Evening star., 1920-02-10
ASSERTS CLOTHING
PRICES MAY COUP

Retail clothing prices will not show
any decline under present conditions.
asserted Henry L. Rissman. clothing
manufacturer Of Chicago, addressing
Maryland and District of Columbia
Retail Clothiers Association at the
Raleigh Hotel today. On the contrary.
NJ. Rissman said. retail prices may
be expected to go higher, as produc-
ton costs all along the line are not
expected to reach their peak until the
coming fall. and further increases in
the cost Of producing clothing must
of necessity be reflected in advanced
retail prices
partment OF Justice in its investiga-
ton Of clothing prices had found no
evidence of profiteering, and he said
the reason for that was that there
was none.
"HiEh Prices to stay"
High prices Of clothing" he said.
ARE with US to stay. No reductions
are possible. because the factors Of
ir.m increased ed cost snnen extsnd all I'll the way
through the weaving of the fabric.
the dyeing and shrinking. cutting.
tailoring and every phase of the
clothing industry. To reduce prices
would mean reduced wages to labor
in all of these lines. and the process
to contemplate.
reductions might be effected by
abolishment of many of the taxes.
such as income. excess profits. etc.
levied by the government: but this is
something that apparently is not 60
ing to occur. II a program Of paying
for the war in fifty years were adopt
ed, repeal of many Of the staggering
taxes might be possible; but it ap-
pears to be the idea to pay the cost
of the war In ten or fifteen years.
THE greatest single factor in pres
ent prices of clothing is the labor
cost. which has gone up in many
branches as much as 800 per cent
above prewar scales. This increase
in production cost cannot be over
come. because the only way to over
come it would be to reduce wages,
and that is thing that cannot be
considered
Mr. Rissman's conclusions. based on
manufacturing conditions and knowledge
of supplies, markets, etc. throughout
the country. he said. were that further
increases might be looked for and that
the peak would not be reached in all
probability, before next year.
Urxes stabilizinG Prices.
Herman J. Calm of Baltimore. presi-
dent Of the association. in his address
of welcome, urged members to extend
the membership and influence of the or
ganization to the end that further CO.
operation between the various branches
might tend toward stabilizing prices and
improving qualities.
Organized only one year ago. the
association has about forty members
in Washington. Baltimore. Cumber-
land, Frederick. Hagerstown and
other Maryland points. About thirty
Ave of the members attended the con-
vention.
After luncheon. which was served
in the oak room of the Raleigh Hotel.
addresses were made by Joseph katz
of Baltimore, who spoke on How to
Advertise to Men; by Isaac Cans Of
this city, whose topic was the general
outlook in the retail clothing busi-
ness. and an address by Charles ].
Columbus, secretary of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association. ON
the value Of good appearance.
Committees Are Named.
Committees were named at the
morning session as follows:
Nominations-M. Falk. Baltimore:
Julian Hecht, Baltimore; Leonard
Goldheim. Baltimore: Sidney West
and Samuel Lovelaoe. Washington.
Membership-M. II. Goodman. Bal
timore: Clarence Grosner. this city;
NJ Falk and T. Kaufman, Baltimore.
Resolutions Jonas Hamburger,
Baltimore; Isaac Cans. this city. and
Harry B. Dorsey. Frederick.
This afternoons business included
reports of committees. election Of offi-
GERS and selection of the place for
holding the next convention. 1t was
Raleigh Hotel tonight Representative
Frederick H. Zihiman Of Maryland
10 to be the speaker.