Show I 1 Timely Topics 1 I PROBLEMS OF THE RET RETAILERS I Certain of or the problems problems' which confront the ers were discussed at the tho annual meeting of or the National Dry Goods association The charge that retailers retailers' as a body are profiteers and that they resisted efforts to bring ring prices down to I lower levels is not novel The retailers have nave been able to make mak out a good case in their favor although it is I not nt that certain of or their number have bave not b been en without fault iri irl inthis this respect But the competitive character character char char- char I acter of their business and th the absence of any possible I price-fixing price combinations among them are of themselves I Ia a refutation The rhe retailers are agreed however th that t the cost of doing business as it is carried on is altogether altogether altogether alto alto- gether too high and makes necessary a larger up mark-up than Is desirable under existing conditions Aside altogether from the larger expenses which the retailers now have to meet because of high rents Increased wages and burdensome taxation they face a charge for service serice which is becoming more rather than less ess onerous All these things enter into the matter of the ho prices which mus must musj- be bo charged At different times in n various portions portions' of the country efforts have been had to make a separate item of this charge for service But it has not been successful In the larger centers except regard to foodstuffs In what are called neighborhood stores In the tho course of the l last st half century or so buyers buers have been educated up to the point of Insisting on conveniences which their forebears never ie had or desired The fact remains that every service rendered by a astore astore astore store costs something and those who expend the money must be reimbursed A X recognition of this hould should tend to Lo restrain some of the uninformed criticism which has been prevalent of late New New ew York Times |