Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-07
promnt PAYMENT of Bills.


Why does bot every mechanic. when he per
forms 4 lob and every store-keepcr, when he sells
a parcel OF goods, send bil' TO he Delivered win
the article or upon the finishing OF the Job! iie
would And this advantage in II, that many bills
would be paid promptly on delivery which by ",
inp over for six months. are frequently left unpaid
because they come mt time when the demands
upon the debtors purse makes ii announcement or
impoesible 10 paw The mass OF mankind earn
the money they expend by wages received from
week to week. While the money is in hand, 1t Is
more convenient and easy Ia pay OF bulls us last
as they are contracted. This keeps the honest
man out of debt, and leaves him always in the po-
siton of knowing how he stands. or OF making 1t
more easy for him 10 meet any extraordinary OK
penditure which necessity may require But ny
postponing the day of payment Tor three, or SIX
months, the obligation to pay Is not SO pressing
upon him as the qualification OF some immediate
want or pleasure hence the money which should
discharge his debts is by the mprovdent or reck-
less, wasted away and. when paydny comes, he is
unprepared to NEE, it. We have no doubt that
every mechanic in Philadelphia has lost consider
able money, earned by hard toll, from tins very
fact. and store-keeprrs make allowances annually
of SO much loss for g bad debts.
Now, If mechanics and dealers we're invariably
to send bill upon the delivery Of goods, or the
finishing Of Job, it would enable those who de-
sire to pay promptly, and there are many such,
to do no at once. But the custom Is Ia keep the
purchaser ignorant Of the amount TIL he i"rTc's
the nature Of the job. or the articles delivered
Hence disputes spring up. litigation Is promoted.
and the dishonest avail them elves otcycry eHen'"
to ovoid the payment Of the drp'. Whereas prompt
paymeut would avoid all differences Of this kind,
and leave both parties in the position TO continue
their tran sactions with each other with nj any APP
preheu.on Of los. I, the hanp~t purchaser this
prompt payment is as much mater OF moment
rs il is to the creditor OF course no business ran
be carried on at r loss. The debts which are left
unpaid by the dishonest or reckless customer, has
t. be liquidsted by the honest debtor Hence IN
the price charged upon goods and service, tpcre-
nv purchaser under this long credit system. is IN
cluded the cost Of tho bad debts liable IA he in
CURED. The individual. therefore. who honestly
intends paying his own debts, Is also saddled with
the debts Of the dishonest creditor. who meant not
to pay when be- ordered The service. or goods. The
long credit Evs.em iii these small transactions rs
certainly, then, benefit - any one except those
who ought no. I, be benefited hy NJ the expense
Of the honest man. And il bills were always sent
in a. soou as the debt was contracted, this PERM
cous system would soon be broken up. Every
individual, therefore. who intends to pay his
debts, should ak for his bill at once. and every
individual who wishes to be paid for his labor or
his goods, should furnish them an asking or even
sooner. The bills should always accompany the
goods. This would afford the receiver an opror-
tunity to correct errors. would avoid Disputes and
remind the purchase Of the amount due, and
would promptly be responded TO Ia many cases.
where payment otherwise ma. he never mnde-
Philadelphia Ledger.