The times., 1899-12-10

were not standard and fake department
stores.
4 don't want to say anything about the
business of men THAI / know nothing of p"
replied Mr.. Wanamaker, but l can say
there are three classes of goods, and some
| of them deceive the public They are sold
in the stores (fake) that Mr. Farquhar re-
fers to-"
rs it not dishonest to mark goods 9S
| cents, 80 cents. 10 cents, and so on, to give
the impression that the articles are worth
respectively 81. 90 cents, or 20 cents?" en-
quired Mr. Farquhar.
That Is something that we do not per
nit replied the witness for it creates a
wrong impression.
"Our men" he said get a commercial
education and they could not exist there
by cheating We discharge employees for
lying in trying to make sale. We take
back any article not wanted if it has not
been damaged. A record of the sales by
each emplOye is kept and examined twice
year If an employe has an unusual
amount OF returns We know that he is not
as satisfactory as one who has less. 1t is
very unwise for our employees to misrep-
resent goods. Such system is far better
than the old style retail store, where it is
every man for himself and devil take the
hindmost.'
Mr. Wanamaker said that all good de-
partment stores furnish amusements and
recreation for the employees, and he men
TONED one where room for dancing is set
apart and used during luncheon hour
This pays, :" said Mr.. Wanamaker, for
every great store knows that its greatest
capital is in its employees" He said that
wages are better than in small retail
stores and the hours shorter. The hours in
his establishment were from o'clock a. m.
.r.I Z,
partment stores have a very salutary ef
feet upon sweat shops. for goods from such
places are not desirable because Of sani
tary reasons. They are liable to convey
contagious diseases.
How does the department store benefit
women" asked Mr.. Phillips.
Serious Business women.
by opening up many new avenues for
them answered the witness. "Unfor-
tunately, about -fourths of the women
expect to get married and they are not
benefited as much as the serious business
woman. The serious business woman is
just as good an employe as a man, and we
pay as high as $1,000 to some and many
receive $500 year.
Mr. Wanamaker declared that the de-
partment store had been a great factor
III tStdbIiShluS tue one price system. he
did not believe in batting leaders for.
he said, when one article is sold below
cost the difference is made up on some
thing else"
Mr. Wanamaker said he did not know
of ditferentiaI rates for transportation be
ing given department stores; he had never
asked for any. He thought that in time
all great business interests viii be char
tered, because of estates coming into
them. He believed that a currency on
gold basis and a regulated tariff would be
Of advantage to the country and that if
trusts are TO become fashionable. legisla-
tion is needed to regulate them and to
prevent possible eXtOrtionate prices, ex-
tortions possible to trusts but not to in
dividuals.
The Commission announces that it will
not determine until later in the month
when it will make its preliminary reports
to Congress, but that the consideration
of the matter will be taken up at meet
ing to be held about the middle of this
week