The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-08-02
MERCHANTS
LAY PLANS
Many Matters Coming Up
al Slate Meeting

Walla Walla will probably have at
least six representatives at the annu :
al meeting of the State Association Of
General Merchants and Grocers, which
will be held at Seattle, September IS
and 10.
The local merchants association will
head a movement at the meeting Tor
the reduction of the amount of prop
erty which debtors are exempt from
execution in the collection of bills due
for the necessities of life purchased on
credit.
In speaking of the matter this morn
ing, H. w. Steinberg, secretary of the
Walla Walla Merchants Protective
association said:
The chief contention in this move
ment will be to secure a reduction in
the amount from which house.
holders are exempt. At the pres
householders are exempt. At the pres
ent time a householder who owes a
merchantile firm, can hold land to the
value of $4,000 and personal property
to the value of $500 which can not be
executed for payment Of the bill. This
we wish to reduce to an exemption OF
$1,000 on real estate and $500 on per-
sonal property.
ALSO it is the purpose to pass bill
at the next legislature which will do
away with any exemption for neces-
saries of life.
1T is not the purpose of the Organiza-
ton to beat a man into submission by
taking away his furniture for bill
but if there We're no exemption and
they would frequently be more liable
TO do the right thing when coiiec-
ton is attempted than when they know
they can hold out personal property to
a considerable value.
There are now about 20 firms be-
longing to this local association and
during the past year $4,000 have been
saved to the merchants of Walla Walla
through the work of the association.
This is due to the excellent system of
collection employed and to the assist
ance which merchants who are in the
association are enabled to give eacn
other.
THE local association works in con-
junction with the state association and
in fact with associations all over the
country, as we have correspondents IN
nearly every city in the United States.
The wide field covered is shown by the
fact that bills have ben collected from
Hawaii, Alaska and Portland Maine.
I'm addition to the great amount of
money saved through the collection
phase of the associations work, an al
most equally large amount is saved
the merchants by means of the black
lists and credit rates prepared by the
association. These credit rates are
kept strictly up to date and it is safe
to say are the most complete and ac-
curate in the country.
Great care is exercised preparing
the black list. When a merchant re-
ports a case where a customer refuses
or fails to pay for goods delivered, the
case is taken up by a committee and
carefully investigated and then If cir
cumstances warrant another name is
added to the black list. When this
ont of a
ton is learned if possible and the as
sociation merchants of that place are
warned against extending him credit.
In many cases such a mans reputation
is known by the merchants of town
before he arrives there.
The strength of this association lies
in the fact that it is not collection
agency but an organization OF mer-
chants. 1t is conducted on as econo-
mical a basis as practical, and its whole
object is to serve the merchants. Its
membership embraces every kind OF
merchantile business"
Mr.. Steinberg was made secretary OF
the Walla Walla Merchants Protec-
tive association a year ago last jan
nary. At that time it had member
shin of 26. Today it's membership Is
nearly 20 firms.
The meeting of the state association
at Seattle will be held in the armory
there. A two days meeting of the
Seattle Retail Merchants association
will be held there on September IA and
16 at which time a large pure food ex-
hibit will be made. The state pure
food commissioner will be present at
this meeting and will address the
merchants.