152 WOMEN’S MUSLIN-UNDERWEAR INDUSTRY. 
A reliable manufacturer said that the practice of receiving presents 
and accepting entertainment is due not to the buyers, but rather to 
the manufacturer himself, who has brought about this state of affairs. 
Competition has always been very keen and salesmen started enter- 
taining buyers when they came to the city to keep them away from 
competitors. This has become a custom, and buyers have come to 
expect it. 
White-goods sales and immediate delivery.—Several manufacturers 
stated that, in order to retain their help and keep their factories run- 
ning, they would take orders at a loss to make up garments for the 
January and February and for the May and June white-goods sales 
at department stores. The following is a statement made by a 
A on the subject: 
Manufacturers really make up new goods for semiannual sales of retailers. These 
sales are usually in January or February and May or June. They are supposed to be 
sales of left-over goods at reduced prices, but really much of the goods is new. 
Another manufacturer said: 
Another difficult problem to battle with is that of immediate delivery, which is 
very difficult on account of the continual change of styles and the utter impossibility 
of making up a large staple stock, but which is demanded now more than in former 
years. 
Cancellations.—In this branch of the clothing industry, as well as 
in most other branches, manufacturers make bitter complaints about 
unjustifiable cancellations of orders and returns of goods. This prac- 
tice occasions censiderable losses to manufacturers, but as a rule 
they are reluctant to take a decided stand against it. Many of them 
in to have merchandise thrown back on their hands rather than 
take the risk of losing the trade of a good customer. The subject is 
one of much difficulty, but steps toward a solution of this io have 
been taken by the Cotton Garment Manufacturers of New York 
(Inc.). Early in 1914, this association, composed of muslin 
underwear manufacturers in Greater New York appointed a trade- 
abuse committee and adopted a by-law which pledges its moral and 
legal support to any of the association’s members who refuse to 
accept unjustifiable cancellations or returns. The by-law follows: 
Tt is hereby declared to be a rule and regulation of the association that no member 
of the association shall be required to accept a cancellation, from any customer, of any 
order for merchandise procured by such member, unless there is legal cause or justifi- 
cation for such cancellation. The trade-abuse committee, provided for and created by 
section 1 of this article, shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine complaints of 
members of the cancellation of orders by customers without reason, cause, or justifica- 
tion in law, and in its discretion may cause the claim and cause of action of any mem- 
ber against any customer so cancelling an order without reason, cause, or justification 
in law to be prosecuted at law against such customer at the expense of the association, 
the determination of said trade-abuse committee in all things to be subject to review 
by the board of directors or executive committee of the association. 
The report of the manager of the association for the year 1914 gives 
the following information: 
The number of members, all manufacturers of muslin underwear, 
was 94. During 1914 members reported 25 cases of unjustifiable 
cancellations and returns. Of these 25 cases, 11 were adjusted by 
the manager and counsel of the association and the firms that pur- 
chased the goods. The other 14 cases were submitted to the trade- 
abuse committee of the association. Six of these cases were not 
approved for prosecution, because there was no regular signed order, 
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