Approximately, what was your cost of doing business the past year in its entirety? No remarks. How will you be able to meet such an increase in cost? No remarks. How will you be able to mark your present goods down to declining market prices and at the same time increase your selling costs? No remarks. We do not like the communistic trend of government control to retard our American business way of life. It is my opinion, that a Federal law, which will embrace all forms of business. both large and small, instead of being beneficial to the country and employment will be detrimental and inflexible. It will increase costs, in the smallest business, which is the least able to stand it, and will cause the smaller businesses to become smaller, due to the fact that they cannot stand the 75-cent minimum wage, thus forcing that business to become in effect a "one man affair." Also, there are many persons who because of physical or educational ability cannot perform services at this wage rate, and who are independent enough that they desire to stand on their own legs, who will be forced into some sort of relief due to the fact that they will be eliminated from employment as not useful enough to warrant the wage. Also, it would be a happy situation, if the Federal Government would forego the desire of a lot of well wishers and shallow thinking persons in government, if they would devote their attentions to good government, under principles which are consistent with our type of government-and stop apeing the foreign governments of the world-every one of which is virtually a failure. Why not give the principles which made this Nation strong a chance to work, without loading it down with Federal regulations-which accomplish the same results as are and have been laid upon every other citizenry of the rest of the world, with the result that the everyday lives of the people are muddled with Government control. When that happens-and it is virtually here already-the result is just the same, if you call it a kingdom, a republic, a democracy, a dictatorship, or any other name. The minimum wage rate is just another of these steps. If it is desirable, at all, it must be maintained at a level which is low enough that it is not detrimental to all classes of employers. Respectfully, 309 SOUTH MAIN STREET, HILLSBORO, ILL. R. P. KEELE, Respectfully submitted to the Wage and Hour Senate Labor Committee: How much will it increase your selling cost? Remarks: 33 percent. Will you have to increase your retail mark up per dollar to meet the wage increase? Remarks: Naturally an increase in cost of operation must be met someplace. Will this increase the cost of living to the average family? Remarks: When retail prices go up cost of living goes up. In your opinion will this increase the number of unemployed? Remarks: Unless gross sales go up which is not likely employees must be discharged to keep the cost of operation down. In your opinion will you have to decrease the number of people you now employ? Remarks: Already this early in the year we show a decrease in sales over last year making it necessary to lay off employees. Approximately, what was your cost of selling during the past year? Remarks: 15 percent. Approximately, what was your cost of doing business the past year in its en tirety? Remarks: 30 percent. How will you be able to meet such an increase in cost? Remarks: By decreasing our employees and increasing the retail prices of merchandise. How will you be able to mark your present goods down to declining market prices and at the same time increase your selling costs? Remarks: This is impossible. We do not like the communistic trend of Government control to retard our American business way of life. 234-36 SOUTH MAIN STREET, HILLSBORO, ILL. DONALD H. WALKER, Walker's 5 Cent to $1 Stores. Only the Government can operate their business on costs exceeding the amount received and it is my opinion that even the Government can not do this for many years to come. Respectfully submitted to the Wage and Hour Senate Labor Committee: How much will it increase your selling cost? Remarks: 4 percent. Will you have to increase your retail mark up per dollar to meet the wage increase? Remarks: Yes. Will this increase the cost of living to the average family? Remarks: Yes. In your opinion will this increase the number of unemployed? In your opinion will you have to decrease the number of people you now employ? Remarks: Yes. Approximately, what was your cost of selling during the past year? Remarks: 14 percent. Approximately, what was your cost of doing business the past year in its en tirety? Remarks: 32 percent. How will you be able to meet such an increase in cost? Remarks: By increasing sales-which in all probability we cannot do. How will you be able to mark your present goods down to declining market prices and at the same time increase your selling costs? Remarks: It seems impossible. HILLSBORO, ILL. H. CLAY LATHAM. Respectfully submitted to the Wage and Hour Senate Labor Committee: How much will it increase your selling cost? Remarks: 10 percent. Will you have to increase your retail mark up per dollar to meet the wage increase? Remarks: Yes. Will this increase the cost of living to the average family? Remarks: Yes. In your opinion will this increase the number of unemployed? Remarks: Yes. In your opinion will you have to decrease the number of people you now employ? Remarks: Yes. Approximately, what was your cost of selling during the past year? Approximately, what was your cost of doing business the past year in its en tirety? No remarks. How will you be able to meet such an increase cost? Remarks: Increase prices. How will you be able to mark your present goods down to declining market prices and at the same time increase your selling costs. Remarks: Raising prices on salable merchandise. We do not like the communistic trend of government control to retard our American business way of life. YOFFIE'S STYLE SHOP, HILLSBORO, ILL. H. J. YOFFIE Respectfully submitted to the Wage and Hour Senate Labor Committee: How much will it increase your selling cost? Remarks: 2 percent. Will you have to increase your retail mark up per dollar to meet the wage increase? Remarks: Yes. Will this increase the cost of living to the average family? Will you be able to hire new or inexperienced help? Remarks: No. In your opinion will this increase the number of unemployed? Remarks: Yes. In your opinion will you have to decrease the number of people you now employ? Remarks: Yes. Approximately, what was your cost of selling during the past year? Remarks: 25 percent. Approximately, what was your cost of doing business the past year in its entirety. Remarks: 90 percent. How will you be able to meet such an increase cost? Remarks: Raise the price of my products. How will you be able to mark your present goods down to declining market prices and at the same time increase your selling costs. Remarks: We cannot. We do not like the communistic trend of government control to retard our American business way of life. HILLTOP BAKERY, HILLSBORO, ILL. ELMER REDMAN, Respectfully submitted to the Wage and Hour Senate Labor Committee: How much will it increase your selling cost? Remarks: 5 to 8 percent. Will you have to increase your retail mark-up per dollar to meet the wage increase? Remarks: The mark-up dollar is already strained to meet overhead and further increase in overhead must definitely come from additional mark-up. Will this increase the cost of living to the average family? Remarks: An increase in wage will definitely mean an increase in overhead, which must come from consumer from now on. Will you be able to hire new or inexperienced help? Remarks: This will not only mean that we cannot hire new or inexperienced help, but may result in less help. In your opinion will this increase the number of unemployed? Remarks: Definitely to a certain extent. In your opinion will you have to decrease the number of people you now employ? Remarks: Possibly so. Approximately, what was your cost of selling during the past year? Approximately, what was you cost of doing business the past year in its entirety? Remarks: 20 percent plus. How will you be able to meet such an increased cost? Remarks: Lose money or increase profit from which all overhead comes. How will you be able to mark your present goods down to declining market prices and at the same time increase your selling costs. Remarks: We are open for suggestions. We do not like the communistic trend of government control to retard our American business way of life. KATIE BIANCO. SHIRLEY SHOP, HILLSBORO, ILL. Respectfully submitted to the Wage and Hour Senate Labor Committee: Remarks: It would be hard to say, because it would mean we couldn't hire boys and girls with no training at all; we would be forced to do less business and get along with less help. Will you have to increase your retail mark-up per dollar to meet the wage increase? Remarks: We could not increase our mark-up any because too many things have an established advertised price; at our fountain we could not increase any more because the trade is not buying many things now that sell for over 15 cents. Will this increase the cost of living to the average family? Remarks: Definitely yes; there is no way possible for small business to absorb any more expense now; it is getting very close to the breaking point now besides it will deprive young people of an opportunity of learning retailing. Will you be able to hire new or inexperienced help? Remarks: No; and this is a bad situation because the experience young people get in stores is invaluable to them all through life. I have started many who went on to finish pharmacy and never lost a day all during the last depression. In your opinion will this increase the number of unemployed? Remarks: Yes. In your opinion will you have to decrease the number of people you now employ? Remarks: I would be forced to cut my help about half. Approximately, what was your cost of selling during the past year? Remarks: 22 percent. Approximately, what was your cost of doing business the past year in its entirety? Remarks: Cost of selling and cost of doing business in a small business is the same thing. How will you be able to meet such an increased cost? Remarks: Only by cutting my employees; I mean the number of employees. How will you be able to mark your present goods down to declining market prices and at the same time increase your selling costs? Remarks: No. This sounds like a communistic question. Get everybody confused and then we take them over-that is their philosophy. We do not like the communistic trend of government control to retard our American business way of life. 221 SOUTH MAIN STREET, HILLSBORO, ILL. J. W. MUSGROVE. Respectfully submitted to the Wage and Hour Senate Labor Committee: Remarks: 35 percent. Our present selling cost is already too high in relation to the gross profit on sales. Will you have to increase your retail mark-up per dollar to meet the wage increase? Remarks: Definitely. The only other solution is to buy cheaper merchandise and give the customer inferior quality. Will this increase the cost of living to the average family? Remarks: Yes. Will you be able to hire new or inexperienced help? Remarks: No. New and inexperienced help already costs us more than they can possibly earn during the first 3 months of their employment. Any additional wage increase will make the employment of new and inexperienced help a financial impossibility. In your opinion will this increase the number of unemployed? Remarks: Yes. It will mean that retail-sales forces will have to be curtailed anywhere from 20 to 40 percent, especially in smaller stores. In your opinion will you have to decrease the number of people you now employ? Remarks: Yes. The only other alternative will be to shorten present hours of employment. |