The Hickman courier., 1871-03-18
The vices of business
From scribner,a MONTHLY

cient steps are taken to arrest its pro
lgress.
Incident No. IA builder of furnace
was called upon recently to name pric,
for heating large structure in iarg,
city. lie offered to put in his apparatus
for SoV,0OO. After repeated conversa
tons with sundry persons interested il
the contracts, he was told that the MAJ
who should secure the job would b,
obliged 10 pay percentage to them-ii
this case amounting to S3,000-the bill
of course, to be rendered in such form
as to make him party to the fraud up
on the owners of the building. He tolC
them tlat be wanted the job, but that a
he also had a desire to go to HEAVIER
when he died, be was afraid be shoult
be obliked to decline their conditions
He sss5 suggs tied that he should Ike II
bid for the job with others, and was 10
formed that not single contract on th'
building had been given to the loves
bidder. Then he was politely bowed ou
of the presence of the gentlemen who
could not use him. He went home. and
as an experiment sent them proposal &c
put in his apparatus for S25 900. From
this he never heard and some man with
more convenient conscience got the
contract and gave the percentage.
Incident No. "A piano forte manu-
facturer sold an instrument, at his regu-
lar retail price to gentleman of New
York. Within forty eight hours he was
called upon by three musicians, every
one of whom demanded his percentage
upon the sale of the piano, claiming that
it was bought upon his recommendation
The purchaser to make sure of getting
the best Instrument, had separately con-
suited allthese men, and they had hap
pened to agree on this maker. The re-
suit was that the maker paid each man
the amount of his claim and said moth
ing, though he parted with considerably
more than his profits on the piano forte.
When asked by the friend to whom he
told the story why he submitted to such
an imposition, he replied that he did not
dare to do otherwise; that if he had
refused to respond to these exactions the
musicians would have turned against him,
and transferred their recommendations
to other makers.
The way in which corporations are
bled by the leeches that fasten upon
them is notorious The men in respecta.
bic society, who regard a corporation as
the legitimate subject Of plunder, are
too many to be counted Taxpayers and
stockholders part annually with untold
millions to fill the purses Of these dis
honest men and the mouths of their men
dacious servants and tools. There are
States in the Union in which the public
conscience has become utterly denioral
lied in relation to this particular matter
where every corporation, including
Mutual Life Insurance Companies and
Savings Banks, is iu some way "sweat
ed'' by those who have the management
OF its concerns. In most instances this
resuls Is Rshfcveci under the cover OF
law; bat in some gigantic robbeTies are
effected by the purchase not only of the
officers, but of the makerszof the law.
This process can not long go on, of
course without such sophistication of
the popular conscience that private trusts
will be as little regarded as those which
are corporate aud public. Indeed it has
already produced its proper fruit, as the
incidents we have cited show. Men are
everywhere seeking for money which they
do not earn. 1t is quite likely that the
piano dealer is as much to blame for his
bondage to the musicians as they are.
He may have invited their patronage, in
deed, aud promised them their pay; but
it 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 those who are in
a position to exact or steal it. If We 60
on at the present rate, we shall soon be
DO whit behind our European neighbors,
whose servants are bribed by butchers
and bakers, and who demand their drink
money for every service, in addition to
their legitimate wages. Every man who
conniyes at this mode of doing business
is not only voluntary, but meanly
mercenary, corruptor of the people.
There IS no question that in this mat
Ter of personal honesty America has re-
.rograded within the last ten years. The
rich corporation and the rich man are
come to be regarded by tradesmen aud
aborers alike as sources of money which |
hey nav draw on to the extent OF their
lbility. without rendering an equivalent |
An honest days work is much harder |
hing to get to day than it was ten years |
go. and unless a reformation takes place,
he good old standard of personal hon.
sty among the laboring poor, and of
business integrity among the prosperous,
viii beome thing of remembrance only. |
f it were necessary whole branches of
BUSINESS might be mentioned which pay
egular tax to "infuence," to men who
ave thrust themselves between the seller
nd buyer for the simple purpose of feec-
ng one or both.
Many a product of ingenuity and toll
J obliged to buy every inch of its way
0 the consumer; and thousand improve
nents which effect the public convenience
nd comfort fail of adoption unless their
rofts are shared with the influence and
over to which they appeal. Congress
nd the Legislatures do not monopolize
he lobby, for the lobby is everywhere
Black mail, commissions, bonuses, gifts,
be feathering of private nets among the
ecesses of great corporate interests, po-
itions sought, won and used for purposes
ftheft-ail these things are so common
hat they have ceased to be remarkable;
nd they argue sadly against our boast
3 progress in Christian civilization
We do not expect to rid the world of
lieves; but the danger is that honest
len will not be able to do business at
4 without the adoption of their corrupt
:. the prostitution of integrity
ld the sacrifice of self respect. How
II are multitudes of our good houses
ON this position now?
The Court of Claims of Daviess county
as appropriated one thousand dollars to
able Judge George w. Triplett to pros