The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-03-19
SECRET RATES GIVEN
Do Express Companies thus Aid
the Mail Order Housesl
CONGRESSMAN so ALLEGES.

Mr. Anthony Presents Evidsns. 10
she~ viels,ion 81 lntsv,ats Com.
msres Aei--chisae0 csnssrn Indicted
Fer Illegal Use Of Msfs
Z A day % reckoning seems 60 be In
prospect for some Of the BIG mail or.
der houses whit b appear TO have been
violating the laws Congressman u
Il Anthony Of Kansas. whJ repre-,
sents the Leaveusorth district Snd is
son " cue Of the most noted cdi.
tors IN the history " hls state aud
nephew ~ Miss Susan u. Anthony. the
famous woman surraglst has furnish.
ed evidence "a Postmaster General
Meyer which Is said TO show that
some Of the mail order concerns enjoy
secret cut rates from the express com.
panlcs,
Congressman Anthony has been
gathering facts 90 substantiate hts
statement that the express companies
give discriminatory rates. thus en-.
abllng the mail order people 10 ship
their goods TO country customers at
rates low as OF even lower than those
suggested IN the postmaster generals
recent recommendation for the estab-
lishment of parcels post should
these charges he suhstantlated both
the express companies and the mail
order concerns participating In this un-
derhand work are liable 10 prosecution
under the interstate commerce act,
Just as the railroads and the Standard
on company have been prosecuted for
giving and accepting rebates on freight
transportation.
Many country merchants oppose par
GELS post legislation because they fear
that II would give such an advantage
cities that the local retailers would be
driven out OF business Just how Mr..
Anthony's investigations may turn out
is a matter OF conjecture, but should
his statements he substantlated by OF
fetal investigation II Is evident that
the discovery Of express rebates VIII
tend 10 reconcile retail merchants 10
parcels post legislation. At any rate.
these charges coming from a man
Of Congressman Anthony's standing
should cause thousands OF mall order
patrons TO think twice before patronlz-
Ing houses suspected OF violating this
highly important law. Those who be-
lleye in equal rights TO all and special
privileges 10 none will be inclined TO
class the mammoth mail order con
Germs with the Standard Oil company
and other preyers on the public veal.
In Iowa the federal authorities are
going after one mail order concern.
that Of Sears, Roebuck & Co of Chi. |
cago, In another way. The federal |
grand jury at Des Molnes has returned
an Indictment In three counts against
the Chicago firm on charges of using
the mails to defraud.
II Is alleged that this concern sold to
a citizen of Des Molnes some paints
which II described In letter TO the
buyer as containing white
lead and being manufactured 'ln our
own great paint factory under the su.
peryision of the finest paint experts"
The indictment sets forth that the
paints did not contain white lead and
were not manufactured In the con
,erns own factory, Sears, Roebuek &
20. not possessing paint factory.
The other two counts name rural
rec delivery route victim who bought
wo rings from the Chicago concern on
he strength Of Its catalogue recon.
One Of these rings was
laid to contain pearls and sapphres,
he other pearls and rubles. Neither OF
he rings contained the jewels men
Toned, according to the indictment.
As the catalogues and the rings were
ent through the mails, violation OF
he federal statutes is charged.
Whether this indictment holds or not.
here Is food for thought in the refiec-
ion that you cannot always get what
ou want by seeing picture and de.
tfiUtlou VI IL III cutaiokue anu seuu-
ng your money by mail without first
eeing the goods.
The local merchant keeps his goods
4 sight, and the purchaser always
nows what he Is buying. Purchasing
rticles by mail is pretty much like
Wrapping pocketknives "unslght and
Very frequently the other
oy's knife is not half so good a knife
3 yours, but when you trade that
'ay your knife is gone. II is good
ule to insist upon seeing the knife be-
ore making the trade.
At your home stores you can always
ee the knife and test the blades before
uyIng