The herald., 1898-05-24
WANT IT ENFORCED
POLICE COMMISSION MUST GET
AFTER THE HACKMEN
A BREEZY COMMUNICATION
Directors of the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Offer Suggestions
on Several Lines

racturers' OHer Suggestions
on Several Lines
The Merchants and Manufacturers as.
ISOLATION evidently does not propose to be
snubbed, even by implication, and last
night at their meeting took decided action
regarding the disposal of a communication
sent last night by them to the board of po-
lice commissioners and by that body filed.
The following breezy letter was drawn up
and adopted, the secretary being instructed
to see that the police commissioners re-
ceive copy at their meeting this morning.
ION the 10Th inst. communication was
addressed to your honorable body relative
tn the impartial enforcement of the So
called anti-hitching ordinance now upon
the statute books of this city. From the
reports in the public press that report was
tiled by your body.
AT a netting of the board Of directors
Of this association held last evening the
treatment, that this communication re-
ceived from your hands was thoroughly
discussed. We submit, that as representa-
:ives of a body of citizens who contribute
large proportion of the taxes, Mho are
property holders, who pay heavy rent and
are the main support of this city, we are en-
.itled to a courteous and considerate hear
ing on a matter of public Importance.
at is a we'll known fact that as soon as
she so-called anti-hitching ordinance was
passed by the honorable city council the
police department has by every possible
means enforced only that section that re-
lated to the general public and ignored
intr ttn CT H.
ing of vehicles for hire upon certain pre-
scribed streets. The request of our or
ganization for the impartial enforcement
of the entire ordinance is based upon a
spirit of justice and fairness.
1.-THE present condition of our main thor
oughfares is such that generally only one
half the street is available for traffic. With
the present laxity displayed by the police
department in enforcing the section relat-
ing to the standing of vehicles for hire the
public is unable to approach In many in
stances many of the stores Of our mer-
chants, inasmuch as the spaces in front Of
these places are occupied by either hack
men or expressmen. 1t has been a mat
ter of severe criticism among the mer-
chants that their teams should be denied
privileges that are accorded the drivers of
vehicles for hire, and we strongly protest
against the partial action of the police de-
partment in the enforcement of the ordi-
nance above referred to and insist that the
chief of police be instructed to carry on.
the anti-hitching ordinance in all Its pro-
Visions"
A War Board Created
Attention was called to the fact that
| orto ha{ 10 RI leo FIJI 6c
for the benefit of the volunteer soldiers
of Southern California. In order that the
best results from financial. contributions
may be obtained and that the money be
expended to the greatest advantage for the
soldiers and that a more concerted action
on the part of the merchants may be had,
1t was decided to create war board, to
whom all moneys for that purpose SHAH
be paid and all expenditures be intrusted.
The following gentlemen were elected as
such board: Colonel H. G. Otis, j. R. New
berry. John F. Francis, Kaspare Cohn and
!. S. Slauson, with F. ]. Zeehandelaar as
secretary. The board will meet at 1880
o'clock this afternoon at the hall of indus
try to formulate plan of action.
A letter was read from the Merchants
association in San Francisco relative to
the amendment to the postoffice bill now
pending in congress, limiting the free de-
livery system IN all cities to four daily
deliveries. The secretary was instructed
80 telegraph 20 the representatives from
California In congress asking them to OPP
pose that amendment.
Credits and Collections
The following report from the special
committee appointed to formulate plan
to put in operation a credit and collection
bureau was veferred to a special meeting
of tho board to be held tomorrow at noon:
1.-THE undersigned special committee
appointed for the purpose of formulating
a plan to put in operation credit, informa-
ton and collection bureau as an auxiliary
to this association, beg leave to report as
follows:
"a meeting was held by your committee
on Thursday, May 18th, at which the SUBJ
ject WIS thoroughly discussed in all its
phases. and your committee agreed that
system as will be outlined in this report
will he of vast benefit to the retail mer-
chants of this city.
at was thought that credit and infor-
nation bureau as was first suggested, with
the idea of rating the different consumers
as to their standing, would not be advis-
able at this time, owing to the great
amount of labor connected with the gather
ing of the necessary data and the large
amount of money to be expended for that
purpose.
1--WE believe that 1t is more important
tor the merchants to know whether or not
customer is entitled to credit, and
whether or not he has cheated the mer-
chants than to know If such man is slow
In settling his bills. For these reasons
your committee recommend that as pre-
iiminary movement the secretary of this
association be instructed to request from
every member of this association a weekly
statement of any persons found unworthy
of credit, and also list of names of those
who are now on the black list of the differ
ent merchants In addition to this infor-
nation the merchants should also be
asked to furnish names of persons who are
in the habit of presenting valueless
checks-this information to be sent
monthly, or oftener if desired, to all the
members Of the association without any
charge.
"Your committee believes that collec-
ton bureau would be of incalculable ben
eft to the merchants. The fact that n
bill is presented for payment to slow or
unworthy customer through the agency
of this association would carry with it the
prestige of the association, and the knowl-