The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-19

LIVING LIKE A. FAMILY.
TWELVE HUNDRED PERSONS EAT
AND SLEEP UNDER ONE ROOF.

Et Is Not a Prison Either-Immense Sue
cess of the Civil Service Supply Associ.
alton OF Great Britain After a Twenty
five Years Test.
Twenty-Five years ago the government
employees Of Great Britain organized them
selves into civil Service Supply associa-
tian" in order to enable each member to
purchase at wholesale prices food, clothing
and furniture.
A chest of tea was the first investment.
This was equally divided among the orig
inators and subscribers, and the price of
one pound Of tea to each member was so
small that the news quickly spread, and
thus originated 'The Civil Service Supply
association, limited" which has now be-
come in England one Of the most powerful
corporations. None but civil service en-
ployes are admitted to membership. These
include all branches of the service, such as
the war Office, foreign Office, British muse
um, postofice and custom house. A man
or woman who, having passed a severe
competitive examination, once enters any
branch Of the service is secure of place
for life, advanced according to ability and
worth, pensioned if incapacitated by age or
sickness to perform his or her duties, and
only dismissed for serious offenses or mis-
behavior.
From that first chest of tea purchased
twenty-five years ago by a fair, level head
ed man has sprung up business in Eng
land the like Of which does not exist in
any other country.
One of the largest Of these stores, if not
the largest, is that of John Barker g. Co.,
of High street, Kensington. The firm oc-
cupy thirty stores, covering an entire
square block all merged into one vast bust
ness, which is carried on from the cellars
10 the highest stories. They employ l, 200
blerks, statesmen and saleswomen, besides
0 small army of mechanics ami working
men and women of all classes.
AN ARMY OF statesmen.
eve have in our employ" said D. T.
Barker, 1900 statesmen and saleswomen.
Besides these we have on our pay roll
about as many clerks, bookkeepers, driv-
ers, porters, carpenters, plumbers, butch
ers, grocerymen, tailors, dressmakers and
workingmen and women. They are paid
full union rates, as have made it point
in my business never to contend with what
the working classes consider their rights.
From practical experience ! believe in
Che employer supporting wOrkingmen's
Unions, for l have always found that by
doing so l get the best workmen and &C
eordingly the best work done Every en-
ploye in the store, from the commonest
porter to the highest graded, has three
weeks holiday, with full pay, every year
The hours of attendance are from $50 in
the morning until $50 in the evening
The stores close sharp at O'Clock every
Saturday the whole year round, and even
during the holiday rush there are no extra
hours
"It is the custom in England. and am
astonished to hear that it is not adopted in
the United States, for all stores employ
ing many clerks and statesmen and women
to board and lodge those. who are unmar-
ried."
Mr.. Barker then took the correspondent
to the top floors Of his thirty stores. In
zach of the buildings were set aside two
floors used as lodgings for the employees, of
whom more than three hundred are there
accommodated The rooms are not only
comfortably but handsomely furnished
and carpeted. The rental of these rooms,
the correspondent found from personal ex-
perience with the lodging houses of Lon
Ion, was so small, considering the locality,
,he furnishing and comforts of the rooms,
As to seem almost incredible that such
comforts could be provided for at such
cost.
COOPERATIVE LODGINGS.
Mr.. Barker then took the correspondent
a short distance from the stores into one
Of the quietest and prettiest streets in
Kensington. lie led the way to a row of
fine, large private house, with pretty gar
1ens in front. Pointing to six of the hand
soonest houses that stood alongside each
other Mr.. Barker said:
"Our firm not only leases these build
lngs, but has furnished them throughout,
and we have divided them into rooms,
which we rent out TO our employees on the
same principle as those have shown you.
Now, instead of the system being unpop-
uar, as you in America would think, we
are. on account of the increase Of our bust
ness, going to rent more houses, so great
Is the application made TO US for rooms by
our employees"
Two Of the houses were specially set
aside for the female employees, and while
all the rooms were well and comfortably
furnished some showed that their occu-
pants were women of taste and refinement
from the books, pictures and ornaments
in the rooms One of the larger rooms is
set aside as parlor. In this room. which
was handsomely furnished, was a grand
piano. 1--WE have among our employees
some really accomplished musicians" said
Mr.. Barker, land many are highly trained
vocalists.
Every month our employees are allowed
to give a concert TO which their friends are
invited Twice month they are also per-
mitted to give a dancing party to which
also they are allowed TO invite their friends.
Once a year they give concert at St.
James hall, smoking concert and ban
ouet. On these occasions tickets Of admis-
sion are sold, and the amounts thus gath
cred are set aside TO swell general benefit
fund"
Mr.. Barker then led the correspondent
into another large room. This room was
not only handsomely furnished and thickly
rarpeted, but around il were elegant book
nases, fine engravings, large tables and
rows of comfortable chairs. The library
contains 10000 volumes, embracing all
classes Of literature. history, travels, biog-
raphies, poems and selections from the best
novelists London Cor. New York World.
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