New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-13
Manager Says Police Often
Find Vanished One
Behind Counter.
WITNESSES TELL OF
GIRLS GOOD WAGES
u. 6. Commission Hears Only One
Contradictory Story-Hotel
Worker Starts Scene.

According 70 most Of the evidence given
Yesterday at City Hail to the Federal
Commission on Industrial Relations. II rs
some luck to be a saleswoman at Ait
mans. Lord & Taylor's. Wanamaker's.
Mays or McCreery's. The commission
ers expressed no surprise when told that
missing persons are frequently found be-
hind department store counters.
Leslie Gran. assistant manager at Alt
mans. said that $500 Of the $500 Altman
employees are members Of the firms Mu-
tual Benefit Association, which. for %
cents a month, rays Sc a week sick bene-
fits. and s12 a week for 20 cents a month,
with death benefits Of sl25 and 500. In the
first Eve months Of this year 1880 had
been disbursed in sick pay and $500 in
death dues.
Mr.. Gran declared the purpose OF his
firm was to retain reliable employees. ana
therefore II treated them considerably.
There is not even a delivery boy whom
Michael Friedsam, the president. does not
know by name. he said. and no employe
can be dismissed until the president mas
considered the case.
As former secretary Of the Retail Dry
Goods Association, Mr.. Gran told OF the
working OF that body, which is made up
OF the principal department stores. He
granted that its chief object was the mu-
tuaI benefit and protection. of the mem
bers. particularly in this matter OF credlt'
II also affects employees, for each member
is Obliged to furnish a record OF every one
with full reasons for any discharge OF
resignation.
THE files of the association" said Mr..
Graf. ARE often Of great use TO the po-
lice. who, by consulting them, are ire
ouently able to locate missing people ana
crooks from other cities who have found
employment in the stores
w H. Tucker, manager OF Lord & Tay-
lor's. said his firm found the store ran
more smoothly without fning or dock
ing system. Every prospective employe
was examined by life insurance methods'
which rejects about IN per cent OF the
annlicants. gymnasium, hospital and
dental pariors were maintained, and IN
the year ended last month 4,SS5 patients
had been treated at the store and $40 at
their homes. The minimum pay for girls
in the store. he said, is 50 week.
Percy s. Straus. OF r. H. Macy & Co,
nresident of the Retail Dry Goods Asso-
citation. said the least weekly pay for a
woman at Macy's is So, and she must earn
a good commission above that to retain
her place. OF the total only 1874 are paid
less than IS a week and none Of the III
wagon boys are paid less than that.
Mr.. straus denied that seventy-nve
mattresses had been discharged for be
longing to a union. 1t was for spreading
their propaganda.
Preston P. Lynn, Of John Wanamaker g.
sent q copy Of the bylaws Of the Wanna
maker Beneficial Association, and stated
that the average wages Of saleswomen at
Wanamaker's is $12 a week and for all
women employees SO week.
The next witness, Miss butcher, tried
10 spofl the picture a little. She denied
the testimony Of Louis Stewart, president
% James McCreery & Co., that no girl in
his store was paid less than 50 week.
She said she knew one who received only
$50 week. But, then, that was year
ago, she admitted.
Just as the commission was rising
something OF a scene was made by MAJ
Sullivan. He said ne represented the
women and children working In hotels
and called the commissioners parcel OF
farces" because they postponed hearing
him.
The commission will sit next week at