(Testimony of Hyman Rubenstein)
Mr. Rubenstein.
My brother came to me one day in early December one year, "Hy." "Yes." "I would like to get a license for selling novelties on the street at 63d and Halstead."
You gentlemen must realize that 63d and Halstead is a business district where no such thing was ever before done because they have their own business association and no peddlers were allowed on tile street, they have got their stores to worry about. So, I went up to this fellow, who I got to know very well, and he said, "What can I do for you, Hymie?" I said, "I have got to have a license for my kid brother." "Sure, for Christmas?" "Yes." "What is he going to sell?" "I don't know. Probably toys or gimmicks or whatever he can put on a stand, you know, on the sidewalk and sell." As long as he got a permit they can't bother him. He says, "What corner do you like?" So, I gave him the corner of 63d and Halstead. You don't know, I almost grafted a small war and they couldn't do nothing to Jack because he had that permit. The business people came downtown and they raised particular hell with the guy in charge at the license department, and he couldn't understand i,t.
Then he calls me, I think I was working at the time for some department in the city. He said, "Do you realize what you done to me?" I said, "What did I do to you?" He says, "You almost got me fired." It was really funny.
Mr. Griffin.
When was that?
Mr. Rubenstein.
I don't know. I can't remember but I will never forget that incident, and Jack felt like a hero. He has got a permit. They can't do him nothing. The police even tried to chase him off. He says, "You can't chase me off, here is my permit," and the policeman told these people downtown at 63d and Halstead, he says, "The man has got a permit. What am I supposed to do, get myself in a jam?" But they finally had to get him off. They finally realized they made a mistake.
Mr. Griffin.
This was in the Christmas season?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Yes; during the Christmas holidays when everybody tries to make a buck for the holidays selling Christmas novel, ties or toys or gimmicks on the street, you know. It was terrific. I will never forget that. That is the kind of a guy Jack was. When he wanted a permit he used to get one.
Mr. Griffin.
Do you recall any other episodes of that nature?
Mr. Rubenstein.
There could have been but this was the greatest. It is a wonder I didn't get fired. I will never forget that.
Mr. Griffin.
Were you working for the Illinois Commerce Commission at that time?
Mr. Rubenstein.
I think I was at that time because that was the longest job I had with the city outside of being with the Board of Local Improvements for a couple of years.
Mr. Griffin.
When was that?
Mr. Rubenstein.
Before the Commerce Commission.
Mr. Griffin.
You mention the period 1932 to 1941 as the Commerce Commission. Are you clear in your mind that that is when you did start there, in 1932?
Mr. Rubenstein.
When Homer got in, I think it was 1932.
Mr. Griffin.
And before that you worked for?
Mr. Rubenstein.
The Board of Local Improvements for a couple of years, sidewalk investigator.
Mr. Griffin.
So that would have taken you back to 1930 perhaps?
Mr. Rubenstein.
About 1930 or even 1929. I will tell you why. As long as we had connections in Chicago and things were tough, you know 1929 was a bad year, you wouldn't remember, but I would, as long as you had a letter from somebody downtown they were reevaluating all the real estate in Cook County.
Now, you know that is a tremendous job, fellows, and so I got on. They weren't paying us too much in salary, but every morning I had to meet two real estate men, and I measured the buildings, the length and the width and the lot, and the stories and we gave a legal description of the building, reevaluation. That kept on for about a year. That was a pretty good job with the Board of Review.
So that also kept a lot of us fellows from starving. That was before the Board of Local Improvements. In the meantime I still kept my fingers in the politics on the good side with the Democrats in Chicago.
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