The evening world. Newspaper, August 6, 1919, Page 9

* —— McCutcheon’s | Bed Linens | DURING the hot | weather more and More people are resort- aa. treme, ing to Linen Sheets be- cause of their coolness. “The Linen Store” offers a fine selection of Pure Linen Sheets of high quality at moderate prices. . - Established more than half a contury Fifth Ave., 34th and 33d Streets bee we bb by Be be NY C. G. Gunther’s Sas $91 Fifth Avenue Weare prepared to meet the demnd for Furs in August WHEN: | PRICES ARE LOVER Than During the RegulasSeason COATS, WRAPS, COAEES and SMALL FUR Furriers Exclusively for Ninety-Ne Years ANTZEN’S Foowear Reduced | ‘The ads being prented at stock-taking tales apply \diocoationst hes of sumaner footwear A matecial onmg Can be eeaqed om keguier end feture Flin be Now $9.85 ONL BRONX STORE D.BAIMANN8(C 149th fREET Y Srd Avenue AUGUST WRNITURE SALE BuNow and Save 25% Pi uarred Oak William $ 50 bah A Ding Room Suite at 1 72 OPENEVERY EVENING Ah == FOR CREDIT town, 3rd Avenue, Westchester County Trolley 4 Cars pass our door. Kroehler Hiav ‘This ¢ not include mattress af Queen ane Period Suite In American Walnut Four Piecesnsisting of DRESSER, CHIFFOROBE, $1'7 50 TOILET TA, BED in full size; as illustrated 2 ENTRAN on OPEN EVERY Everybody From Packer, ‘Who Controls Hides, to Retailer Is Blamed. = WASHINGTON, Aug. 6.—Fiagrant profiteering all along the line from the producer of hides to the retailer is reaponsible for the present exces- stvely high cost of shocs, That is the verdict of the Federal Trade Commission, which to-day made public a summary of an ¢x- haustive inquiry into the subject for Congress. The report, which indicts Particularly the five large packers {that virtually control the hide supply, holds that these packers “have taken excessive profits and passed increased costs to subsequent steps in manu- facture and distribution; that the manufacturer of shoes has taken un- usual margins and that the prices charged by the retailer are not justi- ‘tlable, each factor in the industry |adding to the burden he had to bear before he passed it on to the next.” The Commission's report covering the four-year period from 1914 to 1918 is the result of an investigation begun more than a year ago, it was sald. Concluding its report the Commis- sion finds: “Taking into consideration all the circumstances, especially the circum- stance that the United States was engaged in war, the large profits taken by slaughterers for hides, by shoe manufacturers, and retail shoe dealers cannot be justified, and there is consequently no justification for prices that consumers have been compélled to pay for shoes.” The report not only discloses to a long-suffering public the true state of affairs in the industry but con~- structively suggests measures for correction of the evil, thus: “Some relief from the intolerable prices paid by consumers for shoes may be had by; “L Rigid enforcement of the laws against monopolistic con- trol of commodities, “2. Legislation forbidding pro- ducers of hides engaging in the tanning business, “3. Adoption of a device in the distribution of shoes that will ac- quaint the consumer with the selling prices of the manufac- turet.” WAR BOOSTED PRICES BECAUSE OF GREAT DEMAND FOR LEATHER. Of “General Conditions” in the in- dustry the Commission says: “During the progress of the war in Europe, even before the United States became a belligerent, the de- mand for leather and leather goods for the Allied nations of Europe had a marked effect on prices, The de. mand was not only for large quanti ties of leather and shoes, but there was pressute for quick delivery. Either one of these factors would tend to stimulate prices and both of them together brought rapid and marked advances in the prices of both leather and shoes, and also of hides and skins, “When the United States entered the war there was immediate de- mand for shoes and other equipment made of leather to meet the require- ments bf the army. The situation be- came so acute that in 1918 the ‘War Industries Board undertook to pro vide means of supplying the tanners with hides at fixed maximum prices. Maximum prices for leather Were also fixed for the shoe manufacturers. ‘The demand for labor in other in- dustries compelled tanners and shoe manufacturers to increase wages.” The situation,in the hide market 1s set forth: “More than 75 per cent, of the cat- tle and 65 per cent. of the calves killed by wholesale slaughterers in the United States are killed by five large meat packers. The best hides are taken off by these wholesal slaughtering concer nd the th ‘This exquisite Lady's Beicher Ring, fine blue-white diamond, perfect cut, 14-karat’ solid gold only $50. Ulustrated cation this Summer have your favorite paper mailed to you ewery day. Evening World, 18¢ per week HIGH SHOE PRES TRACED. 1 FLAT POFTERNG | ‘The Custom House had Brahe Public Paid Not Only Increased Cost to Everybody but Also Sup- plied Unusual Profits. HE report of the Federal ‘Trade Commission, made Public if Washington to- day, treats of conditions in the Jeother tanhing industry, inctud- ing the hide trade and boot and shoe industry from 1914 to 1918. The outstanding facts disclosed are: 1 Between 1914 and 1917 the *, prices of hides greatly ad- vanced and the differential be- tween country hides (from small dealers) and packer hides (from five large packers) increased be- yond the usual proportion, due to , the more marked increase in the Price of packer hides, 2. Though there was ca in- "crease in the cost of hides to the tanner, the prices of his Product—leather—advanced to @ Point that could not be justified by the cost of producing it. This conclusion is supported by the high rates of return on invest- ment received by the tanners, 3. The cost of manufacturing * shoes increased greatly be- tween 1914 and 1917, but, as evi- denced by the high rates of re- turn on investment, not to an extent that warranted the prices at which manufacturers sold their product, 4. The absolute margins of * profit taken by retail shoe merchants per pair grew wider as their costs of shoes increased because their rate of profit re- mained substantially without change. See killed by the five large packers are uniformly heavier than those killed ‘by the smaller ones. These five large meat packing concerns thus have a high degree of control of the grades of domestic hides that are reputed to Produce the best grades of leather. “Somewhat less than half of the hides used by the tanners of the United States are imported. Four of these five large packers produce a large proportion of the cattle hides |that are available for import into this country. “Taking into account the extent to which these five large meat packers control domestic hides, the extent to whioh gary, ovatrel the nides that are available for import and the extent to which some of them are engaged in the country hide business and tak- ing also into account the extent to which they are engaged in the tan- ning business, they seem to be in a position largely to control the hide market.” SHOWS HOW TANNERS IN- CREASED PROFITS DURING WAR ation of the tanning Commission found that ur years, 1914 to 1917, the cost of producing sole leather in- creased from 9 to more than 20 cents per pound, the earnings on in- t business “were very greater in 1916 and 1917 than they were in 1914 and 1916,. Of 53 rep- resentative companies, 24 earned less than 10 per cent. in 1914 and 11 had earnings of over 20 per cent., while none earned as much as 40 per cent. In 1917 only two of the 53 Kg oy less than 10 per cent., while earned over 20 per cent. and 9 earned over 40 per cent.” Regarding the shoe manufacturing and retailer the report says: “The rate of return on investment was much greater in 1916 and in 1917 than in 1914 and 1916, Out of %6 com- panies where comparisons could be made for these years, 23 had losses in 1914, By 1916 earnings had increased until there were only three companies ith losses and in 1917 there were ht. There were 102 companies out 236 that had earnings of 15 per cent. or more in 1914, while in 1917 there were 169 companies in this class More than one-third of the companies here considered earned 25 per cent. or more in 1917, while only about one- sixth earned this much in 1914. Of 236 companies 104 earned % per cent. or more in 1916, “There was @ heavy increase in the price of shoes to consumers be- tween the years 1914 and 1918. The retailer's gross profit is around 50 per cent—sometimes more and occa- sionally less. In 1914 the retail mer- ‘chant's vate of profit was somewhat lower than it was in 1918, The abso- te amount of profit per pair of shoes was very much greater in 1918 | than in 1914, A good work shoe for | men that cost the dealer $1.75 in 1914 and retailed for $2.50 cost him $2.75 in 1918 and retailed for $4.00. In this instance the retailer took @ margin of 75 cents in 1914, or 42 per cent., and in 1918 @ margin of $1.25, or 45 per cent. In 1914 the retailer's absolute grass profit for another group averaged a| little more than $1.00 per pair, while in 1918 it averaged more than $1.80 Ll ato to-day. When Major Daniel L, Porter, Internal Revenue Agent for New York, made the semi-annual cleanup of seized drugs, there was heroin, morphine, co- calne and opium scattered all over the Bare. The shipment was valued at The narcotics are tested at Washing: ton and ‘f found pure used by hospitals, About 2,000 ounces of heroin, morphine, cocaine and fake drugs were boxed, also 1000 ounces of smoking opium. Agents have been kept busy since the Probibition Act went lato effect if of Ce aes BPS 94 S959: JOHN WA Autumn surprises Store houre— gto and Better Buy the — Children’s Shoes Now This advice is prompted the fact many peryets Seite een Pave AH By ng advantage of the lower prices of shoes sarily be higher in price when new shipments come Two examples Excellent wearing shoes which we now have in good supply, but which cannot be replaced at the Brice. Girls’ black buttoned shoes, welted and stitched: pad hy ds $5. The new silhouette for Autumn suits is like a chapter from ‘‘Godey’s Lady’s Book”’ —sizes 11 to in And “eB Shetland ' veiling is nicer Ne The model sketched is the essence of this new sil- Second floor, Old Building 1,000. pretty cotton dresses $1.95, $3.85, $5.85 House dresses, beach dresses, street dresses 600 specially purchased underprice 400 from our own good stocks, reduced At $5.85 .85 to $12.50 grades; it and dark colored ted rolls th ary Sand pin colre beach 78 At $3.85 id $6.85 ; smart plaid hams, plain col- PEE cede Lag cred white ron Rao tissue egtanas colored printed voiles. At $1.95 $2.95 and $3.85 grades; light and dark printed lawns and plain colored chambrays, Any woman can use half a dozen of these to good advantage. Some of these dresses, at each price, on the Main Aisle, Old Building, Thursday. The larger showing on the Third floor, Old Building, Tenth Street side. Bookcases, secretaries, desks and library tables in the August Sale Bookcases 100.75 for ® $112 mahogany $92.25 for a $86 mahogany oval William and Mary secretary. Ubrary tab! design, $131.25 for a $146 three-door $122.50 for a $136 mahogany 39-in, Awa ba mahogany Colonial bookcase. Chippendale 0 Sy $90 for a $100 two-door ma- Ps sa¢d fo, 9 Ar6: antique aaa hogany Col bookcase. Library tables $49.50 for a $55 two-door ma- $77.50 for an $86 walnut library Deshe hogany William and Mary book- | atie," William’ and’ lary de. $81 for» $90 walnut table deak, case. sign, 80x60-in. toy William and Mary design. $49.50 for a $55 two-door wal- nut William and Mary bookcase. $66.50 for a $74 two-door ma- $117 for a sido mahogany li- brary table, Chippendale design, 80x48-in. top. $64.50 for a $72 mal rop-tie desk, scrol) Colonial de- gD. hogany Queen Anne bookcase. $74.50 for » $111 mahogany $22.50 for a $25 ‘ for # $38 single-door ma- library table. lonial design, 50 for a walnut drop- borne accveas bookcase, 84x56-in. top. lid desk, scroll Colonial design. $75.50 for an’ $84 mahogany $27 for a $30 mahogany spinet library table, Louis XVI. design, desk. 28x64-inch top. $75 for a $100 walnut table $86 for a $96 mahogany library desk, Louis XVI. design. $82.50 for a $110 two-door ma- hogany Queen Anne bookcase. 75 for an $84 two-door walnut William and Mary bookcase. table, Adam design, 30x48-in. top. 28 mahogany roc. 8.60 for a $62 single-door | “$48.78 fora $61 walnut library | gptht aca, * *1%8 Taffeta frocks mahogany Sheraton bookcase. table, William and Mary design, at $25 $226.75 for a $252 black lac- 28x48-in. top. quered spinet desk. Secretaries $70 for a $78 walnut Spanish , 185 f 10 black lacquered grades. cali, 36 for 8 $119.25 mahorany porysorome Bovey sabia, Boab ina ee at yeovar nk posers een Anne secretary. 19.50 for a $55 mahi lie 50 65 mahi $216 for a $240 mahogany ware table, Colonial desten, 20% arepeiig desk, 3 Pn Me ae made of taffeta. Diff ff Chippendale secretary. 42-in. top. ers, Adam design. cult to at this price, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Galleries, New Building. but we have fifty of them, — |] Fashion’ skirt to give effect The news of the great sale of skirt; fic collars or Oriental Rugs has spread far As.we write this, dealers in Oriental rugs are in the Rug Gallery, making selec- tions side by side with the man in the street, and pay- ing the sale prices, open to Hearth size rugs. Rugs about 9 x 12. Large rug for long liv- i ing-rooms, libraries, music rooms. Women’s suits of paulette, $29.50 anybody. _ Wonderful colors and de- They will re-sell at a profit, signs—no two alike. course, Prices are from a quarter to nearly half prevailing rates for equal qualities. Third Gallery, New Building It is the advance Autumn Sale, offering more than 500 Persian and Chinese rugs. Mats not 2 ft. square. In light blue, not oe white, Very and practical to wear for rest of the suramer, Second floor, Old Building |