The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1896-08-26
THE COMMISSION MAN.

Since the time when Floridians first
shipped produce to market the commission
man and his oft times questionable practices
has been their night mare. We have never
claimed that the commission men as class
were dishonest, but their business is such
and the opportunities they have for dis
honest methods without detection makes
the people more or less suspicious. Aside
from this another cause of distrust is the
real dishonest fellow in the business A
man who has been pinched once by COM
mission man is apt to judge the entire lot
by the fellow that pinched him. For this
reason we think it would be to the interest
Of the reputable commission merchants to
weed from their ranks the INSCRIPTIONS
class
The California Fruit Grower discusses
| the matter from rather a conservative
standpoint, and we reproduce herewith its
remarks.
The very general complaint we hear
urged by fruit growers and shippers, against
the commission men, whom they employ
in marketing their goods. is. we fancy, at
tributable, to great extent, to the commits.
sion men themselves. The lines upon
which their business is established, gives
the shippers an opportunity which, we
must admit, they are not slow in availing
themselves Of The relation of these men
is, at present, more confidential in its char
acter than business like. The shipper takes
all the risk, is liable for a bill of expense
in the event of the returns showing a de-
ficit, has no appeal from his agents final
exhibit. and not particle of evidence in
the form of vouchers, as to the absolute re-
liability of the account sales returned. No
other branchYof business shows such an an
omalous condition of things. Accounting,
as usually practiced, serves to restrain men,
in their business relations with their fellow
men, to a strictly honest course, any depart
ure from which is readily detected Their
word is only accepted when corroborated
by the oral testimony of reliable witnesses,
or the written evidence of their books.
This is not because of any doubt or suspic-
ion as to the integrity Of the parties, but
because it is matter of business. which
takes no account of friendship or sentiment.
) Toward the commission man, however, in.
cline all the Prescriptions of honesty and
integrity. as though he required none oil
those restraints which hobble other men,
in all their business relations. While we
= believe there are still honest men in the
world, who could be found, notwithstand
ing the quest Of Diogenes proved fruitless
we also think there is such thing as keep
t ing men honest and we highly regard the
0 wholesome restraint, which strict bust
ness system throws about man, as ne
cessary safeguard against the weakness o.
the flesh man, is so prone to. Commission
men in the East have found themselye.
l compelled, through desire to retain their
REPUTATION for character, and good bust
ness connection at the same time; to ma
terially change the old lines of confidence
upon which their business was based, tc
newer and more satisfactory ones of a
strictly business character Their new
system may be briefly explained as follows:
Immediately upon making a sale they rem
der an account sales to the shipper, stating
| the amount of sale, price name, and resi-