The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-15
AGAINST IT.
The Commercial Club Votes
Against the Premium Stamp.
Interesting Discussion Before
That Body Last Night.
1T HAS DEFENDERS.
MesSrs. e. III. Crosby and III. C..
Holman Like 1t.
1T HAS DEFENDERS.
Some of the Other Merchants
Make Arguments Against 1t.

ing a FAILURE OF life generally, cOncelVeu
the premium stamp scheme and was
enabled by the conception to retire
few years later to enjoy the wealth
that was rolling in upon him, probably
never dreamed that he would one day
be the cause of great agitation of mind
among the merchants of Topeka.
But things have come to pass this
way. The premium stamp scheme is
giving some of the business men of To-
peka great concern just at this time.
After calling two or three ''indigna-
tom meetings and discussing it at
meeting of the Merchants federation,
it finally came before the Commercial
club at the regular meeting last night.
Up to that time all had been opposition
to the scheme, but there surprise was
sprung by two prominent Topeka mer-
chants, members of the club, saying a
good word for it.
Mr.. E. H Crosby and Mr. NJ c. Hol-
man use the premium stamps and think
the scheme is good one. They said
as much last night. Mr.. D. j. Green
valid, Mr.. Abe Steinberg, Mr.. John +.
McManus and several other Com
mercial club merchants think the
scheme a nefarious one and the three
gentlemen mentioned showed no hes
forced last night by q committee from
the Merchants federation, which or
ganization passed a resolution on Mon
day evening urging a tax of $500 per
month on premium stamp concerns.
Before the matter was dropped sim
liar resolution was adopted by the club.
The question came up on the report
of Mr.. D. J. Greenwald, chairman OF
the special committee appointed to
work for the adoption of an ordinance
by the city council imposing a heaVy
tax on street fakirs and fake" sales.
He recOunted what had been done by
the committee, and mentioned that the
premium stamp agitation had started
since its appointment and had also been
taken up for consideration. He said
that the majority of the merchants in
the city were in favor of driving out
the premium stamp concerns, and that
an effort was being made to have an
ordinance passed by the council also
imposing a heavy tax this business.
The committee from the Merchants
federation was recognized after MI
Greenwalds report and chairman
Weber read the resolution adopted the
evening before urging the city council
to pass an ordinance taxing premium
stamp concerns $500 per month Ihe
discussion of the matter then started,
Mr. Abe Steinberg leading off by say
ing:
I have talked to at least fifty mer-
chants in Topeka since this premium
stamp agitation was started, and many
of them have told me that the stamp
people take six months profit out OF a
years business. Others have told me
that they have had to actually sW1ndle
their customers to keep even on the
stamp DEAL
Mr.. NJ. c. Holman-I just want to
saw a word about the goods that are
sonalIy examined many of the premium
articles and 1 find that they are nrSt
class. There is no question ABOUT the
premium stamps helping the merchants
that use them. 1 have personally maze
MANY sales solely because of the
stamps 1 see nothing unjust or UNFAIR
about these contracts.
Mr. p H. Crosby don't know what
q
premium stamp are after, but Know
the firm we do business with conducts
as legitimate a business as any mercn-
ant in Topeka. 1t carries a stock
amounting to several thousand dollars.
and the stock is subject to assessment
the same as the stock of any other hr rII
Mr.. D. J. Greenwald-O1e OF me
stamp mana gers in this city told me the
other day that his firm had been 0r1Veh
from many of the eastern states IN
a number of cities the scheme has been
denounced as a Matchmaking scheme,
and the firms forced out of business
Mr. J. F. McManus-The stamp firms
take out of the city several thousand
dollars a month, and the tax PAID on the
stock is not by any means commenSur-
ate with the amount of money taken
away from here. L think We should
strive to keep the money that rlghttuI-
" belongs here at home.
Mr.. Crosby am in favor of taxing
these stamp firms a reasonable amount
hut the tax proposed of $500 per month
is certainly unreasonable anu Woulu
simply force them out of business
Mr. Weber-The stamp firm that is
doing the business in this city may
have a stock of several thousand dol
lars but I know positively that the
stock was returned at $500 and the as
sessment made on 5000.
Mr. Abe Steinberg-I am here tonight
to fight for the small merchants OF To-
peka know some of the larger firms
have the inside on this premium stamp
business and the stamp firms discrim1-
nate against the smaller merchants.
know positively that Mr.. Manspeaker
Davs Onlv 2 per cent for the stamps
while the smaller grocery merchants
and other merchants have to pay per
cent, and I understand that Mr.; eros
bv pays even less than this for the
stamps I also understand, and defy
Mr.. Crosby to refute the statement,
that he has a contract with the stamp
Deople by which no other dry goods
merchant on this side of the river can
get the stamps He has in other words
a monopoly.
Mr.. Crosby-How much do you pay
for SO overcoats, Mr.. Steinberg?
Mr. Steinberg-It don't make any diff
ference what I pay for so overcoats.
I'm talking about premium stamps ana
I'm talking in the interest of the small
Ter merchants.
Mr.. Crosby-Isn't it a fact that you
had the same chance as any of the rest
of US, Mr.. Steinberg. to get into the
band wagon. Why didn't you get in?
Mr. Steinberg-I didn't want to get
into the band wagon I didn't like the
scheme.
Further discussion was cut short by
the introduction of the following reso-
luton prepared by Secretary Anderson:
Resolved, That the Commercial club
of Topeka recommends that the citv
council levy license of $500 per month
on all premium stamp coupon concerns
and similar enterprises. and that a
committee of three be appointed to wait
on the city council and argue the adop-
ton of such an ordnance
The resolution passed without a dis