Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-29

amount OF advertising make It impossi-
Bile for any one of us to have any serious
advantage over the others in the selling
price. The women can go from one store
to another, effectually preventing one
store from being materially higher priced
on the same goods than another.
The struggle over the expense account
brings up the whole question OF salaries
the amount that can be paid to en-
ployes directly. the amount that can be
spent by US in caring for them. the COM
pensatton possible for length of service
and as special incentives to increased
In the way of promotion. In these mat
tiers some Of the most delicate questions
of morals arise, involving both the en-
ployer and the customer in the treatment
Of the employee.
Compensation Of Workers.
Do the employees receive for their
services a fair amount of the total
profit that comes to the store? It should
be remembered that these large stores
grow up and some large fortunes are &C
qutred, which all people hear OF. but
mention Is seldom make of the many
large fortunes that are lost. 1t still re-
mains true that 80 per cent of the men
who go into business fail OF success. and
that only a small percentage ever achieve
great success. In some OF the depart
ment stores in St. Louis. for the last two
years. at least twO-thirds Of the total
profits secured from the sales has been
paid out in Saloriee to employees. One
third Is all that has been allowed to pay
rent and all other running expenses. in
terest on capital and allied obligations.
This large wage scale has been main
tanned simply that faithful clerks might
not be thrown into the street. left with
out employment. and thus add still fur
Their complications to the unfortunate
business conditions of the times-
Apart from the regular salaries OF en-
ployes. different stores have different
methods Of providing additional compen-
sation. In some cases this is based upon
the increase of business done in one
season over another. or upon reduction
In the running expenses Of a department.
or upon superior skill in buying. This
principle of giving additional compensa-
ton, when possible. prevails in all depart
ment store business. Besides this, in
stores in the United States 1t is as easy
for an employee to buy an interest
small, perhaps but quite likely UP to the
limit Of his means-as 1t Is to buy
share in a railroad. Our department
store system offers Increased pay for in
creased efficiency, and additional COM
pensation by some form Of tho bonus
system. or by the opportunity to become
interested in the stock as member of
the company. 1t is. therefore. perfectly
possible for employees to rise year by
year.
AS to employing boys or girls at work
who are under the legal age, We find II
very easy to follow the rule. The only
possible difficulty is that parents and
guardians will insist frequently on
swearing falsely to the age of their chill
dren. Also. in order to keep the law, we
often seriously offend customers who are
interested in families OF poor people,. and
wish US not only to furnish the money
with which to help them in their philan-
thropy. but to break the law in dong it.
The moment deceit is discovered in this
matter there il never the slightest dis
cussion or hesitation in any of the large
houses as to remedying the error. We
all believe the law is beneficial. not only
to the children and to their parents, but
to our service as well.
1t is frequently stated that women
~orking in department stores are beset
with peculiar temptations and, difficulties.
believe that some such difficulties do
exist, and there may be isolated instances
where little or nothing is done by those
In authority In the stores to protect them
or to guide them. But I do not believe
that in the entire United States there Is
any considerable number Of such in
stances compared with the vast majority
deavor to bring about the best conditions.
II for no other reason than for the mere
question Of policy. The Christian women
however, who go In and out OF stores as
customers can do much to help in this
matter. The fact that they are women
makes It possible for them to hear things
from women employees which the en-
ployer might never hear. and which are
extremely detrimental to social order or
to the moral life Of the Individual. Gus
toners also. by showing greater consid-
Grafton in their dealings with the clerks
can make the labors Of these employees
lighter, their hours shorter and their
chances for censure less.