New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-04
UNCERTAINTIES ILLUSTRATED.

The decentralization Of business caused ny TAR
IF uncertainties Is illustrated by the present
condition of the drygoods trade. me WILSON,
Committee when 1t reported the orlgihal OH
last winter set a date for 1t to 90 INTO erect
which was midway between seasons. Inns
clause had most damaging effect upon 'he
drvgoods trade for the spring ana summer uh'li
II was modified AT the request OF New-1orK her-
chants Meanwhile. manufacturers ana import
erS have been struggling to anticipate 'he ue-
rnands of the fall and winter trade without nav
,n,, definite assurances OF the results OF Iarlh
LEGISLATION. Ordinarily arrangements are maze
,ota IN lime or in July for what is the heaviest
husnoss of the year Merchants come to New
y,o,, in midsummer to place their orders for the
Christmas trade. and commercial travellers are
an tho road East West and South soliciting
business Owing to uncertainties respecting the
tariff schedules. II has been impractcable TINS
VAR IN conduct business in the usual way. july
has nossrd and the buying has been hgnt ana
,,,cort,In Commercial travellers have elmer
dororrad their Journeys or have found it inpoS
s,blo 70 induce merchants to lay in their usual
stock. The drygoods trade. which is the largest
bnsiness in the country has been waiting from
d,v IN DIV from week 10 week. for Congress 10
act III N''' ''''
tariff question.
Tho imnorters have brought over heavy stocks
and placed them in bond preparatory to taxing
od,aptooe ~ the new rates of the Democratic
tariff. But until Congress pulls itself together
opd ethor masses or drops the Tariff BILL they
are unable TO fix prices upon these goods, ana
consequently they are unable 10 sell them For
the same reason merchants out OF town are I'M
nrenored 10 buy their stocks for the fan ana
u.in,or trade Manufacturers are equally nj Il
loss 10 determine the prices Of their goods or 10
disnosn Of them Everybody In the dryGoods
+roda is cropinc In the dark and unable 10 fore
cos, +be future conditions Of business Trade is
., q c,ondstill nj 4 tine when ordinarily very
great ACTIVITY prevails. Day after day passes
and nothing Is done at Washington. The dead
loci, There prolongs the mercantile stagnaiion
hcrn and IN all large cities. Men in the dry
goods trade have nothing 10 do. They arc wait
ing for Congress to settle the tariff question and
they have ample leisure and the strongest provo
carton for swearing roundly at the Democratic
party.
Tho same effects are produced by tarin uncer-
tointv unon other lines Of business. which have
suffered from n long period OF depression ana
are in urgent need Of a revival or trade we
refer particularly 10 the drygoOds trade because
II took an active part In the political campaign
Of 1872 The importing interests were strong
enough 10 In an important factor III mat year
There were drygoods mass-nce'ingS' campaign
climbs aud street professions in the Interest," OF
the Democratic party. What doshc men VINO
rallied around the STANDARD OF "A iarin Tor rrVe-
me only" now think Of the cause when 'h'F
then advocated? The loud and angry chorus 81
denunciation and profanity arising from the dry
goods quarter Of This town indicates that they
have had enough OF II. Whatever may be Inc
differences If opinion on economic theories inc
drvcoods trade unites in condemnation OF Inc
practice OF incompetent Democratic tarn-mah
crs in prolonging indefinitely the conditions OF
uncertainty and in completely paralyzing DuSi-
ness The Democratic clubs OF the drygoods
trade will not take an active part In the poliu-
cal canvass Of this year