The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-19
RETAILERS TO TAKEAHAND
They Want Representatives Who Will
Look After Their Interests.

A Change in the Garnishment Law
wanted-The Retail Dealers Pro-
tective Association Appoints Com
mittee TO Select Candidate to Rep
resent Them - An Appeal to EN-
ployers.
The Retail Dealers Protective Associa-
ton held a meeting at the Knights Of
Pythias hall yesterday afternoon. There
was large attendance and the meeting
was an enthusiastic one The result Of
the meeting is nothing less than a deter
mination upon the part of the retail mer-
chants to enter politics to protect their
interests.
The meeting opened with President w.
.G. Cooper in the chair. 1t went right
into the necessity for having representa-
tives in the next legislature who will
show some regard for the business inter
ests of the community, and especially the
interests of the retail element The
present state garnishmeut law, and the
necessity for change in the law for the
protection of the retail dealers, was dis
cussed at length.
TO SELECT A CANDIDATE.
The result of the discussion was two
resolutions. The first authorized the
president to appoint a committee TO Sc
lect a suitable candidate for the next leg
islature, who can be relied upon by the
retail dealers to keep an eye out for their
interests, and who will introduce suita BILE
legislation, of fair and just character,
for their protection.
Under the present law practically every
one working for wages or for salary, no
matter how high the wages or salary re-
ceived, is exempt from punishment. Per
sons occupying official position, however,
are subject to garnishment, including rail
road officials, Conductors are classed as
officials. A street car conductor, work
ing for Sl.25 day, is subject to garnish-
ment, but a hcokkeeper receiving a salary
Of $50 TO S50a week is not.
WHAT THE RETAILERS WANT.
The retailers want the law changed so
that the salary or wages of every man ex-
ceeding $50 month shall be subject to
punishment, not for the whole OF his sal
airy, but for that portion exceeding $50 a
month; either this or law making a GER
tain per cent of every mans salary, say
10 per cent, subject to punishment
They think such law would be fair and
just, both to the merchants and their Gus
toners.
The second committee is to draft a let
ter to the mayor and aldermen. to the
heads of all the railroads and corpor-
atoms, and to all employers generally, re-
questing them TO see that their employees
settle their accounts, and 10 adopt rules
which will accomplish this result. The
committees will probably be appointed by
President Cooper to-day.
WHAT THE RETAILERS SAY.
The retailers are in earnest. An Of
fcer of the association, in speaking with a
MORNING News reporter after the meet
ing, said;
1T has become absolutely necessary
that we do something for our protection,
and think we are able to do it, The as
sociation now has membership of 275
including every class Of retail dealers in
the city. Together with our en-
plOyes I think we can muster
something over 1000 votes and
l think that number is sufficient
to decide the election for representatives.
We are satisfied that our employees will
act with us, for what is our interest is
their interest There will be no compul-
sion about it, but we shall explain the
situation to them and urge them to act
with us, and l think that will be sulfi-
Client. You can form some idea of what
we have to contend with when l tell YOU
that the association now has over 1000
names on its black list Some of these
names are down more than once,
having been reported by differ
ent merchants. There are not
less than 5000 persons, however,
whose names are on the black list This
represents not less than $4,000 due the
retailers of Savannah, honest and Just
debts, which they are not able TO obtain,
and most of which in all likelihood will
never be paid. The black list rule is being
strictly enforced, and no person whose
name is on that list can secure one cent of
credit from any member of the associa-
tion, have known cases Of merchants
taking goods away from customers on the
street because they found out after hav-
ing sold the goods that the party's name
was on the black list"
THE CORPORATIONS ALL RIGHT.
''Do you think that your request upon
employers to see that their EN- ployes pay
| their bills will be etfective2" the re-
taller was asked.
81 do, +" he replied "Most of the large
corporations have rules to that effect,
but the trouble Is they have not been en-
forced. The city has rule of this kind
with reference to the police, know. We
have had a great deal Of trouble with
some of the policemen, and a short while
ago we furnished the city list of their
names and the amounts that were due
from them. We received a reply
from Chief Green that he had
notified these policemen that the
bills must be paid, and most of the
bills were paid. The railroads also have
such rules, but the trouble is that they
are not enforced. With sucn rules in
effect threat simply to bring the matter
to the attention of customers employer
would be sufficient. We do not desire to
be oppressive, and where debtor will
agree to pay certain amount monthly
until his account is discharged, we are
willing to accept his manner of settle
ment, that is if he is a man working on
small salary and perhaps unable to spare
the full amount at once. We shall begin at
home In this matter, and the members of
the association will see TO it that their
employees pay the bills which they have
contracted with other members of the