The chronicle=news., 1913-03-07

The room had been painfully quiet
but at this there was round OF up
plause. led by ihe women spectators.
and the first general spontaneous
Outburst OF the session. Emily"
was then dismissed. "'' s.
Chicago. March ..--LeadinE mer-
chants of Chicago were called before
the state senate's vice investigation
committee today in an endeavor TO
ascertain the relations of low wages
paid 10 women TO the vices Of the I'M
derworld. II was asserted by Lieu
tenant Governor Barret, O'Hnra that
In the city of Chicago 0.O00 women
are employed Mt n wage of 81 week
or less.
Julius Rosenwald. president OF
Sears -Roebuck comapny referring re-
peatedly To notes. testified that the
company employs ara. women and
girls whose average wage IL $a.l2 a
week. The lowest salary OF s. Ia civ.
en- TO girls under l6 years OF aGe. the
witness stated. After three months
they are advanced TO $3.50.
The company hires only girls who
live at home. The concern employees
.+6a girls and women who receive
less than IS n week.
Roscnwald. a broad shouldercd.
quietly clad man. peered intentIy
through heavy lenses ut his interro.
gators. the youthful lieutenant gov
ernor evnicinE tho greatest intercst.
From time TO time he remarked:
Perhaps Mr.. Miller can teil'' and
he turned to peer into the audience.
Presently q. II. Miller was dragged
from obcurity. sworn and kivcn n
seat beside Roscnwald. Miller ~ sup
,erinfendcnt of employment, At Sears-
Rocbuck and company. Roscnwald
testified that he was NJ one time
chairman OF the Chicago vice com.
mi,tcc which conducted an nvesti-
saiion OF vice conditions In this
city. A portion of this report was
suppressed by the committee.
Did not your company. within
the lat few year conduct a private
invetiEation to ascertain the min.
imum wage necessary for n girl 10
supper, herelf without assis'n nrc?"
asked O'llara.
y don, recall. there may have
been hut ! don't remember just now.
Perhaps Mr.. Miller
The later PROMPTLY entered the
breach and said that such an invsst!-
cation had been held By a committee
composed OF department heads. The
committee reported the minimum re-
| auiremcnts OF girls adrift mot iiv-
ing ut homeD was IS.
Now. I want to ask you." said
O'Hnra. ''as a man Of wide philan-
thropy. II you think that low wages
induce immortality In women"
| Il will answer iha: as have an
swercd befote.-thcre ix practically
no connection between them. he
iieve that prostitution 10 ~ likely 70
come TO woman who earns over $40
II deepnds upon the woman. A girl
earning rs low as that might use
that as n suhterfuEc to account for
her dcrelictions.
DO you consider s. enough for
any woman to live upon"
Yes. II hel Ives ut home
"And IS is enough for one who
supports herself"
That is what our Investigation
showed"
How much did your corporation
earn In 1sll?"
Approximately $4,000. .O00.'
Gould YOU raise wages and still
pay your stockholders "a legitimate
rrofit?"
The witness said the stock OF the
corporation pays : epr cent. on both
common and preferred. There was
a surplus OF $4,000. 900 at the end
of 1912. lie said he could have
given $2.0OO.0O0 out OF profits and
stiil pay some dividends.
State Senator Neils Juul asked the
witness II het hought the stock
holders were fair judges OF what
compensation che girls should re-
ccive and II he did not think the
state would he a fair Judge.
There was sporadic applause when
! Mr.. Roscnwald replied that he would
| be glad TO meet the wishes Of the
state so far as competition will per-
nit
Asked II he would object to dis
closing his own income. he replied
in the negative.
Well then smiled OHara,
could you live on IS a week?"f
There was Il litter when the wit.
| ness said lie had never tried II,
O'Hara asked IL there were "hriv-
| or" in his employe. The witness had
never heard OF them.
Have you an employe called the
'scolder?'"
Not SO far as know"
Senator Jnul took the witness ani
wanted to know II the corporation
took apins to learn If the wage re-
ceived by girls was sufficient for the
individual case.
No was the slow reply.
Then YOU proceed on the theory
that the girls must live on whas you
| any Them" commented Juul.
Then he asked the witness II he
thought any women should be asked
to live on less than any average wo-
| man.
Competition might account for
the difference" replied the witness.
"To 1000 girls. s. week more
than you do would cost YOU $4,000