Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-08
Hillman, Chicago De-
partment Store Man,
Amazes Probers.
TELLS THEM FRANKLY HE
PAYS MANY So A WEEK
But Denies That Those in His
Employ Lead Immoral
Lives.

man. of 'Hlllman s. one OF the city )
largest. department stores, told the
Illinois Vice Commission today he
| thought that there was in some cases
a connection between low wages and
| immortality among women.
do you think that a woman would
sell her virtue before she would
starve?" asked Lieutenant-G Governor
Barratt O'Hara, chairman of the
commission.
Yes, | do" came the prompt an
swer, the first of the kind from en-
ployers thus far heard.
Thank you," said O'Hara, appar-
emily surprised at the admission.
Hillman said that si7 girls and
women are employed at his store.
OF these forty-siX girls receive 50,
twenty-four get 81, twenty three earn
! $3.50 and six receive SO. These last
! three are crrand girls, mostly brought
| in by their parents who want them
| to learn the business so they may
advance to higher salaries. he said.
A Question of Conscience.
"If one of your IS girls lost her
honor would it hurt your con-
science?" asked o'Hara.
Yes, certainly
would you hold yourself respon-
sible?"
We'll, now, let's think would /?
Here's a girl brought in by her
parents, living at home. Should l be
responsible? | think not. ! think the
! parents would be responsible
Hillman spoke distinctly to the
great relief of the spectators. half of
| them women. who were unable to
hear most of the testimony yester-
day.
The witness said he never had
heard of girl being blaclllisted for
bad conduct, but did know of floor
walker who had suffered that fate
for imrnof'aHty.
Hillman admitted that he was d
self-made man. He started at work
| at 81 week as a cash boy.
could you live on it?' inquired
the chairman of the commission.
His SO Helped Father Along.
well, my father earned $14 and
my 80 helped out | walked to and
from work.
Readiness of the big merchant to
agree with the commission surprised
and delighted the legislators. For in
stance, O'Hara asked If it had ever
| occurred to him to investigate ap
| pica tons for positions to ascertain
whether the applicant could live on
the salary in prospect. 1t had never
| occurred to him. but. said he, its
a good idea"
"Mr Hillmah will you promise
! this commission to hire such an in
vestigator?"
"Yes, certainly; glad to; it's a good
| idea." and the stocky witness nodded
his iron gray head emphatically
Asked what he thought a girl
| could support herself on independent
! ly, Hillman said IS or So a week. Il
/ could live on $12 myself; yes, / could
squeeze through on $40, think" he
added.
so IS or 50 would sustain a girl
in Chicago, but it wouldn't leave
much for the movies and soda,
would ii ?" observed Senator Juul
mo, guess you can't get frivolous
on that" laughed Hilman.
Give Probers Access TO Books.
James Simpson, of Marshall Field
& Co, who declined yesterday to dis
close the profits of his firm. offered
the commission private access to the
books of the company. Hillman also
agreed to do the same.
/ Senator Beall, addressing the latter
as a self made man. asked if he gave
| his employees the same chance to
advance that he had.
you bet replied the merchant.
| "We want 'em to advance. Why
there's a sign in my office Grow or
/ gol' "
Representative Lloyd informed the
witness that the report of the Chicago
Vice Commission showed that many
department store girls lead lives of
shaaae.
This was news to Hillman. who de-
MED anv such condition in his store
why" he exclaimed, "let me tell
YOU about one of those 'mashers' who
| are always taking up the time of the
girls. Two weeks ago one of our de-
tectives caught one of them. and
honest when that bull got through
with him he was sight. Honest, he
got more than was coming to him,
Hillman thought the moral stand
ards of the girls at Hillmans We're
high.
Come on over and size 'em up he
invited