Evening star., 1898-01-19
Trading Stamp Scheme a Subject Of
Much Discussion.
ATTITUDE OF DELEGATE BARLEY
Citizens to File a Petition for
Prohibitory Legislation.
Evening Star Bureau.
so King Street,

SO King Street,
Bell Telephone 1O6.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. January 10, 1895.
The trading stamp scheme" which was
recently declared illegal by the courts of
Washington, is now the subject of much
discussion by the people of Virginia, and
especially the people of Alexandria, where
there is trading stamp agency. There is
| now a bill before the Virginia legislature
the provisions of which, If enacted, will
make the trading stamp Illegal in this
state.
Mr. G. VIM. Ramsay, one of Alexan-
drias most prominent merchants, has re-
ceived letter from Mr.. George Med. Blake
of Richmond, in which he states that Mr..
l.. G. Barley, the delegate from Alexandria,
in a speech in the house of delegates
stated that an attorney had been sent to
Alexandria for the purpose of securing
signatures to break up the trading stamp
scheme. and after securing the city only
secured forty-five signatures out of 400
merchants, and that he (Barley) believed
that majority of the merchants favored
the amendment which compels the trading
stamp people to furnish stamps to such
merchants as desire them.
Those who are opposed to the trading
stamp scheme generally, and they appear
to be in large majority. say that MIR.
Barley is entirely mistaken in this state
| ment. as by actual count there are not all
lolu more lndn TWO HunQTeu uCenSeu IneT-
chants in the city, and a majority of these
have signed a petition to the legislature,
urgently asking that the law abolishing
trading stamp agencies be enacted But
few people to whom this petition has been
presented have refused to sign it, and
among the signerS are many Of the mef-
chants who have contracts with the trading
! stamp companies but who say they have
found out by experience that 1t does not
pay.
The petition, which has been signed by a
large majority of the merchants. will be
presented before the committee Of courts
ard justice" before whom the matter is
now pending, Friday morning next by e
committee composed of Messrs. John e.
Tachett, John S. Chapman. H. J. w. Sum-
mers and Others who will go to Richmond
as representing the views of the merchants
of Alexandria, 1t is said that committees
from other cities who are opposed to the
schema will appear before the committee
at the same time, and it is confidently be-
leved that legislation will be secured
which will break up the trading stamp
scheme.
The signers to the petition represent all
classes of business and the best and most
prominent merchants Of the city.
Denounces the scheme.
TIE reporter for The Star had a talk
with Mr.. M B. Harlow, prominent busi-
ness man and president of the Business
| Mems League, this morning, and Mr. Har-
low denounced in most emphatic terms the
trading stamp scheme. Mr.. Harlow said:
81 think 1 can speak as representing a
majority Of the business men of the city
and say that the scheme can be of no
tenefit to merchant or buyer. If our mer-
chants feel that they can give per cent Of
their profits to purchasers. it should be
given to them direct, and not to a trading
stamp company or any other agency The
trading stamp people are practically receiv-
fhG hlsHi of haa oft
| and in return are giving some trif1e as a
prize. l am opposed to the whole scheme
| on general principles, and, as l said before,
| | am of the opinion that the business men
Of the city generally agree with me-"
Mayor Simpson stated this morning that
| a number of those who had entered into
| contract with the Trading Stamp Company
had been to see him about the best way in
which to get out of the contracts, which.
they said. they were heartily sick and tired
of. The mayor said that, in his opinion.
those contracts which were entered into
| before the Trading Stamp Company was
| licensed to sell stamps in Alexandria were
| invalid and void, and it is said that most
OF the contracts were signed before the
license was issued.
Several parties talking to The Star re-
porter this morning criticised Delegate
| Barley for the position he has assumed in
| the matter, which appears to be utterly at
variance with the wishes of his constitu-
entS.
fOl1ce Court.
In the police court this morning Mayor
| Simpson disposed of the following cases:
Daniel Nelson, charged with assauIting
| his mother. Georgianna Nelson, forfeited
$3.50 collateral put up by his mother for
| his release. Jeane Cross, charged with dis
orderly conduct. was fined $3.50, and in
lieu of payment he will serve ten days
on the chain gang.
There were seventeen dodgers at police
headquarters last night.
Accidentally Shot.
While two little children of Mr.. August
Oehlert the cigar maker, were playing
| with a. toy gun this morning the elder
one, aged five years, shot the younger.
aged three years. in the lower lip. infiicting
painful wound. DIR. T. NJ. Jones was
called in and dressed the injury, which is
not of very serious nature.
/ Gen. Lees Birthday.
The anniversary of the birth of General
Robert Z. Lee occurring today has been
quietly celebrated in this city Owing to
the fact that it is legal holiday the banks
have been closed and the schools gave a
holiday. Elaborate preparations have been
made for the banquet by r. E. Lee Camp,
c. ", at Odd Fellows Hall tonight.
Charter Granted.
A charter has been granted by Judge J.
K. M. Norton in the corporation court to
the National Gallery Company of WASH
ington. d. c., with a capital stock of $780,
| 900. The objects of the company are to
promote the construction of national gal
leries and courts Of history and art. Mr..
F. w. Smith of Washington is named as
the president.
Mrs. Murphy Improving.
The condition of Mrs. Bridget Murphy
who was seriously injured at an A. and F.
crossing yesterday morning and who was
taken to the Alexandria Infirmary, an ac-
count Of which was published in The Star
was reported somewhat improved this
morning.
The railroad reading room workers will
go to Washington tonight for the purpose
of conducting a meeting at No. 221O 14th
street northwest. They will leave here on
the o'clock train.
Funeral of the Late Judge Gambrill.