The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-11
BY ASSOCIATED PREss.

Chicago, March 10-'T believe i'm
morality is a state Of mind" declared
Joseph Basch, of Siegel, Cooper & Co,
testifying today before the vice COM
mission in it's inquiry as to whether
the possible connection between low
wages and immortality. OF the 1880
girls employed in his store, Mr. Basch
thought only a small per centage could
be persuaded to go the easiest way"
Other merchants on the stand said
they thought they could raise the
minimum wage without materially af-
fecting their various firms profits.
However, James Simpson of the Mar
shall Field &, Company remarked sit is
inevitable that any increase would be
paid by the public"
James Simpson. vice-president of
Marshall Field & Co, was recalled
to the witness chair before the state
wee commission today and question
ed again as to the profits of his firm.
He asked to be excused from answer
ing. He assured the commission that
Marshall Field & Co. well could sub
scribe to any minimum wage scale law
for women which might be adopted.
PAID BY THE PUBLIC.
''It is inevitable he said, that any
increases would be paid gby the public"
Simpson was asked whether the
Field company could raise the mini
mum wage of women to $500 a day
without raising prices of goods to the
consumer.
1t could be done. he said. and with
out materially affecting the profits of
the firm.
George Lytton, vice president of
THE Hub next faced the commits
sion. Chairman O'Hara explained that
the commission desired to ascertain
the relation of low wages to immor
ality among women. The Hub en-
ploys $50 women, none Of whom re-
ceive less than $3.50 a week.
DO you have to charge more for
clothing than others because of higher
wages?'' asked Chairman OHara-
"Oh no.
do you believe it is good policy to
pay good wages?"
Certainly"
There are 1O4 women at THE Hub
receiving $3.50.
"It has been estimated that it costs
eight or nine dollars to maintain a |
young woman said Senator Juul. |
Where does the difference come |
from?"
"They live at home and it comes |
from the parents"
''Then you take all of a girls time |
anu Skill anu sGhPC1L ICA pal ~ !
help pay her wages?" pursued JuuL |
I'VE have been considering plac- |
ing the minimum wage a $500"
SCHEDULE OF EXPENSES.
Witness said he had devoted much |
time to the wage question as it af- |
fects women, and that a woman can |
live on $S a week. He promised to
give the commission a schedule of the
expenses of a working girl
what we want" said Senator JUL, |
''is what she must spend. Never mind |
the pleasures. I suppose when we |
make a law Wen have to add dollar |
or two for recreation and the like"
Lytton was emphatic in stating his |
could wei afford a minimum
Of 50 a day. He said all big cor
porations could do So
Joseph Basch, second vice president
Of SiegeI Cooper & Co. who was the
next witness, said that wages and i'm
morality had no relation.
II believe that immortality is a state
Of mind. I believe our girls are moral.
[ think only very small percentage
Of them could be persuaded to take
the easiest way"
seige. Cooper & Co. employ 1850
girls, about half of whom earn So CT
less.
Witness pointed out. as did Mr..
Simpson at a previous session, that
an increase OF the minimum wage
meant an increase all along the line.
The girls already getting s12 must be
advanced TO SIS; the SIS girls to $40, T.
and so on. Employees must be paid
according to their comparative abili-
ties.
Basch did not view the wage sys-
tenn with any alarm.
promotion IS very rapid in the
State street stores" he remarked.
The woman who comes to US this
year at ss, for instance, in two years
very readily may be earning SIS a
week The low salaries go TO learn
ars. and development is rapid. I,
Asked if Siegel, Cooper & Co. could
pay a minimum wage scale of S12,
Basch said that they could for skilled
se-y-ioeS b17T nor for t1uSLriIad