The Mankato free press., 1916-12-08
BANQUET AND CREDITS

Continued from Page One.
improved. There could be no garnish-
ment for less than $40 and men in
certain lines of work were exempt
from all garnishment.
Should Have Rating Card.
Mr. Berg said every merchant
should hand in rating card on every
customer, good or bad. A report on a
satisfactory man could be given over
the telephone in half a minute. He
has now given about twenty reports
a day over the telephone. That was
not one-tenth of what should be
given. 1t would take more time, how
ever, to get the whole system per-
fected. The rating book would be
ready about the first week in Janu-
airy.
Mr.. Berg urged all the merchants
to get in report before trusting any
man. Credit was all right when
properly handled. There would be no
trouble in collecting if the merchant
was careful in extending credit in
the first place.
turn in his report on every man. A
statement should be sent in every
month.
NJ. F. Sullivan remarked that it
was strange that any business men
found himself too busy to turn in the
credit clips to the secretary. A few
hours some one evening each month
would be enough time to make them
out.
H. F. Kester said he did not think
he ever lost an account, when he
used rating book in extending the
credit. But he had lost accounts by
going outside of the rating book.
Can Call On Berg.
Wilbur Taylor remarked that a
month or so ago it used to take fifteen
or twenty minutes sometimes to in
veStigate the question whether
person was good for credit. Now, by
calling up Mr.. Berg, the desired in
formation was obtained in two and
Il half minutes. After the work Was
well systematized, it would take
about half a minute.
Mr.. Taylor said the people who did
rot pay their bills were dangerous
store only those could get work who
paid their bills. This remark was
greeted with IA burst Of applause.
MIR. Fisher said the business men
themselves should set d good example
by paying their own bills on the
tenth Of every month, or before that
fifSe -af }a a4rl.
Frick Fngwalson said he had re-
received better treatment from this
association than from any other OF
the kind that he ever belonged to.
Nj Fisher spoke OF tfe division OF.
censorship work on solicitors with
the Mankate q Commercial club. The
retail merchants association was
handling the censorship of the So
liciting. for advertisements, and the
censorship of other kinds of So
liciting was handled by the club. He
advised every merchant on being
approached by solicitor for ad-
vertisements to ask for card of ap-
proval signed by Mr.. Berg.
George Draper brought up the point
that Mankato should have regularly
organized city band to give concerts
twice a week This would bring more
visitors into the city, and they would
leave more or less money here.
Fairmont had done this successfully.
He said the slough could be con-
verted into lake, for boating in the
summer and skating in the winter.
William Byrnes spoke in support
of these suggestions.
A motion by William Falancer was
passed, providing for the appoint
ment of a committee to look into the
matter of getting city band and
other attractions. The chair ap-
pointed the following: George Drap-
er, F. L. Babcock, William Taylor,
Fred Manderfeld, Fred M. Otto and
G. T. Taylor.
Eliminating the Deadbeat.
Charles T. Taylor remarked that
the efforts to overcome the profess
sional deadbeat by means of con-
certed action was resulting in good
success. The extension of credit was
getting to be a pretty safe PROPOSE
ton.
Charles Jessup spoke of farmers
who thought the merchants were
organized to discontinue credit al
together and to raise prices. These
impressions should be corrected.
]. A. Smith said the public should
know just what the association was
doing. Mr.. Fisher remarked that 1t ;
was with that idea in view that he
invited press representatives to at
tend the supper and meeting.
There was considerable discussion
on the matter of getting a dozen or
so of the members who had not
turned in their credit slips to do SO
by the 18th of this month. DR.. M. X.
Coulter, C. A. Hallman, w. Jones,
M. F. Sullivan, Wilbur Taylor and
others took part in this discussion.
At length Charles T. Taylor was ap-
pointed to select a committee, not
including directors, to go around and
see the delinquent merchants and
ask them why they did not turn in
their credit slips. The delinquents are
to be told that if they do not do so,
some drastic action will be taken
The talk pointed to the probability
that it would mean that they would
not get the use of the rating book,
after it was compiled. and that they
hn