Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-22
BUSINESS MEN IN SESSION.
Address by President Warren l.. Hall
 of This City.

| A bury association are in attendance, w. l.. Hall, who is president of the asso- citation, and o.. A. Ziglatzki being among those from this city. The fCl- lowing address was delivered by MT Hall after the opening of the session: Gentlemen of the State Business Mems 1 Association:
 You are convened here to-day as the representatives from the local associa- tions of our busy commonwealth, and by your selection you are highly hon. ored with the confidence and charged with the responsibility of legislating for l an intelligent, critical and appreciative business people.
 The gratitude you may feel for the dignity of being Connecticut's Business Mems association legislators can best be shown by earnest and honest per formance of duties.
 I would be wanting in grateful senti- ment did I not at this time publicly ex- press my own appreciation for the honor of position, which in so generous a manner the business men of Connec- ticut have bestowed upon me.
 In accordance with the requirements of custom have the honor of submit ting for such attention and action as you may deem timely and appropriate the facts and suggestions which fol | low:
 The last year has given no sign that the financial and industrial prosperity which is at the basis of our growth and our power is likely 10 diminish but on the contrary has showed that the Connecticut Business Mems association is no longer an experiment, it haVlnG proved it's efficiency and wortA in the benefit and advantages that have ac- crued. not only to those who are mem hers of the association, but indirectly to others as well.
 The fourth wear of our state organ ization closes with local associations al l Hartford New Haven, Bridgeport Meriden. Norwalk, Danbury. New Lon don, Waterbury, Bristol New -Brltaln, lTorrington, Manchester, Ansonla, Der by, Shelton, Seymour and Thompson ville
 Our membership is now almost 1,6oo business houses. representing 3.ooo m dividual members. a gain of 2oO Dusl- ness houses during the year, with ROCK vile. Southington and Naugatuck or ganized and soon to be annexed. | Our finances are in excellent condl- lion. Our treasurer's report will show an increased balance in the treasury, and TO outstanding indebtedness.
 can report no statute legislation within the year, as the general assem- bly has not been in session, and, 10 use the familiar term, it is an 'oH year. I beg to add. however. that believe by the cooperation of the local organ izations much wise and beneficial leg islation for our merchants can be en- acted.
 I would call attention to the exemp- tion law. If an attempt to amend the present law, it must be so drafted that | the honest poor man who pays his b1lls will cooperate with the merchants in it's passage It is a well known fact that the laborer pays more for his gro ceries and more for rent than he would pay if the law was so modified that the 1 landlord could reach the professional beat. And right here I will use the words of our former president, MT l Jackson. "that until the law can be changed it is highly advisable for our tradesmen to exercise more rigid scfu- tiny of credits With weekly and semi monthly payments of earnings now very generally adopted throughout our state. there is no sound reason for granting extended credits other than in cases of family aff1iction or like cir cumstances."
 I wish also to speak of the present United States bankruptcy law. which | in it's present form believe to be per nicious would recommend that your combined efforts be turned toward its | modification. In fact. our present bankruptcy law is wrongly named; it should be entitled "An act for the pur- pose of making men dishonest" It should be so amended that every ras- cal, yes, and some. who have been be- fore considered honest, could not tem- porarily transfer his property to other hands. go into bankruptcy, pay noth- ing, get discharge, go into business again and have money to burn. There should be fixed per cent man should nay to entitle him to discharge. The law should be repealed or so framed as to prevent and punish crime, but as it now stands it not only makes men dishonest but protects them in 1t.
 In as few words as possible I wish to touch on stock business methods.
 We live in an age of progression and
 old and stock business methods must
 invariably fail. By this mean loose
 credits, old stock not weeded out al
 the proper time and turned into money,
 source of waste that will ruin the : best business in the world. Bright, smart men are succeeding in many in stances right under our noses, and ii , stands us all in hand to reason together | for the general good. Selling goods on credit ties up thousands of dollars, SC that when bills are due, weekly o1 monthly it is only natural and right - that you should have your money. Oc
 casionally we find firms possibly wei
 rated who are careless. do not check
 up their bills properly. and when bills
 become over due find fault because drafts are made on them. Whose fault is it? If one insists on sticking to the old way of paying when they like, and ' to poorlyi kept stores with no system which is a detriment to every honest business man in our state, failure is 7 the inevitable result.
 Uniform delinquent debtors blanks } have been voted by the directors of thi; . association, and I would earnestly urge } that all local associations use the same