118 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



produce, as pay for making a nuisance of himself; or perhaps some tired 

 citizen is employed as a 'local.' His business seems to be somewhat of a 

 combination of solicitor and 'spotter.' He will take an easy drive out in 

 the forenoon and tell us what to do. In the afternoon he loafs around the 

 depot or dock to see if we obey his instructions, and finally collects about 

 three per cent, of our money from our partner, claiming his commission 

 on all shipments from our port to his employer, perhaps, and the chances 

 are that he does not know a Baldwin from a Burbank. 



"This system may do for the south — in fact I am satisfied it is 'business' 

 there ; but to the intelligent fruitgrowers of Michigan it is an imposition 

 on good nature, and now we ask our partner to dispense with him and 

 reduce commissions to as low a figure as he can, consistent with a safe and 

 honorable business. 



OBJECTION TO CARTAGE CHABGES. 



"Another item in the account, which is against us, is the cartage — a small 

 matter it may seem to some, but in the aggregate it is a large matter. I have 

 before me the account of sales of three commission houses for half -bushel 

 cases of berries. One charges one cent cartage, another one and one half 

 cents, the other two cents. The one charging me one cent has sold for me 

 many years. I am acquainted with the man who has his carting contract 

 and he is very prosperous. I do not know whether he gets all the cartage 

 charges or not, but he certainly gets no more. Now, regarding the man 

 who gets two cents. Does it actually cost two cents, or is there another 

 item? Now let us ask our partners if they will not reduce these rates to 

 actual cost, mak«e it uniform, and relieve us of the impression that our 

 partner is taking an unfair advantage of us. He may say it is impossible 

 for him to do these things, as it would be against the rules and customs of 

 the street, and all others would combine against him, thereby ruining his 

 business; and so they would, but in union there is strength. Have we not 

 ten or more partners on South Water street, who will join us in an agree- 

 ment to reduce commissions and cartage to the lowest consistent rates for 

 all Michigan consignments, keeping all their solicitors out of the state, we 

 to give the matter publicity through the press and use our influence to 

 help their business? In substance, we to do the soliciting for ten or more 

 firms which shall pass our inspection as to reliability, character, etc., 

 and give the shippers of the entire state the benefit. The objection may 

 be urged that shippers of other states would raise a serious objection to 

 this condition of afii'airs. This need not be the case, as the same plan 

 might be open to them. It can readily be seen that this does not contem- 

 plate any injury or loss to our partners; but it does contemplate a large 

 weeding job—/, e., the stopping of all leaks and the taking of all of our 

 business out of the hands of unreliable and dishonest commission men and 

 placing it in the hands of those who will strive hard and honorably to 

 further our joint interests. 



AUCTION SYSTEM OF SALES. 



" Another matter which will soon be pressing the commission men hard, 

 is that of selling fruit at auction. It has been tried in various places and 

 has generally given satisfaction, especially so in New York during the past 

 season. I believe some enterprising man will soon try it in Chicago, and 



