Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Newspaper Page Text
"I will ,"'said Lytton. Senator juul' told Lytton that he had figured the thing out, and that.it " would "only cost the Huh $40,000 a year to pay a minimum wage of $12, and that it would only cost the larg est establishments, such as the $50, 000,000 Sears-Roebuck Co., about $300,000 a year. "No servant," ssaid Juul, "should have a master who will not supply him or her with food, bed and clothing-" "And amusements," put in Lieut. .Gov. O.'Hara. "Do you agree with that?" asked JuuL "I certainly do," said Lytton. ' '"Well," said Juul, "the state of Illi nois has protected the big merchants, v the" big interests., for a long time. It - is time it was taking thought of the peopled" Lytton was excused, and Joseph Basch, vice president and general manager of Siegel, Cooper & Co., .was called. v Siegel, Cooper & Co. employs.1, 250 girls. The "firm pays beginners $3.50, andpays 500 girls less than $8 a week. Basch proved the most evasive witness .yet before the committee. He Tefused to-answer questions directly; he hummed and hawed; he talked abojit 'immorality being astate of mind"; he dodged the issue a dozen times. At the end of his testimony, Lieut. -Gov. d'Hara said: k "You have been evasive throughout,--Mr. Basch... We think we have as fair, idea of the profits-of Siegel, .Cooper & Co.; we are sure we know N the-- wages you pay. Mr. Simpson x says tnat- aiarsnau vieia & uo. win pay the minimum wage of $12 if such a law is passed. Your attitude -can only lead to thegtrong arm of the state being ; used, and your being t forced to produce your firm's books so -the people may know, the profits of a corporation which refuses to-'ad- niit it could-pay what others in the ame .'business can pay." . . " ; ' .TVell, "we are not all Marshall Fields," said Basch. , "Such a mini mum wage law as planned by you would work a hardship on many.? Basch started out'bravely. He said that the minimum average wage at Siegel, Cooper & Cds was $8.6767 cents over whajmany persons have declared to bea living wage. But he began to hum and haw justv as sdon as the commission got down to cases as "to the number of girls employed by Siegel, Cooper & Co; at $3.50, $4, $4.50, $5,"$5.50 and $6 and $7. x Then he delivered an impromptu lecture on the .vast advantages of , being an apprentice in the employ of Siegel Cooper & Co., and learning how to earn a big salary while only receiving a small one $3.50 a week. Basch "recalled that there was a home somewhere he- was not sure just where but somewhere in Chi cago, where a girj could have a lovely .room, -splendid meals, their laundry done; etc., at the very low cost' of $3.50. When Simpson, of 'Marshall Field & Co., was on the stand, Lieut. Gov.-' O'Hara asked him directly: "Has any newspaper tried to use this commission and this commis sion's investigation to get adverti's- -ing from you?" "None," said Simpson. "Has any member of this commis sion, or any person'. speaking on be half of a'niember, approached you on f the question of getting advertising since this commission began its in vestigation into low wages?" dsked Senator Juul. ' "No one whatsoever has approach ed me about.advertising,"' said Simp son. ' " It is probable -that Glenn will be barred from the' floors of the senate' and- the house for his" attempt at character assassination. " Gov. Dunne, who. has returned from the east, has given his full ap proval to the senate commissloris's inevstigation into lo." wages.) v.