The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-07-31

Mr.. Editor: / have never wanted
to get into public print, but am forced
to make an effort in order to clear
up some things that are peculiar If
true, and l would ask that plain
statement be made on the matter of
the new contract with the Water
Works company. l don't understand
and SO when it is spoken of 'going
value" l have been told that it means
'the good WILL" or in other words,
1.-The business trade" that the Water
Works has. The Commercial club is
supposed to be composed of good,
sensible business men and hence
there is to be given them credit for
good, business sense. | see that their
utility" committee is composed of
such men as Mr.. Gennett, Mr.. Hase-
meier, Mr.. Foulke, Mr.. Haas and Mr..
Bradbury. Now, these men seem to
think it all right to permit the Water
Works to get per cent of profit on
the going value" That is, as l un-
derstand it, and if wrong l want to be
corrected, that because the Water
Works has our trade, that this trade
is valued to them at $4,000, and be-
cause each year this trade increases,
the value of our trade with them in
creases. And as it increases it is
thought to be fair and right that the
company should get per cent on
this "going value or on our trade.
That is, because we see fit to buy wa
ter of them and accommodate them
with our patronage, they intend to
charge us at the rate of per cent
for being loyal to them in patronage.
1t looks to me this way-that because
we can't get water any other way. and
that they have US in a corner, with
their clutches on our threats, that
they now propose to clutch tighter
each year as our loyalty increases.
Hasemeier does business with our
wives that buy dry goods of him. If
he thinks that is good business pol
icy; then as his trade increases he
intends to get an extra per cent on
his goods because we trade with him.
And again, Mr.. Gennett would demand
the same right in selling pianos to
us. Now. is it not fact that the
more goods these men sell that they
find it to be good policy to sell at
less rates? Is that not true in all
business? Is it not true with the
newspaper business? 1t may be that
the Commercial club as a body. will
favor such plans, but l don't believe
If the question was voted on by that
body that they would approve of it.
No fair man should deny a fair profit
to the Water Works on the goods
that lie delivers to us. but to charge
us a price extra because they have
our trade or custom, it looks to me
to be unfair. / don't believe our
people generally know what that term
going value" means, or they would
rise in Indignation over it, and woe
be to the Board of Works or City
Council that would saddle that
scheme on us. If l am not right, l
want to be corrected, and l hope Mr..
Editor, that you will be kind enough
to the public and make plain the
truth. l understand well enough that
II man has business and some one
comes along and Offers to buy him out
that he may justly ask price for the
business over and above the real val
ne OF the goods in stock, but when
1t comes to selling the goods to the
general trade. he who proposes to buy
the stock has the option of taking it
or not and he figures on the profit