The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-11
THINKS MINIMUM
OF S12|S TOO HIGH
Witness Says Girl "Adrift' Can
Live on SIS
Week.
HOW HE LISTS EXPENSES
Believes If She Is Economical
She Can Put Is Cents
Aside.
HOW HE LISTS EXPENSES

Chicago, March 10.-Wilnam e.
Thorne, vice-president of Montgom-
cry, Ward & Co., a mail order house.
told tho Vice Commission to-day that
a Giri "adrift" can live on IS a week.
thus: Room rent, So; breakfasts (cof-
fee and rolls, A0c: luncheons. oOc;
dinners, s1,4o; ear fare, 6Oc: clothing
and incidentals. $40.
The witness gave the foregoing
statement to show that the commits
sion's idea that there should be a
minimum wage scale for women OF
sl2 week is too high. '?ilt lgures
given, he said. were the actual ex-
penditures of one of his 1873 female
employees. Another girl cmploye dis
bursed her wages as follows: Room
and hoard, $3.50; laundry. zoe: car
fare. zoe; clothing and incidcntals.
$3.50. Savings, % cents
The statement fails to account for
surplus OF cents, but this was not
explained. and Senator Beall remarked
that the girl probably spent it friv-
olously
The witnesses to-day in addition to
Thorne were James Simpson, George
l-ytton. John Basch. John r. Piric. r.
j. lehman, Henry {. Schwab, Albert
Ellinger. all representing department
stores employing thousands of girls
and women
The commission, which expects to
pursue its work for the next two
years, adjourned until further notice.
which probably will he given the lat :
ter part of next week
Senator JUL told Thorne that girl
after girl had been on the stand and
testified to having gone wrong be-
I moi l<.. t,.,,,
otherwise.
oh, yes; but for the most part I
don't believe those yarns" intcrrupted
the witness
The earnings of Montgomery. Ward
K GO for the last fiscal year
( were 32.3ic,1o0. Thornr said, and JuuI
having calculated that the cNpcrs1iture
/ salaries of tho five, six and seven dol
I lar girls to $40 asked the wit;
| ness If ne did not think the money
] might be well spent In that way.
but' came the reply. we are al
\ ready spending that much in benefits
I old age pensions and the Hike. W.
( look after the welfare of our employc:
very closely. and If this commission
can show us whore VIC fail wei
remedy the defect l it can be show
mat our girls need more money the,
shall have it, although think IS i.
good minimum
Thornc said IN his opinion mini
mum wage scale of sIc a week 20,
women would drive half the factorje,
out Of llliIcis and cost half the wo,nsy
their Jobs
~ believe immortality is state o
rnind,' declared Joseph Basch. OF sic
gel Cooper & Co. another vii
ness. OF the 1850 girls employed !,
his store, Mr.. Basch thought oniv ;
small percentage could bc persuaded
10 go the easiest way
Other merchants or the stand saie
,neE thought they could raise tho mini
mum wage without materially affec.
anS their various firms profits
lieutenant Governor Barratt oIfsra
chefrmaa OF the Investigating com
mittee. has received communication
from the Governors of Wisconsin
Iowa. indiaAa. Michig-A and ohio in
forming him that they vii includ,
i, IN next messages 10 their LEGISLATURE
a recommendation for the appointmer
Of commissions endowed with ~. sa m,
! pienary powers as the Illinois body