26 NOVEMBER 1910, Page 16

TRADESMEN, SERVANTS, AND SECRET _COMMISSIONS.

[To TICE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sm,—The Council of the Secret Commissions and Bribery Prevention League, Incorporated, has framed undertakings, which, it is suggested, shall be signed by tradesmen and by servants, promising in the one case not to give and in the other not to take presents by way of commission on goods or services without express written permission.

The practice which prevails is an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and no one will deny that it is demoralising to servants and unfair to scrupulous tradesmen. The Council of the League believes that many employers engaging new servants or opening new accounts with tradesmen will be glad to avail themselves of the forms, even if they do not care to exact any new written undertaking from those at present employed.

I shall be pleased to send copies of the forms to be signed by (a) tradesmen, together with covering letter, and by (b) servants (the number required should be stated), on receipt of a stamped and addressed envelope.—I am, Sir, &c., THIS SECRETARY OF THE SECRET COMMISSIONS AND BRIBERY PREVENTION LEAGUE., INCORPORATED. 8 Oxford Court, Cannon Street, B.C.

(a) "I promise and undertake that I will not, without express written permission from you, give, promise, or offer to any person employed by you, any present in money or in any other fot m by way of commission on goods or services supplied to you, or on any other pretext." (b) "I promise and undertake that I will not, without express written permission from you, ask for or accept, from any trades- man or other person employed by you, any present in money or in any other form, by way of commission on goods or services supplied to you, or on any other pretext."