The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-26
CREDIT MEN TO ORGANIZE.
A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CALL
4 GENERAL MEETING.

Secretary BOOcOck Explains the OBJ
jects of the National Association
of Credit Men-Savannah Whole
sale Merchants Who Attended
Think the Idea in Many Respects
Good One, and "a Meeting For Or
ganizatiOn VIII BE CaIIed-NOt n
Mercantile Agency, But II Will
Look After Credit Legislation.
quite a number of Savannah's wholesale
men in different lines met in room No. II
at the Board of Trade building yesterday
afternoon to discuss the matter of credits
with Secretary Il. r. Boocock of the Ma
tionaI Association Of Credit Men, and the
| result is at an early date a meeting of
the jobbers of Savannah will be called
for the purpose of taking steps to organ
lie branch of the association here.
Mr.. Boocock took charge of the meet
ing and began by giving full explaaa-
top of the objects and purposes of the
association. It is not mercantile agency,
but is formed for the general purpose
Of giving weight and backing to the
claims of the credit men of the country
for necessary legislation in their behalf,
and first and foremost, it Is said, its spe-
cifc energies will be given to securing
uniform and necessary enactments per-
tanning TO credit transactions.
The association wants to secure changes
in many of the state laws with regard
to homestead exemptions. 1t asserts that
there should be a uniform law forbidding
preferences in cases of assignments a
refuge which is said to have caused
thousands of failures which would not
otherwise have taken place. Uniform and
proper laws are also desired with regard
to false statements and bills of sale.
The handling of bankrupt stocks is an
other feature to which the association
gives some attention. 1t is through sales
of bankrupt stocks a very low prices that
many other merchants have been injured
or caused to fail in their legitimate bust
ness. 1t is the associations purpose, Mr.
Boocock said in this connection, to throw
a protecting arm around the honest re-
taller with just as much precision and GER
tainty as it does about the wholesale deal
er.
The Improvement of mercantile agency
services is another feature for which the
association is working. 1t wants to do away
with general reports and have furnished
to patrons full and specific information.
Another end desired in this connection is
that a statement shall be secured from
every merchant every year, and that the
statements shall not be taken from one
year to another without any inquiries as
to changes.
One of the most important if not the
most important object of the association
is the purging of the ranks of commerce
of the INSCRIPTIONS, as Mr.. Boocock puts
it. People fail and fail again, each time
compromising with their creditors at %
or 80 cents on the dollar. and then en-
bark in business again. One of the prin-
cipal objects of the association will be
to put these men out of the business
world, and the association has arrange
ments for making Investigations and
prosecuting the parties concerned, wher-
ever there are evidences of fraud.
The principal point under discussion, so
far as the merchants were concerned,
was the conflict that might be brought
about between this association and the
Wholesale Grocers' Association. or, rather
the belief that two such associations We're
unnecessary. The Wholesale Grocers' AS
ISOLATION has similar objects and goes
even further, as it furnishes specific in
formation to its members, just as a mer-
camille agency does.
The other lines of trade, however, are
not represented in the grocers' associa-
ton, and it is desirable that some ar
rangement be made by which all the job
bers can be brought together, and the as
ISOLATION made to work for the good of
all. Several suggestions were offered with
regard to the formation of a local asso-
citation. and the appointment of a COM
mittee was finally determined upon.
The following committee was appointed
ba -,
connection with the meeting of all the
jobbers placed in its hands: A. A. Solo
mons, Jr chairman; Herman Myers J.
w. Huger, W. G. Thompson, A. Vetsburg
and Joseph Rosenheim. This committee
represents Wholesale tobacco, groceries.
fertilizers, hardware, dry goods and shoes.
The committee Will arrange a time and
place for holding a meeting, and will then
issue a circular letter to all the jobbers
of the city, including as well as those
lhentiOned lumber, naval stores. cotton
banks and all classes where large credits
are involved. The meeting thus called
will talk over and come to some conclu-
sion with regard to the organization of a
local association of credit men to be al
lied with the national association.
Mr.. Boocock gave the gentlemen present
full information with regard to the mat
ter in hand, and left with them the nee
essary literature which explains the as
soclation's objects. He was asked to re-
main here until the local association could
be formed, but said it would be impossi-
BILE, as he has engagements for four or
FIVE weeks ahead. He leaves the city this
morning for Jacksonville Fla, where he
will also take steps to organize a local
branch of the association.