and declining health as a result of her pitiless struggle to stretch a miserable $5 over the cost of support of herself and mother.[13]

The most comprehensive report has been made by the Federal Government, and includes a survey of conditions among women in stores and factories in seven cities[14].  According to this report the average earnings of the women in retail stores of these cities is $6.88 in the case of those who live at home, and $7.89 in the case of those who are “adrift."[15] Among the factory women of these cities the average wage of those who live at home is $6.40, and of those who are “adrift,” $6.78.  The Boston investigation shows that from 11,000 to 12,000 women and girls were living in lodging- or boarding-houses at an average cost of $5.18 a week for prime necessities, leaving only $2.24 for clothing and all other expenses.  The following comment is made on this government report by the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission:—­

Although more than half the adrift women (in Boston) live in lodging- or boarding-houses,—­numbering be it remembered between 11,000 and 12,000 girls and women,—­two thirds of them lack the use of a sitting-room and must entertain men as well as women in their bedrooms.  Not a few indications were seen in the course of the investigation of the demoralizing results of this practice.  Many of the young women in lodgings were young and were friendless and were earning very low pay.  Eighteen per cent of those who were reported without the use of a sitting-room were under twenty-five.  The housing or food, or both, were reported as bad for a number of these perilously defenceless young women.[16]

Consideration of wages and standards of living leads to the question, What is a living wage?  Studies in different parts of the country agree that it is about $10 a week.  An estimate made by social workers for the Massachusetts Minimum Wage Commission places the minimum at $10.60 for girls who are adrift, and $8.37 to $8.71 for girls and women living at home.  This estimate, however, made no allowance for unemployment, sickness, accident, or old age.[17] The Portland Vice Commission and the Consumers’ League of Oregon have adopted a $10 minimum.[18] The first conference called by the Oregon Industrial Welfare Commission adopted $9.25 a week, or $40 per month, as “the sum required to maintain in frugal but decent conditions of living a self-supporting woman employed in mercantile establishments in Portland."[19] To this, however, representatives of the employees on the conference made objection, stating that a straight $10 a minimum was the only safe one.