New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-12-07
SHEER REC hIFSSNFS>.

There Is one provision 81 the new Nrih
scheme which is condemned almost universally
among business men That is The date set for
It's enforcement which Is midway between sea
sons. on March T. In the drygoods trade the
wholesale buying for spring and summer Is
done very largely in January and February.
and for the fall and winter in July ana August.
The manufacturers rccciv" their orders from
the great houses Il month or two In advance OF
the busy seasons of the wholesale dealers All
arrangements for the present winter trade wer"
made fully five months ago. and the attention
OF manufacturers and merchants is concentrated
upon the next seasons trade. AT TINS lime,
when all forms Of business are suffering from
depression and paralysis. Chairman Wilson
brings forward his scheme providing for radical
changes of duties on nearly all classes of dry
goods and setting March | as the date when II
is 10 90 into operation. Manufacturers, i'm
porters and wholesale merchants are placed at
an equal disadvantage in preparing for the
spring and summer trade, when II revolutionary
tariff measure is SO unfortunately timed as 10
90 into force between the regular business sea-
sons.
II seems almost Incredible that body Of in
teigcnt men could have made so gross and
unnecessary Il bundcr. Chairman Wilson and
his collca CUES ought 10 have known what Is the
established order Of business in the drygoods
and other trades. The slightest practical nc
uuaintancc with the conditions of business
would surely have convinced them that radical
changes Of tariff would cause II maximum de-
gree of disturbance on March !. midway be-
tween seasons. and II minimum degree Oh July
I. at the end of one season and ut the begin
ming of another They have deliberately chosen
the worst possible date and increased immcas-
urably the uncertainty and depression of bust
ness With the impending changes it is i'm
practicable for manufacturers, importers and
merchants to make any intelligent or system
attic preparations for the spring and summer
trade. The wholesale drygoods trade may be
seriously damaged in January and February by
the menace Of premature and untimcly en-
fOrccmcnt Of the new tariff.
The evil will be aggravated by the unccr-
tainty respecting the passage Of the bill before
March l. and the notifications 10 which II may
be subjected. Manufacturers and importers
will not know how 10 order their stocks; mcr
chants will find it impossible TO forecast the
demands and requirements Of the retail trade
In view of all the circumstances the folly, igno
rance and rcclilcssncss of Chairman Wilson and
his colleagues in proclaiming March ! rs the
date when the new tariff will 90 into effect are
almost beyond comprehension and belief The
natural and most convenient time for the en-
forccmcnt Of the proposed measure would he
July I. That would enable The drygoods trade
10 prepare for spring and summer business. II
would encourage the rcopcning of factories and
allow ample time for the revision and passage OF
the tariff bill and for the adjustment Of manu-
featuring. imporlng and mercantile interests
70 II with the least possible disturbance 10 the
fall and winter trade Of the next year These
are simple propositions. which the dullesi Office
boy in every drygoods house understands
Chairman Wilson and his colleagues either do