New-York tribune., 1919-12-31
Cost of Women's Wearing
Apparel Shows Marked
Decrease, According to
Investigating Committee
Outfits for Men Still High
Purchasers Are Advised to
Leave Pride at Home
ard Look for Bargains

Arthur Williams, Federal Food Adj
showing that the high cost of dressing
was not affecting those who were will
ing to do little shopping before max
ing purchases. Mr.. Williamss data
were compiled with the aid Of Colonel
Michael NJ Friedsam, chairman Of the
fair price committees sub committee
on clothing, dry goods and shoes. The
figures were taken chiefly from news
paper advertisements and represent
guaranteed merchandise.
Mr.. Williams said that the average
householder would probably chortle
sarcastically if he were told that he
could completely clothc his wife for
$58.35, the clothing to include a dress
overcoat, shoes, hosiery and underwear
The Food Administrator said that these
articles wouldn't have the trig finish
of the Fifth Avenue product, but would
ward off the stiffcst wind that ever
blew.
$23S.09 to Outfit Three
Surprising as it may SEEM" Mr.
Williams said, "the cost Of women s
clothing has dropped since last month.
On November II it cost $6466 for a
complete outfit Of woman's wearing ap-
parel. The present minimum is $5S. .35
Mems clothing and shoes, however
have advanced steadily, but only slight
~ since last month, while boys cloth
ing has followed an upward trend
THE least expensive serviceablc out
fIt for Ia. Il
$23809 on December H. On December I
% it had dropped to $227.17, chiefly be-
cause Of the decline in the cost of
women's clothing.
MI. Williams gave out the following
figures for November II and December
2S for minimum and average grades
(the figures representing the quotations
on suit or dress. shoes, overcoat, hos
iery and underwear):
Mini Aver Mini Aver.
Mems s51'.7 mu%' sss az; So <fS mum m xss age s
Boys i7o5 S2saS $50 S9S.SS ssS5 SsSS So 6
Women's. 64.G6 1000 5s36 100. 90
This demonstrates conclusively, >
Mr. Williams declared, that the anti
dotc for the high cost Of living is in
palnstaklng shopping. The figures we
have quoted areA those obtaining in
reputable stores. In other places, even
lower prices might be found
People dislike to ask for the lowest
price articles and that is a drawback k
in our campaign. They must remem-
Der that the opinion Of the salesman
or saleswoman is not as important as
the proper eXpendng of their income
II this is an era Of prosperity, the re-
turns on it should not be squandercd. "
Food Prices Also Drop
Mr.. Williams also declared that the
price of foodstuffs staples, but not
luXurles, has fallen since the establish
ment of a Fair Price Committee las,
August. A comparison of the price list
ISSUED on Monday and that of Deccm-
Der 2, shows that fourteen commodi-
ties have dropped in price, while three
have been advanced. He said he ex-
cluded sugar, butter and eggs from the
list because of peculiar market con.
ditions this year which made THEN
prices abnormally high, but with justi
tication
1t was learned yesterday that DR.
Jonathan c. Day, former Commissioners
of Public Markets, is going to sell
army and navy shoes, rubber boots
rubbers and arctics at his navy food
sales stations. The sale of this foot
gear has been going on for several
months in the room of the Markets De
partment in the Municipal Building
but yesterday Markets COMMISSIONS,
O'Malley announced its conclusion. Dr.
Day then announced its RESUMPTION al
his stations.