The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-19
COME DOWN, YEDEBTORS
And Settle Your Hills-The Mer-
chants Retail Agency at Work.
ANEW WAY OCOLLEGTOLDDEBTS.
The Members of the Merchants Re-
tail Agency Hear the Report of the
secretary.--A Favorable Showing
for tho New Organization.

The Merchants Retail Collecting
Agency had a rousing meeting at its
hall, No. 1910 Chapline street, yester-
day evening. The hall was packed full
Of sweltering members, who listened to
the report of Secretary S. G. Naylor.
According to the report the agency now
comprises 40 members, and ten more
firms have signifed their intention Of
joining, and will sign as soon as the
papers arrive from headquarters at
Philadelphia.
The Wheeling branch was organized
April 81, and since that date nearly 800
desperate cases have paid up amounts
aggregating $500. Nine-tenths OF these
accounts were outlawed and could not
be collected by any other means, the
remainder was owed by parties from
whom nothing could be collected by
law. The amount OF cash collected
since the organization by no means rep
resents the actual amount OF good the
agency has done for its members. Num-
beers Of bills have been settled in other
ways, some debtors giving their notes,
others making arrangements TO pay in
instruments.
In the experience meeting that fol-
lowed, one member related that he had
made arrangements to collect bill for
500 from man, the color of whose
money he had never expected to sec.
Another member saw in sight $1,000,
which had receded more and more from
view and finally disappeared, until con-
jured back byth work of the Agency.
After the conclusion of the business
meeting, the body adjourned to Geo. l..
bursts confectionery, where ice cream
and cigars were discussed in thorough
and business like manner.
The method adopted for the collec-
ton OF accounts is very simple.
When a member is unable to collect a
bill, he forwards the name Of the debtor,
with all the necessary information, to
tho main office ut Philadelphia. The
person is requested by letter to settle,
and is informed that unless settlement
is made within reasonable time, his
name will he inserted in the abstract
OF unsettled accounts" OF which copy
is furnished agency subscribers every
sixty days. Finding that his name and
debt non-paying habit will be known to
the merchants in his locality, and that
he will be unable to blk other dealers,
the debtor is generally quite willing to
cash up, or make some other satisfac-
tory arrangement.
ANY debtor who is really unable to
pay bill, and whose creditor should be
disposed to press him unjustly, may lay
his case before the executive committee,
which may. il satisfied OF the honest in
tentions OF the debtor, forbid the placing
OF his name on the abstract Of unsettled
accounts. Any member of the organi.
zation who sells goods to "listed"
debtor is liable to n fine OF SEQ for each
offense. The Agency being chartered
institution, the fine may be collected by
process OF law. A county abstract Is
furnished everysixty days. An abstract
OF those "listed" in the entire State Is
supplied twice year.
Secretary Naylor anticipates an early
increase in the number OF members,
and is prepared TO receive applications,
which may be addressed to him at No.
so South Broadway. The organization
is we'll differed, G. Ed Mendel being
president, c. II. Dowler first and II. w.
Schrebe second vice president. s. g:
Naylor is secretary and Geo. E. Stifel
treasurer. The executive committee
consists OF Messrs. ]. Elwood, Hughes,
I. G. Dillon, X. ], Hoge, D. E. Adams,
Seaton Alexander, John s. Welty and
D. r. Brnhks.