The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-11
CLAIMS WORKING
GIRL CAN LIVE ON
$500 PER WEEK
CONTINUED From Page one)


materially affecting their various
firms profits" James Simpson of the
Marshall Field company, however, re-
marked:
"It is inevitable that any increases
would be paid by the public
Lieut.. Gov. Barratt O'Hara, chair
man of the committee investigating
white slavery has received commu-
nications from the governors of Wis
consin, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and
Ohio informing him that they will in
clude in next messages to their legis-
latures a recommendation for the ap-
pointment of commissions endowed
with the same plenary powers as the
Illinois body
'.The movement promises to develop
the most important stand against white
slavery that ever has been under
taken," said Mr. O'Hara today. Each
commission would investigate the con-
Mtions in their own state as ours is
doing, but there would be joint ses-
sions and conferences and the records
of each body would be available to
all of the others"
Simpson Is Recalled
James Simpson, vice president of
Marshall Field & Co.. was recalled to
the witness chair before the state vice
as to the profits of his firm. He asked
to be excused from answering. He
assured the commission that Marshall
Field & Co. well could subscribe to
any minimum wage scale law for wom-
EN- which might be adopted.
sIt is inevitable" he said, that any
Increase would be paid by the pub
lic'
Simpson was asked whether the
Field company could raise the mini
mum wage of women to Sc a day with
out raising prices of goods to the con-
sumer. TT could be DONE" he said
''and without materially affecting the
profits of the firm"
George Lytton, vice president of the
Hub, next faced the commission. Chair
man O'Hara explained that the COM
mission desired to ascertain the rela-
ton of low wages to immortality. among
women The Hub employees 150 none
of whom receives less than $3.50 9
week.
.Do you have to charge more for cloth
ing than others because of higher wages,
asked Chairman O'Hara.
NO
',Do you believe it is good policy to pay
good wages?"
Certainly
There are 1o4 women at The Hub re
ce;ving $3.50
TT has been estimated that 1t costs 8
or 50 to maintain young woman" said
Senator Juul Where does the difference
come from?"
."rhey live at home and Y comes from
the parents
Then you take all of girls time and
skill and expect her parents to help pay
her wages pursued JUL.
1--WE have been placing the minimum
wage at IS. considering it,"
Witness said he had devoted much time
to the wage question as it affects women
and that a woman can live on IS week
He promised to give the commission 8
schedule of the expenses Of a worklnl
girl.
What we want said Senator. JUL, "i'
what she must spend. Never mind tht
law we'll have to add dollar or two fol
recreation and the like"
Can Afford So Per Day
Lytton was emphatic in stating hi
concern could well afford minimum o.
81 a day. He said all big corporation
il. the city could do So
Joseph Basch. second vice president Of
Siegel Cooper & Co., who was the mex
witness, said that wages and immortality
had no relation.
II believe that immortality is a stat,
of mind" he said. II believe our girl,
are moral. I think only a very small
percentage of them could be persuaded t.
take the vicious way"
Siegel & Cooper employ 1850 girls. abou
half of whom earn 81 or less. Witness
pointed out. as did Mr.. Simpson at {
previous session, that an increase of tn,
minimum wage meant an increase al
along the line. The girls already gettini
slc must be advanced to SIS, the $l5 girl
to $40. and so on. Employees must be pait
according to their comparative abilities
Rasch did not view the wage system witl
any alarm
promotion is very rapid in the Stat,
street store Basch remarked 9TH,
woman who comes to us this year at 80
for instance In two years very readil,
may be earning SIS a week The low
salaries 60 to learners and development
Is apid."
Asked II siegel Cooper & Co. could pa,
a minimum wage scale of s12. Basch sale
that they could for skilled services. bu
rot for unskilled.