The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-10
DEFENDS BIG STORES.
Five. Dollar Gold Pieces Sold by Chi
caeo Firm for S.. rs

Springfield, April 1O.-The anti-depart-
ment store bill was before the house com
mittee on municipal corporations yester-
day afternoon. Heretofore only the ad-
v'ocates of the bill have had a hearing.
proprietors appeared before the commit
tee and made arguments against the
Young, of the Fair store of Chicago.
stores are not responsible for the depres-
sion in business; that they have suffered
times that have prevailed everywhere;
that department stores have been great
reduced the cost of living. They denied
the charge that they employ children to
an undue extent, claiming that only 10 per
cent of their employees are minors.
There was a lively colloquy between Mr..
young and several other members.
business in 1873 with original capital of
Mr.. Young. Somewhere from 100000
Mr. N0he: Then your sl,cOO in 20 years
Mr.. Young. Yes, besides the dividends.
Do not forget the dividends.
Mr.. NOhe. How is II that department
stores can advertise street car tickets, 25
fer Slgo % when we T. the he street car companies
Mr.. Young. 1 do not know how that is
Mr.. Nohe siegel and Cooper do it. How
do you make money at that kind of bust
ness?
Mr.. Young. never figured that out
You will have to ask Cooper about that.
Mr.. Nohe. I understand that you ad-
vertised IS gold pieces for $475. How
Mr.. Young. We made money at that.
You will remember that two years ago
I was before Senator Solomon's commit
tee, and they wanted to get a few in
stances in which we sold goods at less
than cost. In order to establish our right
to do this, we decided to sell s. gold
pieces for S4.75, and we ordered them d.
rectly from the mint at Philadelphia. We
did this simply to throw down the gaun-
Mr., Sayler You advertised soap at &c
a cake. My wife sent me to get some, and
after struggling in the crowd long time,
got to the soap counter, only to find that
the clerk would not sell more than one
cake. Do you think that is fair?
Mr.. Young No, sir, if that was done it
was not fair. It was certainly contrary
to my orders. We do not limit the
Mr.. schawb But don't You advertise
certain leading articles to be sold at a
to your store?
Mr. Mr.; Xtoung. No sir I do not believe in
cause we are driven to it by competition.
Mr.; Nohe- I notice, Mr.. Young, that
daily papers of Chicago. How much does
it cost for one, of those pages?
Mr.. Young. That Is one Of the secrets OF
price away to Cooper. If Cooper was not
here might tell you.
Mr., Nohe- Is it not fact that on ac-
count of your advertising so literally you
are supported by the press of Chicago?
Mr. Young No; I think we have been
very poorly supported by the press of
Chicago. I think the press should come
right out this matter.
Judge H. J. Hamlin Of Shelbyville. a
well-l1nown lawyer, addressed the commit
tee in opposition to the bill
Reference has been made said he ito
Mr.. Yerkes and his street railroads, which
bring thousands of people down town to
trade at department stores. Now, the
proper way to get at this evil, it seems
to me, is to pass q law prohibiting the
operation of street railways in Chicago
Why should we prohibit these stores
from selling more than one kind of goods?
a
farmer determined to raise horses a. well
Is mules and hogs? Did you ever hear it
proposed that he should be restricted to
the raising of mules alone, or that he
should be allowed to raise nothing but
hogs?"
The committee deferred action until
next week