The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-09-02
The Merchants Proteet;uo VI

kpn~.n tsst IS re STANDING cRrb1T
shments s spsne are in the city Of New
ihefeai agencies" "nerean,;. s'.tntions, corr
| uie SUPPOSED TO have great influence which
H. or Preudicng the standing a ae,aai power
business men throughout the ITn;on ana credit ~
own secret agents in nearly arery ~. haVng tbei
ana az almost every eross-road in ~ fos,h, village
nreaaeh o. the whole land these concerns and
interviewer Ms'h the whole nercartile ays become
country Every merchant, trader 80 y stem Of tia
eanher, whether likely not to make and
e 70 ask for credit in of the PRINCIPAL on time
4 esir business : full
respecIapllity standing, are published and, means
private habits are detailed andopen tn uu even bis
their customers So complete and thoroni inquiry Of
81 espionage as these concerns have eFerrs system
tended, is probably unknown even IL ,b.J Where e.
tpartments OF France or Austria Wv eoice de.
Soslong as business shall continue IL r.,
the credit system, establishments Of zone upor
probably continue to exist in some form, lure will
butthe mode in which they have hean " Smother.
namely printing books reports in MI
thousands OF business denoted hr az lens Of
or an asteriss an Interrogation point "a ~
some similar marx, sgnifying that the part VI soma
Gated IS " not recommended for credit ~ 80 md
customer should inquire the oice"-nnu. mat the
OF recent decisions in SANDER and libel suits 10 View
/ rally modified. '' De nate
Those establishments with their npr,o,.
stana;ng behind long rows of desks, on wboS Clerks
derors rolInes wherein can be learned ST. NC pom
er true or false, 1T every merchant in any Yesh
country whatever wiz probably modify then lhe
or pass away-the liability IN view of recent
to SANDER suits arising out of tder operations haa
too heavy to incur. 'iag
In the mercantile agency case of Beardslev saa;...
Tappan, the plaintiff recovered ten thousand d 9HalA
and upon motion for new trial. made baforas
United States Circuit Court for the Southern M NE
of New York, the Hon. Samuel Nelson ono D rs
abest Justices Of the Supreme Court has delivered US
opinion denying the motion, holding thu the nnbi:sn
given to information depreciatory Of the standin
Character of merchants, by recording the ;bs sao
words in book, deprived the communication Of ~
oI,n
opinion that that to legalise these establishments. q
the aud to the extent used by the defendass n
placing one portion of the mercantile commnn;t ~
der the organised system of espionage and inouis;
for the benefit OF the other exposed from the yerv
.ture of the organisation to perverson and abuse
With the view of obViating the Objectionable features
of the former systems company, with capital stool
of $500 600 dvdedinto $40 shares has been orva;s
and incorpated under the laws Of the State Of N
York, under the title of "The Merchants prosectire
Union" on a basis which to be free from Tho
evils difficulties, and embarrassments under which
those heretofore existing have labored. y
The plan adopted by the Merchants Protective Tn
ion. though analogous in particulars to that oF
the establishments above referred to- yet differs in srat
fuaterial respects not to be amenable to the ohi
tioos urged against them, the main points of diferep
being the following 70 - -
First All necessary Information as to the pecunia,r
responsi Sty or financial condition and STANDING of
business m WILDE based apan the written statemenf
of the parties themselves ar as attanabe-to h
furnished at e;tst twice year. to agents of the Unn
examining and revising such statements when deemed
; and, where same can not be obtained from
the parties themselves by of their deenpoor
refusing to furnish it, such Information viii be suppAd
by the reliable and responsible correspondents Of the
whose will also be published in the
Mercantile Reference Reports, to be issued every sir
months. The character of its correspondents the
publicity thus given to their connection with the organ.
isation will prove sufficient guarantee of the correct
ness of the information thus obtained and the jusicb
of the reports furnished by them. There will be Moth
n
the ratings and markings of the credit and eapaOf
business menthere will be no futile prohibition tothe
effect that such information shall never in any wav
be communicated to the persons reported'-thers viii
be nothing that may not be exposed to the light fGay
Second-The reports and information furnished by.
the Merchants Protective Union will be confined to,
those who considered worthy of credit OF some
grade; and the names of none who can not be recon-
mended for some line degree of credit will be men
toned or in any way referred to-.
1t is believed the above pan adopted after consul
tation with of the ables counsel in nearly every
State, will avoid the evils of those heretofore in opera
ton will be productive of no harm will work sub
stantia justice to all and will at the same time fur.
nish reports more truthful and complete, and there
fore of much greater value any previously issued
twill be seen, from their announcement in another
column, that IN September the Merchants Protective
Union will publish in one large quarto volume the
Mercantile Reference Register, containing among 9th
er things, the names nature Of business amount Of
capital, financial standing and rating as to credit Of
over 100000 of the principal merchants traders bank
of the cities, towns villages, and settlements
throughout the United States their territories the
British Provinces of North America; and embracing
The most important information attainabe and neces-
sary to enable the merchant to ascertain at glance
he capital character, and degree of credit of such
customers as are deemed worthy of any graduation Of
,redlt with Newspaper Directory, Containing the
tile, character, price, and place of publication VITA
ull particulars relative to each journal being com
,lete guide to the press of every county the United
States. '--.-
By aid of the Mercantile Reference REGISTER husi.
less men will be enabled &c ascertain at glance the
capital and gradation of credit as compared with fnan-
'ia worth, OF nearly every merchant, manufacturer,
raider, and banker within the above-named eeoeraph
cal limits. The price of the work is $50
Those wishing for more information the subject
If mercantile agencies will find the question fully and
ably discussed in July issue of the Mouhy Chron
Gle of the Merchants Protective Union. The pamphlet
contains in addition, very interesting details as to The
operations of the former and existing agencies and
list of legal correspondents throughout the United
States 1t may be had gratis, by writing to tile Aer-
chants Protective Union, 12s Broadway BOX $685.,
NeW York. s