CHAP, 6.—MINIMUM WAGE FOR WOMEN IN UNITED STATES 53
_ The development is practically the same everywhere. The rates
increase and the percentage of women earning less than the rates
decreases. The percentage, not only of women earning the rates, but
particularly of those earning more than the rates, increases.
The fifth report of the Industrial Welfare Commission of California
gives general figures for quite a number of years, based on
many thousand pay-roll reports in the mercantile, laundry, and
manufacturing industries,** in which the increase of earnings above
the minimum wage of $16 a week appears clearly. Figures from this
report are shown in Table 12:
TABLE 12.—Per cent of women and of learners in mercantile, laundry, and
manufacturing industries in California receiving specified wage in specified
years, 1920 to 1925
920. nmin
EE BN
RTT
Taal
Number
35, 922
58, 734
68, 728
1, 664
76, 566
Women
Per cent’
whose actual
weekly earnngs
were $17
and over
Number
46.4 £0, 704
5.3 | 52,326
88.6 61,007
62.7] 63,966
63.2' 68 298
Learners
Per cent
whose rates
of wages were
under $16 a
week
7.3
5.4
5.8
3
From the data shown in the preceding tables it may be concluded
that: (1) The wage orders relieve the depression of the lowest
wage levels; (2) there is no tendency on the part of the employers
to reduce the wages of the better-paid employees to make up for
the increase of the lower levels, or to replace experienced workers
by lower-paid learners; (3) minimum wages tend in no way to
become standard or maximum wages, but help toward an increase
In general wages.
Effect on Efficiency and Industrial Relations
The effect of minimum wage on conditions in the industry may be
gathered from the following statements by representatives of employers’
associations.
_ Preston McKinney, vice president of the Canners’ League, of California,
makes the following statement : +2
The minimum wage has served to standardize the compensation pald by all
canners to their woman workers, and it has also served to keep the woman
workers contented, with the result that the canneries have operated with
the minimum of friction and discord.
Richard Neustadt, vice president and managing director of the
Retail Merchants’ Association of San F rancisco, states*® that in
1920 the board of directors of that association passed strong resolu-4
California. Industrial Welfare Commission. Report for the Biennial Periods July
L, 1929, to June 30, 1924, and July 1, 1924, to June 30, 1926. Sacramento, 1926, p. 14.
“Lotter dated Mar. 30, 1998.
© Letter dated Mar, 26. 1928.
