Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-11
Heads of Chicago Stores
Say They Can Afford It
Without Cutting Profits
of Firms Very Much.
FIELD AND HUB ARE
WILLING TO TRY
Witness Says That 1mmor-
ality is State of Mind OF
Girl and Has No Relation
to Her Wages.

Chicago, March 1O.-James Simpson
vice president of Marshall Field & CO..
was recalled to the witness chair pc
fore the state vice commission. me
room was again filled, the, spectators
being largely women.
Simpson was asked again as to the
hours were heightened only half hour
be excused from answering, He as.
sured the commission that Marsnaii
Field g. Co.. could well SUBSCRIBE ~
any minimum wage scale law Tor "oHa'
en- which might be adopted.
"It is inevitable" he said, "that any
increases would be paid by the pubic
Senator Juul brought up the subject
OF hours of work during Christmas
week, but dropped some question ne
had in mind when Simpson said that
hours we're lengtnened only a half hour
q day.
Senator Tossey asked if Marshai'
Field & Co., could raise the minimum
wage Of women to 81 day without rails
ing prices of goods to the consumer;
It could be done, Simpson said, ana
without materially affecting the prohts
Of the firm. -,
Geo. Littleton president of the Hub,
next faced the commission. with MS
hac1, a. the spectators. Lieut.. Gov.
parratt O'Hara, chairman OF the com
mission explained that the comm1ssic l
desired to ascertain the relation OF 10"
vases to immortality among women.
None Under $3.50 Per Week.
I,ittleton said that it was the Irac-
tice OF the Hub to give annual presents
IN its employees independent OF the
nrofits Of the year. He asked to De
excused from answering question
asking what percentage of the net
prof,tg of the firm the gifts formed.
The Hub employed $50 women, none
of whom receives less than $500
week.
"Do you have to charge more for
clothing than others because OF nlgner
wagcs?' asked Chairman O'Hara.
ooh, no.
DO You believe it is good policy to
:,ay good wages?"
Certainly"
Littleton declined to state the profits
Of his firm.
There are 1O4 women at the Hub re-
ceiving $780,
"It has been estimated that it costs
eight or nine dollars to maintain
Young woman said Senator JUL.
"Where does the difference come
from?"
."They live at home and it comes
from the parents"
"Then you take all girls time and
skill and expect her parents to help
pay her wages?" pursued Juul
May Give So Per Week.
81 will say that we have been crn-
sidering raising the minimum wage
to $780,"
Witness said he had devoted much
time to the wage question as it affects
women, and that woman can live on
3s a yeek. He promised to give the
commission schedule Of the expense
of working girl.
"What we want" said Senator JUL.
'"is what she must spend. Never mind
the pleasures. | suppose when we
make law, We'll have to add a dollar
or two for recreation and the like
The Hub, besides its gifts has a
pension fund and sick benefits. Little
ton was emphatic in stating that the
Hub could well afford to pay a mini
mum Of 81 a day. He said all big
corporations could do so.
Littleton pointed out>as did Simpson
at previous session, that an increase
of the minimum wage means an in
crease all along the line. The girl
already getting $12 must be advanced
10 SIS; the $15 girl to $40 and SO on.
Employees must be paid according to
their comparative abilities.
Juul suggested that the employees
should hold a mass meeting and agree
On fair minimum wage themselves.
witness thought it a good idea.
O'Hara said it had been observed
that employers pay more attention to
outside charities than to their own
employees.
DO you think that your first duty
Is to your own people asked the
chairman.
"That is our belief" replied Little
ton although we contribute to every
recognized charity in Chicago" Is
Says It is State Of Mind.
Joseph Basch, second vice president
of Siegel. Cooper & Co., who was the
next witness said that wages and i'm
morality have no relation.
Il believe that Immortality is a state,
OF mind, believe our girls are moral
girls. think very small percentage
Of them could be persuaded to take
The easy way"