Show Several gatherings of workingwomen in France and Germany recently argued theM the-M a A es old question of the difference in the wages paid to women and men who do the same of Men kind of work If the lesser and local issues of local importance only are elimi and an Ci nated these tions I questions of international interest Women in-terest remain 1 Is the existing difference in wages of mule and female workers justified by By P A CONRADI the difference in the working ability of the two sexes 2 If a difference in working ability exists what gives occasion for it The questions were debated extensively and with considerable bitterness bitter-ness The sum total of information proffered during tile debates of the meetings was to the effect that the wages of Germany for both sexes area are-a little better than those of Prance The difference in wages paid men and women in both countries is considerable but varying in the different trades The poorest paid are the factory girls and the best paid are the stenographers and house servants I While good weekly of skilled in wages men German factories average aver-age from 170 to 510 women doing the same work do not reach more than 290 to 350 for n week As a single room of the class usually rented to factory girls costs about 17 a Jear ant unskilled girls seldom make more than 150 a week the annual amount left German working girls for food clothing etc will he from 58 to 158 Men of the same ability have from 180 to 200 left when their room rent is paid The j present discrimination against women is upheld not so much In any real difference in working ability the lending speakers of the meet ings insisted as by the arbitrariness of employers They take advantage of the social subjugation of women and further turn to account the fact that women not using liquors and tobacco and as a rule being unmarried are able to subsist on much less than men Even when workingwomen are married they seldom have the solo responsibility of supporting the family |