The evening world., 1915-01-07
M|N|MUM$7PAy
I IN STORES HERE IS
| H|NT OF OWNERS
Increase From Sc Planned, Big
Employers Tell Factory
Commission.
STRAUS ONE WITNESS.
y. B. Greenhut Another of
- Principal Men Who Dis
cuss Wage Conditions.

The bitter controversy as TO whether
" . week constitutes a living wage"
Tor . girl bread winner promises 10
De settled shortly so far as concerns
the saleswomen of the New York de-
partment stores by an Increase In nav.
according to prominent dry goods men.
who testified to-day before the State
Factory Investigating Commission.
Percy s. Straus. President of the
New York Retail Dry Goods Assocla-
tion. and connected with the r. II.
Macy Company, who was the star wit
ness before the commission at the
morning session in the Hall of Rec
ords, intimated that in q short time
1t Is likely department store sales
women will receive a minimum wage
Of II instead OF the present So, II
the plans OF the association work out
The dry-goods men were called to
give their views on legislation in this
State to establish a minimum wage
scale. Both Straus and J. Il. Green
hut, President Of the company OF that
a
minimum wage law for women and
was concerned. but appeared
hopeful that better wages are in store
for department store employees In
this city.
For the last three years." Mr.
6traus testified in response to ques-
lions put by Abram l. Elkus. counsel
to the Commission, there has been a
tendency among the members of oui
association to grade UP and increase
the wages OF women. The matter
has bean discussed at our meetings.
and while there Is no written agree<
msnt. many Of the stores have estab-
lished . minimum rate Of $6 for all
Oaleswomen who are not minors"
WAS the increase made voluntar-
Ay3" asked Mr.. Elkus.
1T was because we believed 1t
would increase the efficiency of the
working force. We are determined.
q We can, to increase this scale OF
wages to 81 for this class Of help.
Asked II he considered Sc a living
wage for the average working girl,
Mr.. Straus said:
1--WE can't consider what you term
D living wage There Is efficiency in
living as well as in business. What
would be an adequate wage for one
would be inadequate for another. l:s
q question of knowing how to hus-
and ones resources. It's purely q
question OF the Individual"
Pinned down to the question OF the
proposed legislation, now drafted in
tentative form, to establish a mini
mum wage in the State, Mr.. Straus
neatly sidestepped.
L 81 can't say I believe In a minimum
xage. I certainly would like to see
Hfie draft OF the bill before II Is in
K troduced before l would care tc give
q decision"
State senator Wagner. Chairman OF
the commission; Mary T.. Dreier, Con-
xressman Hamilton, and other men,
bsrs Of the board had lively time
with Charles Francis, an employer of
printers and binders, with offices al
No. 80 West Thirteenth street. He
was emphatically against the pro-
posed minimum wage legislation.
$50 far as the State ~ concerned
minimum wage might better be left
alone. Ny shop IL strictly CLOSED
,one, and II is my opinion the workers
should organize and take care ol
themselves"
"But don't you know that a hundred
Thousand girls In this city not max
lnR living wage are powerless to or
0anize," asked Mr.. Elkus.
MANY OF these women and girls are
members OF families, the heads o
which provide enough for their W.
keep" replied the witness.