The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-10
TALKS OF DEPARTMENT STORES
WANNAMAKER SAYS THEY ARE
A BENEFIT TO THE PEOPLE
Also Says Gold Standard and Tariff
Will Assist In the Progress of
the Country.

Washington, Dec. 9.-John Wanna
maker today testified before the indus
trial commission on the subject of de-
partment stores. He claimed these
stores were beneficial to society, having
a substantial economic and moral basis
for their existence.
TT is" he said. 1.-The natural product
from the conditions that exist from a
fixed trade law. Cheaper capital, bet
ter transportation, more rapid commu-
nication, make the modern retail store
possible, natural and useful, therefore
inevitable. Economy in the expenditure
of money, time and effort, measure de-
partment store success. Just in proper
rion as these ends are reached is it
popular and prosperous"
He contended that the effect of the
creation of these stores had been to re-
duce retail prices. In support of this
statement ne asserted that upon Amer
lean dry goods generally the retailers
percentage of profits has been reduced
one-half during the last twenty years.
This was also true upon wooden, SILK
and cotton fabrics. The total per cent
of reduction in prices to the consumer
could not be stated, owing to the vary
ing standards of qualities and taste
and improvements in manufacture, but
Mr. Wannamaker believed that the
consumer saves the entire reduction in
the retailers 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 to per
cent on the business done.
Mr.. Wannamaker argued that the
only advantage of the large store over
the small one was to be found in the
superiority of its service. 1t was also
true generally that the employee in
large store was better off than the pro-
prietor of a small store. Some of them
were paid s5.oeo' q year and many 81 ,n0e.
Speaking of the effect of com biEation
stores on small shepkeepers. he said it
could not. be denied that one of the eff
fects of the big stores had been to re-
tire 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 people. He CLASH
fed the present large city store as
merely an enlargement of the cross
roads country store, and the greatest
found in them was that they
adventures and Spectators
from the business.
DO not the retailers make a point of
buying of bankrupt stock?" he was
asked.
IF they do they are commission
or idiots" the witness re-
piled. 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 dis
covered that people do not want debris
such as bankrupt stock, etc. The great
demand was for new things.
Mr.. Wannamaker said when he had
first gone into business he had thought
well to do his own manufacturing but
he had abandoned the idea, finding it
preferable to be able to go into the open
Referring to the advance
made by the American manufacturers
in making woolens, Mr.. Wannamaker
said:
I'VE do not need the French longer in
this work France can go to war with
if she so desires; we would
not miss her."
In the large stores the purchaser of
large quantities had no advantage over
the buyer of small quantity. The
mail 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
employees get as high as $1,000.
In reply to a question, the witness
said that he believed the fixing of a
gold basis for the finances of the coun-
try and the proper regulation of the
tariff so that it would stay regulated,
would mark a step in progress in the
interest of the business of the country.
He also thought the trusts should be
regulated.