The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-24
CHRONIC REJECTORS.
Fruit. Men Moving to Combine
Against Them.
0ne Form Ct Eastern Fraud by Which the
California Dried-Fruit Tfads Is Injured
in the Market.

''Show me the California house that has made
money on shipments Of dried fruits to The
East3" exclaimed j. p Thomas yesterday, as an
angry frOwn distorted his countenance
III one makes 500 en- car occasionally, a
rejection Will defeat his profits on ten cars This
house has received some pretty severe setbacks
from these business sneak-iheves. For instance,
there Is In Texas concern calling itself The
Live Commission House, AS per its order, we
shipped them carload Of potatoes. They re.
fused TO receive them for some cause, without
having the grace to notify US Of the fact the first
we heard OF 1t being through the railroad au-
thorities. who sold the potatoes for freight.
"The fact that the car brought only about $40
less than The invoice price, although sold In the
usual peremptory manner, is evidence enough
that tile goods were not In very bad shape. Not
only does rejection hurt the shipper here, but
one rejection is usually followed by others on
the part OF merchants who receive and pay for
their goods, for they are unable to compete with
the reflector Of the fruit car, who has received q
rebate"
THE COMPLAINT IS GENERAL.
This complaint OF San Franchises pioneer
potato merchant is said to be one echoed by
every flu t.dealer on the city 'front.' The method
pursued by Eastern merchants is one for which
there is practically no remedy. An order is re-
ceivcd by California dealer to ship carload
OF diled fiuit 10 an Eas ern house. The ordinary
contract provides that the consienor shall be re.
opousioio ioi TIC safety anu quality OF the goods
until placed on tile train, from which moment
the liability Is shifted upon tile consignee.
An agreement in which the cOnsignOr contracts
TO deliver his merchandise In good condition at
tile place OF destination Is rare one, as the
rates charged are higher. Usually therefore the
property IN the merchandise passes from the
seller 10 the buyer on delivery into the hands of
Inc railroad company. and no matter what the
late OF The goods the buyer remains liable. Not
outstanding this time-worn mercantile prn-
cire, II the goods through any chance are in.
]ured IN transit, or In case the market has fallen
so as 10 cause loss to the buyer, the latter re-
Jects me goods throwing them upon the hands
of the railroad company to sell for freight.
FUTILITY OF THE REMEDY.
The injured merchant in this case has his
remedy at law; but as the reflections take
place daily, and as the parties are separated by
tons, the utility OF pursuing such course Is
apparent. There Is therefore, but one alIerna.
tive to submitting TO this outrage, viz, closing
up shop and going out OF business. In this way
Inc dry-lrut trade, which Is carried on In San
francisco more extensively than anywhere else
In the United States, Is constantly curtaed and
rendered Improbable.
The merchants OF the Coast have passiyely
stood this outrage for many years. thinking it
more profitable to use great discretion in the
submit to frequent loss rather than attempt any
plan or defeating II. AT present, however, a
strong disposition is evinced TO form ME rchanl's
protective society, which would enable those of
Inc city 10 combine IN some scheme TO defeat the
rejectUrs.
The plan discussed Is to place on black list
all The so-called "chronlc rejectors " and to re-
fuse 10 trade with those whose names are so
black-isted. Many merchants refuse to ship
their goods until the price has been RENTED in
former plan 1t Is sale to conclude that its adop-
ton III The near future Is certain.