davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Restriction of
Breeding Grounds
Cuts Fur Supply
Species Threatened
With Extinction as Will
derness Contracts and De-
mand for Pelts Expands

The onward march of civilization into
che wildnernesses of the world, in the
opinion of David Blustein, one Of the
largest fur dealers in the country,
forms a potent cause for continued
high prices for furs. Civilization, he
says, at one and the same time in
creases the demand for furs and de-
creases the available supply.
"The extension of communities and
farm clearings in the fur bearing sec
tions of this country and Canada, y
said Mr.. Blustein, "is slowly contract
ing the areas in which wild animals
run and breed Some Of the muskrat
and skunk sections of our Northern
states are almost trapped out now.
The high prices that have been obtained
tor furs during the last few years have
increased the number of trappers and
their trapping activities and has left
less than the normal number of ami
mails for breeding purposes. This ten
lency, if continued long enough, will
wipe many species of furs out of ex-
istence The Federal government
should pass national laws restricting
trapping activities and cutting down
the open seasons for the protection and
preservation of fur bearing animals"
In addition to this decrease in the
available supply of Yurs, according to
Mr.. Blustein, the demand for fur gar
ments is increasing at an alarming
rate. SO good has been the fur bust
ness that the number of skin dealers
in New York has increased from about
100 to 1900 within the last five years.
Similar increases have been made in
ne fur manufacturing industry and in
he retailing end of the trade.
"Little towns" continued Mr. Blu
stein, "now support retail furriers who
handle the best grades of garments.
Hudson seal coats are worn by farmers
wives. Reports from all sections of the
country showed that 1919 was the best
year the fur industry ever has expert
enced. This was largely because of the
fashionable position occupied by furs,
a position from which they never will
be shaken. New buyers appeared to
take the place of those who declined
to pay the augmented prices"
Mr.. Blustein made it plain that he is
not predicting a steady rise for all
classes of furs, or even a continuance
of some of the prices that have been
reached. "Undoubtedly there will be
ecessions in prices here and there
he said, "due to accumulations of over
supplies now and then or a change in
styles. For instance, if black furs be-
came the height of fashion, mink and
other brown furs, which cannot readily
be dyed black, would fall into the dis
card and prices accordingly would be
lowered. Furs always will have their
fluctuations, but the general tendency
will be to remtin on a high price level
for the reasons I have Indicated"
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Economics of Labor
Salient Conclusions Of a Famous
Economist and Statistician

At the end of an extensive study Of
wages and labor questions in general,
made for the Bankers Statistics Cor
poration by Professor Willford /. King,
noted economist and statistician,
gives the following as his conclusions:
/. The laboring class is powerful
enough to seize anything it desires. 1t
will overturn existing institutions un-
less it comes to understand that it
would injure itself oy SO doing.
2. Labor is commodity, and wages,
like other prices, are determined en-
tirely by supply and demand.
5. The present regime of high
prices and wages is due wholly to cur
rency imitation and not at all to in
creased demand for nor decreased sup
ply Of goods.
4. Wages are little slow and sal
aries very slow in responding to
changes in the volume of circulating
medium.
5. Laborers are divided into nom
competing groups-hence there never
has existed such a thing as common
interest for laborers as a whole.
g. Differences in natural ability will
always prevent labor from becoming
homogeneous.
7. Merit, skill, disagreeableness of
work, etc, do not affect wages directly
but only in so far as they make labor
of a given class abundant or scarce.
s. Wages are high in countries where
natural resources, education and or
ganizing ability are abundant in pro-
portion to the labor supply.
8. Property income is not necessarily
unearned income.
10. The income of the propertied
classes when squandered for luxuries
is lost to labor; when invested it tends
to make wages high.
II. If laborers confiscated the prop
erty of the wealthy they would thereby
lower their own wages.
-. Tariff walls tend to make wages
low.
13. Minimum wage laws tend to in
jure labor by producing unemployment.
IA. Too short or too long hours di-
minish production.
Is. Unionism benefits limited classes
of laborers, but cannot raise the av-
erage wage level.
16. The general wage level can be
raised only through
(a) Restriction of immigration.
(b) Education.
(c) Increased efficiency of laborers.
(d) Reduction of the birth rate
among the unskilled classes.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Apparel

Manufacturing mems clothiers at
their convention here last week were
optimistic when discussing the fall
selling season, which will begin in an
other month or two. The manufac-
turers discussed methods of prevent
ing further price raises, Of stabilzing
tho market through guaranteed prices
and of educating the public through
wide advertising campaign in the
reasons for present prices. Definite ac-
tion on these plans will be taken at a
later date.
Retailers of women's apparel con-
tinued their policy of buying spring
goods with the utmost caution. This
tendency is apparent to the entire
trade, and at special meeting of one
of the leading associations of dress
manufacturers the garment producers
were urged to avoid anticipating a
great demand and bringing about an
overproduction such as the market saw
in the fall season just passed
Some buyers for retail stores insist
that manufacturers have offered price
concessions within the past week, but
no manufacturer could be found who
would admit such action.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Business Troubles
iu Bankruptcy

The petitions In bankruptcy filed IN the
United states District Court Saturday were
as follows
D. Fl. MERTENs COMPANY, INC
Voluntary petition by d. II. Mertens Com
pany. Inc. of 443 West Fiftyfourth Street.
Liza blities are $10,954 and the assets 81 o1o
Principal creditors are: II. Schiner's Sons
s4e3 White Burbank Paper Company
31,7S5; Stern-Picard Company. 1852. Peti-
toner's attorney Is Carmine A. Paharo. 81
Chambers Street.
JOSEPH TESTA-Joseph Testa. OF 47o0
White Plains Road. Liabilities are $500
and no assets. Principal creditor is
Ebling Brewing Company, $500 Petit
toner's attorney is William W. Penfeld.
4523 White Plains Road.
YANKEE PRODUCTS CORPORATION
Involuntary petition against Yankee Prod
ucts Corporation OF 20 Nassau Street Lila
blities and assets are not stated. Prir-
cipal creditors Roger l. Sherman.
s2,5Oo: Ramon Valerz. $3.50; Raymond
Smith. 1854. Petitioners attorneys are
Gardner s. White. 141 Broadway.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Million Asked
To Refund Tax
Overpayments
Governments Illegal Collec.
tions During Last Seven
Years Are Estimated 9,
More Than S1OO,O 600. 600
Watson Urges New System
Says Public Wants Income
Form They Can Make Ont
Without Aid of an Exnert
From Tho Tribune,s washtna.o. Rur.a.

From Tho Tribune's Washington. Bu,.o.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Gas the ~.
suit Of an investigation by Represents
tive Henry w. Watson, of Pennsylvs-
MIA, the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue has asked Congress for an an
preparation Of $1,00O,O00 to reimbuTs.
in part illegal collections of incoms
taxes during the last three years. This
amount does not fully reimburse tbs
taxpayers, as Mr.. Roper informed M
Watson that the illegal collections last
year reached S8,00O,00O
In the opinion of Mr.. Watson. hssea
upon investigations, the overpaynents
in the last seven years may exceed
$1OO000,O00. The exact amount can
not be determined, as according to ths
revenue officers the lack of clerical
force and auditors has made it limos.
sible to examine and judicate the tbon.
sands Of claims for overpayment.
Only those claims where errors have
been discovered by the auditors them.
selves have been settled, according to
Mr.. Watson.
Discussing this condition, Mr.. Wat
son said:
country have given their unoualiSad
Endorsement in favor of law less in
tricate than the present for making in
come tax returns, and a system hv
which taxes illegally collected and So
determined may be refunded Without
delay of special authorization and
appropriation by Congress. The execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill now
under consideration by the House pro-
vides for S1,000,O00 to be used in pay.
ment Of certified claims over thra.
years old. This is new provision, de-
veloped through the dissatisfaction OF
taxpayers. While it intends to relieya
those who have overpaid taxes and the
amount specified is in excess of that
determined, yet it fails to cover many
millions of dollars of claims not audit
ed and which cannot be reached within
the three-year limit because OF an in
sufficient number of trained clerks in
the auditing department properly to
examine the returns.
"Many instances have come to my a.
tention where the taxpayers have been
unable to obtain definite information
or consideration regarding taxes they
have overpaid.
"Taxes provoke more criticism than
any other public question. The reve-
nue. bill should provide simple form
ary tax returns, in order that every
taxpayer may make his return without
the aid Of an expert. Errors would
thus be greatly minimized. This would
not only reduce the number of clerk
ships in the Internal Revenue Depart
ment, but it would decrease its annual
expenses by millions of dollars. 1t has
been officially stated that the govern
ment has expended for a period Of six
months $18,000,000 in clerk hire to
audit in part the 100000 separate in
come tax returns. Public economy is
prudence, save where it waterlogs the
ship" y
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Wheat Price Rise
In Italy Laid to
Uneven Exchange
Great Accumulation of Grain
and Decreased Production
in America Is Noted
in International Bulletin

ROME, Feb. 22.-The bulletin Of the
International Institute of Agriculture,
issued Saturday, says that the uneven
exchange rates have raised the cost OF
American wheat from IL to rs per cent
since last December, and as result
have brought about a great accumula-
tion Of wheat in America and decrease
in production. Other countries gon-
orally show an increase in production.
The bulletin says:
Gas q consequence OF the disloca-
tion of rates of exchange, applicable
porting countries have to submit to an
increase in the cost at the port Of
shipment, varying from IL to 25 per
cent, according to the country of
and as compared with the
amounts payable in December last.
"This enhancement naturally acts as
q barrier to new business. America
with larger crop of wheat. in process
of distribution shipped nearly 1,000,-
months of 1919 than for the corre
spending period of 1918.
"Besides, the wheat stocks in the
hands of farmers, millers and dealers
were in January, 1920, larger by three
and three-Quarters million metric tons
than in January, 1919.
at is estimated that the American
stocks of rye also are 100000 tons
greater than last season.
"The cereal harvests of the Southern
Hemisphere were large. The yield of
barley in Argentina amounted to 240,-
900 tons, or 202 per cent beyond the
yearly average. This increase was
partly due to the increased area under
cultivation, this being 81 per cent over
the average, but it was chiefly the re-
suit Of the good season.
"No information has been received
about the actual yield in Chile, but 1t
is reported the wheat crop is in excel
lent condition and that other cereals
promise we'll
1.-THE area under wheat in America
has been much reduced, the area now
under crop being n per cent of last
year. Decreases in the area sown also
are reported from Spain, Rumania and
Egypt. While intensive cultivation has
occurred in France and Algeria, it is
most noticeable in British India, where
it is Is per cent more than last year.
Crop conditions are reported to be
fairly favorable in Belgium, Great Brit
ain, Ireland. Spain and Italy and average
in Egypt. The approaching harvest in
British India is expected to be good"
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
u. S. Chamber Protests
Cut i'm Trade Estimates
Curtailment of Appropriation
to Promote Business Abroad
Is Denounced

WASHINGTON, Feb. %. - Protest
against the action of the House Appro-
priations Committee in cutting the for
eign trade estimates of the Depart
ment of Commerce from 81 1853, 900 to
$480,000, was sent by the acting secre-
tary of the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States to-day to every mem
Der of the House.
The effect of the passage of the ap-
preparation bill as reported, it was said,
will be the elimination of the CONNER
cial attache system and curtailment
of the services of the Bureau of For
eign and Domestic Commerce.
No more inopportune time for the
curtalment of the services of CONNER
cial information could be found" the
Congressmen were told in the letter,
which was signed by d. A. Skinner.
While other countries are extending
and enlarging their facilities for Sc
curing foreign trade, the letter asserts
that American business men apparently
are to be hindered in obtaining their
share of international trade.
"The Bureau of Foreign and Domes-
tic Commerce." the congressman were
told, "has served to promote sound for
eign trade with participation by manu-
facturers and merchants Of moderate
and small size. 1t is needless to add
that the comparatively few large in
dustrial organizations Of the country
are themselves able to maintain such
systems of services of their own as
they may require abroad"
The services O. American commercial J
attaches stationed in foro;~, oo,o
tries would be terminated on June 80
if the committees recommendation is
accepted, Secretary Alexander recently
stated
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Dry Goods Convention

Dry goods and department store own
ers. assembled here last week for the
annual convention Of the National Re-
tail Dry Goods Association, were loud
in their denunciation Of wholesale mar
kets in textile and wearing apparel.
Many Of the retailers expect break
in prices soon. and one Of the principal
speakers urged a policy Of stopping
buying In order to check the rising price
tendency. While the retail business in
some sections of the country ,has shown
a slight slump lately, most Of the mer-
chants agreed that weather conditions
were chiefly responsible. However. tho
retailers were agreed that continua-
tion Of present prices or an advance
will lead to falling off in the volume
of trade.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
DIR. Buffers Ideas Said
To Dominate Platform
Campaign Manager Declares Re
publicans Utilized Candi-
dates Utterances

Justice John r. Davies, executive
head of the Nicholas Murray Butler
campaign committee, said last night
that the platform adopted by the New
York State Republican convention Fri
day was the work of Nicholas Murray
Butler, and that the principles stated
in that platform reaffirm the utterances
made in Mr.. Buffers public addresses
for more than year.
According to Justice Davies, the
platform planks on "The Industrial
Problem" "The National Budget Sys...
tenn" "The Federal Trade Commission"
"The Railroads." "Bolshevism VS.. De,
Nations League" were all suggestions
made by Mr.. Butler in public ad-
dresses.
at was these utterances Of Mr.. But
ler, dating back for year and half,
that attracted attention throughout the
nation and brought to New York the de-
mand from Western Republicans that
Mr.. Butler permit his name to be used
as a candidate for the Office of Presi-
dent of bhe United States" says JUS
tice Davis's statements.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
'sSOviet Ark" Returns Here
Transport Brings Army Officers
and CasuaIs From Antwern

The United States transport Buford,
known as the Soviet Ark" which took
Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman
Finland, arrived here yesterday with
forty-six United States army officers
and 293 casuals taken aboard at Ant
werp.
The Buford on her last eastward trim
went to Kiel, where she underwent re-
pairs, and later proceeded to Hango
where on January 19 she discharged her
passenger complement of undesirables,
who were entrained for the Russian
border, On her return voyage she
stopped at Brunsbuttel, Germany, and
took aboard her Homecoming soldier
passengers at Antwerp,
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Inherits Kennecott Copper

Question--A friend Of mine. woman,
holds sonc kennecott Copper stock which
believe she inherited. Do you think she is
wiser to- hold this or would you advise a
shift In her investment?-A G. M.
Answer--If your friend is dependent
upon the income derived from Kenne-
colt Copper stock we should say she
would do better to transfer this part
of her capital into some issue Offering
more Of an investment feature such as
United States Steel preferred, United
States Rubber preferred, Central
preferred, yielding from over 8 per cent
to 7 per cent. Copper shares are far
too speculative in character as rule
to be considered good investments.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Furs

Results at the London and New York
fur sales last week indicated that
dealers are growing more conservative.
Price advances on most furs were
slight In comparison with the sales
last fall and spring. Muskrat failed
to reach the high prices predicted by
many of the optimistic dealers. Many
of those who asserted that, the best
skins would reach $6 or 81 failed to bid
more than SIS for such skins.
Both abroad and here the lower grade
furs of each class were in better de-
mand than the high-grade pelts. At
the sales the skins classed as twos,
threes and fours advanced more in pro-
portion than the best skins
Tho new season among the whole
salers has not materialized yet, al
though new samples are being shown.
Manufacturing furriers are beginning
to lay in their new stocks, but are
buying as conscrvatively as they can.
Reduced prices among retailers who
are endcavoring to clear out their sea-
sons stocks continued during the week,
with good results, it was reported.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Interest Plus

Question-In holding stock on margin what
is the utmost legitimate interest Stock Ex-
change house can charge you in its monthly
statement of your account? On my account
for January they have interest at per
cent and underneath interest plus. Is this
legal? Often enough when money is cheap
they charge you full c per cent then how is
it when money is dear they charge per
cent and plus ID. X.
Answer - AS we understand it,
the broker may charge in excess
of per cent in just the same way that
the broker may be charged more than
per cent on his call loans. There
are really certain requirements under
this plan which are not always met.
In reality, it is largely matter of be-
ing a good sport. You cannot expect
your broker to pay an average of, say,
16 per cent for his money and charge
you only 6 per cent.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
FINANCIAL MEETINGS
THE MERCHANTS NATIONAL
BANK Of the CITY Of new YORK

NOTICE as HEREBY GIVEN that at a
meeting OF the shareholders OF The Aer.
chants National Bank of the City Of New
YORK. held ON January N3, 1920, it wss
determined to take suen proceedings ~
may be necessary or convenient to or
Kanize this Banking AssociatioI. a. an ln.
corporated bank Of che State Of NsH
York by the name Of The Merchants Bank
Of tho City Of New York: and also tha!
when this Bank shall have been organizes
81 an incorporated bank OF the State OK
New York proceedings be taken to merge
It with the President snd Directors OF the
Manhattan Company.
BY order of the Board OF Directors
o. Il. PAINTER, Cashier.
Dated New York. January 13. 1890.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Wrangel Replaces Denikine
Moscow Also Reports White
Fleet Has Joined Soyiets

LONDON, Feb. pa Moscow wire
less message says that Denikine's fleet
in the Caspian has joined the Soviets.
General Baron Wrangel has replaced
Denikine in chief command of the
White army.
General Mamontoff, made famous by
his raids in the Tambov and Voronezh
provinces last summer, has died Of
spotted fever at Ehaterinodar
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
COttOns

Dullness continued to prevail last
week in the primary cotton goods mar
ket, with prices remaining at the lev
els of the previous week. Out-of-town
retailers we're in the market for goods
for immediate delivery, but their or
ders were small and gave little encour
agement to sellers that a renewed ac
tivity might be expected. Their de-
mands were centered mainly on house
hold cottons, including towels, sheets.
pillow cases, etc. The garment manu-
featuring trade is buying extremely
lightly, with the possible exception of
shirt maQufacturers, who are taking
all the satin faced goods they can get
to substitute for the higher priced
silks, which have gone beyond reach,
according to some shirtmakers.
Retailers assert that higher prices or
even continuation of present prices
throughout the year will bring disaster.
Large jobbers are inclined to think that
prices of cotton goods have reached their
peak, and several of them have declared
openly that they have stopped placing
future commitments for goods.
to arrive in this country. In some quar-
tors English competition is feared, but
the majority Of mill agents believe that
the demand for English goods at home
and Europe, which has resulted in
British mills taking on orders that will
keep them busy for some time, will pre-
vent large amount of goods from COM
ing here.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
a,ass.so
606.60
2s..s4
26s.ss
%7.73
Cotton Exports Set Record

Exports Of domestic raw cotton in
November reached the total Of 47s.545.-
3S7 pounds. or 942,751 bales, invoiced at
$181,S09,2 ,272. or an average price per
pound of $0.S79. This constituted, with
regard to value. the greatest transac-
tion in any single commodity for one
month In the history of American sx-
port trade.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
Coins Made Out of CARTRIDGES

The crudest makeshift coins used
during or in consequence of the World
War are some German East African
pieces made out of cartridge metal. On
one side is the denomination. and on
the other 1915 D. O. A" (Duitsch Ost
Afrika).
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
DIVIDEND NOTICES
GREEN BAY e. WESTERN RATIR0A7
CnNInAZN -

Tho Board Of Directors has flxed and
declared Five Per Cent. to be the amonnt
PAYABLE on Class Debentures. a diyidend
or rive Per Cent. to be payable on tho
capitai STOCK. and one-eighth of One Per
q Deoentures, out of the net earnings for
ne stea year 1919. payable at No. 40 wall
street. New York. on and after Fehrnarv
"a. 1920. The dividend on the stock vii,
be paid to stockholders OF record at the
close OF business February 90 1920.
Dated February s. 1926
c. w. cox. Treasurer.
New-York tribune., 1920-02-23
investment
Information

Questions Of osmerul intsrsst 70
iwvsstors >ciu Be onswsred In this
ceismm, IN sohiok case only initials
spiu be used. Others .c;ll b an.
swered BY mail. Addrsse all ix-
qxi.iss, inolosim0 a stamped, 3D.
dssssed envelope 20 Fimancial Editor,
The Tribune. 15I NassoM Strest. Ne.e
York City.