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in the general report for all the cities. These separations are made because of the wide divergence in the industrial situations of the three groups.

NUMBER OF WOMEN INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND TOTAL NUMBER EMPLOYED IN THE SAME INDUSTRIES AS REPORTED BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORS OF ILLINOIS, BY INDUSTRIES, CHICAGO, ILL.

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a From the Fourteenth Annual Report of the Factory Inspectors of Illinois: year ending Dec. 15, 1906. From Special Reports of Census Office, Manufactures, 1905, Part II. See page 112 for industries represented.

The following table summarizes the data for the Chicago wageearning women included in the investigation, showing the essential facts in regard to age, experience, earnings, and cost of living. For women "adrift" only, certain other details are given relating mainly to expenditures. It was not possible to secure from all of the women interviewed data for all the items embraced in the table. Hence the numbers reported vary in different sections of the table.

WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS IN CHICAGO, ILL., FOR WHOM INFORMATION CONCERNING

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS WAS SECURED.

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tion was Number Average Number Average Number Average secured. reported. (years). reported. (years). reported. weekly.

195

185 22.8

192

5.4

185 $8.05

144

136

29.2

85

5.6

127

8.17

339

321

25.5

277

5.5

312

8.10

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7.25

WOMEN WAGE-EARNERS IN CHICAGO, ILL., FOR WHOM INFORMATION CONCERNING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS WAS SECURED-Concluded.

WOMEN AT HOME AND WOMEN "ADRIFT"-Concluded.

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a Based on 178, number reported.

Based on 191 and an additional 77 reported as having given "all" earned.
• Not reported.

In department stores various systems of payment prevail, the most common being a regular weekly rate unvarying throughout the year. When this method is used a girl must make a certain weekly average amount of sales in order to hold her position at the wage she is receiving. Her sales may run above this average, but they must not fall below it. In some stores a regular wage is paid, with an additional percentage on certain goods which are difficult to sell. This percentage is called "P. M.," meaning pin money. The third method is that of a small, flat wage of $2 or $3, upon which the girl can always depend, in addition to which she receives a percentage on all sales made. When this method is used the real earnings vary greatly in the various departments, depending upon the character of the goods and the trade seasons. The first and second methods are frequently found in the same store. Where the commission system is used, however, it generally prevails throughout the establishment.

Of the Chicago department store women interviewed, 20.3 per cent were adrift and their average weekly earnings were $8.17. Of the 79.7 per cent living at home, the average weekly earnings were $8.05, this earning power representing an experience in department store work of 5.4 years. The average age for the women at home was 22.8 years, and 78.7 per cent of these women pay their entire earnings to parents, who provide for them in return all the necessaries of life. The average amount given to the family fund was $6.49 a week.

The custom of turning over to the parents the weekly envelope with its entire contents seems to be taken as a matter of course. When asked, "What does Mary do with her wages?" the mothers would shrug their shoulders, look half reproachful, and answer: "Sure, she gives it all to me. We have a big family to keep." Not infrequently the answer was: "The girls support the family. Their father is dead, and I can not work." Where there is a percentage on sales in addition to a flat weekly wage, the girls sometimes give their mother the regular wage, retaining for themselves the commission. In the case of one little Irish girl who was supposed to be giving both the flat wage and the commission to her mother, the natural longing for a fund of her own proved too strong for filial devotion. When asked in her mother's presence how much she received in commissions in addition to her flat wage, she answered readily: "Oh, about $1.50." The mother, in surprise, exclaimed: "Why, Nellie, you don't do any such thing." "Yes, I do," said Nellie, "but I never told you."

However they may feel about the necessity of turning over their entire earnings (and one rarely hears them complain), the fact that 78.7 per cent of the women do it seems not in accord with the prevalent notion that a large proportion of the Chicago wage-earning women living at home are working in stores merely to earn spending money. Of the 20.3 per cent of women in department stores who are adrift, the reports show average earnings of $8.17, the general average for both women at home and women adrift being $8.10. It should be stated here that the analysis of earnings of women at home could not be made so intensive as that of women who furnished full detailed information as to earnings and expenditures. The figures relating to store women, both at home and adrift, show that of the 312 women reporting average earnings, 134, or 42.9 per cent, get $6 and under $8 a week; 37, or 11.9 per cent, get under $6 a week; and 141, or 45.2 per cent, get $8 and over a week.

Of the 127 adrift store women reporting average earnings, 84, or 66.1 per cent, are earning less than the general average of $8.17. The average earnings for all these women getting less than $8.17 is $6.70, leaving the other 33.9 per cent to enjoy an average of $11.04.

Eight of the leading department stores furnished pay-roll data, showing rate of pay and number getting each rate. Excluding restaurant helpers and half-time workers, there were 13,160 women involved. The average weekly rate of pay for these women, exclusive of buyers and assistant buyers, according to the pay-roll data, is $8.32, which is 22 cents higher than the average earnings shown by the present investigation. In view of the fact that these average earnings take into account lost time, which is rarely offset by the commissions earned at certain seasons (an item not included in pay-roll data), the difference is not unreasonable.

The following table shows the number and per cent of women employed in 8 Chicago department stores earning specified weekly rates of pay, the data being taken from the store pay rolls. The employees are classified into four groups by occupations:

NUMBER AND PER CENT OF FEMALE EMPLOYEES ON THE PAY ROLLS OF 8 DEPARTMENT STORES IN CHICAGO, ILL., BY CLASSIFIED WEEKLY RATES OF PAY.

[This table does not include restaurant helpers and half-time workers.]

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Of all the employees 23.3 per cent were earning under $6 a week, 30.1 per cent were earning $6 and under $8, 74.5 per cent under $10, and 15.5 per cent $12 and over. Of the saleswomen 7.5 per cent received under $6, 37.4 per cent $6 and under $8, and 19.0 per cent $12 and over. The average for all employees, exclusive of buyers and assistant buyers, was $8.32; for all saleswomen, $9.16.

The following copy of an application blank, which a girl must fill in and sign when she accepts employment in a department store, is interesting at this point as throwing a little light on the qualifications necessary to command these earnings. These qualifications are not an unimportant factor in the living conditions and the "tenure of office."

No.-.

APPLICATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

I hereby make application for employment and declare that my answers to the following questions are true:

Name in full, —. Address,

Chicago, —, 190—. Telephone No. —. For what position do With whom do you live: Parents,

In care of

Nationality,

Salary expected,

Age,. Married or single, you apply?

relatives, boarding or housekeeping,

[Give the names and addresses of those by whom you have previously been employed.]

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[Give in space below names and addresses (not relatives) of people who know you to be honest and worthy.]

Name.

City.

Street address.

What is his or her occupation.

If employed, I agree to conform to all rules and regulations of your store, and I understand that I may leave your employ at any time, or that I may be discharged by you at any time, and that I will only be entitled to payment for such time that my card is punched for, less all charges and claims entered against me because of error or losses

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