayer. A. K. Wood, C. F. Caufield. Dr. C. H. Chapman, Miss Lucia B. Harriman and Mrs, Talbot. John M. Gearin and O. Soils Cohen vouched for the legal validity of the bill that was the outgrowth of this far-reaching in vestigation that has-made so many dis closures of conditions previously unsuspected. AID FOR FETE DUE Rose Festival Helpers Are Be ing Recruited. PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN IS ON Management Preparing for Greatest Event of Kind In West Every one Called I'pon for Help to Assure Success. Company lo Pick ""oat." A test case will be made against the Portland Railway, Light & Power Com pany for failing to comply with, the state law requiring fenders on all its cars. Walter H. Evans, District At torney, said yesterday that hia ex pressed Intention of arresting one of the officials of the company means that an effort will be made to deter mine whether failure to comply with the city ordinance which defines a cer tain type of fonder that must be used is not a violation of the law passed by the Legislature in 1503. Although officials of the company declare that they are equipping their cars with fenders as fast aa they can get them from the manufacturers, the District Attorney has been Informed that there has been unnecessary delay. He will call on the officers of the com pany today to learn which of them wants to be made "the goat," and suf fer arrest. Railroads, hotels, individuals and commercial bodies are to assist the management of the Portland Rose Fes tival in giving greater publicity than ever before. In the Kastern cities, to the big annual Portland event. Espe cially strong will be the campaign to secure special cars, or trains if possible, from the East to bring to the city dur ing the festival week tourists who de sire to witness the spectacle. Portland people traveling In the East will also be supplied with literature advertising Portland and the festival, and will be asked to give their personal assistance whenever possible in 'spread ing the announcement of the coming event. Publicity Men Active. 'Already the publicity men of the Festival Association are In the field, and at every other big entertainment held prior to the date of the Rose Fes tival they will be present to tell of the Portland event to those who at tend. Official invitation will..be sent to the Tournament of Flowers at Hon olulu February 17 to 22, and It is ex pected that many tourists from the islands will come to Portland in June. The management of the Rose Kes tival has issued from its headquarters the following statement regarding the canvass for funds to defray the cost of putting on the six day's entertain ment: "The public-spirited citizens of Port land who. through the series of bril liant spectacles and pageantry In years past have seen the world of good the annual feast of flowers has accom plished In placing Portland on the map as. the 'Summer capital of America,' must now say what they are going to do in the way of financial support of the cause. We have waited as long as possible and we must know absolutely what we can depend on. If it is to be a small show, well and good; but prct erably It should be a week of enter tainmcnt and education that is worthy of Portland's fame. Hosts of people are coming nere from the. East. We have -positive information .to that er feet. They are coming from California and other Coast . points by the thou sands thanks to the magnificent work done by the Rosarians on their recent triumphal Invasion of the southland. l.oiv Rates -Will Be Granted. " "Very low rates will be granted tour ists from all points by the railroads. Our Eastern publicity men ere doing spienaiu worK. and the Festival will be exploited as no other show of its kind on the Pacific Coast ever has been. . It is up to us to show the people of the United States thai we have the finest attraction In the world and that nothing that -can make for their pleasure, comfort and enjoy ment will be overlooked. - "The Royal Rosarians will have full charge of the entertainment programme during the week, and every member of that breezy organization Is a hustler and a booster, and they can be relied on to do something memorable) for the city. With them at the helm we know the 191S celebration will be the great est event of Its kind ever given in the West: but it takes money to do it "The Festival is not going to be a success unless every man. woman and child does hla or her share in co-operating with the management." ltoir cholera In low has caused fanners a as of $12,000,000 Uils season. Contentions of Portland Man That Harbor Will Be Destroyed Arc Scoffed at by People Who Have Millions Invested. "Construction of a bridge across Coos Bay aa recommended by Major J. F. Mclndoe, la the only practicable way for the Southern Pacific to enter Marshfield and will In no way injure naviga.tlon,' said Judge A. S. Ham mond. of Xorth Bend, yesterday alter reading the criticism to the proposed structure expressed by W. A. Bantz, of Portland. To any person acquainted with con ditions on Coos Bay." said Judge Ham mond, "the ideas advanced by Mr. Bantz in opposing the location of the bridge are ridiculous. "He argues that the incoming tide always carries with It weeds and other sea deposits and that the receding tide fails to carry tnem out with It. "The bridge, he contends, would form deposits of this foreign material above It and thus become a menace to navi gation. "Now we all know that an ebb tide Is stronger than a flood tide, as all the water that comes in at flood passes out again at the ebb, together with all the water that meanwhile has flown into the bay from tributary rivers, creeks and inlets. Dredging Disprove Contention. "It Is absurd to say that 'the force of the undercurrent is so great that it brings the sea grass, weeds and sand into the bay and there it remains.' "There has been a great amount of dredging in Coos Bay in the last year, and at no place was there found any material that had been brought in from the sea. On the contrary, all the ma terial dredged out was found to con sist of ancient oyster shells and silt and debris that had been washed down from the surrounding country. "According to Mr. Bantz, Coos Bay will be nothing but a mud flat, anyway, bridge or no bridge: then how is a bridge going to affect it? Is it going to keep the water from coming in or from going out? One might -think, from his statements, that it is a dam that the railroad proposes to build across the bay. "The fact is, this bridge has boen thoroughly discussed for years and years, and the people who live there are unanimous and enthusiastic In their selection of the accepted bridge site. They regard the opponents of the bridge as enemies of Coos Bay." Bridge to Start This Year. Plans for the proposed bridge have been accepted by the War Department and the Southern Pacific will begin its erection within the year. The bridge across the bay will be about half a mile long and will be of solid steel con struction. The draw across the chan nel will be open constantly and will be closed only to permit trains to pass. Construction work on the railroad between Eugene and Marshfield is progressing rapidly. A large force of men is employed in driving the Scho fleld tunnel. It will take a year or so to finish this Job. West of the tunnel the route is comparatively easy and grading and track-laying can be com pleted in a short time. E. W. Wright, who is well informed on the Coos Bay situation and who has extensive interests there, yesterday de fended the bridge site in the following language: Buflnaa Interests Have Rights. "The concern of W. A. Bantz lest the harbor of Coos Bay be destroyed by the construction of a bridge from North Bend to Sand Point is unwar ranted. Men who have invested mil lions at Coos Bay and who are making dally use of the channel Joined in the petition asking that permission to bridge the bay be granted the railroad company. 'Does it not seem strange mat men like C. A. Smith, W. S. Chandler, the Simpsons and a score of others who have millions invested on Coos Bay should be satisfied with the location of the bridge and the only protest come from a Portlander. whose name does not even appear on the Coos Bay tax rolls? "If the Legislature of the State of Oregon should, as suggested by Mr. Bantz. 'tskc a strong stand on this bridge question.' it would undoubtedly do as the Government has done: that is. carefully examine the situation and take the testimony of the men who are thoroughly In touch with the situation and who know that the channel cannot be affected by the construction of the bridge. Ontside Opinion Resented. Coos Bay has been seriously ham- Dered by outside Influences prevent ing the earlier construction of the rail road, and the attempt or a foruanfl man to delay the matter further will not tend - to promote good feeling be tween the two localities, which should have much in common. "If C. A. Smith, with his $5,000,000 investment in Coos Bay mills; steam ships, railroads and timber; the Simp sons, with nearly an equal amount, and a number of other Coos Bay capi talists, whose investments would be valueless if Mr. Bantz' objections were well founded, are satisfied, let us at tend to our own business, or, if we take any action In the matter, help them to get what they want, instead or hinder Tng them." Every Article Reduced Contract Goods Only Excepted Telephones 1 Marshall 4600 and A 6101 $ixfk,Morrtson, Aden Gfreetji STORE OF IF You'll find "Just what you want" in the Delicatessen, the Candv. the Pastry and Fruit Sections In Our Big Pure Food Grocery. Specials in the Pure Food Grocery PHONE ORDERS TAKEN FROM 7 A. M. DAILY Eastern Bacon, per pound, only 21e Runkle's Cocoa, a 25c can for only 19 Royal Banquet Olive Oil, at only 75i Fancy Rolled Oats, price, a sack, 40 Corn-meal, in sacks, priced at only 25d Victor Lye, four cans, priced only 25? Kingsford's Gloss Starch, a box, at 50d Raisins, three packages, priced. at 25d Gold Dust, priced, a package, only 20d White or Block Figs, three pounds, 25d Shredded Cocoanut, price, a pound, 18 Roundup Cleanser, six packages at 25d Wadco Baking Powder, a pound, at 17 1 Codfish, in bricks, priced, eacn, only ic Small Prunes, four pounds for only 25& Large Prunes, three pounds, only 25c TRAFFIC LAW AIOS New Ordinance Serves to Re lieve Congestion. IMPROVEMENT IS EVIDENT Captain Moore, of Police Depart ment, "Who Has Charge ot Men on "Traffic Squad" Says Xo Trouble Is Met. LIBRARY CONTROL SUBJECT East. Side Club VIM Discuss Con templated Legislative Protest. The new directors -of the Kast Side Business Men's Club will take some action at the meeting tonight on the request of the Peninsula Improvement Club to join in a movement to change the management of the affairs of the Portland Library so that the city and county will have more voice in 1U af fairs than at present. When the matter was presented by TV. A. Martin, of the Peninsula Club, to the East Side Business Men's Club, there was hesitation to take the mat ter up at all in view of the work a number of Portland's progressive citi zens have done in building up the li brary and extending It, but the club finally agreed to take it under con sideration and appoint a Joint com mittee if it was deemed a proper. sub ject of Investigation. Mr. Martin urges that the public has no adequate representation In the man agement of the affairs of the Public Library, and he contends that as a larger part of the maintenance revenue must come from the people they should have full voice in its control. After a week of organized experi ments, Portland finds itself well satis fled with its new traffic ordinance re stricting the operation, parking and speed of automobiles and other heavy vehicles using the business streets. Captain Moore, of the police depart ment, has charge of the "tratnc squaa which has for its special duty the en forcement of the new law. He has schooled his men In the work care fully. They have handled the duty successfully. Probably the most radical departure from the old method Is that requiring vehicle traffic of all kinds to halt be fore crossing congested street inter sections. The officer stands in the cen ter of the two streets ana Dy means of a whistle with accompanying ges tures by his arm or club, regulates the traffic at will. No streetcar, automo bile, truck or wagon may cross until he signals his permission. At some of the busy corners two policemen have been necessary. By the time the officers and the public become accus tomed to the workings of the law one man can handle the Job at any cross ing alone. No Trouble "Experienced. Once in a while a driver of an auto or of a cart will misunderstand the commands of the officer and attempt to drive through the crowded corner. All the offlcer does in such a case Is to stop him, make him turn around and await his turn Just to show him how the new rule works. "We don't attempt to be arbitrary," said Captain Moore, yesterday. ' "For the first few weeks all that we want to do is to get the people to under stand the new regulations. When they learn to understand them I am sure they will like them. - Thus far we have had no troifble. We can't have trouble if everyone Just does as the police order." One of the .most beneficial effects of the new ordinance is the house-cleaning it has accomplished on SLxth street. Stark street. Seventh street and other prominent thoroughfares where the conspicuous "To Hire" cars were wont to stand. Previous to the adoption of the new set of laws the police had fre quent complaint from women and others against the chauffeurs and hangers-on who were accustomed to : loaf in the cars. Some of these ma chines have been driven out of busi ness altogether, while others have sought to continue their operations on the side streets where the new regu lations do not apply. Taxicab Concern Evadea Rule. One taxicab concern has an effective way of obeying the law yet not suffer ing any of its exactions. It keeps a machine standing within the restricted zone and another at a convenient point Just outside. As the rules permit a car to stand -at any one spot for half an hour, the drivers change the posi tions of the two cars about every 29 minutes. "We'll soon find a way of breaking up such evasion." said Captain Moore yesterday. The long rows of private automoDiies that used to line Fourth street. Alder street. Stark street and others have entirely disappeared. Travel over these streets has Increased, and business men who had made many previous com- Dlaints are getting the beneflts. Heavv trucks now are not permitted to operate - through certain streets of the business section except to deliver their cargoes, and this, too, has aided materially in relieving what was get ting to be a serious congestion. "Yes, the new law is a good one. There Is no reason for a good citizen not liking it," said Captain Moore. Theft Charges Faced. After operating in Spokane for a time and working for a few days In Portland, where he aroused a series of complaints and charges of appropriat ing garments from the closets in room- i ing-houses, a man giving his name as Herbert S. Patton was picked up yes terday afternoon by Detectives Swen ness and Moloney, and a charge of va grancy placed against him. The pris oner's hobby and his principal visible means of support, according to the complaints made against him by var ious landloards, was the pawning of overcoats and other articles of cloth ing which he gathered from time . to time in -the rooming-houses at which lie stopped. SOCIAL CLUB IS PROJECTED Laurelhurst Residents Will Meet To night to Discuss Plans. The Laurelhurst Club has issued in vitations to all residents and property owners of that district to attend a meeting tonight at the club office. East Thirty-ninth and East Glisan streets, to consider the advisability of starting a social c'ubhouse for Iurel hurst. Four or five different lo a tions will bo- suggested, and the com mittee will have prices on them "to submit for consideration, livery resi dent and property-owner Is Invited to attend this meeting. Plans for raising money, and all other details will be considered. Xo one will be asked to subscribe now, only the plans and method of pro cedure belg discussed. Dr. J. D. Fen ton, Chares K. Henry. Charles P.ingler, W. L Cooper, L. H. Maxwell. H S. lie Cutchan and F. E. Clements compose the committee having the clubhouse project in charge for the organization, Mallory Liner Refloated. KEY WEST, Fla., Jan. 19. After being ashore near Tortugas for sev eral days, the Mallory line steamer Colorado was floated last night and proceeded to Oalveston. Hotel Multnomah ARCADIAN GARDENS Announcement Extraordinary La Estrellita THE GREATEST ORIGINAL DA XCER THB WORLD EVER PRODUCED A REFISED, CLEVER ACT. The Highest-Priced Vaudeville Dancer in America Commencing Monday, January 20th, During Dinner Hours and After the Theaters J... - v. - 1 Miss Katherine Ridgely S,, Also -t Miss Rose McDonald y?j?lT- The Espa Italian and French Duo Music and Entertainment During Lunch Hours 12 to 2 P. M. OA TVER THIGPEX, Ass't Manager. H. C. BOWEKS, Manager.'