The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-11-12

Curious Manipulating Schemes.
To be in the commission business is
considered an honorable calling, but il
has come to pass that there are class
of commission men who are not only q
nuisance TO their employers, but they
are an ulcer on the nose of honest deal
ing, quite offensive.
1T happens almost every week. said
well-known butcher, that / am ap-
preached by stewards either of private
families, hotels. or steamboats,, who
give me to understand that for q quiet
tip once in while they will turn their
employers trade to my market"
What do you dop"
IF think the trade is worth having
l give the fee. Why not? Others do
it. and the only way can fight 'em is
with their own weapons. Why, only
the other day l had the meat cook in
one of the largest and most fashion
able boarding-houses in the city tell me
that if l would give her five per cent.
commission she'd bring me the trade
of the house, which probably amounts
to 500 or $50 q week.
land YOU didn't take the bid?"
mo; because l have reason to know
that she couldn't fill the contract"
The reporters next visit was to one
of the leading grocery stores in the city,
and when the object of his visit was
made known the proprietor remarked:
Yes, / hear of such things once in
awhile. In fact, kicked great
mealy-mouthed man out of my store
one day last winter who had informed
me that unless did the square thing
with him lie would take his employers
trade to another store. l asked him
what he thought would be square, and
he replied that / ought to furnish him
with what groceries and canned goods
would be used by his family"
That was modest enough"
"Yes, that was cheap, but | didn't
like the check of the fellow. Those
cases are rare, but I'll tell you system
not so rare. Cooks and stewards often
make bargains with butchers and gro
GERS through the drivers of the delivery
carts and wagons. That's common,
and I've even heard where the drivers
make quite a little commission in this
way"
Next q visit was made 10 prosper
GUS carriage builder and repairer, who
didn't hesitate to say that coachmen
and hostlers tapped him for tips. "Only
this afternoon hostlcr came in and
asked me for fifty cents. | knew that
he wanted it to get II drink. but | gave
it 20 him without question. because l
know he has the placing OF the horse
shoeing of II man who owns three
horses"
How about coachmen?'
i We'll. little over q year ago sold
Il carriage to Il gentleman and got 1920
for it. True. made the sale somewhat
through the influence of the coachman,
and would have been willing to pay
him slight commission.
What did lie demand?'
He called around and said lie want
cd $25. | offered him $40, and he ap-
peared insultcd. Then got mad,
words followed, and the meeting ended
by my saying would smash his nose. p"
Served him right"
But that didn't end it. About q
month later the man who bought the
carriage came around and limited that
| had cheated him; that the wheels
wouldn't track. and that it pulled a
great deal harder than when he first
bought it. | asked him TO bring the
buggy around TO the shop, and when he
did so l took the wheels oil and found
that the axle;rce had been wrenched.
and by main force, so that the wheel
did not set squarely on it. In this way
friction had ground the axletrec just
where the box hits the shoulder"
How do you know that it was done
by main force?'
Because, suspccting that, | told the
employer of the demand the coachman
had made on me, and he taxed the fe!-
low with it. ut the same time charging
him with having bent the axle. Then
the man confessed. That's how /
know. Detroit Free Press.