The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-03-29
Money Talks
Fruit Growers
BY
Northwestern Fruit Exchange
No. 27--AccOuntine De-
partment
TO FRUIT GROWERS:

mlnlStrdtlOn OF MS DuSlless Dy III
agents seems to US to fall far short Of
the mark. Years ago accounting
seemed to be considered as sort o.
necessary evil" thing to be en-
dured, and therefore, thing usually
neglected or else poorly done. Nova
days, in every successful business, ac
counting is an important and respected
function, for it is the beacon-light
which eliminates the whole course Of
the business and lights the channels ol
progress.
| never have had any patience with
the old, cynical theory that what the
grower didn't know, doesn't hurt
him." On the other hand we in the
EXCHANGE think that what the
grower doesn't know is usually the
very thing that DOES hurt him.
Right from the beginning. the EX'
CHANGE has been profoundly i'm
pessed with the solemn responsibility
that devovles upon one who handles
other peoples money. 1t has not beer
willing to ''take things for granted
even in the matter of its own honesty.
1t realizes the fraiIty of human nature,
and made up its mind to surround it.
self with every conceivable safeguard
which would ensure the discharge OF
its duties with strict fidelity.
Therefore, PROTECTION is the
keynote to the EXCHANGES account
ing system. There are three main
factors in this business:
/. The Grower.
2. The Exchange.
3. The BUYER.
Now, the EXCHANGE thinks that
all three of these factors need protec-
ton:
THE GROWER NEEDS PRO-
lection
l. Against his own dishonesty.
2. Against the EXCHANGES dis
honesty.
3. Against the buyers dishonesty.
THE EXCHANGE NEEDS PRO-
lection
l. Against its own dishonesty.
2. Against the growers dishonesty.
3. Against the buyers dishonesty.
THE BUYER NEEDS PROTEC-
TION
l. Against his own dishonesty.
2. Against the Exchanges dishon-
esty. ~
3. Against the growers dishonesty.
Now, don't misunderstood me. am
not charging anybody with dishonesty ;
| am discussing PRINCIPLES. Be-
cause you carry fire insurance on your
house and barn is no reason why your
are going to burn. You
simply PROTECT YOURSELF as a
matter of business prudence AGAINST
THAT CONTINGENCY.
The EXCHANGE believes that in
order to achieve maximum PROTEC-
TION for all concerned, there must be,
1st. A rigid, impersonal, uncompro-
missing SYSTEM.
Now, as to the SYSTEM. In the
first place, the whole accounting sys-
tenn of the EXCHANGE is based on
the principle that the EXCHANGE is
only an AGENT-a hired man-and
that its boss (the grower, or shipping
is entitled to know
EVERYTHING concerning the conduct
of his business. Every car of fruit
sold by the EXCHANGE is handled as
a separate entirety-the EXCHANGE
does not pool returns and as each car
is sold. the EXCHANGE accounts to
the shipper in detail, giving (a) the
name and address of the buyer, (b)
date of shipment of car, (c) date of
sale of the car. (d) car number, (e)
date of accounting, If price at which
the car was sold. If there are several
varieties or grades in the car, the
price at which each variety, each
grade, or each group of sizes, is shown
in detail. In other words, the account
of sale is true picture of the transac-
tion. With this data in his possession,
the shipper or growers association,
can confirm and verify any or every
transaction, if it so desires, by inde-
pendent investigation. Now, perhaps
you will begin to understand what !
mean by the EXCHANGES system
protecting it from its own dishon-
esty." 1t is the SYSTEM which
makes dishonesty so difficult and dan
gerous as to be IMPRACTICAL that is
the ideal system. 1t leaves nothing to
trust, nothing to chance.
Should there be rejection, or an al
lowance, the facts are subject to inde-
pendent investigation also.
Then, every transaction undergoes
audit in this office, every one is double
checked (by different Individually and
many are triple checked. All pay
ments are made by voucher-checks
which carry the signatures of three
persons, of whom two are officers. 1t
is a matter of pride to the EX-
CHANGE that the return of an ac-
count sales to it for correction of a
clerical or other error has occurred
only twice in a record of six and half
years operations.
COMPLETE OPENNESS AND
PUBLICITY: Right from the start,
the EXCHANGE had a firm policy !:
ANY INTERESTED GROWER OR
H is AGENT is WELCOME TO
COME INTO THE EXCHANGE OF
FICE AT ANY TINE, WITHOUT
AND AUDIT THE AD-
MINISTRATION OF HIS BUSI-
NESS. Furthermore, the grower
doesn't have to be an accountant; if
he can read, he can, with the utmost
ease. follow his business through, step
by step, right from the car number to
the cash can see all the kilograms, all
the letters entering into the sale, can
see the carbon copy of the original
invoice, agents reports of condition on
arrival, the copy of the original ticket
from the bank reporting payment and
credit Of the proceeds of the draft, and
the original entries through the EX-
books, the account sales
and the voucher-check. There is moth
ing mysterious or complicated about
all this and no reason for the slightest
confusion or doubt. And. this OPEN
INVITATION on the part of the EX-
CHANGE has been accepted time and
again, and always with the result that
the Investigator left completely salts
fled, and thereafter became booster
for the EXCHANGES system.