New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1904-07-30

La:
Dear sir: Your desire to know the ex
act status of The New Iberia Mercantil
Agency, its purpose and future policy
deserves, not only my immediate acknowl
edgement, but actuates me to the strictes
impartiality in my answer.
| 1t order, however, that you may bette
| appreciate the many advantages Offered
to subscribers by the Home Agency ovel
that of any other within the boundaries o
the State of Louisiana, it is necessary
that we should compare and measure then
with each other.
But before doing this, let it be under
stood that it is not my purpose to depre
ciate the merits of any other similar in
stitution ; and still less to give fame to The
New Iberia Mercantile Agency by exhibit
ing the defects and shortcoming of ethers
This brings us to the point. In short
in order that the Professional man, Mer-
chant, Manufacturer or whatever else he
or they may chance to be, may become
a subscriber to any Mercantile Agency
operating within this State and Parish,
they must 60 down in their pockets fer
Thirty five Dollars ($35.00), at the very
least, and comply with the other various
requisites Of the contract, which is far
more [exacting than those Of the Home
Agency.
For this consideration they receive Gas
loan) y list Of names with alleged ratings.
That this list of names is incomplete,
and the ratings. in great many in
stances, inaccurate, is, in my opinion,
patent on it's face. And should the inno-
cent subscriber suffer any loss thereby,
the Agency will not make good one five
cents. From the nature of the case these
ratings must be year old, inasmuch as
these names is in the hands of the printer
a year before it reaches the hands of the
subscribers and as the subscribers here
are over One Hundred miles from the
Office of the Agency, it necessary follows
that they cannot get the benefit of abso-
lutely up-to-date ratings, save by the un-
certain delays of the mail and provided
further that they over there have got them
to furnish.
They do not give their subscribers the
assessment of the person rated,
nor the amount of the Judgment if any
have lately been recorded against him
and still less the nature of suit should
any be pending.
They do not inform the subscribers
whether the person so rated is single or
married in order that the creditor might
restrict his credit so as not to infringe upon
the Homestead Exemption in case of
death. Finally they are not in position
TO know with unerring precision the rat
ing of any individual in this Parish for
The main reason, among others, that they
do not know how much the party owes
and the nature of these debts. Lastly they
do not inform their subscribers (when the
debt is contracted through third party,
whether the person so listed is White or
Black, that the creditor might be in posi-
ton to form correct opinion as to his
rectitude in his moral obligation; and for
the benefit of Identification.
In collecting the claims of its subscrib-
~ in of f1-
tuition of this sort-they endeavor to do so
by sending notices from over Hundred
miles away to stubborn debtors. That
his is totally ineffective, need not ex-
patiate upon. Now when it comes to en-
force these claims at Law; as is the nat
lral consequence of such system the
subscriber must "put up" the Attorneys
Zee whether he wins or looses his case.
Mr.. Editor, yau have now read some of
he disadvantages which the subscribers
If the foreign Mercantile Agencies labor
inder; which, in justice to them and to
yourself, l have not extenuated in any
way, shape, form or manner. Therefore,
ct us see some of the many advantages
,Aered by our Home Institution ; as stated
above.
The subscribers of The New Iberia
Agency, does not pay a single
,ent out of their pockets to become such. 1t
8 only when their uncollectible debts have
oeen collected by the Agency, that out
II this delinquent collection they allow
he Agency to retain Seven Dollars and
Fifty Cents as their membership fee.
Vote.the difference between this and Thirty |
i've Dollars cash in advance. And while |
his collection is being made, the sub
Icriber, is entitled to all the benefits
he Agency, as hereafter stated, and it |
matters not il he has been enjoying them
or whole year; il no collection is made |
or him, his membership fee costs him alb
olutely nothing.
While The New Iberia MercantileAgency |
,resents itself to the community with over
Hundred thorough and ac-
urate ratings of debtors of this Parish OBJ
ained-as you may well judge-at an
immense cost and labor, it holds itself abb |
olutely responsible to its subscribers to
he extent of One Hundred Dollars for |
very erroneous rating furnished through |
which the subscriber has sustained loss. |
IAN anything else be fairerf Does not |
his insure unmeasnred pains and nm
linching modern business methods in its |
The New Iberia Mercantile Agency pro-
,oses to do more than this. 1t solmnly |
,inds itself to furnish, upon request, rat
ngs that are brought up to the very hour
t is applied for; and to have this rating |
n the hands of its subscriber within |
fifteen minutes from the time the appli-
'ation reaches its Office. 1t proposes and
binds itself to inform its subscribers ii |
heir intended debtor is white or black,
n order that they may form contract |
Judgment on the rectitude of their moral |
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