New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-19
Associations Assert Inter-
change of Information Is
Not Used to Maintain Ar.
tificial Level; Many Views

Business men IN this locality yester-
aev rose to defend themselves against
shs criticism leveled at them by the
rsderal Trade Commission, which in
spccial report to President Harding
ssserted that retailers were holding
ns;ees unduly high and that open.
rrice associations among manufactur-
srs were responsible for artificial
price levels.
throughout the retail trade there
Gas disposition to regard the criti-
eisu, as entirely unjustifcd. General
ststements were made that retail
nrices have fallen in line with whole
ssle prices, and in some cases have
cone below wholesale quotations. Also
Nat the spirit of competition for bust
nsss is now so keen that profiteeriny
Il not only unlikely, but actually i'm
possible.
tons among manufacturers deny that
the interchange of prices, production
and sales statistics Is used for the
suppose of sustaining prices at arti-
kcial levels. They add that such work
as uniform cost accounting and the
exchange of information concerning
production has in the past received
The approval Of the Federal Trade
Commission. "The attitude, of the
commission on this point" said one
association secretary yesterday, ZAP
psrently changes with the personnel
Of the commission. We are now con-
demned for doing the very thing the
commission advised and approved not
20 long ago"
Before Supreme Court
The legality of open-price associa-
tons is now being contested in suit
before the Supreme Court.
Speaking for the retail trade, Sol.
Starr, merchandise manager for Op-
penheim Collins & Co., said that re-
tail prices in general are down from
70 to rs per cent from the peak
reached early last year, and that this
- as great drop as has been reflected
IN the wholesale trade "Competi-
,ion," he added. will not permit of
profteering now"
DR.. Paul Nystrom, of the Retail Re-
search Association, an organization of
more than a score Of department
stores throughout the country which
interchange statistical information, as
serted that the well-known economic
in the retail trade to-day to the exclu-
sion of any artificial methods of max
ing prices. "Retail prices" he said,
have been lowered consistently with
demand and with market prices"
Denies Application
Franklin Simon, head of Franklin
Simon & Co., and president of the Ma
.ional Garment Retailers Association,
declared that tho commissions state
ments could not be applied to the gar
ment retailers. prices of garments"
he said, "are normal, both at whole
sale and retail, as far as they can be
under existing circumstance. Retail
ers' profits are normal. They are
marking their goods on small mar
gin of profit"
"While should not like to contra
dict the statement of the Federal
Trade Commission" said Samuel
Bloomingdale, of Bloomingdale Broth
srs, "still l feel certain that depart
nsnt stores readily adjusted them
selves to the new conditions, and
where wholesale prices have come
down they were truly reflected in the
retail selling prices. ] have no doubt
rs to this. Prices to-day are from 30
TO 80 per cent lower than they were
last wear. A fair opinion may be
v.iusd from the following: