Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-07
BOYS SHIRTWAIST BUSINESS
BOOMING DESPITE HIGHER COSTS
Local Manufacturers Declare Material Expense Has
increased 40 Per Cent.-High Protective Tariff
Regarded as Useless in Dye Situation

The firm Of Greenbaum Bros. g. Co.
with headquarters in the Larkin Building,
at I'D and Arch streets. turn out between
800 and 1000 dozen boys shirtwaists a
week.
Mr. Albert Greenbaum said today that
IN the last few months the cost Of mate
rails that enter into the manufacture of
these waists has increased In price from
80 to 20 per cent Business, he says, Is
exceptionally good. He attributes IL to
the better general conditions all over
the country.
This particular business is very GER
tain index to general prosperity or the
reverse, as Greenbaum Btothers transact
business In every State In the Union; and
as boys are TO be found in every state,
and boys must have shrtwaists, II fol-
lows that better wage-ea rning conditions
will be reflected In a larger number of
shirtwaists being bought; all OF which,
Mr.. Greenbaum says, Is the case But
Greenbaum Brothers export shirtwaists to
some tive or six South American coun-
tries. and are making arrangements to
do business In Australia Asked IL he did
not think that Great Britain could under
sell them in the Australian field when
the war is over, he said he did not think
so. as in foreign countries while 1t is
recognized that England or Germany
may have superior materials. the making
is very poor and people preferred a
smart-looking garment with little style
TO II, even II the material IL not so good
There is so little dye material in shirt
ing cloths, Mr., Greenbaum said, that the
dye situation cuts little or no figure so
far as they are concerned.
DYESTUFFS FROM A NEW ANGLE.
A new angle to the dye situation was
given today by a prominent dealer In
1VputIfs ENan N 40 fp
today, he said protective tariff would
not make any better conditions
"T am tired" he continued. hearing
the textile manufacturers talk about
high protective tariff for dyestufTs II
they had high tariff they would not pay
the necessarily high prices 1t would en-
tail. II would take from five to ten
years to bring a chemical plant III this
country TO the point where we would get
dyes at near the prices we were paying
before the war. The manufacturers won't
pay the high prices demanded for dyes
today. Here are some letters | sent out
Offering certain dyes at a certain price.
at standard strength. / could not sell
them. | offer them at a much lower price
but away below standard strength. and
because the first cost looks small they
buy them.
They are actually paying considerably
more than my original offer. as | am not
taking the trouble and risk OF mixing
them for nothing.
There ia SO much secrecy about the
manufacture of dyes In this country that
no one knows how much Is being made
or If any Is being made. one concern
that says 1t makes blel ches and browns
sells to customers under a time contract,
which insures them their profits in the
first three months. as each customer must
guarantee to take certain quantity at
n certain price In three months. After
that his colors are virtually free.
I'VE Dealers" he said. ARE not making
the PROFITS that are reported. At the out
break of the war we could have stood pat
and demanded any price we liked. We
are not demanding unreasonable profits
today"
At this point he showed an invoice Of
certain dyes bought at S25 per pound. and
then showed letters where he had offered
the same, AT standard strength, TO dyers
al S2S per pound.
But to get back to Germany" he said,
81 don't believe that Germany has the
dyes to give us. Amy one who has studied
German methods OF doing business will
know that for economic reasons dye
manufacturing plants would he closed