The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-24
PRODUCER AND DEALER.
Secretary Cass, of the Board Of Hor.
ticuIture. on Commission Men.

The discussions about the free market
ordinance and the perpetual disputes be-
tween the producers and the commission
merchants makes that portion of the re-
port made BY Sec'y ]. F. Cass to the state
board of horticulture particularly timely.
The report was made by Mr.. Cass at the
last semi-annual meeting of the board.
and that part Of IL relating 10 the COM
mission dealers Is as follows.
No part of the fruit growers work is
the cause of so much dissatisfaction here
on Puget sound as the present methods Of
making sale of his products. Where the
grower rs not In close proximity TO a
place large enough to afford market ia
cilties. so that he can personally make
sale of 1t. he must ship his produce TO
dealers. Hence is found In each of our
towns class of commission men whose
sole business is the handling of the pro-
duce of farmer and fruit grower, These
dealers are largely, as a class without
capital doing business in rented rooms,
and In many cases are irresponsible before
the law. Some Of them have little TO lose
and much to gain And their business Il
often of fugitive character, making
sales today, but tomorrow are not 10 be
found
1T Is also a general complaint OF our
producers that this class Invariably work
to depress prices In all lines OF domestic
or home grown products. Yet a principal
cause for the failure of the home pro-
Queer to realize much for his products
as the more distant and larger shipper
often does. no doubt lies in the fact that
sending but small lots TO market AZ one
time. he fails in taking such care in the
grading and packing of his wares as is
indispensable in the case OF the larger
shipper.
Certain Ii is, however, that ii is so
often the case as TO be quite common
that our producers shipping TO these mid
die men often fail 10 get any return over
and above the cost of packing ana ship
ping, and often less. and this for prod
ucis fine In quality And as rule only
this class OF Productive surplus being
made up OF the best that the farm or or
chard affords-is what Is. shipped to the
city market. Non. In view of the fact
that our commission merchants entirely
ignore the provisions of our recently en-
acted state law relating TO the selling
OF such products on commission making
il the duty of the dealer 10 transmit 10
| consignors a detailed statement: showing
to whom sales were made and the prices
obtaired-such a condition OF things IS
unsatisfactory in the extreme
Then the fact of the trade combina-
lions. now common formed BY TINS class
OF commission men not TO sell directly 10
the consumer. but only TO anetner class
of middle men. the retail grocers, IS an
other phase OF the question that would
seem TO call for attention both from the
producing and consuming classes. SUCH
/ eonbinA lions both TO resist ana oefy the
requirements of the present enactment
and 10 disturb the ordinary operations of
the natural laws OF supply ana oeniahus
require that the most stringent legislation
be formulated to keep the same IN eneek
and to insure more certain and honest
returns TO be made 10 the producing
classes
Here is what r 6irelner the great au-
thority in the Eastern states on anything
pertaining TO market gardening, etc, has
lately said on tho subject.
a. Commission Dealings.-Ne need the
services OF the commission houses now
and then whether we Ike them or not.
They charge us a good compensation TOT
their services. They can have things all
their own way. Often they cheat ns most
numerically They are irresponsible and
practically free from all controi- w
send them the goods, without guarantee,
without question or promise except
promises OF the most vague cnArAcferb.
and have to take whatever they see TT
to return us. Thus IL seems that the
commission dealers have In every way
the advantage OF the shipper.
Opportunity Makes Thieves Wy ant of
/ control is just the thing that isads some
of them into dishonest prhctie~s ana the
very advantages which they nave over
the shipper lead unscrupusous men into
the business which they enter with
the very intention 20 cheat all Trey can.
Others mean TO do all right, puf md
temptation too strong.
:. Then even the bona nds so-ealIed re-
liable and responsible commission men
need locking after Few OF them give
their reports and make their returns as
promptly a. the laws Of some states re-
auire them 10 do. BY all means. hold
them TO their duty
80 tSaf 1T seems that We mere II the
state OF Washington are not alone with
our com plants as 20 the practices COM
mon in this line OF business dealing We
have On our statute books ~nat seems 10
he very Just and wholesome law regn-
latIng such transactions susn further
legislation needed. perhaps would De tn
the shape Of facilitating sne enforcement
Of the provisions OF oar laws. without
costing more than Il IS worth 70 the In
divfduai. Especially would this be the
case where TIE individual must fight a
trust or com hanat ton OF interest.
Thanksgfyiax mt Gatsert Memorial.
There viii BE Thanksgiving exercises al
the Bailey tf@szert uaera0r.a. free k-EdeT-
Ezrten an Wednesday morning at 1880
o'clock A. are invited Regular Waiting
day hereAEis- vii be on Wednesday.
Group Quickly Cured.
MOUNTAIN GrEx, Ark.-our children
we're suffering with Group when we recrived
| bottle Of Chsmberlsins Cough Remedy.
| Ii afforded almost instant relief-F. 4.