Evening star., 1922-09-29
NO RISE IN PRICE
OF CLOTHES NOW
Head of Travelling Statesmen
Says Tariff Will Affect
Market Next Year.

The new tariff rates on wool should
cause no increase in the cost of mems
clothing this season. 4. NJ. Loeb,
president of the National Council of
Travelling SaleSmen's Associations,
declared here yesterday. because, he
explained. mos: of the suits, over
coats. etc. on the market now were
cut from goods affected by the old
Underwood tariff, which was lower
than either the recent emergency
tariff or the new duties.
The cost of mems clothing probably
will not be raised appreciably before
next spring. MIR. Loeb said. but at
that time. he added, Il rise may be
expected on account of the higher
import duties i'll the present tariff:
official notice was taken by high
officials of the Treasury yesterday
OF advertisements by merchants and
manufacturers that an immediate
rise in the cost of mems suits was
necessary because of high duties of
the new tariff. Although the gov
ernmen. cannot regulate the price
of marketable goods. officials stated.
there will be no chance of clothing
merchants and manufacturers hold
ing up u higher price this season. be-
cause the rates in the new tarlf are
lower than the recent emergency
tariff Competition will be so stiff,
it was said, that merchants who try
TO boost their prices will be undercut
SO severely that they will be unable
to hold their trade, unless it Is a
highly exclusive trade willing to pay
higher prices under the misappre-
hension that it is getting a>better
article.
Import Duties Lower.
Import duties are actually lower
now. il was pointed out. than they
slightly higher than they were under
! the Underwood tariff.
| There has been a considerable in
crease IN the volume OF business in
mems clothing throughout the
country. according to Mr.. Loeb, but
women's wear has realized no such
boom. S. II. Liberman. first vice
president of the National Council of
Travelling Salesmen's Associations
said.
This strange difference was not
brought about so much by prices. Of
fcials Of the council agreed, but by
the fact that men of the country had
| denied themselves much longer than
women in the matter of purchasing
new clothing.
| "A man." said Mr.. Loeb, will deny
1 h lmSelf ne" CIOlneS. DuI VIII eii-
courage his wife and daughter to go
| ahead and buy. He does not have the
heart to deprive them of what he
| willingly denies himself. AS con-
| sequence the men of the country had
allowed their wardrOhcS to depreci-
! ate to the point where they had to
buy, whereas the women OF the fam
| ily, who were much better supplied.
| have not had to increase their pur-
| chases.''
! The recession in prices of mems
clothing has been about 35 to 40 per
| cent since the fall of 1920, officials of
| the council said.
General Business Report.
| Reports from all branches Of busi-
ness will be made at the annual con-
yentien for travelling statesmen Of the
| country at Cincinnati october 9, 10
| and IL, under auspices of the ma
tional council, Mr.. Loeb said.
| In company with William G. Adams.
! managing director, and Samuel Blum
f, berg, counsel for the National Coun-
! Gil. Mr.. Loeb and Mr.. Liberman, were
| here yesterday to present the argu-
| ment of travelling statesmen for an in
Interchangeable mileage book in 4
| hearing before the Interstate Com
| merce Commission. Statesmen ask for
a 33 Ia per cent reduction from the
Irregular rate, under an act signed by
| the President August IS, concerning
| mileage books, while railroads have
been protesting against any reduction
at all. The statesmen, Mr.. Loeb