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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
Cb« Consumers' Ecague of the City of new VorR.
PRINCIPLES.
I. That the interest of the community demands that all workers should receive, not the lowest wages, but fair living wages.
II. That the responsibility for some of the worst evils from which wage-earners suffer rests with the consumers who per- sist in buying in the cheapest market, regardless of how cheapness is brought about.
III. That it is, therefore, the duty of consumers to find out under what con- ditions the articles which they purchase are produced, and to insist that these conditions shall be at least decent and consistent with a respectable existence on the part of the workers.
IV. That this duty is especially incum- bent upon consumers in relation to the products of woman's work, since there is no limit beyond which the wages of women may not be pressed down, unless artificially maintained at a living rate by combinations, either of the workers them- selves or of consumers.
OBJECT.
Recognizing the fact that the majority of employers are virtually helpless to improve conditions as to hours and wages, unless sustained by public opinion, by law, and by the action of consumers, the Consumers' League declares its object to be to ameliorate the conditions of the women and children employed in New York city, by helping to form a public opinion which shall lead consumers to recognize their responsibilities, and by other methods.
Stan&arO ot a JTalr Ibousc.
WAGES. A fair house is one in which equal pay is given for work of equal value.
irrespective of sex. In the departments where women only are employed, in which the minimum wages are six dol- lars per week for experienced adult workers, and fall in few iiistances below eight dollars.
In v/hich wages are paid by the week.
In which fines, if imposed, are paid into a fund for the benefit of the em- ployes.
In which the minimum wages of cash girls are two dollars per week, with the same conditions regarding weekly pay- ments and fines.
HOURS.
A fair house is one in which the hours from 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. (with three-quarters of an hour for lunch) constitute the work- ing day, and a general half-holiday is given on one day of each week during at least two summer months.
In which a vacation of not less than one week is given with pay during the summer season.
In which all overtime is compensated for.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS.
A fair house is one in which work-, lunch-, and retiring rooms are apart from each other, and conform in all respects to the present sanitary laws.
In which the present law regarding the providing of seats for saleswomen is observed, and the use of seats per- mitted.
OTHER CONDITIONS.
A fair house is one in which humane and considerate behavior toward employes is the rale.
In which fidelity and length of service meet with the consideration which is their due.
In which no children under fourteen years of age are employed.
