The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-25
D6NN1Ne NEWPORT corrASsRS.


DUNNXN9 NEWPORT C0TrAGBRS.
NOT An uhe Rss,6ents n 1sse ncssrt Are
Prompt H,syers.
Newport IN ono Of tho Qussrcst places
In the world said 81 the merchants
on ThAmss street 10 Q PrcpsdsAcs Journal
reporter.
You'd naturally expect thss IN Q colonv
whsrs there arc 20 many wealthy psous
you'd have little diniculty In collecting kss
bI1s when thsy became due. but there ara
more bills running from month 20 months
and year to pear than you'd DO willing tn
believe.
Il have done businees in New York and
a large number Of other cities. and wero
Il not for that portion Of tho oottasers here
who have plenty Of money but seem 10
think that the tradesmen don't need IL in
sAeir business there 10 no place where I'd
rather have my store than right here in
Newport.
Il have heard from other merchants Of
some Of the octsagerf who don't pay their
bills. either because they are living at too
rapid q paoe or have become Needless. but
from my observations the worst class is
that composed Of those who have the means
but are needless.
Il don't know that the blame should be
laid entirely on the cottaser themselves,
for in some cases I have found that the
fault has been entirely with the men en-
ployed about the estate whose business it
should be to call b attention OF their mas
ters to q bill when IL becomes due.
"One Of the very wealthy families ran
q bill with ms for . large order OF goods
a couple Of years ago. and every month
sent a statement to their address. but never
received even an answer that the state
ments had been received. Ono day l drove
around to the house to see about IL.
Most Of those wealthy chaps are 30 hedged
around with understraPperS that II u about
as easy to see n OF them on a matter OF
business as IL would be 70 interview the
Guar of Russia.
when / sent In my card the head butler
came out TO ascertain my business. and
explained that his master was very busy.
had not the time to give TO little details
like settling bills. but that he would call
/ don't believe the man ever saw it.
.Some time latsfI happened to see the
man that owed me for the goods and mem
toned Il to him, asking that he send me a
remittance when he found IL convenient;
He seemed to be surprised that the bill
had not been paid and sent me a check
the next day.
sI DONE want you to understand that
all the ~cottagers in the city are heed.
less; they're not. The great majority or
month, and as the Wholesale houses allow
us from thirty 70 siSty days that e Just
OF delay, either through heedleesness or
faut Of their employees. that gives US the
trouble, and i keeps US borrowing money 70
.i suppose the common sense way TO
deal with them after you have sent q bill
il to follow the bill with a letter,
they don't send q check treat them the
II it's the fault OF the butler OF other en-
ployee on the place a letter from an at
torney would bring them TO their senses,
and II IL il the heedlessness Of. the nan
himself he would think twice before he
would allow you to haul him into court on
a charge Of trying 70 dodge his debts
The situation a outlined BY this dealer
ia one that must be met by most Of the
Newport merchants VIC number the cot
tagers among their patrons. There ID no
question 90 important in the business world
Of Newport as how to collect tho money
due the firm by the members OF the summer
COLONY" ia the opinion OF the manager
of one OF the largest grocery stores there.
1T is a delicate question 10 d'scuss, Tor
people for our existence-tn fact. the pay
ment Of their bills means success Tor the
stores in which they trade.
"The great majority who come to New
port are considerable and loyal to the in
terests Of the city and the merchants are
grateful for their patronage. There are
some that have plenty OF means but
seem to be thoughtless n regard TO paying
heir bills. but the worst GLASS Is that which
comes here during the summer. lives be-
yond its means and makes "a lives UNI
comfortable and embarrassing
the credit limit In large business houses
is about thirty days all over the country,
and when q merchant extends credit to
customers longer than that It that
he 10 obliged to borrow money and lose the
interest and many times the profit