PREFACE
In presenting “Lumber Legal Opinions” to our members and to some of our friends whom we particularly desire to become members of our Association, not only for the good their co-operation will do us, but for their own benefit as well, we desire to say that this compilation is based upon the practical working out of specific cases for our members during the past few years. An examination will, we think, prove the work to be practical and dependable, and generally to express good common sense, and consequently good law. You will, we hope, find it worth your careful study and guidance. In some instances the opinions may be affected by court decisions of the respective States; some of these decisions are specifically referred to, but, as a rule, it has been our aim to secure opinions covering a general situation.
This gives us an opportunity to remind you of the special work which this Association is constantly undertaking for its members and especially that it is worthy of your earnest co-operation and special effort to bring in new members, so that the influence of the organization may be enlarged and made in every way worthy of its name.
Purpose of the Association
The Charter defines the Purpose of the Association to be “to protect the members against unbusinesslike methods in the wholesale and retail trade; to foster such trade and commerce; to reform abuses in such trade or business; to secure freedom from unjust or unlawful exactions; to diffuse accurate information among its members as to the standing of merchants and others by and with whom said trade or business is conducted, and as to other matters to produce uniformity and certainty in the customs and usages of said trade and of those engaged therein; to settle differences between its members, and to promote a more large and friendly intercourse between them.”
Bureau of Information or Credit Department
The Charter and By-Laws of the Association defines the duty of this Bureau to be as follows: “To diffuse accurate information as to the standing of merchants.” There are in the records of this Bureau at the present time 28,000 reports showing the financial condition of an equal number of buyers of lumber. In addition to these financial statements all of these buyers of lumber are rated by the Bureau as to their credit standing as well. It is the unanimous opinion of our members who use this Bureau that the reports are superior to those of any other mercantile agency or other source of information. The Bureau makes a specialty of securing reports only on lumber buyers or users, and it therefore furnishes more complete and reliable reports as to moral and financial standing and business methods than any other agency. A system is also a part of the Bureau whereby important information is sent to each subscriber without the subscriber making special request therefor; in other words, it is the aim of the Bureau to keep its subscribers fully and promptly advised of all important business changes.
Legal and Collection Department
In connection with and as a part of the Bureau of Information there has been established a legal and collection department. This department handles commercial claims, past due accounts, etc., sent to it with promptness and at a minimum cost when compared with the usual methods employed by attorneys and the courts; also has on file much information, including legal opinions and court decisions which are furnished upon request without charge.