PRACTICAL PAPERS . 
281 
furnishing of such articles as the members may want. For the 
faithful performance of this—like purchasing agents for the gov¬ 
ernment—they may be required to take an oath not to be directly 
or indirectly interested in the contract except as purchasers, and 
that they will use their utmost endeavors to procure contracts most 
advantageous to the society. These contracts are made after a 
careful survey of the field. They are, of course, only in the 
nature of bids to furnish, and take effect as contracts when and so 
far as orders are given under them. They are carefully framed so 
as to bind the vendors to a faithful performance. The contracts 
or bids are on printed forms and copies of the same and appended 
price lists are furnished to each of the clubs, and it is with 
reference to these that members make their orders. The con¬ 
tracting board handle neither the property nor the money, and 
collusion between them and the bidder need hardly be feared 
when all is done in open day, and if suspected, can easily be fore¬ 
stalled. For example: A contract to be in force one year is 
made by the board with the manufacturer of a reaper of estab¬ 
lished practicability, that the machines shall be furnished to the 
members of the society at a specified price. The consolidated 
spring list shows that fifty reapers of this patent are wanted, 
specifying names of purchasers, place of delivery, etc., and what 
terms of payment, where different terms are stipulated for, the 
purchaser in each case elects to be bound by. Upon these orders, 
the secretary of the board of directors orders fifty reapers of the 
manufacturer. Enabled thus to dispose of his machines to 
responsible purchasers without sending out a swarm of agents 
with whom to divide the purchase money, the manufacturer can 
make for himself a very handsome profit, and sell his reaper for 
some thirty or forty dollars less than the usual retail price, after 
adding the commission of general, local and traveling agents. 
The contracts under which they are furnished are carefully 
drawn, so as to secure the delivery of approved, well made ma¬ 
chinery, under a substantial warranty and liberal provisions as to 
extras. Instead of buying his machine under a warranty which 
keeps “ the word of promise to the ear to break it to the hope,” 
and giving a judgment note in which in fine type are conditions, 
that he shall have no title till the last cent is paid, and under 
