The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-16
KNIT GOODS TO COST MORE.
MEASURES TAKEN TO sToP CUT
THROAT ETITION.

Manufacturer All over the Country Will ne
Asked TO Agrss TO Raise Prices from no to
30 Per Cent. to Cover the Rise In wool and
Cotton, and to Stop Sending Out samples.
A meeting Of representatives of tho knit
goods mills Of the United States was held in tho
big meeting room OF the Wool Exchange build
ing, at West broadway and Beach street, yestcr-
day. to concert action toward advancing the
prices OF underwear, hosiery, sweaters, mittens.
and knit caps. The condition OF affairs which
brought about the meeting is a rather curious
result OF the return OF good times following the
demoralizing effect of i've years Of price cut
ting and other efforts to get business during
the depressed state OF tho trade which has eX-
listed since 1892.
During this period tho productive capacity of
the mills has exceeded the demand for goods,
and prices were forced down until few mills
have been able to make any profit and many of
them have been kept going only by suffering
actual losses. Goods were made up without the
mills having orders for them and then forced
upon the market and a sale made for them at
low prices, besides which tho manufacturers
paid freights on them. dating bills ahead and
making other unbusinesslike concessions. 1t
got so that there was no standard Of prices. An
other of the abuses to which attention was
forced was the furnishing OF samples OF new
goods to possible buyers and then discovering
InhL luCbo dIhplCb Z DCluR lOT"hTucu 10
rival mills to enable them to offer prices upon
them In competition with the originators of the
styles. In fact, 1t may be said, that tho trade
was reduced almost TO a condition of general
piracy.
With this condition actually existing. and
with the seasons trade just opening, came the
sharp advance In tho cost OF wool which fol.
lowed In the wake of the rise OF price in wheat
and other agricultural products and the going
into effect OF the new tariff. Wool forms tho
most important material of tho knit goods in.
dustry. and since June it has advanced in value
with big jumps until to-day a fine secured wool
which sold three months ago for 35 cents a
pound Is now worth from 55 to 60 cents n
pound. Cotton also has increased in price and
turers. assert that labor is almost certain to
make demands for higher ratios OF pay.
Without some concerted action IL seemed al
most certain, that the trade would be caught
and ground between the upper and lower mill
sequent low prices and other costly conces-
sions to buyers and an advancing market for
further, losses before matters, could adjust
themselves to a new condition by the natural
, .RS National q 55sf'' A.s Esfiliaiins Of this Knit fi'u eood:;
N m'P aSe Wooi Exchange Is9sS b hsjSISSiG%srt ssst S a5e
circular letter on sept. 8, eaiihise att ssntii ot to
the need of some concerted action, and the let
tiers @rst rsseiy re- in reply led fnt to the calling Of the
manufacturers OF knit goods in the country,
large and small, and the call was sent to all but
1t was said. represented about 500 mills. whose
mills Of the country, and employ altogether not
far from 100. 1000 operatives.
valentine Of bennington. Vt, the Si p TssR mt Of
the National Association, in the chair. Speeches
T Ts5s made K. sh by a. o s. hh i.1ia F e tht !. slYSy:
J; w. Hines Of Waterford. \. Y. and
action. IL waS nninfnd nnf that in nr1ar .
p,Sss n see m 15See IN upon iRe nr e p" y So basis adEanc ss
the way from Is per cent. on cheap goods, in
per cent. upon the higher priced ali wool goods.
the results of the discussion into shape, and the
following resolutions were reported and adopted
Whereds. The increase in prices of wool and
cotton has largely Increased the cost of knit
Resolved. That our selling prices be based on
S yaeG cost % t hguf red on IN the price OF raw material or
once such price and use every honest effort to
maintain such price; and we further
.m nResei nr That ,aeeordinE to the relative
to cover the increased cost OF knit goods; and
"Rssoiue, That, If it is necessary to carry out
tn, above resolutions: we will euTtail produc-
At the afternoon session a committee of twelve
was appointed, whose duty it is to send out the
sent Of the manufacturers to them. Then the
other bad features of the situation were dis
cussed. Many OF these. it seemed to be con-
ceded. would disappear OF themselves with the
return of plenty Of business. but others, il was
commended, had become so fixed by the methods
OF the last few years that they would need con.
certed action to wipe out. Only one OF them.
however. was finally acted upon. This was the
abuse in the use of samples Of new goods and
this was dealt with in the following resolution.
which was adoptcd:
"Resolred. That 1t be the sense Of this meeting
that no samples be submitted to the trade, rx.
cept such as are sent on orders or accompanied
BY salesman. and that a copy OF this resolution
be sent out to the various manufacturers com
mission merchants. and agents for their ap-
proval and signature Of acceptance"