The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-17
is IT ANOTHER RING?


AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS SAY OF COURSE 1T
is, BUT GERMAN IMPORTERS DENY--A STORY
or THE ALLEGED DECENTRALIZATION OF IN
PORTED coRsETs
For about six years, It is alleged there has existed
a corrupt combination among manufacturers In Ger.
many OF woven corscts aud certain German importers
in this city who deal these articles II is charged
that American houses arc unable to purchase any Of
the products OF the German houses, which are located
at Wurtcmberg, Cronstadt, Stuttgart and G0tingcn,
and other manufacturing centres and import them
to this country for tho simple reason that tho
manufacturers refuse TO MI orders except through
their American branch houses agents. who 1t Is be-
lcvcd, generally partners IN tho manufactures.
II is declared that II the goods sold Indscrm-
natcly to American buyers Germany no combina-
ton could exist-hat there would be for Its
existence its only purpose Is to deprive tho United
states of the revenue justly duo them under tho law
from imported goods. The theory OF tho merchants
who are unable compete with tho alleged combina-
ton is that tho German houses, relying upon the I'm
possibility OF our Customs authorities obtaining proof
ota
FOREIGN VALUATION GOODS
have systematically undervalucd their expectations to
tho American market To check this system OF In
vocing high priced goods at low values, which, Is
claimed. has driven out Of tho corset trade some Of
tho largest and wcathes houses in this city Congress
few years ago arranged tariff providing that all
goods below the cost OF 80 shall pay specific tariff
Of 81 and those above the cost OF 50 thirtydve per
cent ad valorem.
The alleged facts as to a combination Of German
manufacturers and New York importers wore, u few
weeks ago brought to the attention OF District Attorney
Bliss and Collector Arthur and inquiries we're Insti-
tutcd by them to determine whether these German
houses were sending IN their goods ut unduly low
valuations The fact that corses which sold hero
from $l2 to $40 so per dozen IN some Instances
invoiced at less than So aud that Others selling
from $50 TO $32 per dozen, were nvoiced at less
than Sl2 Dozen excited the suspicion OF the Gus
toms authorities and consequence, during the past
four weeks several largo or corscs consigned
to German houses in this city have been detained Tor
Yeapprniscmcnt The authorities have had great DIM
Guilty in asccrtaining the
RIAL VALUE or THE ARTICLES
In This dilemma they called experts engaged In
the trade 10 estimate values Among these gentlemen
Mcssrs. Sergeant and Fcnton, OF A. T. Stewards;
George Q. Batchcllcr of Thomson, Lang Co., and
Messrs Lyall and Burket OF the United States Corset
Company, in West Twenty-third street. The values
placed upon tho goods by these gentlemen differed
low the real value To-day General Appraiser Kccham
will call appraisers Fix the values OF tho goods i'm
praiscmcnt be raised on this examination II will rest
with the government officers TO condemn tho goods or
release them on The payment OF the duties in accord
with the increased valuations.
District Attorney Bliss Is understood to have de-
carcd that he will dctan for rcapprasemcnt all corscts
entering tho port, matter who they belong TO; and
IL is likely that with view OF preventing any irrcgu-
lnrtcs in the future great bill he sent BY the
government 10 Germany to tx valuation on all goods
OF manufactured for the American trade
less values can be settled here
The reporter called upon McssrA Sergeant and
Fcnion The former who Is at the head Of the whole
gale notion department OF A. 7. Stewards establish
ment stated that about the fall OF the year
he went Sv 70 get nocn tho prizes sss q habit suea
importing from Europe Ho got from several
agents Of importers their prices which showed that he
could buy corscts cheaper from them than he could
import In instances these agents actually
offered 10 sell At prices which they admitted were below
the market value. Ac was ordered by Mr.. Libby TO
appear before Mr. Mead the who passed these
mpor,alons, about the 1st OF March Mr.. Fenton and
Mr. Ba.chciler were there as exper's as was also MI
compared samples OF their own goods with tho i'm
ported German article aud they estimated that thcro
CONGRATULATIONS or roRTY-rHREE PER CENT
OF the German articles, while some brands we're even
corrupt combination, as result OF which their house
a. T. Stcwnrts1 literally driven out OF the mar
kct Mr. Fcnton confirmed Mr. sergcants statements
Mr. Kctcham, or Mills h Gibbs, stated that he had
invited 70 value the goods but declined as he did
wish to get the i'll OF parties in the trade For
about six years four or Ave firms, he said had had
monopoly OF the American trace IN these German
corse's, and American ;, importers could only BUY
there Irregularities but he declined 10 par
tcuiarzc firms or the manner OF conducting tho bust
ness so as to cut OF open competition.
Mr.. Batchcer, of Thomson Lang Il Co., admitted
that he had been called IN and had fixed values but he
his further examination on Monday
The reporter called upon members OF abfhc
FIRMS ALLEGED NE IMPLICATED
In these undcrvaIuatons, and all Of them most en-
phatcay declared that the goods were not under
nvoccd All agreed IN the expression Of the opinion
that Is conspiracy tho part OF some one inter-
csfcd IN three American corset manufactures,
two Of which are IN this city, and tue othcr in
Providence 10 destroy the trade OF the i'm
poricrs and force the domestic manufactures
upon the market Several declared IL their
belief that the government has and that III, cx
animation to-day will result their complete vndica
ton from the tmpuiation oil attempting TO dcfraud tho
government by invoicing their goods at low rate.
ono nrm stated that they and two othor houses had
written letter TO the District Attorney guaranteeing
10 OIL orders for number Of German corscts al the
Invoiced prices, adding Ave per cent as commission
DISTINCT ATTORNEY BLISS STATEMENT.
District Attorney Bliss stated 10 the reporter that
oil the part he had In the matter was simply this 1T
was represented 70 him by several merchants that
woven corscts were being imported much below their
real valuation. and that an examination would cstab
sh that TACT. He communicated with the Collector
and requested him on the arrival Of the next importation
10 notify him. The Collector few days later Informed
him OF the entry " a large invoice for one or the
corsc; importing Arms, and he al once ordered the
corscts TO The public stores for examination and APP
pfaiscmcnL Tie then secured specimens Of the goods
and had tho experts value them Tho result convinced
him that some OF the brands greatly undervalucd
Here his connection with the ended Tor the pres
cEt tho examination 10 DO made to-day Is under tho
auspices OF the customs authorities.