The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-12-23
Albany. n. Y. Nov. 81. 1912.

| /. II. Norton Detroit, Mich:
Dear Sir-H G.. Lorenzen, OF this
city, was in our office this afternoon
and paid the bill In full for the burial
Of his wife. whose interment you took
charge OF In your city. Mr.. Lorenzen
made the statement that you said the
casket furnished. for which we charg-
ed slo5. you furnished for se5. and In
proof of your statement showed US a
written and witnessed paper to that
effect. The price charged by us we
consider as a fair charge for that
style OF casket and IL the usual charge
for same in this section
Now. Mr.. Norton, leaving aside
what we are sure would be considered
| a most Migrant breach OF professions!
courtesy. we cannot understand how
you could sell exactly the same casket
at the price you mention. and would
be greatly Indebted TO you IL you
would enlighten as as TO how IL is
done. We do large business. charge
falr purices and yet have yet to learn
where the net Is after payment OF ex-
penses. III you can show a profit and
sell such caskets as the one we used
at the price you mention. then we are
wrong somewhere and would be pleas
ed TO have you give us some informa-
ton as 10 how Il may be done.
Naturally after your statement TO
him. he concluded we had taken ad-
vantage OF him, and surely he cannot
be blamed for his position In the mat
ter We must confess that we feel
greatly hurt because Of the fact, and
IL is a fact, that this is the nrst time
Ia our history Of a man for whom we
nave done work reproaching US with
having taken advantage OF him May
We ask that you advise us what caused
you TO make the statement you did
and Will you please send copy OF
your letter to Mr.. Lorenzen. whose ad-
dress Is Union Depot. Albany n. W
TEBBUTT & PALMER.
(Signed) A. w. Palmer.
Detroit. Mich. Nov 20. 1912.
Tebbutt g. Palmer Albany, N. Y.
Gentlemen-Your letter OF Nov 81
at hand and contents noted, and as
much as you ask me TO answer IT, i
VIII gladly try TO do so.
You state in your letter that II. c.
Lorenzen OF your city was in and paid
the bill In full for burial OF his wife
You did not state the amount OF his
bill, only the amount OF the casket.
Now brother. by what you write I
suppose you have at least 30 funerals
a. month. and also believe you have
the respect OF the people OF Albany. or
YOU could not get such a chance 10
charge such prices for funeral OF
poor railroad mans wife. The pront
on your casket without your service
and embalminE was at least $40, and
tho box profit to you or at least Sl4
IL the very least you could make on
the funeral 800: and this poor rail-
road man not saving tho prices you
get out OF a rich man and poor wild
ows II you call that a fair price
then think such undertakers as your
Kind should be shown up.
IT. regard leaving aside what you
call most fragrant and breach OF
professional courtesy. I will say that
Is the trouble with the undertakers
OF today. They do not want the peo-
pie TO know the prices they get or
profit they make on a funeral The
undertakers OF this United States have
robbed the public so bad that the
courts should rise up and put them
out OF business. In ou- CITY We have
nearly 100 undertakers Some az them
live or the profit OF one funeral n
month How much better would "
be for 90 undertakers 10 do the bust
ness and take n good profit. and not
rob tho widows and children and the
workinRmen out OF thousands OF dol
lars every year.
II every undertaken would sell for
cash and not trust out two or three
hundred funerals n year. and the rea-
son undertakers trust so MANY people
for funerals Is that they make from $50
to $500 on funeral They think "
lneV succeed IN getting Onc-tnird or
one-half they arc ahead Of the game
and the trouble comes 70 a man or
woman who makes n struggle 10 nav
the vulture oT. Tho raw n stopped and
perhaps he must Quit his position and
from one 10 five the years the under
tnkcr hns him tied hand and foot
whereas " he had paid the undertake.
s25 or $50 proht fer hts wifa's funeral
he could have held his Job and been a
happy man.
Coming hack 20 tho caaket would
say that have been In business about
RI wears and never sent ont cnslet
without lining n clcar around Yours
was only lined half way around with
lining worth perhaps not more than
40 cents "a Yards handles NJ tho
outside wouid not cost more than 81
md n YOU discount your bills should
not cost over s72S. Your rlata 60
cents and vour caaket cornplete trim
mad IN should not nave cost YOU more
thew s2a end vcu charge t10S for AZ
without vour ~ box: you charge. 7
think $50 for y "opr embalming and
yorr service hesides
The publlc he's no conception OF the
price OF casksts. therefore the bright
-nnderfaker- gets In -hta-eharp prea-
ticc. ! saw BRIGHT. think tho mo-
lority OF undertakers In business to-
day are sharp AMI polished and q set