The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-27
Begins Its Investigation of the De.
partment Stores.

partment Stores.
The senate committee on investiga-
ton of department. stores met yesfer-
day afternoon at A. o'clock with Sena-
tor Theden as chairman. The other
members are Ozmun, Culkin, w. e.
Johnson and Whitney. C. w. Hal.
editor of the Trade Journal. said he
had given the subject of department
stores a great deal of study. He said
in substance that the dealer in one
line could not cut prices without Of
Tending others in the ,1same business
The department store, having MANY
lines Of business could cut in any one
and give an impression of selling very
cheaply without injuring the other
lines of business.
Senator w. e. Johnson-Do Won
speak from experience?
Mr.. HaIl-Yes. a.
How much has, your business or
property been injured?"
Mr.. Hall-Not at ALL
Are the department stores heavy
advertisers 2"
Eyes, they advertise very heavily,
especially in the daily papers"
DO you know how much any one
large store expends in this way?'
Mr.. Hall said there were others pres
ent who knew more about the matter
of advertising than he. He went on to
say that business in retail lines had
fallen off very much ON account of de-
partment stores.
Mr.. Johnson-Can you tell me people
who have gone out Of business on ac-
count of department stores?
Mr.. Hall said he had known such
people.
Mr.. johnson brought out the fact
that many stores are vacant in st.
Paul on account of the hard times.
Mr.. Hall admitted that he had only
studied the question for the last two or
three years.
What class of help is employed in
department stores"
MOSTLY young girls and many small
boys"
I'm your opinion, has the advent Of
the department store brought low
prices ?"
cit must be SO, on account of the
cheap lines of goods carried
DO you know of prison-made goods
being sold in department stores?'
NO"
"Do you know of any instances
where retail trade has fallen off in
consequence of the department stores 20
yes. A Wholesale hardware dealer
has told re that five years ago he had
seVenty-five retail accounts, where he
now has only fifteen. Another told
LtS, III Tie same time, MS tfdQe had
fallen from thirty retail dealers to
five"
do you think a city can retain
high degree Of social and literary
prominence under the department store
system?" *Fst@.f
Nj. Hall did not think it could.
He was asked if Yerxa Bros and the
Plymouth in st. Paul were department
stores.
Mr.. Hall said they were in q sense.
but were not so Objectionable as some
more general department stores.
Can the ordinary retail store use
the same methods with customers that
department stores dor"
No, because the department store
does cash business. Then, also, they
advertise certain bargains which are
apt to give out very early in the day.
Mr.. Hall did not know the rents paid
by department stores or what their
profits were. A. H. Noyes and A. M.
Keith, representing s. E. Olson.
asked permission to cross-examine wit
ness. After long Wrangle the chair
man of the committee decided that the
question of admitting attorneys for
oSs-examinatiOn Of witnesses would
be decided later.
Louis Nash, a clerk Of the Boston
clothing store Of st. Paul, testified that
he considered the department store an
uEinitigated evil. He testified along
the same lines followed by Mr.. Hall.
but went at more length into the i'm
morality which he said was developed
by the conditions existing in depart
ment stores.
The committee will be several days