Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-05
CLOTHING COST
May BELOOKED
UP OFFICIALLY
No Foundation For High Prices
When No Shortages Exist-PrO-
ductiOn Being Retarded.
BY FREDERICK J. HASKIN.
( Washington Bureau, The Argus)

washington Bureau, Inc ArguS)
New York. Aug. 30.-Predictions
of a congressional investigation in
10 the high cost Of clothing are
now being widely circulated
throughout the clothing trade here.
As yet, the public is pleasantly I'M
aware of what it will have to pay
for clothes this fall, but you may
know that the price situation is
pretty bad when buyers are talk
ing about government interference,
and even manufacturers admit that
the trade is completely in the
hands Of profiteers.
Just which end Of the trade is
making the exorbitant profits is
hard to discover The retailers
accuse the manufacturer. and the
manufacturers, in turn, blame the
j1bbers and the wholesalers. But
so much is known That there is
no shortage of material or labor;
that this country has d larger sur
plus of wool and cotton on hand
this year than it had last year
when prices were lower. that this
material is not being exported, be
cause the European buyers are
standing off. waiting for d fall in
prices. and that the higher cost Of
labor and higher overhead charges
10 not excuse the present exOrbi-
tant prices OF ready made clot7-
Production Held ""~
II is further KIM
plenty of material on hand, produc-
tom is being cuTtailed in order TO
create a scarcity in the market
and thus keep prices up. Many
mills are now refusing to supply
fall orders. and are holding their
materials until spring. when prices
will be even higher. These condi-
tons are no secret. They are
freely discussed throughout the
clothing industry, and several well
known manufacturers and mer-
chants have been the first to bring
them before the public in an effort
to stop the mad riot OF prOhteer-
ing.
u look for 2 thorough probe of
the prices Of both food and cloth
ing by a congressional committee
chosen to investigate the high cost
Of living" declared a New England
clothing dealer, who owns a chain
of stores. the other day. when
fall clothing prices are marked up
there will be howl OF protest from
the consumer If the investigation
does not come. then il will surely
following the marking of next
springs goods. l almost revolt,
myself. when prices for spring de-
livery goods are quoted to me.
hate to order the goods at the
prices asked"
Compared With HighWayman-
While the comparison may not
be f1attering, the clothing industry
NAV be likened to a band of high
waymen. about half of whom are
unwilling victims Of the more
brazen desperadOes. In other
words. large number of lanufac-
turers and dealers, having studied
economics. realize that eventually
prices must reach their highest
TO Mt. and that then the movement
is apt TO be rapid in the other di-
TectiOn.
THE public will stand Just so
much" said cloak and suit man
ufacturer in discussing this phase
of the situation, and then il will
rebel. First thing you know, the
bottom will fall out Of the market
and where will honest dealers be
then bankrupt. perhaps II is
this contingency which is causing
the greatest uneasiness throughout
the clothing trade.
an example of the public's sud