Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-04

hardly ever before o'clock, and as = mat
ter OF course the assistant has very nearly
rendered by that what ought to be consid
cred reasonable days work.
But both as regards hours and pay, I viii
now put before the reader the facts which
transplred at our shop assistants "rount
table. AT that interview there was per
feet freedom of expression and yet q re-
markable agreement 1 was very careful,
too, In the notes I made. Upon every point
OF Importance all hands we're appealed to,
and jotted down those statements only to
which unanimous assent was given.
The Secretary was in the clothing trade,
and it was generally thought, he said, that
shop assistants were better of in that line
OF trade than in any other. Their hours
would vary in different localities. In large
West End shops they would be from to 8,
but In others, and particularly In the East
End, assistants would be employed as late
as 10 on ordinary nights, and on Saturdays
till II, often with the further exaction of
hours on Sunday.
Wages in the Clothing Trade.
Their pay was given as follows: Lowest,
"a 30 a week; highest (paid only to few
exceptional men), SIS 90; average, about
S1 DO. Turning from his own line to that of
provisions, Mr. Arnold gave this instance.
A smart young fellow is engaged in pro-
vision store from 1880 A. NJ. to 11:30 P. NJ. +,
on Saturdays till half-an-hour after mid
night; on Sundays from $3.50 A. M. to P.
N. His wages are 25 shillings q week
(S6 20). He is married and pays one-fourth
OF his wages for rent. That case surely was
exceptional 1 protested. But all present
assured US that it was not SO in any feature;
that, In truth, it was only one out of many
thousands.
For fuller information about the large
grocery and provision trade of London I
drew upon my friend Turner. He had been
specially assigned to enlghten me, and this
was his own special line In West London
the hours were II and 13; in the East and
South they were 15, as rule, on ordinary
days, 16 on Fridays and IT on Saturdays.
The younger assistants were taken care Of
on the Indoor" plan. They would receive
at first, In addition to board, about 81 25 q
week; those who had longer experience from
~ 30 to IS week, the last named sum
being, for indoor workers, about the maxi
num- Out Of the house the young fellow
would begin at 81 80 and in time he might
reach ~ week. But there were plenty
receiving sums between those named, and
the average, he thought, would be $6 25 for
''out" assistants and s. week for those
living with the boss.
Green Grocers' Clerks Fare Worst.
The shoe trade, was told, yielded verv
poor returns. Hours not much less than
those given above, and the standard wage
for q manager was IS week, other assist
ants getting from So IS to S6 25 a week,
and all finding themselves. But assistants
in green grocery establishments were worse
off even than shoemen, for these only got
from So to S. week.
In hosiery shops, which answer to our
gents furnishing stores, the hours for the
West End would be from $50 A. NJ toS
NJ. The first assistant might get So rs a |
week; the others would receive from 81 80 |
to S6 25. In the drapery or drygoods |
business there is considerable differ |
ence between the West and East end |
trade as to hours. In this trade, too,
wages are always quoted by the year. 1t |
should also be noted that in this line of |
trade, the force, if small, will usually be |
domiciled under the roof of the master, and |
if large in buildings near by, still, however,
under the employers guardianship. What |
will they get? 1 inquired. Learners will |
get, the first year, about $50, and the second |
about S75. This will be their regular wages,
but by pushing the sale of goods upon
W hich the boss has put a premium, both
these and the older hands can help out a
little by extras. With such helps as the
above, the best grade of drapers' assist
ants' will sometimes earn, besides their
BOARD, $500 year, but the general run of
Iuch men would think themselves fortunate
g make 5000 a year. ------~.--~--.s
Lady Cashiers at ss Week.
So far we have given. the wages only of