Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-17

said IL was the best foreign agency ~
tho world and he thought ii could not
get away from that. He asked how
many had benefited from the museum.
A representative Of the Remington
Machine Go. said his firm had bene-
flied having received some orders
through the museum, to which Mr..
Jepson said that is oil right; that IS
their legitimate work. He also said 1t
had Teen proved that the museum was
doing a commercial agency business
and the service was costing from SlO0
to Sl25. He thought 1t unjust to go to
the government to supply the capital
for such work. This work had cost
his agency $50, 900 in one year.
George II. Beardsley of Philadelphia,
representing Bradstreet's said Mr.. Green
had told him on one occasion that the
museum would not engage In the mer.
camille agency Business, and he had
directed certain of the aeency's books
TO be placed in the museum. The same
statement had been made to Frank
Green of New York, editor OF Brad
streets. This was five years ago.
Mr.. Beardsley said the day before he
appeared before Congress concerning
the matter he had sent q trusted en-
ploye Of Brads.reet's to the museum to
get from the people there statement
concerning their work. The man who
visited the museum received pam
phlet, interlined, but the day following
the hearing at Washington a similar
pamphlet could not be obtained and
none could te obtained since. His
representative, he said, was told, II
man wanted one report he could get it
free, but if he wanted many reports he
would be asked to become a subscriber.
He thought the competition Of the
museum was unjust and the agencies
feel the competition Notwithstanding
the fact that they have been 80 years
building up their agencies The mer
nish people with reports but defend
their standing in all parts OF the world
service which is not appreciated to
the extent that it should be-. He asked
the board In the interest Of justice not
to resoind its resolution.
Mr.. Green said the museum was not
competing or interfering with the busi-
ness of the mercantile agencies. 1t
does not issue books Of ratings. He
thought 1t unwise to oppose the bill.
A. s. Reed asked whether the museum
furnished information concerning the
standing of business houses in tho
United States to which Mr.. Green re-
piled that information is never given
about the standing of domestic houses
but inquirers are referred to the mer-
camille agencies.
Frank Green OF New York editor Of
Bradstreet's said the museum SGT forth
that it would put foreign merchants
and manufacturers in touch with
domestic merchants and manufacturers
and asked G. A. Green if the museum
would not give the standing OF a Viii.
mIngton house to somebody In Paris to
which the latter replied that the
museum would report whether the Viii.
mington house was reputable concern
and what kind of goods it handled.
William ID. Mullen thought the
museum was in direct competition with
the mercantile agencies and he was op.
posed to the government furnishing
money to any concern for Private gain.
In sending out report about the
jackson 81 SHARP Go. George A. Elliott
inquired would it be reported merely
as q reputable concern, building cars,
ships, &c, or would it also be reported
as having capital of say $1,000, 0099
Mr.. Green, the representative OF the
museum, said such concern as that,
having u worldwide reputation, would
be reported, as first class. Such in.
quiries ATE generally referred TO the
commercial agencies. @t.#
DIR. jacobson, quoting from the ltera-
ture OF the museam, said ha thought
the concern was sailing under false
colors and the Bosrd.of Trade should
| not give its support to any concern
which was under false colors.
U. A. Green Insisted that the museum
was not sailing under false colors.
Josiah Marvel opposed tho resoinding
| OF the action OF the board at ita last
meeting, not because tho members had
not the fullest respect for the museum,
but fiom principle, but in order to bring
| the matter before the meeting, tho ESQ.,
luton which had been read at the be-
ginning not having been formally
offered, he moved that the board recon.
slider its action OF last Thursday night,
and announced that he would vote
| against the motion.
Howard I. Wallace, president Of the
| Diamond State Steel Co., said the
situation was awkward. His company
| had pfohted by the museum and he he.
lieved 1T owed its business upun tho
| development Of the foreign trade. IL
had Received no better assistance than
| that OF the museum. He felt, how
ever, that the museum had trans
crossed, in measure. upon the work
Oh the agencies, but could not consist
entity oppose the government assisting
the museum.
| MIR. Elliott thought 1t would be well
70 make an effort to have the bill In
| congress amended, whereupon +. Il.
Mlnton OF New York, representing Dun
~ Co., SAID an amendment had heen
offered to Congress and IL it should be
agreed to no objection would lie offered
to the passage of the bill. The amend.
ment, which he read, provides that the
money shall not be paid, except upon
proof that within three months the
museum shall be incorporated and shall
not nave the light, in it's charter, to
engage in the business Of furnishing in.
formation concerning the standing OF
people in business
Max Ephraim inquired what propor
ton OF the business of the mercantile
| agencies IS foreign, to which Mr.
Beardsley replied that he could NOT
| tell, but Bradstreet's and Dun e Co.
had expended hundreds of thousands OF
dollars on that work. :
Mr.. Leisen thought it would be we'll
for Congress to appropriate the money,
even II the museum had been slightly
IN competition with the mercantile
agencies.
| On the motion to reconsider tho
action OF the last meeting there we're ID
favorable and IA unfavorable votes, and
when President Lawton saw that II