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Show THE MURRAY EAGLE Merrill's "Certificate Racket" Com luuecl fioni jmirp 1) incut trusts, Hclocted nhiirea. ( eoi'io-liitldii- Investment contracts, or contractu for the performance of personal services or the furnishing of materials in connection with the In rial or cremation of dead human bodies which contract are to be performed at a future time deter. unliable only by the death of the person in connection with whose deI to are perservices cca.se said formed or materials furnished, contracts or agreements or any . oilier Instrument commonly known us a wvurity." ni'lNYFK BETTER JH'SINESS M RE M' ASSEMBLES FACTS THAT AM) FKURES EVEN THOSE FAMILIAR WITH SCHEME. The following information on the Mcirll Mortuaries, Inc., and assocl-jiteheiuled by thut companies, master ot finance, Charles 8. Merrill, of Salt Lake City, was compiled by the Denver Better Business bureau ut n great uiiiount of expense d ASKED IN occur, for such Instances are found DAMAGES SI IT OVER Bl'RIAL the in every kind of business. But of in not spite general, practice is Man Sues Mortuary For $10,000 any opinion to the contrary. Mst After Funeral of Brother estabreputable morticians have lished careful systems of accountSuit for $10,000 damages wus fil-- j know to able are which ed Thursday in Third district court they ing by exactly their own costs. Many of by K. A. Phillips against the Ps-esthem, without charging one cent Mortuary company on the t for the privilege, add Just 10 ground that the mortuary company; to the cost for setting a price Illegally and maliciously conducted i n funerals, which Is exactly what the burial of Frank Philips, brother Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., promises of the plaintiff, on November 1, lo do. Excessive prices and exorb- 1930. itant charges. are not the ride in The complaint, filed by Attorney, PROFITS FROM CERTIFICATES. It is clear that large profits have s l.eu made from the sale of be can and certain that they get from future sales. The amount of such profits, plus the salaries but caustic hut it contains food for strict under certain regulations, thought : "The latest fad in burial promochief of which was the requirement 'burial certifiretions is the that 50 ist cent of the gross a simple but is which cate must sales racket, ceipts from certificate be set aside as a reserve to assure effective menus of taking money the fulfillment of its agreements from investors without the promotwith purchasers, and ilejioslted with ers having to obligate themselves with binding or embarrassing legal an outside bank as trustee. After a few months' operation it obligations. The scheme is simple, was found that the company had but it is surprisingly successful not furnished the commissioner from the high pressure promoters' with certain required Information standpoint and extremely dangerous and had failed to make the neces- to investors." and he thereupon sary deposits, IMH BTFl I. SAVING. to sell 5,000 certificate, ceril-lcale- et received for conducting Ihe mortucerary end of the business, have to the Incomes nice tainly yielded been their this IHis promoters. Will future profits main purpose? to them come directly from purchases of certificates without any saving thereby? You should asl; InsusN-tulethe Shortly after, yourself these questions. The a of enable will the Inasmuch lis yen formation herein some small deposits were made purchaser with the trustee, but in the mean- burial certificate is really financ- to .'answer them. while, the attorney general had ing these companies, a brief outline CONTINUANCE? ruled that these certificates were' of his true position and equity is According to the intent of the the certificates of Most Orto not securities according the necessary. certificates, the alleged advantages egon law, and therefore, the corpo- are sold in installments, and the and savings on funerals will go to ration commissioner had no Juris- balance due ut any time is carried the purchases and his dependents on 'the books as a valuable asset, until the last one of them dies. Asdiction over their sale. without the books reflecting nny suming that some of the dependWHAT ARE SERVICE corresponding liability arising from ents are young children, It may ho- well Iw 40 to 50 years before they Briefly, the burial certificate, or ' the obligation of the company to for the nor them. a is paid Money certificale of service, contract, are all gone. It seems likely, there Into by the company andjicalcs, therefore, less the cost of fore, that a considerable period of the purchaser. The price has gener- - selling them, becomes the outright time will elapse, s.ssibly half a the entire alleged ally been $tk, with substantial dlB-- . properly of the company, with no ,.i.ntin.K im.tit, counts if paid In cash or within u claims on it by the purchaser. Ihe Is neflts will le secured. During all short time. Tlo-s- ' illsciiunls riniL'c eoiiioanv tets the money now, whileJ this time the mortuary will have from $10.50 to $17.50, so that, in u the Individual gets nothing until the use of the Investors' money giuid many cases the actual amount death occurs in bis family, and then without interest. If each purchasreceived Is somewhat less than the only an Indefinite saving If the er had Invested his own money, ns list price. For this sum, Ihe com- company is still in existence. building and loan assis'latlons and insurance companies do, at C p. r pany agrees to furnish to the pur- CHIEF INCOME. of sale the Is that also clear nnd It children his unmarried chaser, cent compound interest, Instead of a certltleiite, each ?H0 dependents, funeral services on Ihe certificates is the chief income of eertif-entere- C. B. WALLACE, Editor 1 Issued every Thursday by Murr 8tate Street, Mm. ray, Utan. j d this industry. Willard Hanson, states that Philips for entered into an agreement with the. No funeral director could to mortuary company to bury Frank continue successfully long of because excessive prices charge Phlllilis in a "decent, respectable the economic law which gowns manner according to usual custom." nil industry! Those who charge too Phillips agreed to pay $100. much when competition is plentiBefore Interring the body, it Is ful, cannot survive. alleged, the mortuary company reTEN PER CENT PLl'S. moved the clot lies, except a suit In Portland one prominent mor- of cotton underwear, and removed tician, not associated with Merrill, the Ixsly from the casket, placing advertised publicly that he was pric- it in a pine box "partially filled ing all his funerals on the basis tif with straw." cost plus ten is-cent, and that he Phillips alleges he suffered men- would give the same privilege to tal anguish and humiliation to hlsi everyone witnoiu cnarging ror n daniage In the sum of $10,001. in Ihe shape of eerttifeates. It Is probable that nearly all reputable morturaies would gladly oiierate on the same basis. Then why should M'ople be asked to pay for this privilege? j ' o EnfewI February S, 11)27. at the isistoffi,, t Kalf Lke City. Utah, under ft. Act of March 3, 1S75). . One month, 8nlt Lake County. One year, Salt Lake County, .$ .10 Elsewhere In United States ne year In advance 1.00 ijjq - ' i Hum; Telephone 33 The alleged unlawful acts were dscovered, counsel for the brother reiHirted, when it was decided last mouth to move the body to a fam- ily plot. From Salt Lake Telegram. More Bushels of Potatoes Per Acre with the New Oliver an Iron Age Potato j Planters I ( lis-a- j j DISPLAYED and SOLD by ts-r- - g MOUNTAIN STATES IMP. ! COMPANY ',iir-toni- f Phone Murray 371 t Murray, Utah J sis-m- s r e Cut Flowers & Potted Plants H M Im- We make a apecialty of funeral Piece. phone; Murray 41 Night Phone Ily. :i" 1 ess "' 1 FREE Delivery Anywhere MURRAY FLORAL t. otu.r. l"ti Tel. r' 4S33 lnctl , j f Teacher of Dancing A'lvancH Stu.lcnt of J'rof. Fred A. Jackson Ballet, Tap and Ballroom Dancing . e Taught t. . 3, phone Murray 11 I' t. l. roltnso) ii J 1929 Reo 1 ton, stake body I 1929 Chevrolet 1 2 ton st. 1-- J 1929 Ford 'u f..r., rvn ,. r. pr(,wr, I - Cvlii-mll- in i ,..,,. r 1 1 f !'(na) l - )B,r. or. Kon. ' nod sue- - UiHt olns l.nr. ,o...t )- ,- ... . ran ..flown ,. .Ktewart ftttoinei ' .T tfU I a Mat ) bind corjmr.ilion, cal- U"l is- j(e coiisisiuenlty toil in. h (Trtlflmte) l ii.ii s.r.-led nMi(loti, only hojie f return li.s. hi the Anton auditor wbi.Ji n .23 failure there, nebulous .slbl,(y of r.,M. in en, rt.rtiflct(. (on Tl ,, ,:i ). fnlure fiiDcralM. C"tiipaity Tiny arc lion transPi. s ,ntil,lhnm oifflcully ferable, so thai then. el,;,,,,,. l".sie. pini.,ibirly the Ore-eo- f. to some one cbe. Some .ai.g. idat ,t lw ,, ' CotM.ffli.,n cotnmi.sloner, who The following quotation frota the "- -' di.e.1, the a. tivltlo, f ll,o j ..hi... Pottlnnd Hotter Buslm-s- , irni II. forinnti..,, i, .,, i ' 1.,- -. llloe fly Uc finally f Portland, Orcg.m, n,.., j s :tMi.I. lie Sn1.. T-t- .,1 H'e ig im-gon- l,.H , "y i,.i.i ,,i,H alai.-wrma- 1 hater nut rrty r,s.w,rt snj nrblt pr.T. nd, ihi Tl.sl jst.. puribn.r will make e ii,, ,;,, n.y pr 1 ir-.h- f ! j,ri. sna ch-c- J TRUCK SPECIALS 1 j, ,v .,), 97-- ttttttttttmtttttttttttt 1 ff.i,tl, Jlurray. lUh MISS ELVA BROWN - Is-e- t State cr y c.i Sou 11 a min a io'cstH s nlr in isonisini. ... . nit,,,. ...i ' l ettifiiine. sc-a- t ,et.r saving on all funrtal oiriitltiK In 'I sv.Mi. I.U family, j.f.d.aldy bnlf at eM tittefnml Is H 1 l. the s.iid I ,iis.ib. rsiiitra.t,, lu'y. lit. t!,o flrM I true. I. When- - M.L MlllITK 1 1 Vw t 11 a. t., ,. . , o-- ,fllp,- - li,,.. ,.,, ..;n;rw . . .. . m iiaim iinl .. un. hiiij mi RM-a- t M--- . . . )aif . in.L.r ils 'isrni n p , si...i,i' (, , . . 1927 Dodge 34 delivery 1928 Ford pick $250 Some good, cheap passenger cam for less nan$IOO that run Rood, I Bringhurst Chev, Co, MtrnHmi' n.tll-(- P' Up .$250 up SUCCESSORS TO l ,,,,, $415 .4 panel ........ ::.......:..$35Q Moclge u ttu,i'l .... I'l I' ,,M body...'$450 14.ll ,,.,,,, (lf ronfn.jon $475 12 ton st. body 1 ... j s. IHIO Suulh I IIONK: CARLISLE MOTOR CO. f.tal Inland Mrrrl :s I TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION I 1m s ITetw. 4842 South - r e ' 1 pel-cen- time. The conclusions In this report of the bureau me based on facts and figures, leaving no room for doubt CHARGE FOR PRIVILEGE. as to the real aims and purposes of the most heartless "burial racket" What will the salesman promise purchasing ever perpetrated on an unsuspectconcerning savings when he makes imnet. proceeds "cost basis" plus 10 per cent. Hip company, Ihe so Invested would grow to $1.0S0 ing public. He is asking jssiple to his call? PAYS FOR CHANCE TO mediately Iss'omlng part of the as- In fifty year's. The rejMjrt follows : $i50 for a privilege, for an oppay cetrificates sold, BE I!l Kil l). sets. The more With this time element In mind, INTKOI'KTION to save money in the fnThe purchaser gets no credit on Ihu greater will U the net worth of one may well Inquire: What ere portunity The undertaking Interests of and the only possible justifilure, hut must pay Ihe company, which by this time is the probabilities that the company cation for such a request Charles S. .Merrill are centered In any future funeral, would substantial. oc death such all nfler apparently will lie in existence and flourishing expenses two corHirni Ions the IVseret Mur in seem to lie chains'. It is that To the unprejudiced outsider, it fifty years from now? Are there curs. ium r.v company and Merrill Mortu will he obvious that therefore, Hi1 gels no stis'k, nor share in the would npiear that the company guarantees of financial strength to aries. Inc.. Headquarters of both much. The yuhlic should promise certifthe to owes What ho something really profits of the company. justify such a prediction? companies are at Salt Lake City. be able to figure out for itself just icate .purchaser on account of the secures, for Ihe money InvestWhat are the essentials of an really anil the main are activities Mali, hw much this may be. lino such ed Is simply the promise of fhe com- money he has paid, but effective guarantee to extend over carried on only In Oregon. Montana The attempt has been mailt' to of case In Is liqto ability recognized. pany that be will lie such a long stIim! of time as half and I'tab. convince prospects on this jsiint even the a of the some at or uidation company, funeral, funerals, a century? They are three: suffi I'.i'ih companies have been selling buy of cient reserve fund in the hands of merely by statement, and not bv login the future, on a stockholder would come ahead to he public two types of securities, indefinite time ical prisif. For example, Salesmen basis which is suppisisedly limits the certificate bolder. an outside trustee, substantial net slock and burial certificates. A totof ten carry around a comparative r 10 a of to the company js-profit worth, and a record of long continal of well over $.'(tO,0H1.00 worth of SALE OF STOCK. statement showing on one side what cent over and above the actual cost. ued success In the past. these have been sold to date, about l the morlcian's charge would In addition to burial certificates CONFLICTS M'MEROl S ' And he is strictly limited, in (his evenly divided between these two been lie has on Merrill and Inc., the other the prle? the Mortuaries, to the particular comVarious conflicts with governcla-es AcMvllios In additional ter- privilege, a large public offering of certificate making company would charg" which him Ihe sells certificate mental officials in other ststes ritories 'to already tinder way, or pany and the affiliated companies men- its stock in several slates. The stock have already lecn descrilssl under for the same funeral. Of course, set-ucontemplated, and the bureau has tioned earlier In this iind capitalization constitute the figures are exaggerated, one article, and the heading "History." In Icrt-- i i received a large number of Inquirsituamost of the one case complicated showing a comparison between rrom or from th Portland nway laud, Merrill Mortuaries, Inc., enies, asking for the facts regarding of Salt Iike Cltr, tions of this kind experienced by countered the unremitting opposi- $i'.lii and $225 for the same service, nelghhorhoisl these burial certificate plans. Tills or the state of Montana, even this the bureau. There are six differ- tion of the Belter Business bun an and an alleged saving of Kt ! I pamphlet, therefore. Is Mug pubauthorized.-- . of stock classes cut . cent. To the uninformed "and i he would dlsapH'iir. I here. .Now I lie sime or liniiin ioii.h lished by the Better Business. Inc.. privilege J2.."HHI shares fin preferred $l;i great majority know very III tie VERBAL PROMISE. 'the list of opHitienls. its depart- about of Iicnver. fur the purpose of the undertaking There Is no statement In the cer par. business) li ineiit of nance having refused a these Inquiries. ".oho shares mill mil preferre- dwith no means of comparison snchj lificale Itself concerning tiny sav A to sell certificates. burial IxTinit H1STOKY. a display apiears convincing, hut st No l",r' ing which will ls made, and tew quotations from this decision Hcserct Mortuary ('mnp;uiy "A" active ,',HKI ",l,in"' class a little refbs-tiowill convince any' of the arguments along this lino are enlightening ; The original company promoted one It really proves nothing. that have Iss'ii verbal. There Is no time IIH110 DECISION by Charles S. Merrill In which a J.sikI shares lass "B" preferred It Is just an uncorroborated statei ,.,.! .,i..i,ii,,o...i ti... "Tlist the present cost (of funcertificate plan was used was The $25 ment. par. It states that constitutes! cilically erals! is generally felt by ih. pubI'esen-- t Mortuary .'1,500 shares class "BU" preferred company, Ineor- - the entire agreement Mwcen the What saving might he attained. If lic to be too high Is popularly x .rated under the laws of Hah on two $13 inr. the company ever secures a sii'ficl-cuparties, and that any verbal and any plan that would October z uz Its business was common $0.i shares .ToO.uhi volume of business t,i make a, agreement or representation, shall would material relief promise the completing of undertaking es not In' radical par. reduction in overhead. In there binding. summary, doubtless Sold." tablishments, with uho additional is nothing else to this certificate There has lus-- a great deal of difficult to predict, but in the opin- " It obvious that Its feature of selling burial or service loll of thos,' who have si lulled the' other than the dlflnitioii In the pre- confusion over the manner in which bnsiis.s is Udng carried on Itelow icrtiricales which entitled the hold ceding this stock has reached Ihe public, It may isiragraph. equal the actual cost, sliii-losses are left problem. cr to funeral services t clas t 'Yost ,a COST? as the particular especially of cost the certificate. of Its out mid that its calculation, sis plus M per cent." Merrill him The "cost basis" referred to In that was supMised to Is' offered In scrvh-- must quickly end when con (ONdlSlONS. If ovued fill T cent of the out the certificate Is quite indefinite, any given case. It would seem Im- trihutioiiK from certificate sabs The public Is asked to Invest Manilla;,' Voting st.nk. ami with his the only possible to differentiate between attemjit ut definition case ot come in to replace the r relatives controlled a'l per a a l hem without of latest the copy pross!oti which is presented In lug; "shall include the wlmlesal funds thus dissipated." cent. a Very Hllracllvc at.d plausible articles of Incorporatlor. list cost of material and supplier revised f:il. "Its cV'csslve iis of funds l b.ti Attention Is directed to the dual and and to put up iiioisy estimated cost of Such Information Is usually avail- taints! from t !,. lnily prohirttnate .nlr of cert Incite. for a burial ore or I lie icrHllon f this legitimate overhead ex'iwes of the able to the average Investor when ciisid. as commissions alcMiicn. to s.il a stis-company, and incidentally of all company, iuibciI on the Inst salesman. i.ldy In advaine of the tin,,; when years solicited by . . inies m favorite officials a ml sss.h inieil mortuary companies ocralloiis." That word, "overhead any iimj PROFITS FROM SU.FS ikiite, fr.ui to j( pleasant profju as well. tin ,M. ,,. lmI1, It. What then, fa the liiVBst,.r M- - includes item like rent, advertising. have Siiiiv wastetui aim exirnuigntit manner (many opinions burl , certificate to ihe public, and Insurance. Interest and j st In return? parlli llhir-lisimlticiitig its affairs In other expressed to the bureau Unit the n the other it The conducts funernls Ilusiti.s f.sls' which will lie fixed biiicau salaries, by main Interest of (lie promoter lies state, a des, i jUsl pv the i t. m Merrill- that Ihe following cm luslon are standpoint. he sale the Iniard of dins-torscontrolled in i ne commissions ni.i prom nts- .gallon or Hie department, remain f .rtlin.M'c has ko far Jusiifhsi: the by Merrill himself who may be ihe lug from the mile of Ihe iritlflcates, liitmr.ibsl to the public investor n,..e p!of!the activity. In that he chief recipient. Overhead might l e I. Although these cinpr.ni,. ,ir,. In saving to Is? made but pr.-s- iiin n rattier than proposition so fund flmuiKsl pcrv.t.al'y h;i revived large sums padded to include large salaries largely by the public thru ihe purchasers. It Is iitvcary un rnlallj unsoinxl thai disaster by wbeiea, the funeral oblation have and similar items. It would he dlf. the sab; of crtlficrit,., the ltivcor' this jioin! In as much ile udy a qnndh.n of time. In u.! ""in i he sal,., rm-lvr certificates. floiill for any certificate holder to txiuinlyw no fct.n't. i..r ban if the tail as pos.lblo In formation on this i ae it may well ! said thai iss'ti profitable only lo a relatlvelv dNproxc any profits. figure the company l'lllt Up lo pHjll,.,,. ,.f July, Yy, I (he M hairier may Is' the stste of mill I parlldpnttng onlyIn snnll evtont. might use. Then too, materials i,n, imbfluii,, llitst iniill.ible to the hlilH.iii n, of the promoter, tin. M'hetlie At "tie tlmi or another. Mnce It. supplies furnished by a siibsldbiry I siimimirl.'ct savings. pr..,ed the ioiiih,m , w..ui Mow; .,i, fraud on the hue!..! still In bush es w hi the fi ciiii.imf. (hi company has .n nnnimtiy mny cover a profit which rFKTlFIt'ATK SALE would jimd u r . r..iisitt,n,. ,.ni '" ""I'l'le wl'h state regulator would add still more to cos. Iesetet Mortuary (V. up to July1 if not atinl. fraud a.ilnst ihe In servhi are ti.,.d.s. Tt, .,rU., . l''d:OS . cvl,e.,., J,y the-Is ke,, oldy Mili lb.-.- .. This definition of is fm., quite "SI. ,1.,p;lti, !e.til, public." ini.e Mpnrnte applications for a vague and Indeterminate, lather be 1 Where tbev nrit oiinlln. : The Hstc of a! has ' Washington i 'll IIS secnrltie 2. Tin' pur. has,. (,f were log left entirely tn the discretion i 'suns-Ha- t irrtlflciii.. ... Jolnrd h ions IM..VI.12 't'Mi i i, j Hie I'liih Securities Com and Judgment of the opp,.nei,t. refusltu- - cannot I. HiiMd a nn tmiiiageiiient. lU-ouiiInvcMmetn 1.1 ..!. 22 . on tin. SeptemUr ni.i.ll 'i;.M..r, I'lual-yn fif(h I. , comprising application and the punhasvr ha no way of I ol.'lt Hfrir f ."VI ....t'-.iitb.n ..f Merrill Mortuaries. Inc .. iir it tr.i i ii,t,,t.r fueling out what It really Is, pat. ssnrnnr. ,,f tn,mw . n)lj (ifr It sell srs to . f iir!.-sone kind ,,r nuolhcr has URTIITCms COME IIK.II. k.t ability.) ,i,t Khotild rather Actual Cross .S;,h. l H1.i bii'li K. MF.NTN The ebb f colitelil ions of the imui- - ' termed a s ulatlou. th Vl,lue f FXPPXSE OF NAI.1TH In oi)(r felling cnniilgn M"i;rt aky of whl.li can ,.,,!- ici: oun-p.iuy. In selling certificates, an.,, Siilesmi'tr d..',.n,ilne. l.v i:Tlii-Th- i. I tb Men III roniKtM, .)f Unp.Mi a ubsldlnry two: First, that en Ming funei u; the filiate, fl, wll!lh ,, ,mV( fvf $;n.si..'.:,i 22 f ((.nt a tit fe il ut bus formed i,i Mali ii the ti nduiii prb-arc cx.i'ssiv,. and exorbitant j (n Vninii nl all. coinnilssion "citi,i!i,g Men ill iKo control ihl of high pie'siitp Mbsttm-. and siss.iid. that the S. The rsll company isiui.any Is ...(,ts ailsiiig n the I'M"! oil .TS pPf rvnl on a fwudly hi..ii,e N the neicnfacinre nn, phllaii'hr-.pl- . )i during a ally vtotking In the in of .vttill,,,,.. sale , aliite i,H)i ,'1.!M1!) :'!' . f . cent T nd en ties. of pi tete.t .boi jiy ,f.,.r ,,..,ih ars b.rge il Ihe public, Slid by getllij;! M1,,, )ip , Other lf and il i in, ci., ba isiiir.nl. Tlil It highly un Is- t,. ,,, ,,.,,,. a largi- - volumo of ., tsli.es, ( tt ll pillliiill'y ,,'tp,t.N only I2.2.!T S II I r l . .t ., c nnt a ml H"t In a big nslnctlon si eill. make frilII) H mill i,t,, KlU. i.,,,,tj,., f'l.tnre. tint., r th,, It .'.1; t i V Ins.vclv. ..,,miili)t ds cut busine bits'" sum of money to pur. hu l'robiibly prnctbfs. lbe pnb'lc. Total 12.. p,ofl fr,,,,, ,rfcf 41 10 li pi crti! In Klfll.,. of !h bllMUi-.In view 'ellli.i ecttiflcnim .i th" put. ).i,,l,e ,.f the profit nmde .Uk.p ril!l. )..W cn ihoiiHli Mm At the tin,,. )J)P ..v erthllmt cm lie. Which I r profit. Wrrllt, Ihe titif.n.ttiur .tit i bus. i lict er selling certificates this trulr hhll inisl-o- ti ere teitvi n any re follow tMnld . cr, with a til hi .pic Inlei.-s- t any detail the niortiiniy turn fr,f.m ttw.i to ( hiirles S. M.-- i U oubj.s't s...,H' ' r ' , M! II 12.su bu)...-..MnTI Alili:s. Inc.. question, t,c jiromotpr. and j,,. . Ur - . . .. t " each ceillfl, ntm in ir.p AM:.. a ft;,, linen have mt. two ninn iliim. f'lbllC ci .titration. Ihete is Im. ras, .iirtender Vdue rlarelHS. M!Hy ,rr ,N;), )(, ftn)(tflj form, d III l'.l.S, t),U Tlisl luortiinrleii nl. Mini i M"rrr, I'lnh llprfay W 1 i |