New-York tribune., 1879-12-21
4 UNION OF DRF-G GODS MERcHIN1S.

PROPOSED ORGANIZATION OF TRADE ASSOCIATION
-PRoTECTION AGAINST DISHONEST DEALERS
NKcEssARY-THE ECONOMICAL COLLECTION OF
DEBTS.
During the past week the commission merchants
and Importers of dry goods in this city received
circular inviting them TO attend meeting to be
held on Saturday at the Merchants Club Rooms, IN
LeOnard-st., for the purpose OF forming trade as
sociation for mutual protection. The circular was
signed by {. ~ Bliss, Jacob Wendell, W. Ii. Pome
row. Samuel Keyser and Z. NJ. Townsend. The
meeting, which took place yesterday afternoon. was
attended by the representatives of about fifty firms.
Jacob Wendell, of Wendell, Hutchinson Il Co.,
commission merchants was elected chairman.
minute description of the constitution
and method of working of the Carpet
Trade Association was given by Mr.
Van Dyke, a lawyer who transacts much OF the
business of that association. Mr.. Van Dyke said
that the carpet dealers had found il to be an abso
Lutte necessity unite to protect themselves against
dishonest country merchants, and that they had
also discovered that they could collect debts better
by united than by separate action. There were
wealthy merchants in the city who by the great
ness OF their sales TO country merchants obtained
security for the payment of their bills in case OF the
bankruptcy Of the men to whom the goods were
sold. that was not enjoyed by the firms with
smaller capital. This Inequality IN the settement
of the affairs Of bankrupt firm could
acting unitedly against insolvent firms. Such
united action would also decrease the cost OF coll
lecting such debts. The carpet dealers guarded
themselves against dishonest merchants by supply
ing each other with information about them
Whenever information was desired about man
card was sent about among members OF the as
sociatOn asking whether or not the man was en-
TITLED TO credit. The name of the firm giving the
information was carefully concealed. No names OF
firms were put on the cards but simply a, number
indicating TO the executive committee alone the
firm conveying the information.
E. NJ Townsend of Townsend Il Yale commits
SION merchants. advocated the formation OF an as
sociation similar TO that of the carpet dealers.
Something of the kind, he said, had become neces-
sary. The commission merchants represented the
manufacturers of this country. and the importers
represented the manufacturers of Europe. They
had the power If they would act unitedly to drive
dishonest men out Of the trade. resolution was
then unanimously adopted that trade association
of the kind described should be formed Upon mo-
ton of Mr.. Townsend IL was resolved TO appoint "a
committee of five, consisting OF three commission
merchants and two importers, TO draft constltu-
ton and bylaws for the proposed association lhe
following were appointed: MIR. Page, of Faulkner,
Page & Co.; Samuel Keyser and +. X. Townsend,
of keyser, Townsend & Co.; j. n. Elbermeyer, and
Mr.. Descler of Oppman Il Co. The chairman. Mr.
Wendell was added TO the committee. The meet
ing was then adjourned. The merchants who at
tended 1t will be Summoned together again when
the proposed constitution shall have been framed.