davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
Textiles
" Orsteds and SpeciaIties
TO Feature Coming
" O0Ilen Openiings

Except in rare cases early buyers of
woollen goods are not anticipating
their full requirements as yet The
American WoOlen Company is said to
have done remarkable business on the
lines WHICH have been offered to the
trade, and makers of high class fabrics
OF established standard. such as the
st. George overcoatings and Strong
Hewat & Co. s woollen suitirgs have
booked big orders. The trade as a
whole though, cannot be said to have
reached an active basis. There are
many lines yet to be offered and BUYERS
appear to be waiting until they are
shown before committing themselves
to large orders.
Comparatively few worsted goods
have been displayed to the trade. bu.
these will be shown within the next
week or So
The Lymansville Company will show
some OF its serges, worsteds and
cheviots day and The American
Woolen Company viii offer a complete
line of fancy worsteds. The Holden
Leonard Company will offer some new
specialties for the women's wear trade
IN developments of their silvertone and
crystal cord fabrics.
The Worumbo Company, manufac-
turers of high class fabrics. viii make
their initial showing of overcoatings
for fall, 1919, next Monday.
Eighty styles Of IA ounce plain and
fancy woollen suitings are being shown
by Delavan c. Smith. direct selling
agent for Hall Brothers. The goods
are quoted at S2.S5 yard. with an
additional charge Of from to l2 Z cents
for silk decorations. Goods OF similar
quality were shown last year at an ini-
tial price Of So 25 Il yard
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
Squirrel Fur Popularized
Commercial Variety Comes
From Russia and Siberia

Squirrel fur in garments for spring
and summer wear is selling unusually
we'll as the result of efforts by manu-
tacturers to popularizc it. Stocks of
Russian and Siberian squirrel skins
winch have accumulated in this coun-
try are being drawn on heavily to meet
the demand, IS the American squirrel
pelt is valueless to the fur trade. The
native squirrel really bears no fur, be-
ing covered with thin coating Of
coarse hair, which cannot be "worked, "
or treated by the furriers so as to have
some commercial value.
Unlike the American species, the 81
bcrlan and Russian squirrels carry a
heavy under fur, which can be used in
ITS natural color or dyed to initiate
the fur of another animal. The better
grades of squirrel skins are those OBJ
tanned from animals which live in the
cold climate of Siberia, the good selec
tlons being of an even dark gray tint.
The further south the habitat of the
squirrel the lighter becomes the color
of the animals fur
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
Colors
SsvitSerla,ad Now Produc-
ing Many Intermediates
for Dyestuns

Dyestuffs manufacturers of Switzer-
land are now making nearly all the in
termediates, for the supply of which
they have heretofore been dependent
on the United States and other coun-
tries. The Swiss industry was forced
to branch out Independently because of
the obstacles that were for some time
put in the way of exports to neutral
countries. According to an authority,
the domestic dycstuffs manufacturers
now realize that the restriction placed
on exports was i'll ccnsidercd In order
TO produce cOiors at minimum cost
the production of Intermediates on a
large scale is necessary. since only in
that way can the cost of the basic ma
terials in the making of dycstuffs be
kept down. This might be accomplished
by encouraging the export of interme-
dates.
Switzerland is now also producing
acctic acid, large quantities of which
were bought in he United States in
the past few years, ard other chcmi-
calls for which the Swiss drew on
other countries in the past.
Domestic manufactures of acetic
acid are also meeting with consdera-
bic competition from Canada, whose
product is marketed on the continent
through English houses.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
Leather
Tanners Formulate Plans
to Expand Trade IN
FOreig gn Markets

preliminary steps were taken yester-
day at q meeting of the committee Of
export managers CT the Tanners
Council for the New York district to
carry on an active and energetic cam
paign to sell leather in foreign
markets. This was the first meeting
of the committee, which was appointed
several weeks ago The export men
gave thoughtful consideration to the
possibilities Of the tanners forming
trade combinations under the Webb
bill for the expansion of their export
business. They also started move
ment for members of the council hav-
ing join: agencies in foreign countries
Under this plan it is proposed that an
agent selling calf and kip-skin of
cattle between the calf and the COW
age should also handle sole leather
or any other lines that %ere not of a
competitive character.
AS result of the meeting it is like
y that the tanners council will pre-
Pare list of reliable firms to handle
translation work of it's members. The
committee also discussed the value of
quarterly statistical reports of i'm
ports OF leather by the principal i'm
porting countries and considered the
@u"ptioH OF traoe acceptanceS. The
financing of foreign trade and particu-
larly the problem to overcome the
practice of the banks in South Amer
lea taking goods back from importers
was another subject that was dis
cussed.
No definite action was taken on any
OF these subjects, but it is expected
mat the recommendation Of the COM
mIttec will be generally adopted at a
meeting Of all the export managers of
the New York district Of the council
to be held shortly
L. II. Nelson, OF tho Central Leather
Company, was elected permanent
chairman OF the committee, which
suggested that the general BODY or
gaDize an export club TO hold weekly
luncheon meetings at which biects
Of current interest TO the export mem
bcrs be discussed.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
Auenue 4
------------.----
Very Gloomy

Wall Street, which is the hunting
ground for bulls and bears, in it's most
pess. s.mistic days probably never had
among its Inhabitants such thorough
going bears as Avenue A has among
its millinery shopkeepcrs. If a bear
is & human being who believes in the
manifest destiny OF prices to sink
lower, with an attendant atmosphere
of gloom and calamity, the milliners
en- this quaint East Side avenue are
bears par excellence.
The only merchant in womans head
gear on the avenue with CLEAN Of
hope for the present season is nov
ice, and if one accepts the diagnosis of
the oldtimers his optimism is born Of
lack of understanding. At any rate,
B. Zelinsky, of 23 Avenue A, is enter
ing his first spring season, and if
business is dull he is somewhat in
clined to believe that the year is still
early.
Three other storckeepers inter
viewed are planning at least
threatening-to throw up the sponge
and call in the auctioneer, and the
only other millinery store on the ave
nue. has been closed without any cx-
planation for at least two days. Per-
haps the owner has gone to Palm
Beach to spend his surplus.
P. Bernstein, a leading merchant,
said yesterday that millinery retail
prices were going down, and that
Easter bonnets would sell for less
this year than last. He added that
customers still say that prices are
too dear, and prophesied that hats
would soon sell for less on Avenue A
than they did before the war.
Mrs. <. Schaetfer, whose business
experience at her stand for twenty
nine years has given her good basis
of judgment, protested that her bust
ness has been going down for five
years and that this season, so far, is
probably would be unable to sell out
her $4,000 stock and goodwill for more
than $500. The tendency of retail
prices on the avenue was progress
sivcly downward, she Indicated, and
testified that dynamite was needed TO
get woman to part with more than
S1.25 to $3.50 for a hat. She said her
sales were now averaging 81 day
explaining that rent and food were
taking most of the money of the peo-
pie in her neighborhood, with shoes
probably next and hats far away on
the luxury list.
Mrs. A. Huszar, of 1853 Avenue A,
contided that business was terrible" )"
and that, although the jobbers and
wholesalers were asking more Cor their
goods than ever. her customers wanted
reductions instead Of increases She,
too, said she wanted to discontinue
business. saying chat receipts yester
day totalled 54 cents.
Mr.. Zelinsky, to whom the millinery
trade is still a novelty, declared that
retail prices were stationary, but that
customers were without exception pro-
testing "they are too dear" When
Mrs. Huszar was asked for her opinion
as to whether prices would drop to
the prewar level, she said "Go to
the wholesalers and jobbers and ask
them. How should l know ?"
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
What They Think About Prices
Somewhat Gloomy
9th Auenue

customers of the small Sixth Ave
nue. millinery shops look upon hats
much as Americans generally do upon
cne"ing gum and carfare. Regardless
or fundamental economic changes,
they nave fixed notions about the
amount bonnets should bring over the
counter. That attitude places the re-
taller in a dilemma. for, despite the
coming Of peace, he finds prices ris-
ing IN the wholesale market whore he
gets his stock.
When the Sixth Avenue retailer
'rles to pass along the increase to his
customer the latter rebels. The mer-
chants problem, therefore, is to keep
solvent while paying more for his
merchandise and having difficulty in
getting higher prices from his GUS
toners. A survey of the opinion re-
gardlng the price prospects of typical
SIXTH Avenue millincrs yesterday re-
vealed these facts.
IN reply to an inquiry as to whether
prices OF hats were going up or down,
I'VE merchants on the avenue selected
at random unanimously testified that
wholesale Eprlccs were rising. Asked
whether Easter bonnets will bring
more at retail this year than last, the
general opinlon was in the affirmative.
although some doubt was expressed as
TO whether consumers would pay moro.
even though the Easter bonnets con-
tanned more handwork and TRIMMINGS
this season.
The Tribune also queried what Gus
toners say about prices. These were
the replies.
M. Brokaw, of 252 Sixth Avenue:
The customers are kicking about the
raising OF prices. AS matter of
fact, they do not want to pay as much
as last year. They want hats cheaper"
j. Geismar, proprietor of The Ster-
ling. PTS Sixth Avenue: at is verv
hard to please customers this year. as
they are dissatisfied with The tendency
OF prices to go higher. They do not
want to pay any more than last season.
although the war time rise in millinery
has been small in comparison to that Of
other things"
90 Charles LANCER, Of LANCER Bros,
234 and 314 Sixth Avenue: "Our trade.
which comes chiefly from New JERSEY
via the tubes, has extremely fixed ideas
ABOUT prices, regardless of what we
have to pay for our merchandise. The
standard prices here are S1.9S and
S298." -''' anu
Mrs. Charles Nieberg, manager, Oelk-
ers Company, 361 Sixth Avenue: "The
customers e. consider prices too high, but
that's only natural"
j. Rebe. 439 Sixth Avenue: Gus
toners are kicking. They think hats
are too high"
IN replying to question as to
Whether the prices Of hats would fall to
the pre-war level, the merchants on
Sixth Avenue, where the popular priced
marts flourish, indicated that the hjrh
cost of labor was the main factor in
the present price trend. Retail labor.
as well as factory hands, they said. is
getting more now than ever before. Mr..
Nelsmar said that formerly the type of
saleswomen he employed worked for
speut sIe 20 eao week. ana now they get from
so to S20-and "loaf half the dav"
Mr. Brokaw explained that he was now
paying as high as $50 a week for sales
dadles "a to whom he used to pay from
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06

Silks
Luxury Tax Does Not De.
ter Retailers From, Buy
ing Silk Goods

Retail dealers, undetcrred by their
failure to have the Congress repeal the
luxury tax, yesterday continued to buy
manufactured silks freely Visiting
buyers seemed divided in their opin-
ions about the effect of the tax on
sales, some holding that business would
be hampercd, while others declared
that trade would not be adversely af-
fected. Manufacturers say that al
though buyers are constantly leaving
the market others replace them. Some
of the leading concerns report that
business done during the elapsed part
of March indicates a gain Of rs per
cent over the corresponding period last
year. Silks in taffetas, georgette and
meteor effects continue in exceptional
ly good demand. The strike of marine
workers has held up receipts and de-
liveries of goods, and temporarily
tends to cause a scarcity Of merchan-
disc.
Trade in silk yarns, spun and
thrown, is expanding. All of the nu-
merous trades using these materials,
except the cotton goods industry, have
placed liberal orders the past few days
Manufacturers declare that the numer-
Gus inquiries received indicate that
demand will continue on the upgrade
Manufacturers of the better grades of
mems neckwear report that business is
exceptionally good They ascribe the
larger sales to the return of soldiers
to civil life.
Raw silk moved upward in price
yesterday in response to Japanese
cables which indicated an advance of
10 cents a pound for Shinshiu No. I,
standard grade of raw silk. Buying in
the New York market is limited to
nearby needs. Importers are not keen
about placing orders or carrying any
thing but the smallest stocks Supplies
IN New York are said to be so light
that buyers wanting material in
hurry may yet have to pay premium
to get what thew want.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06

bills were sold at 5A per cent and
ninety-day bills at 5 per cent show
ing an easier tendency.
The feature of the bank acceptance
market is the lack of now bills. That
is the difficulty Of the acceptance deal
er's business. When hanks want all the
bills he has to sell as they seemed
TO yesterday - he has only n few to
offer them and cannot find enough to
meet the demand; and when the de-
mand falls away bills seem to come in
from all over
The ease in call money, which YES
terday ruled at Az Per cent and de-
clined to AZ. is ascrbed to government
operations, probably return flow of
funds. AS no one knows what the GOV
enment Is going 10 do next. no one
ventures prediction on the future of
the call money market.
In regard to Director General Illness
assertion that the railroad administra
ton, IN view of the adjournment of
congress without providing the $3.50
100000 fund.- may for time be con
frontcd with the necessity for adop-
tion of radically different methods of
dealing with its financial Problems"
acceptance dealers think that trade
hcceptances might be desirable for the
purchase of coal and other consumabies
commodities. though. Of course. that
method of financing could find no place
IN furnishing funds for rails, bridges
and that permanent equipment which
includes the main part Of railroad cx-
penses.
The range of rates for commercial
paper continues unchanged from Tues
day and week ago as follows: Two,
three, four, five and six months ma
turtles 5H HM5H per cent
PrIme trade acceptances running
from fifteen to sixty days were 5GlbT
per cent. Sixty to ninety day accept
ances were bQQ5M. Indorsed trade nc
ccptances were ~ per cent for nil
maturities.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
TELEPHONES,
Beekman 8243
Beekman 5000
Wisconsin Banker
Predicts Era of
Great Prosperity

Oliver c. Fuller, president of r..
Wisconsin Trust Company. Milwaukase e
Wis, who was in New York yesterdsv'
looks forward to great period -
prosperity in the United States. wh;.I
IN his opinion, will last several vesra',
1t Is Mr.. Fuller's view that this nrns
perlty VIII not come until after reaS
Justments have taken place.
Mr.. Fuller, in expressing his oniniors
was very optimistic on the genera
business situation. He said that coS ~
dltlons in his section of the count,
are good and the business men looi.
brightly on the future VIVA
There is very little unemplovmer.
he said. Labor conditions were ma,
seriously disturbed during the war ana
largely Tor that reason conditions in
Wisconsin at present arc good he
added. ~
The major portion of the Wisconsin
soldiers who took part in the war ba
explained, are in the sd Division ana
this division has not yet returned ~
the United States. For this reason
there has not as yet arisen. to snv
great extent, the subject of finding cm,
ployment for the soldiers. Those few
which have come back, he said. hava
been given back the jobs which thev
held prior to entering the army.
He gave it as his opinion that in
order TO bring about readjustment in
labor and business conditions. thers
must also be a readiustment in prices
IN order to bring things to a success
iui conclusion. These things. Mr. Full
Ter said, go hand in hand aud one can.
not be adjusted without the other.
Mr.. Fuller pointed to the stronc
position of the United States which
mas been brought about to a great ex.
tent as the result of the war. Speak.
ing along this line, he pointed tn tba
large resources of the country. Monev
conditions are favorable in Wisconsin
said Mr.. Fuller. There has been No
change in rates from those recently
prevailing.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
Business Money

"A political depression" is the way
one banker describes conditions in the
commercial paper market. Brokers are
Offering him hardly any paper. which
means that business borrowing has
almost ceased. He meets with a
good deal of bitterness of COM
ment. Business men say that what
they want TO see most is the def
mite treaty of peace; that its alb
sence leaves them in uncertainty;
that in uncertainty they cannot go
ahead; that the league of nations idea
can wait; that the adjournment Of
Congress without passing necessary
legislation, the Presidents new depart
ure for Europe, his failure to call
an extra session, nave left in the air
and will leave in the air for some time
to come definite Knowledge of how the
railroad problem is ultimately to be
met, how reconstruction problems are
TO be dealt with, how the present en-
tanglements and uncertainties here are
10 De stra'ghtened out, and in this at
mosphere Oh uncertainty business men
hesitate to gC ahead. That is a polit-
icai view, and some bankers think it
merely a new excuse for the old hest
fancy; and tn, old hcsitancy was
based on the fear Of expectation Of
price declines, iuc to the cessation Of
war demand, e. factor over which polit-
ical conditions have negligible control.
One commercial paper house yester-
day could buy only three-quarters as
much paper az it sold. A business
house which it called up was asked how
business was. The house was busy
busy checking up goods that had come
back. duo to cancellation Of orders.
Rates for paper were not rccorda-
bly, changed.
There was better demand for trade
acccptances yesterday. Five month
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
A Millinery Surrey
5th Auenue
Highly Optimistic

The mesdames Gin sohle cases the
duct the Fifth Avenue millinery shops
are cheerful and buoyant. Most Of
them report that business is better
than ever, although prices for material
and labor are soaring II uncharted
oights. The customcrs, vino are i'll
tcrestcd chiefly in style and in individ-
uality, are paying the advanced
charges without very much srumblns.
A survey Of the shops of The avenue
revealed great activity. Inquiry
brought unanimous responses Chat
women were paying more shan ever
for their millinery, and that this
spring the designers were moving far
away from the simplicity and uniform
ity which obtained during the solemn
war years. Plumes and trimmings of
various kinds are being widely used
for the new Easter bonnets, and that
quite naturally, say the millners-
makes the hat-budgct Of customers
larger.
Several shopkccpers indicated that
trade in fine millinery is better this
season than ever before The mcr-
chants are passing on price increases
tc their customers, and seem in every
way happy. Once in a while the "bet-
ter class" of customer becomes in
dignant when the saleslady conhdcs
the price, and hagglng often results,
but, generally speaking, it was said
those who buy in the shops on the
avenue are more convcrsant With and
sympathetic toward the experiences of
the retailer in the wholesale markets
streets
These Fifth Avenue merchants sum-
married. the opinions of their custom
ers in regard to prices as follows:
Dave Lichtcnstein, of Lichtenc yein's,
5S4 Fifth Avenue: "The customers
don't want to pay any more than they
have been paying
Madame Scrposs, Of The Fifth Ave
'nue Shop, 353 Fifth Avenue: "Our Gus
toners do not complain about prices.
They understand conditions"
Miss Rosenau, of the Ufand Millin-
cry Company, GIG Fifth Avenue: eve
have very few complaints about prices.
We sell chiefly to our own trade, and
they realize that we are doing our best
under the circumstances.
Henry Reinhardt, president of Mai
son Maurice, 66l Fifth Avenue: "Our
customers understand conditions and
are satisfied that we are treating them
JUSTLY
NJ. Smarte, of Louise e. Co.. 554 Fifth
Avenue: occasionally our customers.
thinking prices too high, are tempted
to barter"
The Fifth Avenue view was that
prices would not recedc to the pre-war
level in millinery for a long time At
any rate, not unless labor and material
became cheaper. "Why should not Gus
toners pay more for hats" Mr.. Smarte
asked, with so much more money in
circulation than ever bcfore?"
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
Export Inquiries Cheer
Cotton Goods Dealers
Domestic Buying, Jobbers Say,
Is Confined to Small
Quantities

A better volume Of export business
was transacted in the market for cot
ton goods Yesterday, but domestic buv.
ing was relatively insignificant, being
confined to goods wanted immediately.
While some talk was nearc about in
terests other than the mills offerir o.
fabrics at attractive prices, commits
sion agents insist that as quotations
have gone down 33 l-3 to so per cent
since the high point of 1918, further
reductions are not probable. Leading
Jobbers say that they are making out
double the number Of bills they did
last year. This, they explain, is due
to small lot buying. Retail dealers
seem willing to pay the prices asked
by jobbers for small quantities of
goods, but when an offer is made to sell
them cases containing a number of
pieces they promptly want the jobber
to forego all profits.
Retail dealers in the agricultural
districts are said to acknowledge that
their stocks of choice fabrics are much
reduced. Centres that formerly nrof-
tied from the manufacture of mum
tlons seem to have suffered some loss
in trade.
CHINA, Greece and the Red Sea coun-
trles are sending in inquiries ror
coarse cotton goods and some small
sales, of shectings have been made
developments in the export trade are
deemed to be encouraging because they
probably foreshadow an enlarged de-
mand. Mill agents strongly assert that
1t would not take much Of an export
movement to absorb available supplies
or coarse cottons. Business of that
character IS conducted on a cash basis.
payments being made in New York.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
(5rlbune
9aXSerViCe
lou must make your first
payment on the income tax on
Or before March Is to take ad.
vantage of the instalment plan.

THE Federal rerenue law, under
nchich 1913 income is taxed, is in
some .espects a highly technical docu-
ment' and 1t has been further complicate!
66y rulings and interpretations of the
IfeaSury Department. The taxpayer nav
tnd at hard to ons,cer such questions
as now mach tar mast be paid, hoao to
pay the tar, hoao to fill in the forms on
~hach returns mast be made, to vhdt
eTfent, If any, an income is erempt from
the iepy: etc. The corporation may fnd
1t equally difficult to solve problems
connected acith ;he income, avar and
c1cess profits imposts.
ihe Tribune has therefore pyovided
this 70r Service Department. Through
the courtesy of the Guarcnty Trust
Company of NeU York.