Chambers v. District of Columbia

89 A.2d 636, 1952 D.C. App. LEXIS 173, 21 Lab. Cas. (CCH) 67,018
CourtDistrict of Columbia Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 12, 1952
DocketNo. 1038
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 89 A.2d 636 (Chambers v. District of Columbia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District of Columbia Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chambers v. District of Columbia, 89 A.2d 636, 1952 D.C. App. LEXIS 173, 21 Lab. Cas. (CCH) 67,018 (D.C. 1952).

Opinions

HOOD, Associate Judge.

Appellants were convicted- of eighteen separate violations of wage Order No-. 7 of the Minimum Wage and Industrial Safety Board. This appeal challenges the validity of that wage order.1

The minimum wage law 2 established the Minimum. Wage Board3 and authorized it “to investigate and ascertain the wages of women and minors in the different occupations in which they are employed,” and to ascertain and declare, in the manner thereafter provided, “Standards of minimum wages for women in any occupation * * *, and what wages are inadequate to supply the necessary cost of living to any such women workers to maintain them in good health and to protect their morals.” The law further provided that, “if, after investigation, the Board is of opinion that any substantial number of women workers in any occupation are receiving wages inadequate to supply them with the necessary cost of living and maintain them in health and protect their morals,” the Board may call and convene a conference composed of “not more than three representatives of the employers in such occupation, of an equal number of representatives of the employees in such occupation, of not more than three disinterested persons representing the public, and of one or more members of the Board.” This conference was authorized to make “recommendations” as to standards of minimum wages in the occupation under inquiry and the Board was authorized to approve or disapprove such recommendations. If the Board approved, then a public hearing was authorized and after such hearing the Board was authorized in its discretion to make an or[638]*638der adopting such recommendations and carrying them into effect, “requiring all employers in the occupation affected thereby to observe and comply with such order.”

In 1938 and 1939 the Board issued six wage orders bearing Nos. 3 to 8, inclusive. Order No. 3 applied to “Retail Trade,” No. 4 to “Public Housekeeping Occupation,” No. 5 to “Laundry, Dry Cleaning, and Dyeing Industry,” No. 6 to “Beauty Culture Occupation,” No. 8 to “Manufacturing and Wholesaling Occupations.” Order No. 7, the order under consideration, when first made effective on March 13, 1939, was entitled “Office and Previously Unclassified Occupations Minimum Wage Order” and defined the workers covered by it to he “all women and minors engaged in office and previously unclassified occupations (manufacturing and wholesaling excluded).”4 The workers were put under three classifications with separate wage rates 'for each class. These classes were:

“a. Stenographers, bookkeepers, typists, clerks, cashiers, checkers, professional’s assistants and attendants, laboratory mechanics and technicians, messengers, ushers, telegraph and telephone operators, and all similar workers.
“b. Elevator operators.
“c. Maids and cleaners and all similar workers.”

A revised wage Order No. 7 was made effective April 25, 1949. The revised order was entitled “Office and Miscellaneous Occupations Minimum Wage Order,” and stated that “ ‘Office and Miscellaneous Occupations’ include all occupations in or for establishments not covered by any other wage order issued by the District of Columbia Minimum Wage and Industrial Safety Board. These occupations include, but are not limited to, such work as is performed by general office clerks, stenographers, typists, bookkeepers, cashiers, various office machine operators, office boys and girls, ushers, messengers, maids, cleaners, elevator operators, janitors, telephone and switchboard operators, teletype operators, receptionists, library workers, teachers, dental assistants, medical assistants and technicians, and laboratory helpers.” The employees under this order were likewise put in three classifications with separate wage rates for each. Such classifications were (a) all employees except those listed in subsections (b) and (c) below, (b) elevator operators and janitors, (c) maids and cleaners.

At the trial there was evidence that three women employees of appellants received less than the minimum wage rate fixed by wage Order No. 7. The duties of these women were not definitely described in the record. They worked from 10:00 p. m. to 7:00 or 8:00 a. m. at the funeral establishments conducted by appellants and answered the telephone and relayed calls when necessary. They also answered the door and received late callers. They were furnished beds and were able to sleep a considerable portion of the time they were on duty.

The sole contention made on this appeal is that the minimum wage board lacked authority to issue wage Order No. 7 covering an unlimited number of occupations. We think it is evident that the minimum wage law contemplated the issuance of orders on an occupational basis. This purpose is made clear by the authority given the Board to investigate wages “in the different occupations,” and if investigation discloses any substantial number of women “in any occupation” are receiving inadequate wages, to call a conference of employers and employees “in such occupation,” to receive recommendations as to wages “in the occupation under inquiry,” and to issue an order and require compliance by the employers “in the occupation affected thereby.”

The Board seemingly has recognized that its wage orders are necessarily based on occupational classifications and has entitled each of its orders as occupation orders.5 Nevertheless in Order No. 7 the Board has [639]*639grouped under one order numerous diverse and unrelated occupations. Order No. 7 in its original form specifically stated that it included all “previously unclassified occupations” and in its revised form states that it includes “all occupations in or for establishments not covered by any other wage order.”

We think it is clear that this was a catch-all order and was so intended. In express terms it covers all occupations not previously covered in any other wage order and this appears to be the official view of the Board. In its annual report of 1945 the Board stated: “The six wage orders issued under this law cover all women and minors in private industry.” In its 1946 annual report the Board stated: “The sixth of the Board’s occupational wage orders became effective in 1939. Since that time women and minors in all occupations except domestic service have been covered by specific minimum rates.” And in its 1949 annual report the Board, referring to revised Order No. 7, said: “This occupation includes all women and minors employed in private office and miscellaneous occupations, not included in any of the other five orders.” We think it is beyond doubt that Order No. 7 was intended to, and by its express wording does, cover all women workers not included in the other wage orders.

There is thus presented the question of the validity of a catch-all wage order. Somewhat similar questions have arisen in two other jurisdictions. In Minnesota the statute, M.S.A. § 177.01 et seq., gave the Industrial Commission power to fix minimum wages of women “in any occupation” in the state. The Commission issued a general or blanket order applying to “any occupation” and such order was held valid. In upholding its validity the court said:

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Related

District of Columbia v. Chambers
207 F.2d 14 (D.C. Circuit, 1953)

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Bluebook (online)
89 A.2d 636, 1952 D.C. App. LEXIS 173, 21 Lab. Cas. (CCH) 67,018, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chambers-v-district-of-columbia-dc-1952.