Labour Laws for Women in the United States. By Josephine
C. Goldmark. (Women's Industrial Council. ld.)—We cannot attempt to analyse the fads which are stated in this pamphlet ; the general result is that the United States Legislatures have been on the whole neglectful of or adverse to the principle of limitation. It must be remembered that the women who interest themselves in the matter are not unanimous. There is an advanced party—so, we presume, they should be called—who resent all special legislation for women. Such legislation seems to them to contradict their root principle of absolute equality between the sexes. However this may be, the fact remains that "the enlightened European countries are as far in advance of the United States in fixing by statute the length of the working day as they are in existing or prospective laws on night-work for women." One consideration comes out,—that there is an incon- venience in the practical application of the theory of State rights. "Women of all ages were for several years worked in Chicago during the whole night, or until any hour in the morning, in an establishment whose employees in New York City were dismissed at the legal hour of closing, 10 o'clock." This is an absurdity ; but it is a grievance when a manufactory in one State can undersell rivals in another which has adopted limitations.
Previous page
