Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1886-02-17
CLERKS IN STORES.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE FOLKS WHO
STAND BEHIND THE COUNTERS.
The Hasculines Not q Weakly Glass, but
the Fomininos a Drawback to the
Mutual BENEFIT Associations
Early Closing.
Washington Star.l


"There are between %, 900 and $1,000
clerks outside OF the departments in this
city," said the secretary OF the Clerks Mu-
tual Benefit and Protective association, In
answer to an inquiry made by reporter.
II mean by that 'sll persons employed in
stores OF private business establishments as
clerks, male and female. About one-half OF
this number are females At least .one-half
OF the clerks, both male and female, are UNI
der Is years Of age"
what becomes OF the clerk when he gets
oldp asked the reporter.
"He may become one OF the propresors,
or own store himself" said the secretary:
@but, to use q popular phrase, the clerk
'gets left when he grows old. There are 80
many active young men ready to take hin
placs-young men living at home, perhaps,
and able to subsist on half the salary that
would suffice the old clerk with family.
The young man of IS or 80 is at the height
OF his usefulness as clerk. Then he either
secures for himself place In the firm, or
some particularly high position for which
his training and experience has lifted him,
or he begins 10 retrograde That's one
thing we propose to do in our association
TO check this retrogression. We want to
fire the young men with ambition, and at
the same time do what we can for the old
men.
FEMALE CLERKS EXCLUDED.
ave do not admit female clerks into our
association" continued the secretary. In
answer to a question @You know our
association Is a benefit association. Female
clerks are not fitted for the labor they have
TO do It is our experience that in a foroe
OF male and female clerks four ffths Of the
sickness Is among the females In one
lau az hnx haua
ton was started among the clerks it is
languishing because the females, or large
portion Of them, become sick, AMI the male
clerks have to pay. The proper and only
seemingly remedy appears to be the estab-
lishment of separate benefit association
among the female clerks, with higher
ratio Of dues, ETC.. which could be easily ac-
complished, and would result in untold
advantages; for with them their working 10
often compulsory on account Of circum-
stances, and they can Ill afford to lose their
wages on account Of sickness, though all
firms do not require them to forfeit their
pay during sickness. We require clerk to
pass a rigid physical examination He has
to be not only socially acceptable, but
physically qualified. We have very high
standard"
ut is generally supposed that clerks,
very healthy suggested the reporter.
CLERKS NOT WEAKLY MEN.
"Just the reverse IL true. As general
thing, ! think our medical examiner win
tell you, that they are stronger than is the
rule among men --above the average. The
clerks, you see, have great deal of active
work to do, and have to keep 1t up. They
become hardened. In the case of one OF our
members recently admitted, the doctor told
me he had never examined q person he con-
sidered In better condition. The clasa OF
clerks wo have are members Of boat clubs
and bicycle clubs, young men fond of base
ball and other outdoor pastimes. and men,
bers of gy mnasiums Why, during the past
summer we made up two base ball mines out
OF our store alone, though they did not have
much chance to play
"No,n the secretary went on; though 1t
is indoors, the employ ment Of a clerk is not
sedentary. In all the larger establishments
the clerks are not expected TO sit down.
They are expected to be on the 60 all the
time.n
AAren't the hours longp
1.-THE hours are pretty long," said the sec
rotary. "This has been brought about by
combination of circumstances. or comps-
tition among some of the smaller estab-
lishments, under the belief that it Is an &C.
commodation to the public to keep opan
late That idea Is somewhat antiquatGd
now. During the last few summers
in Chicago. New York, Philadelphia,
and all the larger cities, while many estab-
lishments OF every class closed at s or 8 In
the afternoon, goodiy number closed one
day In the week at IL or o'clock, showing
tendency to shorten hours Did it injure
their tradel No, they found 1t the best
kind OF an advertisement for them. The
mere fact that their clerks were out having
recreation spread the fame Of the hou 9.
And then 1t not only makes the clerks take
more interest in the business Of the firm,
but the fact that the proprietor takes an In
forest in the welfare Of his clerks gives the
clerks an incentive to work"