Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-30
THE DEALERS PROTEST
OBJECT TO PAYING CONFESSIONS
TO FAMILY BUTLERS.
Local Association to Ask Congress to
Legislate - Described as
Nefarious Practice.

The practice among certain meat and
provision dealers Of paying commissions to
stewards, buffers and other domestic en-
rloyes with view of obtaining the trade of
those hotels or persons whom such en-
ployes represent formed the principal topic
of discussion at the meeting of the Retail
Butchers and Meat Dealers Protective AS
ISOLATION held last evening at the Jolly Fat
Mems Club. The association has instituted
crusade against this alleged dishonest
method Of gaining trade, and the meeting
last evening was for the purpose of famil-
iarizing the members Of the body with the
existing conditions and to arrive at some
agreement as to which will be the most eff
fective way to stamp out the evil.
President John r. Kelly called the as
semblage to order and Mr. George Gerhold
recorded the proceedings. After the dis
position of routine matters a resolution
adopted at previous meeting was again
taken up. and every one present was given
an opportunity to express his sentiments on
the topic. The measure in question recites
that 1.-The Retail Butchers and Meat Deal
er5 Protective Association learns with re-
greet that the custom Of offering a percent
age for trade is a growing evil and we
hereby condemn this method Of gaining
trade believing that this nefarious practice
should not be used by any honest business
man or firm to get custom. as the natural
customer to pay the cook, and this associa-
ton stamps with its disapproval any such
methods of gaining trade; and further, we
deem 1t sufficient cause to expel any MEM
her who is guilty of this Offense.
'As the word protective with us has a
broad meaning, we ask the cooperation Of
the public to help us stamp out this dis
honest practice, and request the newspapers
to publish this resolution to apprise the
consumers Of what we mean to accomplish
for their benefit"
Circular Letter to Householders.
At the close of the discussion it was
unanimously decided to prepare circular
their employees to do the purchasing for the
table, warning them of the dishonest prac-
tice in vogue, and explaining to them that
in the end they suffer the loss. This letter
Is expected to be ready for distribution
within a few days.
1t is also the purpose of the association to
frame and submit a bill to Congress max
ing such method of gaining trade pun
1Shable offense. 1t is expected that definite
plans as to congressional action will be de-
cided upon at the next meeting of the asso-
ciation
In conversation with a Star reporter a
member of the association stated that the
practice originated with French stewards
and chefs, who in their native country are
given commission on all purchases with
out the asking. 1t was also stated that as
soon as 1t becomes known that a wealthy
family is contemplating removal to this
city certain dealers at once dispatch their
representatives to interview the steward or
butler of the family, incidentally offering
him a certain per cent of commission on all
purchases he makes for his master. 1t was
also stated that when 1t was announced
that Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt would take
up her residence in this city during the
present season several well-known meat
and grocery dealers went post haste to New
York to interview the butler of the family