Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-12
DUS|NESSNERS LEAGUE.
HOLDS A BUSY SESSION
Shop Iifting, 6, River TranspOr-
tatiOn and Old Peoples
Home Discussed

That shoplifters win run against an
unexpected snag when they attempt
their operations in Salem during the ap-
preaching holiday rush, is the intention
of the members Of the Business Men IS
league as expressed at their meeting
last evening.
The league has ben in touch with the
strongest detective agency on the coast
and action was taken at special CON
ference last night looking to the employ
ment during the holiday trade of two
of the eleverest and shrewdest operators
the agency could furnish. More than
this number will be sent if needed.
Discussion was also heard as to the
advisability of following, the lead of
Portland and Spokane and other large
cities in checking the large -mouthed
shopping bags as they are brought into
the store. The shoplifter is practically
helpless without her shopping bag. In
number of the larger cities on the
coast the stores have adopted the rule.
of checking all knitting and shopping
bags as they are brought into the store.
returning them to their owners when
they are ready to leave. 1t has been
found very effective means of cur
failing the nefarious acifvity of the
shoplifter and much sentiment was ex-
pressed in favor of adopting the rule
here.
Stores To Close Evenings.
AS to the matter Of keeping open of
evenings during the holiday season the
general sentiment seemed to be opposed
to it. Clerks would be tired after a busy
day and they would not be able to give
the quick, snappy service required of
them. Also the matter of closing hours
on Saturday night was brought up and
the majority present expressed them
selves as in favor of all the stores of
the city following the lead Of the gro
GERS in closing at o. clock instead of
$3.50 as do the dry-goods stores at pre-
sent.
On motion of H. w. Meyers it was
voted that a committee of five be ap-
pointed to endeavor to get all the stores
of the city together on an agreement to
close a s clock on Saturday nights and
to remain open no later than the regular
hours during the Christmas season. The
committee as announced at noon today
consists of A. A. GRADER, chairman; U.
G. Shipley, J. w. Chambers, R. c..
Bishop, Stephen X. Kaboury.
Boat Line to Be Patronized.
After Manager Mcdaniel of the Com
mercial club had read the report of
meeting of the club directors at which
it was held that it would not be feas-
ible for the city or the business men
to take over the boat line as a com
munity enterprise, the league voted the
motion of Hal D. Patton that reso-
luton be drawn up having as its OBJ
ject the turning of a sufficient amount
of patronage to the Oregon City Trans
portation company to make it worth
while for the company to operate its
line of boats between this place and
Portland.
A number of the members expressed
themselves as of opinion that in order to
receive the general patronage of the Sa-
lem business men the boat company
should have a boat leaving Salem early
in the morning each day. Theodore Roth
stated he had been informed by the
managers of the line that if sufficient
a boat leave Portland about clock
each night and arrive in Salem in time
to leave here early the next morning
on the return trip.
Mr.. Roth suggested that a committee
be appointed to ascertain approximately
what tonnage could be assured the boat
line. Mr.. Patton was opposed to the
plan of one man neglecti4g his own
business too much for theF benefit of
another man S business. Mr.. Roth in
sisted it would be dollars in the pockets
of Salem business men to help the boat
line all they could.
Rates Discussed.
Speaking on the matter of railroad
rates as affected by water route rates
and the probability of securing reduced
rail rates, d. A. White said:
THE roads haven t any more to
say about rates than the shippers have
We have voted that power out of our
hands and put it into the hands of the
public service commission
He stated that his firm could not
ship carload lots by boat because the
ing would more than offset the differ |
ence saved IN transportation charges. (
Smaller shipments, however, and those
not requiring a great amount Of time OF
labor to load and unload were given /
the boat line, he said.
Endorse Old Peoples Home.
The league endorsed the movement to
solicit funds for the Old Peoples nome /
and also voted to add three new men,
bers to the committee already existing
to solicit funds for the home. Mrs h. /
E. Fisher appeared before the meeting
and informed the members that only /
about $500 remains to be raised Of the I
$4,000 allotted to Salem for the construc-
lion of a new building, and that it was
that this be raised if the
100000 offered by an eastern Oregon
nan is to be available. The other $4,000