Omaha daily bee., 1918-02-20
PACKER fAvORS
PAYING LIVING
WAGE TO WORKERS
Nelson Morris on Stand in Fed
eraI Probe Says His En-
pIoyes' Pay Averages
$500 Yearly.

Chicago, Feb. 1o.-Nelson> Morris,
nead of Morris & Co.. took the. wit
ness stand today before Judge SAM
uel AlSchuler. arbitrator in the de-
mands of packing house employees for
an eight-hour day and higher wages.
Mr.. Morris said that he was 20
years old and chairman of the board
OF directors of the company. A young
er brother, Edward Morris, jr., he
said was president
Tie company operates plants at
Chicago, East ST. Louis, Kansas City,
st. Joseph, Omaha and Oklahoma
City and does some killing at New
Orleans, but has no plant there.
Joseph Stern & Co. of New York,
which caters to the kosher trade, he
said. was a subsidiary of Morris &
Co. He gave the daily killing capacity
{; the Chicago plant as 1900 cattle,
1000 hogs and 1000 sheep.
Favors Arbitration.
Mr.. Morris was questioned by
Frank P. Walsh, attorney for the
clen.
Have you ever considered the de-
m2nds cf the men?" asked Mr. Walsh.
"Yes; many times"
Did you reach a decision"'
No; because we decided to settle
by arbitration"
Mr.. Morris outlined the benevolent
and welfare department of the COM
pany and remarked that many EN-
ployes do not join.
1T seems to be a failing of human
nature to care more for the immedi-
ate present than for the future" COM
mented the witness. Il suppose that
is why many of our employees do not
join in our pension system"
He said that for several years en-
ployes had been guaranteed mini
mum of 40 hours employment week,
and were paid for 40 hours whether
they were worked or not.
Mr.. Morris said that piece workers
also have minimum guarantee and
that last week the company paid out
$1,000 under the guarantee plan. He
explained that when times are dull
and higher priced men have to work
in cheaper places the difference in
pay was placed in the guarantee fund.
Morris & Co., he said, employ $4,000
men in Chicago at an average annual
wage of $780, Net profits in 1916
were $3,800000; in 1917 they jumped
to $5,400,000.
Il think all employees are entitled
to fair living wage" said the wit
ness, but the term living wage is
variously construed. Some people
might consider an automobile neces-
sary to fair living"
do you know Of any of your $2.75
laborers who have automobiles?
Il don't know whether they have
or not"
Three Theater Trips a Year.
Mr.. Morris named a family, every
member of which is employed by his
company, their combined earnings
being Si0O a week.
Mr.. Morris, outlining his own idea
of the proper conditions for a stock
yards laborer, included three trips to
a theater year. =
How many times do you go to the
theater, Mr.. Morris?" inquired the
lawyer.
Fifteen or twenty" replied the
witness.
You never knew what it was to
lack for money or. the necessaries of
life, did you?"
NO"
Mr.. Morris compared the rent paid
by his laborers with the So to $ll
month which he said was allowed
second lieutenants il the American
lrny.
DO you think there is any similar
ity between your laborers and Sec
ond lieutenant?" asked Mr.. Walsh.
mo; the army officer requires a
better education, but despite that his
salary is only $l,700. | simply call
attention to what the government al
lows him as adequate rent"
Then you think that the second
lieutenant does not get enough
money!"
81 am not here to criticise the gov
ernment."