Friday, February 27, 2009

February 27, 1909 - Women's Wages

100 Years Ago Today: From The Rensselaer Eagle [NY 41 Rensselaer 93-32173].

WOMEN POORLY PAID BY STATE FOR HARDEST WORK

ASSEMBLYMAN LANSING INTRODUCES BILL SO THEY MAY GET MORE MONEY

Are Paid But $1.00 a Day for Eight Hours' Work - Bill Provides That They May Receive $1.50 and Extra Pay for Overtime

It came to the attention of Assemblyman Bradford R. Lansing a few days ago that the women employed as cleaners at the State Capitol were earning $1 a day for eight hours of work. There are two or three Rensselaer women employed there and Mr. Lansing learned that it was necessary for them to get up at 4 o'clock in the morning and to take a car to Albany, so as to be at work at 5 o'clock.
...
"I was amazed," said Mr. Lansing, yesterday, "to learn that Rensselaer w
omen who are supporting their families by cleaning at the Capitol get only 88 cents a day for their task. The women who live on this side of the river take a car and pay 6 cents to ride to the Capitol, and the same amount to ride back home after their labor is finished. ... These women deserve to get better treatment and if there is any way of doing it I am ready to fight for such a measure at all times."

Remember William St. John, mascot of the J.N. Ring Fire Co.? He made the news again:

Boy Had a Bad Fall

William St. John of Walker Street, aged 4, met with a bad accident on Tuesday when he fell from a ladder in the back yard of his home striking on his head. He lay dazed in the snow until his brother found him. The young man has entirely recovered.

2 comments:

Amanda said...

Do you know who the parents of Bradford R Lansing are?

Beth said...

I found nothing online about his parents, but you could probably find out by looking in the 1865 Census records at the NYS Library in Albany. He was born in Niskayuna in 1860, and moved here in 1870 with his family.

http://bathonhudson.blogspot.com/2009/05/fame-bradford-r-lansing.html