28 PIIOCEEDIXGS OF THE 



for the sale and purchase of farm supplies, machinery, farming 

 tools, farm products, etc. They gave this subject the careful 

 consideration and investigation which its importance seemed to 

 demand. 



Not being satisfied with the propositions before them, at their 

 meeting in January a sub-committee was selected, and requested 

 to proceed to Bloomington, and consider such applications as 

 they might at that time have before them, with full authority 

 to act in behalf of the whole committee. This sub-committee 

 advertised a meeting at Bloomington, on the 14th day of Jan- 

 uary, for the purpose of receiving and considering propositions 

 for the appointment of such Agent or Agents. The committee 

 met according to the advertisement, and received numerous 

 propositions, both in writing and in person, all of which the 

 committee considered very carefully, and after obtaining all the 

 information possible, under the circumstances, in regard to the 

 integrity, business qualifications and facilities of the various 

 applicants, and not being satisfied that any one possessed the 

 qualifications necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Order, 

 accepted none, but referred the subject to the wisdom of the full 

 committee, and proceeded to Chicago for the purpose of appoint- 

 ing a commission agent in that city. The committee having 

 previously requested one of its members to make investigation 

 in relation to the integrity and financial standing of the various 

 business firms doing a commission business, and his report 

 having been received, recommending, among others, the firm 

 of Reynolds, Corbett & Thomas, this committee, after having 

 examined their system of keeping accounts, and learned their 

 facilities for doing the kind of business required by the interests 

 of the Order in this State, entered into contract with said firm 

 to receive and sell the various kinds of farm products which the 

 members of the Order might wish to sell upon the market in 

 the city of Chicago, at a rat ♦ of commission very muck below 

 the usual charges, and notified the various Subordinate Grrauges 

 of the appointment of said firm as our authorized agents, 

 together with the rates of commission upon the various farm 

 products, in a confidential circular. 



In consequence of the recent failure of said firm, your com- 

 mittee feel called upon to say that at the time of their appoint- 

 ment, and even up to the time of the dissolution of the firm, 

 we had received no information reflecting in the least upon its 

 integrity or sound financial condition. In fact, all the report 

 and information received led us to believe they were honestly 

 and faithfull}' fulfilling the terms of their contract. 



Neither had there been a single complaint or representation 

 of dissatisfaction from parties doing business with them reported 

 to this committee. We had every reason to believe that the 



