Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-08-18
From Scribners Monthly.l
THE VICES OF BUSINESS.
Some of the ''Ways that are DARK, i'm
Trade and Public Affairs.

Two suggestive incidents will introduce TO
our readers a vice OF business which ought to
be reformed before it assumes the magnitude
and uLiversality which it is sure to achieve,
unless efficient steps are taken TO arrest its pro-
gress.
INCIDENT No IA builder of furnaces was
called upon recently to name price for heat
ing large structure in large city. He offer
ed to put in his apparatus for $50 900. After
repeated cnnversa ions with sundry persons in
terested in the contracts, he was told that the
man who should secure the job would be Obliged
to pay a percentage to them--in this case
amounting to 80 COO the bill, of course to be
rendered in 'ch furm as to make him party
to the rau- upon the owners of the building.
He told them that he wanted,tbe job, bnt that as
he also had desire to go to heaven when lie
died, he was afraid he should be obliged to de-
cline their conditions. He also suggested
that he should like to bid for the job with others,
and was informed that not a single contract on
the building had been given to the lowest bidder.
Then he was politely bowed out Of the presence
of the gentleman who could not use him He
went home, and as an experiment sent them
proposal IN put 10 his apparatus for S25 ,0C0,
From this he never heard; aud some man with
more convenient conscience got the con ract AID
gave the percentage.
Incident No IA piapo-forte manufacturer
sod an instrument, at his regular retail price,
10 Il genteman of New York. Within forty eight
hours he was called upon by three musicians
every one of whom demanded his percentage up
on the sale OF tue piano, claiming that il was
bought upon his Recommendation. The pur-
chaser, to make sure of getting the best nsru.
ment, had separately Consulted all these men,
aud they had agreed on This maker. The Ie ult
was, that the maker paid each mIn the am unt
of his claims and said nothing, though lie part
with considerable more than his profits on the
piano forte. When asked by the friend to whom
he tnld the story why he submitted to such an
-. - L
do Other Use; that /; ne had refused to respond
these exactions the musicians would have turu
ed against him, and transferred their recummen-
datiOns to other m ikerS.
The way ia which corporations are bled by
the eeches that fasten upon them is notorious.
The men in respectable society, who regard
corporation as the legitimate subject of plunder
are to many 10 be counted. Tax payers and
Stockholders part annually with untold millions
to Oil the purses Oi these dishonest men, and
the mouths of their mcnddcious servants aud
tools. There are States in the Union in which
the public conscience hns become utterly de-
m1raliZsd in relation to this particular matter
Where every corporation, including Mutual Life
Insurance Companies and Savings Banks, is in
some was "sweated' by thuse who have the
management Of its concerns. In most instances
this result is achieved under The cover of law;
bat, in some, gigantic robbenes are effected by
the purchase not only Of the officers, but of the
makers of the law.
This process can not long 60 on, Of course,
without such sOphistlcdi1n of the popular
conscience that private trusts will be as little
regarded as those which are corporate an pub
lie. Indeed, it has already produced its prop.
er fruit, as the incidents we have cited show,
Men are everywhere seeking for money which
they do not earn. 1t is likely that the piano
forte dealer is much 10 blame for his bond
age to the musicians rs they are. lie may
have invited their patrnnl &C. indeed, and prom
ised them their pay, bullt Is all wrong, and the
money comes out Of the consumer in the long
run. The price Of everything must be RAISED
that tribute may be paid to thuse who are in
position to exact or steal it. II we go on at the
present rate We shall soon be no whit behind
our European neighb0Ts, whose servants ara
bribed by butchersand bakers, and who demand
their Shrink money" for every service, in add
tOn to their legitimate wages. Every man who
coDnives at this mode of doing business is not
only voluntary, but a meanly mercenary, cor
ruptOr Of the people.
There is no question that IN this matter Of
personal honesty America has refrigerated with
IN the last ten years The rich corporation and
the rich man are come to be regarded bg trades
men and laborers alike as sources of money
which they may draw on to the extent of their
ability, without rendering an equivalent. An
honest days work is much harder thing to get
to-day than ii was ten years ago; and unless o
reformation takes place, the good old standard
OF peFSOnil honesly among the laDOflnR poor,
and Of business integrity among the prosperous,
will become thing of remembrance only. lfit
were necessary whole branches of business
might be mentioned which pay a regular tax to
"inAuence," to mrn who have thrust themselves
between the seller and the buyer for the simple
purpose Of fleeing one or both. Many a pro-
duet OF ingenuity and bill is obliged to buy ey-
cry inch of its way to the consumer; aud a
thousand improvements which affect the public
convenience and comfort fail Of adoption unless
their profits are shared with the influence and
power TO which they appeal. Congress and the
Legislature do not monopolze the lobby for the
lobby is everywhere, Blaok-maiI, commissions,
bonuses, gifts, the feathering Of private nests
among the recesses OF CRATE corporate interest
osit0ns sought won aud used for purposes of
iheft--all these things are 50 common that they
have ceased to be remarkable; and they argue |
s ,dIy against our boasted progress in Christian
civlizaton.
We do not expect to rid the worll of thieves;
but the danger Is that honest men will not be
able to de- business at all without the adoption Of
their corrupt machinery the prostitution Of In
tegritv and the sacrifice Of selfrespect. How
far are mutiludes Of our good houses from this !
position now