HARVARD COLLEGE MAY 12 1917 Received through the COPYRIGHT, 1915, KY BOSTON HERALD, INC. BUSINESS MEN KNOW a good thing when they see it. That's why THE BUREAU OF DEPARTMENT REPORTS caught on with them at first sight. As each issue of the weekly Bulletin lays before them some new phase of the power exercised by various State Boards and Commissions over business in the Commonwealth, members of the Bureau realize with new force that a serious gap in their sources of information has been filled. Are you a member? If not, why not? LAWYERS ARE IN RIGHT when they have decisions of the Supreme Court at hand for ready reference. For that reason DEPARTMENT REPORTS will from now on include for your ben efit all Supreme Court decisions in full immediately upon their being handed down-not six weeks to two months behind time Lawyer members are expressing satisfaction at getting a real service PROMPTNESS COUNTS much in determining the value to you of official information. That's where DEPARTMENT REPORTS fits. State departments make public reports but when? Months after reaching decisions or filing awards. This Bureau furnishes them "hot off the bat." Mr. Banker tells us he has long looked for some means of knowing when a State Board rules that a public service corporation must lower the price of its commodity or may issue additional capital stock. Why? Because that ruling hits securities. Mr. Banker is gratified now to find on his desk each Monday morning this desired information, with much other matter that affects his interests. That's why he is a member. SERVICE THAT HELPS is given to each member for the asking. The weekly bulletin of Department Reports is only a part of its usefulness. Members find satisfaction in knowing that when information is needed on any specific State House matter, or a complete report which is condensed in the weekly issue, all that is required is a written or telephoned request to this department. And they utilize this service freely, in full confidence that THE BOSTON HERALD'S State House force knows where to get the information, and will get it right. SHOWING THE DOUBTERS was quickly accomplished. Mr. Croaker said it could not be done for $15 a year-nor for $50. Now he knows better, and the hundreds of business men who are finding matters of vital interest brought to their attention with each weekly issue of DEPARTMENT REPORTS wonder not so much how it is done as why it was not done before. If you are not a member, talk it over with your neighbor who is and you will soon join the ranks. MINIMUM WAGE COMMISSION Recommendation of Retail Store Wage Board for Minimum of $8.50 a Week for Experienced Workers. Report Dated Aug. 5, 1915. The Retail Store Wage Board has the following to report as the result of its study and deliberations: In view of the present unsatisfactory condition of business in this country the board by unanimous vote has agreed upon the following schedule of wages for female workers in the retail stores of Massachusetts: 1. The minimum wage to be paid to any female employe who after reaching the age of 18 years has had one year's experience in a retail store shall be $8.50 a week. 2. The wage for inexperienced female workers who are 18 years of age or older shall not be less than $7 a week. 3. Minors between 17 and 18 years of age shall be paid not less than $6 a week. 4. The wage for minors under 17 years of age shall be not less than $5 a week. This wage scale shall apply to all establishments doing a retail business in the commonwealth of Massachusetts and to each and every kind of employment therein. These rates are for full-time work, by which is meant the full number of hours per week required by employers and permitted by the laws of the commonwealth. Extra or part-time workers shall receive at least the same scale of pay pro rata for the time actually employed. If compensation is determined or supplemented by commissions cn sales, bonus, premium or other method, there must be a guarantee and payment of the full weekly rate in every case. It has not seemed necessary to the board to determine in exact terms and in detail the necessary cost of living, but it considers it to be at least as much as, and probably somewhat above, the minimum herein set forth. The board feels that the schedule of wages adopted is as high as the retail stores of the state will be able to pay until industrial and business conditions shall have shown a marked improvement. Moreover, it should be noted that these rates will mean a very large increase in earnings for many of the employes, especially for the minors and inexperienced, and a correspondingly increased burden of expense for the employers, which they cannot easily or immediately shift to their customers or offset by economies in other operating expenses or by means of the increased efficiency of the workers. When this adjustment to the higher wage scale has been accomplished, however, and when the business is in a more prosperous condition, the rates herein may, and perhaps ought to, be advanced to a somewhat higher level. It is recommended that these rates be put in operation on or about Jan. 1, 1916. The retail store board was composed as follows: Representing the public-Prof. Carroll W. Doten, M. I. T., chairman; Mrs. Frank M. Hallowell, president Consumers' League; B. Preston Clark, president Plymouth Cordage Company. Representing the employers-E. A. Bardol of the Woolworth Company, Walter A. Hawkins of the Jordan Marsh Company, George B. Johnson of the R. H. White Company, Fred E. Kerry of the W. & A. Bacon Company, Abbott B. Rice of the Glen Shirt & Collar Company and president Tremont Stores; S. H. Thurber of the Houghton & Dutton Company. Representing the employes-Mrs. Grace M. Brown, 21 Clark street, Malden; Miss Margaret Fitzgerald, 5 Howard place, Dorchester; J. N. Nally, 273 Cabot street, Boston; Miss Julia S. Connor, 9 Taylor street, Medford; Mrs. Angela O'Hearn, 311 Saratoga street, East Boston; Joseph O'Keefe, 9 Shawmut street, Worcester. PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED The Commission has issued notice of a public hearing on the Retail Store Wage Board's recommendation, to be held on Monday, Aug. 23, at 10 o'clock, in the hearing room of the Public Service Commission at 1 Beacon street. |