The Clio messenger., 1914-10-16
ject or has been close to It too long

Ject, or has been close to It too long
to see 1t in the proper light. One big
broker who employed Miss Shapiro &C.
knowledged that his expenses were
altogether too large. but he could not
see for the life of him how he could
reduce them. Miss Shapiro looked
over his books and studied his case
for day. Then she startled him by
an explanation so simple that he al.
most was ashamed of himself. The
broke. had Offices large enough for a
concern that did twice or three times
the business. His lease was about to
expire. She pointed out how, by a re-
arrangement, he would have plenty of
room with half the space. She con.
solidated the work of some of the
clerks, readjusted the whole establish
ment, and got her pay. One day of
study on her part meant the saving Of
several thousands of dollars a year
to that broker. Not only that, but
1t brought about better constitution
in the whole establishment. The broker
thinks she is a wonder.
Sample Of Her Work.
A very rich and good man Of Wall
street sent for her. He could not un-
derstand why it was he never could
get the service out of his clerks that
other men seemed to get He paid
them we'll and showed every consider
alton for them, yet, somehow, they
Jagged in their duties. The man is
very charitable. When appeals are
made to him to aid he wants to be
sure that what money he gives is we'll
bestowed. His employees have a great
affection for him and do their best to
please him.
Miss Shapiro studied this office and
then surprised the kindly gentleman
by telling him that the trouble was
with him.
You send this clerk and that clerk
out" she said, Ito investigate cases Of
charity, and you disorganize your Of
flee force by your interference with
their work"
Then she gave list of the number
of hours this clerk and that clerk had
been absent. The number of hours
the clerk had been absent did not
measure the real extent of the inter
ference in the office routine. Four
hours absence in one day sometimes
meant the actual loss of the whole
days service of that particular work.
er, and incidentally it tied up the
work of other clerks whose duties
were dependent upon that particular
person. Usually the person sent on
the philanthropic errand had the direc.
tion Of several other clerks and they
were idle by reason of his absence.
The kindly gentleman frowned and
said he did not see how to remedy the
trouble. He knows now. Miss Sha-
piro has taken over a large part Of
the work connected with the charity
cases.
A lawyer with a big Office staff had
been subjected to no end of embar-
rassment. He never seemed able to
have things done to his satisfaction
He paid out a lot of money, but Il
was no use. 1t did not take Miss Sha
cheap help. The lawyer had a chronic
objection to paying decent wages He
had lot of incompetents, and paid
more for them than he would for a
smaller number Of employees who
would do his work in first class shape.
1t was not pleasant for him to be in.
formed of the truth, but Miss Shapiro
had been in lawyers Offices long
enough to make him understand how
far below the average his employees
were in grade and he commissioned
her to reorganize his force. He has
a good Office staff now. 1t costs less
than the old one and he is getting ex-
cellent service. He is cured of the
idea that what is cheap is profitable.
Elimination Of Waste.
These cases are merely typical. Oc-
casionally the trouble in an office is
due to well-intentioned but poorly
qualified managing clerk. Miss Sha-
piro studies each case just as a sci
enlist studies a subject. The symp-
toms of disorder in an Office are as
an ailing person who comes before a
physician for examination. Once the
trouble is located, there is no diff
Guilty in applying the remedy One
Of her greatest values Is in the elm
ination Of waste. She knows pretty
well what supplies an Office should
use whether it be a bank, brokerage
house, lawyers Office or mining en-
gineer's. She knows, too, the costs
Of supplies. When she goes over the
accounts it does not take her long to
tell il too much money is being spent,
and what would be a reasonable
amount to expend.
The range of her work is remark
able. Some of her employments are
unique. She has a sort of emergency
clearing house. In some small estab-
lishments the whole Office is thrown
out Of gear If the one stenographer
or the one clerk employed is i'll. Miss
Shapiro is prepared on a moments