Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-10
VIEWS OF JAMES SIMPSON
Vice President Of Mercantile Firm
Before Vice Commission.
OTHER WITNESSES TESTIFY
Say Minimum Wage Of Sc Day
Would Not Materially Affect
Merchants Profits.


vice president of Marshall Field & Co.,
was recalled to the witness chair before
the state vice commission today. The
room was again filled. the spectators be-
ing largely women.
Mr.. Simpson was questioned again as to
the profits of his firm. and again asked
to be excused from answering. He as
sured the commission that Marshall
Field & Co. could well subscribe to any
minimum wage scale law for women
which might be adopted.
1T Is inevitable" he said, that any
increases would be paid by the public. "
Senator JUL brought UP the subject of
hours of work during Christmas week,
but dropped some question he had in
mind when Simpson said that hours were
heightened only a half hour day.
Senator Tossey asked II Marshall Field
& Co. could raise the minimum wage OF
women to 81 q day without raising prices
OF goods to the consumer.
1t could be done. Simpson said, without
materially affecting the profits of the
firm.
George Lytton Questioned.
Hub" next faced the commission. with
his back to the spectators. Lieut.. Gov.
Barrett O'Hara, chairman OF the COM
mission, explained that the commission
desired to ascertain the relation of low
wages to immortality among women.
Lytton said it was the practice of THE
Hub" to give annual presents to Its en-
ployes. He asked to be excused from
telling what percentage of the net pronts
of the firm the gifts formed. The Hub
employs $50 women, none of whom re-
ceive less than $3.50 week.
DO you have to charge more for ciotn.
ing than others because of higher wages =
asked Chairman O'Hara.
'Oh, no.
DO you believe it is good policy to
pay good wages?"
Certainly"
Declines to Disclose Profits.
Lytton declined to state the profits OF
his firm. There are 1O4 women at the
Hub, receiving $3.50 each.
1T has been estimated that it costs
eight or nine dollars weekly to maintain
a young woman said Senator JUL
Where does the difference come from?''
'They live at home, and it comes from
the parents"
Then you take all of a girls time and
skill, and expect her parents to help pay
her wages" pursued JUL.
1--WE have been considering the raising
of the minimum wage to 81.
Witness said he had devoted much time
to the wage question as it affects women.
and that q woman can live on IS a
week He promised to give the commits
sion schedule of the expenses OF a
working girl.
what we want" said Senator JUL,
lis what she must spend. Never mind
the pleasures. I suppose when we make
law we'll have to add dollar or two
for recreation and the like"
1.-THE HUB besides it's gifts, has PEN
sion fund and sick benefits. Lytton was
emphatic in stating his concern could
well afford g. minimum of 81 a day. He
said all big corporations could do so.
Witness pointed out. as did Mr.. Simp-
son at a previous session, that an In
crease Of the minimum wage meant an in
crease all along the line. The girls al
ready getting So must be advanced to
So; the SIS girl to $2O and so on. En-
ployes must be paid according to their
comparative abilities.
Employees Should Decide.
Mr.. JUL suggested that the employees
should hold a mass meeting and agree
on a fair minimum wage themselves.
Witness thought it good idea.
OHara said it had been observed that
employers pay more attention to out
side charities than to their own en-
ployes.
"Do you think that your first duty is
to your own people," asked the chair
man.
''That is our belief" replied Mr.. Lyt-
ton, although we contribute to every
recognized charity in Chicago"
Joseph Basch. second vice president of
Siegel Cooper Co., who was the next wit
ness, said that wages and immortality
had no relation.
II believe that immodesty is a state
OF mind believe our girls are moral"
Siegel Cooper Co. employ 1880 girls,
about half Of whom earn So or less.