Evening journal., 1900-05-29

eecono-class matter.
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1000
MILK IN THE C0cOANUT
Now that the Dun and Bradstreet
mercantile agencies have the CONNER
cial Museum in Philadelphia aroused
by the opposition to the 100000 Federal
appropriation, the controversy has as
sumed wider scope, not pleasing to
the mercantile agencies. In an open
letter just issued the Commercial Mu-
scum charges the Dun and Bradstreet
agencies with exacting exorbitant
rates for their foreign service, to the
detriment OF export trade. In this let
ter 1t also is stated that fear Of this
exposure is the real reason for their
opposition to the bill now pending in
Congress. providing for the purchase
OF foreign trade samples to be exhibited
freely in important trade centres,
among which are Boston, New York,
Chicago, st. Louis, New Orleans and
San Francisco. The following compar-
ison OF charges for foreign ratings ds
given:
Duns mipimum charge ......... $500
Bradstreets minimum charge m $500
Foreign Bureaus, similar charge. O.25
Loss to manufacturer. r.......... S4.75
Following is the letter In part
The Museum has been loath hereto
fore to call attention to a state OF af-
fairs detrimental to American manu-
facturers and exporters. Rather than
injure any American concern, even by
convctlng 1t OF injustice TO its fellow
citizens, the Museum would have al
lowed matters to take their course,
knowing sooner or later the manufac-
turers would themselves make the dis
covery. Now, however, that Dun and
Bradstreet, looking solely to personal
profit, seek to embauass the unselfsh
efforts Of the Museum in behalf Of
American foreign commerce, it is ft-
ting that this statement should be
n1ad6
ANY American business man can
secure foreign credit reports at very
small fraction Of the rates charged by
Dun and Bradstreet, and many are
doing so. All who wish to secure this
information direct are entirely welcome
to do so, and the Philadelphia Com
mercial Museum is always ready to re-
fer them to the proper quarter, free Of
charge
1.-THE Dun and Bradstreet agencies tax
American business houses by Offering
them these reports. or others OF less
value, because not based ON local au.
thority, at prices ranging from SO to
$40. AS will be seen in the followins
list rating books accurately reporting
the hundreds Of thousands OF firms in
the entire United Kingdom can be pur-
chased in London for 1920, which
amount, il spent through Dun or Brad.
street, would bring to the unsuspectinl
manufacturer reports on exactly forty
four firms.
An important German bureau, fo
which the Bradstreet Company acts al
American agent. issues reports for al
Germany at $O25 to $i.2O, but rarel,
exceeding s0.35. Anyone can secur
the reports at these rates by applying
direct; yet the Bradstreet Company
advertised rate for them is S..
Neither public funds nor privat
capital is necessary to enable anyone I
secure, for fraction Of the cost charg
ed by the agencies, foreign informatio
of many times the amount and valu,
The facts here disclosed will, howeve
sufficiently indicate the motives whic
have prompted the agencies TO scree
their exorbltant charges behind
cloak OF public virtue.
The price charged by the Dun an
Bradstreet agencies is s. TO 81
The difference, representing profit
1000 to 1000 per cent, will explal
their fears OF exposure. This mono
oily, that feeds on the Ignorance Of /
victims, breads the light
The Museum does not favor such
tax as this on American exports. al
will expose thoroughly the insinceri
of the agencies in basing their alta,
on improper and insufficient grouns
II has now in preparation a list
reputable credit bureaus in all parts
the world, giving the full name a
address Of every bureau, with the rat
charged by each. Like all documer
Of the Museum, this list, as soon
published, will be distributed free
American business firms everywhe
and may be had on application.
The Commercial Museum stands
the widest possible diffusion OF co
mercial information. II has ne
entered the field Of thecommercial ag,
cies, and the publication Of these IA
is no departure from its settled poll
THE ISSUE.
The future prosperity OF the Am
lean Deonlp dqDande or tho o~tov+ .