-550-


 3, Salesmen in the industry should all receive uniform com-
 missions on gross sales in accordance with the following
 schedule:

 All merchandise sold up and to including $9.CO a dozen,
 64 commission on gross sales.
 All merchandise sold from $9.25 to $30.00 a dozen 71M
 commissions on gross sales.
 All merchandise sold from $31.00 to $72.00 a dozen
 10% commission on gross sales.
 All merchandise sold from $72.00 -per dozen and up, 12-4
 commission on gross sales.

 4. Salesmen should be guaranteed at least 9OL0 shipments on all
 confirmed orders bo.oked in their territories, except for
 conditions beyond the control of the manufacturers such as
 acts of God, strikes, et cetera.

 5. Salesmen should be given minimum drawings against commission
 of $35.00 a week to local city salesmen and minimum of
 $75.00 a week for road salesmen.

 6. Salesmen should receive 6 commission on all close outs,
 jobs, sample lines, et cetera.

 7. That salesmen be given monthly itemized statements in
 detail of all merchandise shipnned in their respective
 territories.

 Commissions must be brought bacic to former livable rates that
have prevailed from the inception of the industry. The old commissions
will not decrease the manufacturers' profit, for they should be figured
into the cost of the product. As a comparable example, we refer you to
the jewelry industry which is acknowledged as a kindred line, the
jewelry being bought in many instances by the same buyer, either in
the same department as handbags, or alongside and considered an accessory
and luxury equally as imoQrtant as handbags. Commissions in the costume
jewelry business have never at any time been decreased and range from 8%
to 150 plus, in spite of the fact that their volume has decreased even
to a much greater extent than handbags. Granting the above request will
not only aid and abet the manufacturer but will create a bigger business,*i
more employment, and cultivate closer ties of relationship between
salesmen and employer, iil

 The evils aforementioned have evolved out of the unfair practices I
which have been indulged in by many manufacturers. This is evidenced
by comparing the nresent commission rates as indicated by the annexed
schedule of the 32 representative manufacturers enumerated therein,
paying rates of commission comparable to those commissions paid prior
to 1929. A complete survey of the industry proves that the majority
of the manufacturers in the industry have been guilty of "chiseling"
with commissions for price cutting and other unfair trade practices.




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