The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-10

( WASHINGTON. Dec. 9.--John Wanna
maker today testified before the industrial
commission on the subject of department
stores. He claimed these stores were ben
efcial to society. having q substantial eco
nomic and moral basis for their existence.
1T L. he .aia the the, natural esu, product
trade law. Cheaper capital. better trans
portation, more rapid communication, make
the modern retail store possible, natural
in the expenditure OF money. time and
effort measure department store success
Just In proportion as these are reached Is
II popular and prosperous"
He commended that the effect Of the crea-
ton OF these stores had been to reduce re-
tail prices. In support Of this statement
he asserted that upon American dry goods
generally the retailers percentage OF
profits has been reduced one-half during
the last twenty years. This was also true
upon woolen silk and cotton fabrics. The
total per cent. Of reduction in prices to the
consumer could not be stated. owing to the
varying standards of qualities and tastes
and improvements in manufacture. but
Mr.. Wanamaker believed that the consum-
err saves the entire reduction In the retail
er's profit.
In some articles definite comparisons OF
prices were made. 1t could also be stated.
he said. that the profits of the great retail
stores vary from 3 to per, cent. on the
business done.
Speaking of the effect Of combination
stores on small shopkeepers, he said It
could not be denied that one Of the effects
Of the big stores had been to retire from
business small retailers but he contended
that while this was true. the interests Of
these few people were not to be compared
with the interests Of the mass OF the peo-
pie. He classified the present large city
store as merely an enlargement of the
cross roads country store, and the greatest
advantages found in them were that they
eliminated adventurers and spectators
from the business
"Do not the retailers make point Of buy
th.y 10 tSsy are ne
chants or idiots" the witness replied. He
went on to say that he had been Of this
class until within ten or twelve years ago.
but had changed his opinion In recent
years. He had discovered that people do
not want debris such as bankrupt stocks,
etc. The great demand was for new things.
Mr.. Wanamaker said when he had first
gone into business he had thought well
to do his own manufacturing, but he had
abandoned the idea, finding 1t preferable
to be able to go into the open market
Referring to the advance made by the
American manufacturer In making WOOL
ems. Mr.. Wanamaker said:
I'VE do not need the French longer in
this work. France can 60 to war with
England II she SO desires We would not
miss her."
In the large stores the purchaser Of large
quantities had no advantage over the buy
er of a small quantity. The mall order
business had not been found profitable. He
considered women quite as useful as men
In many places in large stores. and in
some instances women employees got as
high as 5000.
In reply to a question the witness said
that he believed the fixing of a gold basis
for the finances of the country and the
proper regulation Of the tariff so that 1t
would stay regulated would mark step
In progress In the interest Of the business
of the country. He also thought that the
trusts should be regulated.