Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-07
Sears, Roebuck & Co.
Head Tells of Inquiry
by Chicago Stores.
CALLED AS A WITNESS
Believes Some Women Will Go
Wrong No Matter What the
Wage Paid Them.

Chicago, March Leading mer-
chants of Chicago were called before
the state senate's vice investigation
commission today in an endeavor 10
, ascertain the relations of low wages
to vice. President Rcsenwald of Sears,
Roebuck d Co. testified his company
employs 4,732 women and girls al an
average wage of S912 per week The
lowest salary is So. given to girls
of 16. After three months they are
advanced to $3.50. The company
hires only girls who live at home
The concern employs 1865 girls ana
women who receive less than IS a
week. G. H. Miller. superintendent of
employment for Sears, Roebuck & Co.
seated beside Rosenwald, answered
many of the questions put to Rosen-
wald by Lieutenant Governor O'Hara.
TELLS OF INVESTIGATION.
Did your company the last few
years conduct a private investigation
to ascertain the minimum wage nee
essary for girl to support herself
without assistance" asked O'Hara.
|. Rosenwald could not remember. and
referred to Miller, who replied. sa &
ing such investigation had been held
by a committee composed OF depart
ment store heads. The committee re-
ported the minimum requirement of
girls" adrift" mot living at home)
was IS.
! to Cly &c
wide philanthropy if you think low
wages induce immortality in women"
No CONNECTION. SAYS.
Il will answer as ! answered be-
fore said Rosenwald, there is prac
tically no connection between them.
believe prostitution is as likely TO
come to woman who earns over $40
as one who earns less. 1t depends on
a woman. A girl earning small wages
] might use that subterfuge for her
r derelictions."
S DO you consider s. enough for any
I woman to live upon?"
+ Yes, # she lives at home"
And SS enough for one who sup
p ports herself?'
t That's what our Investigation
{ showed"
a S7,OOo,OOO IN EARNINGS.
!. How much did your corporation
S earn in 1912"
r approximately $1,000, 900"
= Gould you raise wages and still
pay stockholders a legitimate profit
The witness said the stock Of the
corporation pays 7 per cent both on
common and preferred. There was a
surplus of $4,000, 900 at the end OF
q 1912. He said he could have given
s2000,000 out OF the profits and still
] pay some dividends."
Gould you live on $S a week.
=, There was a bitter litter when the
> witness said he never tried it.
, COMPETITION A FACTOR.
IS Rosenwsld said many firms in Hi
J. nois. II a minimum wage for womer
d would be ordered by law, could in
g crease wages materially. but Illinoi.
firms would then be at a disadvantagt
as compared with competitors in state,
having no such law. Rosenwald's tes
timony was interrupted a few min
utes as q girl OF about Il, cheapl!
= but neatly clad. took a seat besid,
the witness. She was IA when sh,
j went to work for Sears, Roebuck 4
Co.. she said, and was paid $3.50
week. Rosenwald explained this va
~ before the firm fixed the minimum
=, for girls OF her age.
TELLS HER AGE.
IL Did they know bow old you were?
n asked O'Hara-
70 "Oh. yes, told them was IA year
u and months She worked tw
a. years and the last month Of the PEI
D. iod was earning $3.50 Her chic
Is criticism was OF forewomen given I
ne scolding for mistakes incident I
On their work. She was ignorant OF tn
d moral condition OF fellow employees
although she did not think they wer
paid enough. Il gave a coat to on
girl" she said.
SOME GIRLS FLIRT.
She said some girls firted and "ra
4 out nights" She did not really kno,
. that any girls were bad. but yo
never can tell how they turn out
lg Rosenwald answered a few questions
'e- He left the companys payroll wi,
" the committee, which went into Q,
al ecutive session
Before the young woman conclude