New-York tribune., 1907-08-04
GRAFT IN N. Y. HOMES.
Many MuIcted for Servants Com
niSsiORs-DOmestic -4ctuar1eS.

Household graft and waste are costing the mill
!onaire and the unfortunate near-rich in New YORK
I millions Of dollars each year In single houses
where the bills run more than $1,000 month the
Ticl.iEcs Of servants and tradesFeople run intQ
many thousands year Commissions is the cry
end my lady's maid" expects her percentage Tor
favoring the hardresser. the butler demands his
understanding with florist and wine merchant the
chef favors the supplies OF those who favor him
the erooms something about harness deal
ers and the chauffeur is friendly in quiet way
with repair shop and automobile accessories nrIns
and the that IS used up the larger the bills
and larger the bills the greater the commits
sons.
As an instance of now this system works may
be cited the case OF chauffeur who needed $40 at
once He had Just had profitable and elaborate
repair fob that another accident would not DO
So he calmly went to q supply house and ordered
enough tires and took four SO bills and went his
way rejoicing i also works the other way Sup
pose the florist does not see the grasping butler
His flowers are sure TO wither before dinner Is
over or wines fail TO please If the vntner be re-
miss. And IL is even question whether SPECIAL
milk at p cents quart may not sour unless 'ieie
be an overflow of golden cream cor soIne one
These leaks in home expenditures have long been
known to exist, but generally regarded as
petty and unavoidable. One day however. an ex-
pert accountant who had been employed By n
manufacturer 10 detect waste in a branch which
did about so 600 OF business year suggested that
there was probably more undetected waste III the
owners home than in his whole business Inc
manufacturer told the accountant to go ahead on
the household end AT the end OF iortileht the
EXPERT showed that he losing in his city home
el through bad business systems such
hotel would USE between 5000 and $1,co0 year.
Since then II has developed that the same condi-
ton prevails in many homes And when the do
mestic establishment has branches IN Newport,
country estates hunting preserves. and possibly a
foreign chateau and yacht or two. II at once
takes on the proportion Of great business. ana
unless modern business systems used offers
In its purchases. and disposal Of material vast
opportunity for serious loss
As a result OF these conditions there has como
from the rich a demand for class OF experts
household actuarfes. And as these experts have
to be associated generally. with the rich mans
wife and also have to nave a natural aptitude Tor
domestic details women preferred. though
there are many where men who are masters
of business systems get large salaries to the
financial side Of s506D year household on the
same principles that they have supervised some
great manufacturing or purchasing plant To 90
this work successfully, however, it is not enough
that the applicant possess some ability as a book
keeper and shrewdness q household executive.
The domestic actuary must be able to devise sys-
TENS which Will detect loss IN any OF the many
opcratons OF the home, just as In the buying re-
ceIving manufacturing, selling, packing ship
ming department of shoe -four factory or de-
partment store Payrolls. orders bills, payments
all must come under the list Of business system,
and it will be poor domestic actuary who does
not save double triple The large salary paid.
In order TO fit themselves Tor theSe places as
executive secretaries in wealthy homes. or for the
similar positions of scientific almoners or charity
secretaries those who wish to give largely but
always wisely many women. often college grad
lates are making special study of higher ac-
counting and business methods. Many others find
knowledge brings them large returns in the busi-
ness world as expert accountants or business or
ganizers Other women find that this knowledge is
very useful in keeping track of their estates
and In guiding them in making investments. and
combine with the study OF accountancy courses in
business law and Investments
To meet this need on the pert OF women and to
eouiu them for certain lucrative positions which
they are peculiarly fitted New York University
has thrown open women Its In the School
of Commerce and Accounts for the training OF
public accountants. financial insurance. railroad
and business experts. A large number Of women
have been students in these taking special
lines to fit them for particular work home d.
-ectors. In business as teachers. for there is
coming be demand for courses in household
bookkeeping for young girls part of the do
nestic science training. Some Of them. however.
have taken the full courses and have won the de-
gree Bachelor of Commercial Science and in
standing have been antagonists for the
men Of business. Some Of these women have gone
actuarial experts In great companies. but not
few showing, either In their homes and
own affairs in the conduct Of some home or
large expenditure. how training in business means
a saving in the salary Of the wage Garner, or In
the check books Of those who coming to regard
thshousstold actuary the wisest Of Investments.