The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-17
THEY FAVOR MOVE
Kansas Merchants Don't Object
to Minimum Wage.
But They Favor Safeguards and
Limitations Here.
NOT LESS THAN Sc A WEEK
Girls Cannot Live ON Less Than
This, They Declare.
Argue That Minimum Apply
Only to Beginners.
NOT LESS THAN Sc A WEEK

Owners and managers of several
large mercantile establishments today
told members of the state welfare
commission that they favored adop-
ton of minimum wage rule. In the
main, tho, Kansas merchants favored
safeguards and limitations in the
adoption of a wage system for women
A number of employees will go be-
fore the state commission late this
afternoon to tell of wages and work
ing conditions. In the main these
girls have asked to have their names
withheld from publication and for
protection against loss of employment.
Subpoenas will be issued by the COM
mission for a number of merchants
in various sections of the state.
Practically all of the merchants
before the state commission stated
that a minimum wage of not less than
Sc a week should be adopted. In the
main merchants who favored this or
der stated that they are now paying
minimum which would come within
the order. Several merchants stated
that girls who do not live at home
are refused employment at less than
six dollars.
Can't Live on Less Than Sc.
"a girl simply can't live on less
merchant Rather than place tempta-
lions before these girls who are not
living at home or with relatives, we
have refused them wages"
Several merchants urged that the
minimum wage apply only to begin
ners. They stated that in the main
girls are able to earn a wage in excess
of the minimum after they have been
in the store fro mthree to six months.
Placing of a time limit or the min
imum wage would probably be OPP
posed, however. Such action, the mer-
chants declared, would remove the
spirit of competition and the zeal of
the girl to progress in her work. Leg
islation or commission orders con-
corning a time limit for the payment
of a minimum wage would in some in
stances make laggardS of the girls, it
was declared.
Wages, several merchants stated,
are based on the percentage of gross
sales. One department store manager
told commission members that the
selling cost in certain departments
averaged IA per cent, while in other
departments it was reduced to per
cent In the departments in which
the higher selling efficiency was estab-
lished, the selling eXpenS, was said
to often fall below the 4 per cent aver
age.
Our notion department carries the
highest selling expense one emer-
chant said. I'm the departments car
rying suits, cloaks and better fabrics,
the selling expense is reduced to a
minimum. Our highest salaried clerks
are in our suit department"
Girls Tell of Hardship.
Three girls went before the state
commission this afternoon with stories
of hardship under existing conditions.
All of the girls walk three miles to
work. Then they walk home when
the days work is done. One of the
girls does homework for her room
when her work at the store is COM
pleted.
One of the girls testified that she
receives Sc a week. Another receives
81 a week and another So a week.
Thru efforts in strict economy and
thrift one of the girls had bought a
new coat-three years ago. But ad-
vances in living prices had not per-
mitted new coats since that time.
Earlier in the week the employer
of the three girls testified before the
commission. He said that his mimi
mum wage was Sc, that conditions
among the girls were excellent and
that all of them were saving money