The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-27
Grcntnnd smnIIer stores.

New York, and consequently the coun-
try at large. Is much interested just now
in war Of prices that is being waged in
that city between certain big department
stores and a certain leading book store
which has heretofore firmly held to the
regular retail prices of books. The rate
cutting has gone on until standard novels
and other works are being offered at I'M
heard Of prices. The book dealers say
they have been forced into the fight, to de-
fend themselves against the ruinous COM
petition Of the department stores, which
offer cheap books as "leader" in order
to get the opportunity to sell more profit
able goods. on the other hand, the de-
parment stores say they sell books just
as they do anything else, for the profits
they make, and declare their prices afford
a satisfactory profit.
Aside from the merits of the particular
case referred to. some discussion has
arisen as to the effect the big department
stores are having upon the business of the
smaller and special dealers. VIII the les
ser merchants in time-maybe a short
time-be driven out of trade? The con-
centration of millions of capital into the
hands Of the department store corpora
tons gives those stores immense advan-
tages over smaller dealers in
buying and in minimizing the
cost of selling. The department
stores undoubtedly give purchasers
the benefit OF a part of their advantages,
for they frequently sell their wares at
lower prices than those charged for iden-
tically similar wares by dealers in spec
ialties. The purpose Of the big stores may
be wholly selfish; nevertheless, consumers
save money by It. Ought consumers in
terest themselves to protect the smaller
dealers by paying them higher prices than
those charged by the department stores?
The department stores, 1t win be borne
in mind, sell almost everything. They do
not annoy the booksellers alone, but the
shoe dealers, the clothing dealers, the
grocers, the milliners, the hardware deal
ers. and even the restaurant keepers.
| There has been a great deal of grumbling
among the dealers mentioned against the
| department store. but it appears that
they have not yet taken any part in the
fight instituted by the book house referred
to. They may do so later; in which case
the purchasers will get benefits from the
| fght, at least for a time.
1t has been suggested that the great de-
partment stores ought to be suppressed
by legislation, on the ground that such
concentrations of wealth as they command
are not conducive to the welfare of the
people, even when devoted to furnishing
to the people the goods they desire at 9
smaller price than they would otherwise
be charged for them. A very large percen
tage of the population. of the cities es
pecially, is dependent upon the smaller
stores for a living. Should legislation pro
tect against competition their means o.
earning a livelihood? A correspondent o
a New York paper says that in the city
of Vienna the sRaller dealers are pro
tected by law. All merchants are licensed
a separate license being required for eacl
line of goods TO be sold, and it is prohib
tied that more than one line of goods
shall be sold in the same store. A cor
poration, or an individual, may sell more
than one line of goods, provided the sep
arate lines are sold in stores entirely sep
arated from each other; not necessarily il
different buildings, but stores so arranged
that the purchaser of dry goods, for in
instance would have to leave the dr.!
goods store entirely and go into anothe
store if groceries were the next commod
ity desired. The effect. it is said, is tina
Vienna is full of the smaller stores ant
they are fairly prosperous.
The department store. it is well enough
to remember. is the legitimate result o
, the evolution Of the backwoods countr.
store. where everything is sold, from pin
: to pillow points, and where the politics o
l the country, to a great exert, is nodded.
The talk of Gen. SchofeId for the presi
! of