The evening world., 1888-09-21
TRICK. IN BOOKSELLING.
AGENTS CLAIM TO BE AIDING THE FIRE
MEMS RELIEF FUND.

Commissioner Doesn't stop Their Little
scbemo-such Operations Not Conte-
nnpcsd by the Publishers Of the Book the
Agents Arc Selling.
Several complaints have been made re-
Gently 10 the Fire Department that certain
INSCRIPTIONS parties have been canvassing
for q book entitled ''Our Firemen." and
representing that the proceeds were to be
! applied to the Relief Fund Of the Fire De-
partment.
These complaints becoming 80 numerous,
the Commissioner passed the following reso-
luton o short time ago. which was published
III the daily papers;
The Fire commissioners having been informed
that persons have been soliciting subscriptions to
the Fire Department Relief Fund, in connection
with canvAssipg for a history Of the department,
| no one has been suthorlzed to use the lame Of the
department or Its Relief Fund for any such pur-
pose.
Notwithstanding the publicity given to the
matter, the canvassers contin ued their work
with great success, and a week ago two of
them called upon Mr.. s. Dessau. a John
street ieweller, to whom they related the
plausible story that they were two fremen.
canvassing TO r the book in the interests of
the Relief Fund, and that 1t uas purely vol
untary work on their part, as they received
no pay for their trouble, but the Relief Fund
was very low and they were appointed to So
Being impressed with their story. Mr..
Dessau subscribed, and two days after the
book was delivered at his office.
In thinking over the matter Mr.. Dessau
concluded to write to the Fire Department
and ascertain if everything was as the can
vassers had stated. and received an answer
informing him that the department had au-
thorized no such proceeding, and that the
statements of the agents were untrue.
Secretary Jussen, Of the Fire Department.
informed an EVENING WORLD reporter that
the publisher of the book bad In 1886 offered
to donate Sc. 900 to the Relief fund if they
would give him access to the records and
enable him to write o history of the depart
ment.
The request was granted, and this book is
the result.
Since then they had heard nothing from
the publisher, except that he was sci Ling the
book on false representations, and they had
vainly tried to stop it.
In the role of a prospective purchaser the
reporter called upon the publisher, Mr.. A. E.
Costello. at his office, 2 West Fourteenth
street, and in reply to his inquiries Mr.. Cos
tello stated that he had heard that some of his
agents had made Representations to purchas-
ers that were untrue, but that he was not re-
sponsible for their words.
ANY one who has had any dealings with
agents." said he, knows. that they are Q
they will make any statement hat is liable
to cause a sale.
This book 1 wish to sell on its merits
alone, and if I find any man making repre-.
sensations which are not true. 1 will dis
charge him at once. The only statement
which they are allowed to make is what il
sho wn in this letter from the Fire Depart.
ment, certifying that the Commissioner
have consented to the publishing of the
work"
Mr.. Costello called the reporters attention
to a notice in the book, warning the pur.
chaser that no agent was authorized to re.
ceive donations for the Relief Fund.
q" l was compelled to do this" said he, - az
discovered that one of my agents was using