Morris tribune., 1886-10-20
COMMISSION MEN.

So many complaints have been
heard lately concerning the business
methods of st. Paul and Minneapolis
commission dealers, that the TRlB-
UNE deems it duty to give the mat
ter some attention. Upon investiga-
ton we find that there is hardly
business man in Morris who has not
been imposed upon by one or more OF
them. In some cases the amounts
involved are large. Hardly tub OF
butter, crate of eggs or car load of
potatoes has been shipped from Nor
ris this summer or fall to the COM
mission men of the cities upon which
returns have been satisfactory. Every
merchant here, SO far as we are able
to learn. has lost money by shipping
butter and in many instances the loss
is two thirds of the value OF the butter
sent. Returns upon other kinds OF
farm produce are equally unsatistac-
tory. Something should be done.
Possibly their methods of doing bust
ness are legitimate and there are prob
ably honest men among them, but we
believe most OF them are sharks and
that they are systematically robbing
country merchants. These commits
sion men charge, in addition to freight
and carriage, cold storage and an
enormous commission and by repre-
senting goods sold at very low figure,
MAKE the check to balance very small
and in many Instances nothing. One
commission merchant, who is highly
recommended in st. Paul Chamber
of Commerce report, so manipulated
a consignment of9941a lbs Of butter
that the merchant who sent it TO him
has realized but $29.51 from it. An
other sends u statement OF charges
and $3.50 to pay for 12S lbs Of butter
and another recommended by
prominent official Of the Manitoba
road, sends nothing at all as the pro-
ceeds upon two car loads of potatoes,
sent by one of our best known merch-
ants. Another merchant here loses
$4s. 80 upon 1854 worth of butter and
again loses $3l.4 upon butter worth
SAT Sc; another merchant realizes but
sos, upon butter worth $500 accord
ing to the price given by the COM
mission man himself, to whom the
butter was sent. SO far as we can
learn all of our merchants and many
farmers are losers and the aggregate
of the amounts stolen from this point
is Internationally large. Following
are IA few of the comments made by
prominent business men yesterday In
regard to these commission dealers:
J.D. Good-They are worse than
highway robbers. A thief you can
watch, but these men you can't.
O,C. Hanson-I want somebody to
kill every blank one of them.
F. E. NEWELL have shipped butter
to them all summer and have got al
most nothing in return. am through
dealing with them. They are II lot of
thieves.
TT. Moore-I have never shipped
them anything-have no confidence
in them.
J.E. Danielson-In my business
with them, there has been a great
deal of fraud.
n. A. Nllson-I can't say that we
have been cheated, but their returns
indicate that the market is very low.
H.B. Wolf-They even draw on
me for freight. l consider. myself
lucky to get the freight back.
CD. Croonauist-4 never ship to
any one unless know them we'll.
Have lost nothing lately.
Another thing to be mentioned is
that, although the express companies
return tubs. jars, crates, etc in which
butter, eggs or other produce is
shipped, free of charge, the COM
mission men seldom return anything
and in addition to stealing produce
sent them, steal the jars or other
things sin which the produce is
shipped also. The st. Paul Chamber
of Commerce and Jobbers Union
should take steps for the correction
fthese evils, and the banks and rail-
road officials should be careful in re-
gard to their recommendations. 1t
ought to be possible to drive the dis
honorable and unreliable commission
men out of the market and 1t should
be done. Meanwhile, it may be
good plan for country merchants to
combine for mutual protection.