Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-11-03
iTINeRANr VENDORS.
augusta cfoihiers Indignant Ov the Bust
ness Done BY These Men.

| The Augusta clothiers have had nothing
to stir their good feelings SO much for a
long tine as did the itinerant vendors tina,
were here recently disposing of chesp
grade of clothing. These transient cloth
ing dealers effect the regular trade in sew
eral ways. People run away with the idea
that they are getting their moneys worth,
but 60 not realize the opposite till the goods
nave been worn few times, and when this
period arrives the sellers have departed.
Then when these same people go to the bona
fde clothiers they think all the stock of
goods is cheap and carelessly made.
When the recent clothing sale was in
progress at the store used as the city
agency last year many persona ended their
credit v 18th firms which they had before
been dealing with. One clothing dealer
saw one of his customers coming out of this
store with several buadles under his arm.
and the clothier in question, went directly
to his store and inquired of The bookkeeper
1t Mr. owed anything. He was in
formed that the books called for $50 from
this man, and he had the bookkeeper make
out bill for that amount, call upon the
man and collect it. Another dealer noticed
one of his traders coming out with bundles
and ne did the same as in the case explained.
Several other similar cases have been heard
of, and in each one the man who patronized
these new dealers had owed money to the
Water street clothiers several months, and
some of them over year.
1t is understood that the clothing these
i:inerant vendors disposed of is made in the
cheapest manner possible, by people living
in the slums of the cities and will labor
for mere nothing. 1t has been stated that
if the buyers saw where the suits were
made they would never wear them. 1t is
understood that the clothing dealers will
make an effort to have this law revised
and either stop these vendors or have
them do business on an equal basis with
the established dealer. The law passed in
that anyone who sells Without State or
LEGAL license shall be liable to a fine of
$50 or GO days in Jail, or if the goods are
advertised for sale before the license is is
sued the party is liable to a
fine. These travelling clothiers make
a deposit of $500 with the secretary of
State and then pay the city or town clerk a
local license. VIII this is taken out the
vendor makes a sworn statement of the
quantity of goods, and if it is found that
this is false the same penalty may be
levied as for selling without the Ii
cense. The line of goods cannot be adver-
tised as bankrupt, insurance, insolvency,
assignee, trustee, executors, etc.
l. is claimed that the firm that conducted
a sale of this natureshere last spring, sold
more goods than they stated to have when
the sale began.
After the firm that was recently here had
left for other fielis, several purchasers
were seen with bundles the next morning,
after the eagle had flown, standing in front
of the store, ready to exchange the clothes
or again receive their money. Two Angus
ia clottiers say that if something is not done
at the coming session of the Legislature,
that they propose to go to New York and
purchase stock of this cheap clothing and
travel through the State.
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j. J. Fiske and wife were here from