El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-19
PACKERS GIVE
STEADY WORK
Morris Says Men Paid for
40 Hours a Week, Even
If They Work Less.

! chicago, III, Feb. I9.-MorrlS K Co
guarantee their employees a minimum
OF 30 hours a week and pay them for
40 hours whether they work that much
or not, said Nelson Morris, head OF
the company. in testifying today be-
fore judge Samuel Alschuler. arbi-
| traitor OF the demands of the packing
house employees for the eight hour day
and higher wages.
Mr.. Morris said that he was &c years
old and chairman Of the board of di-
rectors of the company. A younger
! brother. Edward Morris, jr, he said
was president.
The company operates plants al
! 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. is a sub
sidiary of Morris & Co He gave the
daily killing capacity of the Chicago
plant as 1900 cattle, 1000 hogs and
1000 sheep.
To Settle By Arbitration.
Nj Morris was questioned by Frank
P. Walsh, attorney for the men
''Have you ever considered the de-
mands of the men?" asked Mr.. Walsh
sDid you reach the decision?"
mo; because we decided to settle by
arbitration"
Mr.. Morris outlined the benevolent
and welfare departments 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
Piece Workers Also Guaranteed
Mr.. Morris said that piece workers
also have a minimum guarantee and
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 differ
ence in pay was placed in the guaran-
tee fund
1900 Men Average $500.
Morris and company. he said. en-
ploy 5000 men in Chicago at an av-
erage annual wage OF $500. Net
profits in 1916 were $500, 900; in 1914
they jumped to S5.400.000.
Il think all employees are entitled
to a 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 Se.75
laborers who have automobiles
7 don't know whether they have or
not"
One Family Makes 500 A Week.
Mr.. Morris named a family every
member of which is employed by his
company, their combined earnings be-
ing 500 week.
Mr.. Morris. outlining his own idea
Of the proper conditions for a stock
yards laborer. included three trips to
a theater a year
How many times do you go to the
theater, Mr.. Norris inquired the
lawyer
Fifteen or 20" replied the witness.
You never knew what it was 10
lack for money or the necessaries OF
life. did your
No"
Compares With LfeutcEant'S Pay.
Mr.. Morris compared the rent paid /
by his laborers with the IS to 81 a .
month which he said was allowed sec
0nd ieutenants in the army.
DO you think there IS any similar !
ity between your laborers and a sec
ond lieutenant" asked Mr. Walsh.
No the average officer requires i
better education, but despite that his 4
salary is only S1,700. simply call at i
tention to what the government al I
lows him as adequate rent
Then you think that the second Z
lieutenant does not get enough 4
4 am not here to criticise the gov