Year: 1871

now THEY ARR. FORMED AND CARRIED on


THEIR UTJGiTY-TuE BRADsTREET SUIT.


The suit >6f Miller against the Bradstreet
Commorc Agency has brought before the public this
tnpOrte nt adjunct of commercial life. In the earlier
days of American trade when every merchant per-
IsOlkly acquainted with his customers, and had per
sonal knowledge Of their standing needed inormer
70 tell him whom he could safely trust, and from whom
rpedt should be withheld But the city has outgrown
all this and when at any moment purchaser is liable
20 step into any of the large houses select bill of goods
Rsk that they be shipped at and also that he be
charged with the same, must be at hand by
which his standing he ascetaned for to refuse him
credit outright may be losing valuable and safe Gus
toner; 90 accept his word without authority would be
the worst of business transactions


To meet such the Commercial Agencies havebeen
formed There are three of these this city which have
attained prominence and which represented In all
che large cities by branch Offices To describe the modHs
op6rdRdi OF one viii be an index Of all.


In starting Agency canvassers are sent out 10 al
The prominent merchants for subscribers. subscriber
kas these privileges by paying certain sum; frS ne
a. loaned book OF the Agency This book contains the
names Of all the Observation-Disclosures and retail, city
and counryin the Union, far can be ascertaned
Opposite each firms certain figures or letters,
which explained in an index For instance; A, VIII
a firm OF undoubted standing; c, firm TO be
trusted carefully The figures give various particulars
to the manner Of doing business-whether the firm
credits largely, lives extravaganty or immoray, In
oorses recklessy etc. These books are issued IN July
and January every year They loaned TO subscribers
each number being recalled when the new one Issued
greater confidence between the Agency and its
customers 1t is considered dshonorabe for any sub
scrher to allow nOnsubscrber to use his book and
contract with the Agency forbids the same


Secondly: The subscriber is entitled to a weekly
sheet" giving all important changes in the way of
business standings, etc. Thirdly He make inquiry
the Office concerning any customer whom he may
into hon
Agency will endeavOr to procure it.


FOUrDly: The runners agents OF the subscriber viii
be furnished by the Agency with cards of introduction
TO their branch Offices, and with recommendations to
Trustworthy lawyers when country lawsuit necessary


The obtaining OF all this information is, Of course the
responsible duty Of the Agency 1t accomplished sub
stantiay as follows: A comes to the Agency to know
the business standing of b. One of the reporters of the
Agency is sent direct TO b. If his is not already
the books. He told that the Agency wishes to know
his standing and is asked for plain statement and for
business references This Of given in the best
light possible The reporter then visits BIS business
rivals and gets from them another estimate The average
of the two modified by whatever other information can
he obtained, accepted the result TO he published OF
in this way the Agency possesses an immense
Influence the business community But the success
OF the Agency must depend its honesty general
conversation among business shows that while
they know Of instances in which reporters have accepted
presents with the understanding that they TO
"mark up" the rm they believe that such bargain
could be made with any principal For let merchant
discover that he influence agency n his
behalf and the books of that agency at once become TO
him wholly untrustworhy and useless So that the prn
epals depend strict honesty and the closest surve
lance their reporters for their very existence.


the direct utility Of the there is some
difference OF opinion. While the great majority of
merhants are subscribers they say that they look on
the books assistants rather than as final authority
"They never yet saved failure" said an importer
ave always prefer city reference" said another but
five can't get that and sell the authority Of the
book we always look sharp to our customer" I'm
porters who deal directly with city wholesale dealers


nd the books of little accounts but jObbers whose Gus
from ali parts OF the country do certainly nd
the books of great assistance, as the subscription lists


The Bradsreer case is stated by the firm as follows:
Mr. A A. Miller is Il St. Louis druggist who bought out
on the scale II is alleged that Mr. Scott told agent
Of the that Mr.. Miller did not meet BIS agree
snens promptly and the strength OF this information
Nr. Miller was marked &c on the monthly sheet
Office for nformatOn," and are used when
more extended explanation is necessary than can
be given in the BOOK and when the ciTcum-
stances do warrant the lowering OF the mans stand
ing outright This caused libel suit which ls yet TO be
tried But when, in the regular July book Mr.. Miller
found himself marked D., E-a little lower on the
scale he had been marked betOIehe asks Tor an
Injunction fOrbdding the circulation OF the book in ST.
Louis Bradstree Co. that in the 20 years OF their
business not 20 suits have been brought against
them Of which only ever reached trial, aud that
while the charges OF bribery, &C., which have been
brought against them most irritating the business
romInunity understands that the very nature OF their
business precude the possibility OF the truth OF the al
legations.