Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-25
Welfare Commission al
Springfield Brings Out
New Facts.
WAGES PAID BY MONTH
Two Factory Employees Give
Their TeStimony-Shady
Hotels Probed.

Springfield, III, April 25.-When the
senate white slave" inquiry was re-
sumed this morning d. W. Venable.
proprietor of the Victor hotel, was re-
called to the stand. Questioned re-
gGrding the circumstances under
which he secured and held the hotel.
which he testified last night was run
, in a respectable manner, he said he
had offered to sell the furniture and
lease for $1,000 less than he paid for
it.
d. L. Phillips, owner OF a building
in jefferson street, was examined rel
ative to his property, occupied as a
saloon on the ground floor and an I'M
moral resort on the second floor. Phil
lips rented the building to the Seipp
Brewing company and was not fanii!-
lar with the conditions existing in the
fiat above the saloon, although ne un-
derstoOd il was immoral.
Mary Barnes, 16. living in Second
street, testified she was working for
the Coates Watch and Tool company
she was paid S3 for the first week,
then put on piece work, and was able
/ to earn only 80 cents a day.
/ Sylvia Kane. Il. offered testimony
similar TO that of the Barnes girl
/ Wages, she said. were paid once 4
month.
SHOE CONCERN EXCORIATED.
The international Shoe company, a
S25, 100000 corporation. with a branch
in Springfield. was excoriated- b. the
inquiry. 5. w. Derby, superintendent
of the local factory. was on the wit
ness stand following the testimony
-+-s4--sSse<Hf>ss >ssirl -eaF4osss. OF tfe~ez,tt44
lishment, and assumed a hostile at
titude toward the committee Derby
was answering questions in a low, in
articulate voice. Speak up, please, -
requested Senator JUL, who was do
ing the questioning. "Stenographers
and newspapermen cannot hear you"
Il don't care anything about them"
responded Derby.
We'll, We do care" declared Juul
This is the modern version OF the
public be damned" interposed Chair
man O'Hara.
sRu2S HIS MISTAKE.
Derby saw he had made a mistake.
I'm talking to you not to them" he
added.
The state of Illinois is a part of
this commission" declared O'Hara.
JUL then expressed his sentiments
toward the shoe company. Il want to
tell you, Derby, |, for one, wish | had
the power to drive your concern from
the state. You are disgrace to the
state"
And. I want to add, one of the
greatest disgraces to the state in
terpOsed O'Hara-
I'VE had some information regard.
ing your concern" continued JUL.
MUST BRING PAYROLLS.
I'VE learned of one poor girl that
worked for you being driven to pros
! titution because she was paid only
$3.50 a week. We had to go into exc
was so rotten the public could not
hear it"
Derby was asked to bring his pay
rolls before the commission next
week.
Agnes Kane, q, formerly employed
by the International Shoe company
told of Foreman Alexander of the boz
department seizing girls and shaking
them when they dispIeased, and ours
ing the girls when they failed to turf
out as much work as he desired.
HOLDS COMMISSION LAX.
l Whether vice conditions have I'M
proved under the commission form O
government was a subject of iEquir!
last night before the senatorial vel
fare commission.
Mayor John S. Schnepp OF Sprin G
field who has been the city's execu
! tive both under the old system ant
under the commission form OF gov
ernment, expressed his opinion beforr
. the OHara investigating body at
! hearing which began at s o'clock il
the evening in the banquet hall o
the Leland hotel. He declared tha
conditions in Springfield after TIVE
/, years of operation under the commits
/. sion form of government are not quit
l as good as under the old system.
TELL OF CAMPAIGN FUND.
That others believe to the contrar
was indicated when a woman keepe
of house of i'll repute was placed o,
the witness stand and questioned re
garding statements she is said Z
|, have made relative to the raising O
a campaign fund to be used for tn
purpose of overthrowing the commits
sion form of government at the mex
election
This woman, a Miss 20. F." VII,
I has kept an evil resort in Springfield
for nlIe years, said she must nav