Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-07
VICE COMMISSION
CALLS MERCHANTS.
Chicago Employer Says Im-
morality Depends on the Girl,
Not on Her Wage.

CHICAGO. March 7.--Leading meT-
chants of Chicago were called before
the Sta4e's Senate Vice Commission
today no endeav vor to ascertain what
connection there is between low wages
paid to women and the vices of the
underworld.
is asserted by Lieutenant-Go Gov
ernor Barratt O'Hara that in Chiea go
alone 10000 women are employed at a
wage of 50 a week or less and that
many of them for, that reason enter
evil paths that lead to more money
Julius RosenWald. president OF
Sears. Roebuck & Co. testified that
his company employees 4732 women
and girls, whose average wage is
S912 week. The lowest salary of So
is given to girls 16 years of age.
After three months they are advanced
TO $3.50, The company hires only
girls who live at home. The concern
employs 1,465 girls and women who
receive less than IS a week
Rosenwald, broad shonldered,
quietly clad man, peering intently
through heavy lenses at his interro-
gator, the youthful lieutenant-goY-
ernor, evinced the greatest interest,
From time to time he remarked
Perhaps Mr.. Miller can tell. and
turned to peer into the audience.
Presently G. II. Miller, superintendent
of employment at Sears, Roebnck &
Co, was sworn and took seat be-
side Mr.. Rosenwald.
Rosenwald testified that he was at
one time chairman of the Chicago
Vice Commission which conducted
an investigation of vice conditions in
this city. A portion of this report
was suppressed by the committee.
His Pointed Question.
Now | want to ask YOU" said
O'Hara. ''as a man of wide phian-
thropy, if you think that low wages
induce immortality in women
Il will answer that as | have an
swered before-there is practically no
connection between them. believe
that prostitution is as likely TO come
10 a woman who earns more than $40
as to one who earns less. Il depends
on the woman. a girl earning a
small wage might use that as a sub
terfuge to account for her derelic-
tlons.
do YOU consider So enough for any.
woman to live upon
Yes. If she lives at home
And sS is enough for one who sup
ports herself?'
THAT is what our investigation
showed.
How much did your corporation
earn in 1912"
Approximately $1,000, 900.
State Senator Niels Juul asked the
witness if he thought the stockhold-
ers were fair judges of what COM
pensation the girls should receive and
if he didn't think the State would be
a fairer Judge,
There was applause when Mr..
Rosenwald replied that he would be
glad to meet the wishes of the state,
80 far as competition will permit"
Senator Juul took the witness and
wanted to know if the corporation
took pains to learn if the wage re-
ceived by a girl was sufficient in the
case.
Moo" was the slow reply
There was craning Of necks, when
a slender, rosy-cheeked girl, whose
name was not announced, was called
as a witness.
She was Ia years of age when she
went to work for Sears. Roebuck & Co,
she said, and was paid $3.50. When
she left there, after two years, she
was receiving $3.50
Asked by Mr.. O'Hara. if the girls
were ever scolded, the witness be-
came animated and replied: You bet
they were, and sometimes the girls
cried"
what" exclaimed O'Hara, big
girls cried?"
well. they pounded the desk when
they called us.
She said that the girls helped each
other to get along. IL know I gave
one of them coat. she added.
Asked if the girls were moral, the
girl seemed somewhat a loss, but at
last explained that some Of the girls
ran out nights and firted.