The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-08
FIGHT ON TRADING STAMPS.
The War Made Last Night Was Of the
lost Interesting Character.
MAEY WARM WORDS W RE pOKEN.
II Appeared Several Times as ifPersonai
Difficulties Might Occur But No Blows
Were Pa.sed-About Dozen Gem
tlcmeu Made Speeches.

ncunced or praised before the House COM
mittee on Banks. Currency and Commerce
/ in the Senate chamber at the Capitol
II was one OF the spiciest committee
meetings held In wears. The room was
crowded TO its fullest capacity. Advo-
Gates and opponents of the Murphy bill,
which is designed 20 suppress the stamp
and check scheme, were out in force.
| There were fifty or more ladies. present,
most OF them being enemies Of the bill
! Tho ladies' did not hesitate TO applaud
every point made IN favor OF the use Oh
stamps and checks.
Before the discussion began each side
was limited 20 one hour. but II soon be-
came apparent that no limit could be put
| upon tho debate, for the speakers were
| continually Interrupted with questions.
Everybody who wanted TO talk was
| given a courteous hearing by the COM
mittee. Several times 1t looked as IL
| plain language might lead to personal
| difficulties. but the evening passed away
| without any one receiving a scratch.
MR.. MURPHY ENPLAiNS.
! The committee was called 20 order AZ
! S.l5 O'Clock by CHAIRMAN NJ. .. New
on motion Of Mr. G.. II. Jennings each
/ .luH WAS given an hout AZ WINCH " lA-
I cent It's sue OF The case.
| Mr. Thomas y. Murphy. the patron Of
| the bill. said when he frst introduced The
measure. at the request Of the mtr-
/ chants OF Richmond, he Knew but httle
! Of trading stamps ana checks Since mat
| tmc lie had made an investigation OF the
| matter. and had become convinced that
| the busins IS proposed 10 be suppressed
| was contrary 10 public policy.
These people" said he. "havc q
I license TO do Il mercantile business but
/ you cannot go 10 their store and buy
| goods. You must buy their stamps in
| order TO get goods. Dld any one ever
hear OF a person doing business as 4
! merchant and refusing - sell ARTICLES hc
! had IN stOck2'
4 nave" remarked Mr. J. c. Jennings.
/ drug store for morphine, and 1 declined
! 10 let him have It, (Applaase from the
/ galery)
AlOrgliine. believe is poison" re-
/ piled Mr.. Murphy, "and I believe the
| goods handled by the trading stamp peo-
I pie are equally as poisonous Great ap-
| pause from the spectators on the tiOor)
Mr.. Murphy went on 10 argue that the
trading stamp business WAS an illegiti-
mate one. He contended that this method
| Of dong business was one calculated to
work great injury TO legitimate trade. In
| his investigations of the subject he had
learned that often when stamp books were
taken 10 the store 10 be redeemed the
most valuable goods I'm the place were
found TO be marked as having been taken.
and comparatively worthless articles were
the only ones from which 10 make seleC-
tiOns.
MR.. BLAKES REMARKS.
Mr.. George Med Blake followed Mr..
Murphy and gave his version OF how the
| trading stamp business MAS cOrGucted.
lie then presented petitions from meg-
chants in Manchester, Hampton. New
urging the passage Of the DilI. Mr. Blake
argued that the business p,cIlc of Nir-
ginia were more worked up in favor OF
this bill than they have ever heretofore
been IN behalf of any scheme. lie read
extracts from papers telling OF wars
made on the trading a,omp business
Mr. Blake told Of the fight made on The
stamps IN other cities. and OF how the
business mad been broken up.
Mr. Blake became quite dramatic when
he had read q part OF "A irCular letter
from Mr.. Sol. l.. BlOomberg .Ouilscl Tor
the trading stamp people. lie CJrtend,d
that MIR. BIoOrnbeTg 5 letter Was % ended
to convey the idea that tIe trading
scheme VAS I'm hc interest Cf tie mali
dealer aud against the big department
store. ne speaker raising his voice TO
It's highest pitch announced that the bg-
gest department store IN Virginia had
exclusive control of the stamps in the
dry goods business.
IN conclusion, Mr.. Blake exhibited some
or the presents given away 10y the trad
ing stamp and trading check people
These articles when shown caused much
laughter
NJ. Blako said he rad been assured by
experts that the goods were practically
worthless az compared wiki what was
supposed TO have bccu paid for them.
TRADING STAMP MAN.
AT the conclusion OF Mr.. Blake's re-
marks Mr.. Bloomberg introduced Mr.
Eio0d' OF the trading stamp concern. Mr.
flood explained how the business was
carried on. lie said his people claimed
va 70 De no DettSr than any one else, aud
uld not parade themselves as philan-
tnropistS. When they went to "a citv they
paced tashy advertisements I'm newspg
pers Ihey headed these advertisements
something for nothing in order TO
realized. as did L. II. Barnum. that the
public liked 10 be faxed. As soon AS the
store was opened ia a city presents were
p,aeed on exhibition and attracted the
attention OF the .eOpe
Mr.. Flood continued with his EXPLAIN
uon; telling of how tho business Uas
conducted I'm its details
Mr. Ihalhlmer wanted to know ~ tho
character Of ,ho presents had mot been
changed since this bin WAS Introduced I'M
lhe Legislature, adding that he had in
formation that more valuable articles
were being given In exchange Tor checks
Ar ROOD said this was not correct Ho
stated that MS business was a new ono
ana ne and his associates wore learning
every lay where and how to dD buying 10
TIE best advantage. lie said II time were
F.
srs OF goods purchased the orders show
ing tho prices paid.
At this point there was some personal
language between Ir. Blake and Mr.
Flood. The latter said something about
Mr.: Blake handling tho truth carelessly.
Mr.. Blake arose from his seat and male
a hot reply
Capitol Policeman Jack" Pcttus sniff
fed trouble and ado hts way toward tho
two gentlemen, but the incident ended
without a personal difficulty.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Mr.. Flood stated incidentally that many
.es mad been sent TO newspapers or
this city in defense OF the trading stamps.
but the contributions were refused lie
said some periodical from which MIR
Blake had quoted had once been nghung
the trading stamp people and had been
'quict.d' by receiving a SlOo advertise
ment frorl the stamp concern.
Later on, Mr.. Murphy wanted 10 know
If Mr. Flood meant 10 convey the idea
that the stamp people intended 10 brlbe
the paper. This suggestion Occasioned
he denied that his people had any idea
OF biiblhs the paper.
Continuing his statement, Mr. Flood
said l.JyO premiums had been given out
I'm this city His firm spent IN Virginia
about SJDtO per year, exclusive OF news
paper advertising. No merchant was
compelled to buy stamps, for they made
the purchases voluntarily.
With refert ce 10 the character Of the
watches giveI as premiums, Mr.. Iiotd
said Mr.. ID. Buchanan was mistaken IN
his statement at the merchants meeting
10 the effect that one OF the timepleces
hs .idd examined was worth nor .nure
carried by the col Germ We're, he SAID, sold
silver and were valuable