The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-15
PROVE VICE CHARGES
IN Big STORES FALSE
Secret Investigators Find Nor
NAL Conditions at II. II.
Macy 4 Co.'s.
Long PERIOD is COVERED

The COMMITTEES OF Fourteen. which
has put in ten years W hard work
fighting vice in his city. has finished n
peculiarly interesting observation-disclosures
which quite disproves sensational
charges that department stores were
i%ncubators Of immortality.
Having Interested itself rathcr more
than six months ago in conflicting re-
ports - TO moral 60 Idltions in depart
meut stores the committee, under the
Craftsmanship OF the Rev. Dr. Iohu T..
Peters. rut a subcommittee 20 work to
set Mt the truth. Three women investi-
gators were placed IN the store Of X. II
Macy " Co, broadway and Thirty
fourth street. with the entire consent
and approval Of the proprietors. They
WORKED secretly for more than thirty
five weeks. their identity known 10 none
save members Of the Macy firm and the
subcommittee.
After going through tho store from
top to bottom. talking to present and
former employees and making them
selves thoroughly familiar with the
atmosphere. they reported 10 the sun
committee that conditions IN u II.
Macy " cos store were normll and
AAiAA h'f. were eFl4N NIltk Dlgif Dt
expected Of any large group az iudivid-
uals drawn from such a city ~ New
YORK.. Certain individuals Of low moral
standards We're found hut there was
nothing IN TIE conduct ~ In" store either
10 encourage" or fo make necessary she
exploitation or thes. Standards.
Thoroughly sophisticated individuals
and some vulgar persons we're observed.
but such charges IL prompted the IN
vcstigatioN-that i WAS a common
pract'c" for women employees 70 eke out
insufficient wages 10y vice. and that they
weT" Encouraged to do 50 hy employers
We're found To- ne ha sclcss.
II IS the conclusion of the Investigators
that small wHges in themselves do no,
appear TO lie a cause Of immortality. AMI
tn" general observation made by them
WAS that there was probably more inn
morality among the higher paid because
thes" employees do not as a rule look
forward 50 eagerly to tho family lifa.
The impression OF 'he committee 70
says the report. Is that the Macy store
H. % fair representative ul the general
N III" better class Of d-pAi,-
mont stores. dni that what is true Il u
is IN general truc ~ tho others. There
is q sincere dcsir" I'm those stores n gen
era, II believes. whether as a result OF
purpose ui o. business ~sagaclty,
o establish and. maintain conditions
which shall insure morality immortality
from tlr business standpoint Involves
serious consequences. Further than thai.
your "ommittc, does not feel that u ia
desirable FOR the Committee Of Fourteen
To- 20 ia ;his matter. II docs not sccm
l-s,rtti" 70" it 10 conduct further In
9 StlRations IN other department stores
In its anuudl rtpp"t IN general con-
fItions the commlt'ec offers "a COMPARE
OF what was 10 be found in 1905
ana the present situation. II is asserted
the ton room hotels which were
nullt a. converted 40 as TO meet the re-
IIlr"m"nts Of tn" liquor TAX law are
renting rooms 10 couples now and
mat III" brewers have taken a hand in
'upprcssiug the sale Of liquor to women
WHO'S" characters are known not 10 he
inpu"stionabl". Many Of the most no /
."rlous places have been closed alto
''incr Ild In some Instances their pro
l~i'"t"rs have been sent 20 jail for long
'orne. The committee finds tha the
Improvement has been general through
tut the five boroughs.