The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-08
FIGHT ON TRADING STAMPS.
Scnlts Committee Reports tie Murphy
ELL PaVorably.
TIE VOTE WAS EXCEEDINGLY CLOSE.
Affer Both sides Had Been Fully Heard
Five Senators Voted in Favor of the
Measure and Four Against 1.-THE
Discussion Spicy and Interesting

1 Laws. by a vote OF 20 4, last night de-
cided to report favorably the bill to pro-
hibit tho use OF trading stamps and
checks. An amendment was adopted,
providing that tho measure should so
into effect on the first day OF next July.
| The committee met in the Senate Cham
Der. and large number OF pcrons in
| terested were present.
| The body was called to order at sa5
O'Clock. and Clerk Neimeyer read the
bill.
| Chairman Sands asked II the commit
1 too desired to limit the debate. lie want
ed OF know If an hour would be salts
factory 10 each side.
! Mr.. Sol. l.. Bloom.erg. counsel for the
/ trading stamp people, said his Side would
! like 20 have more than an hour. as there
I were several merchants using the stamps
/ who desired 10 be heard.
, Mr.. Murphy. the patron OF the bill.
| stated that his side was willing TO con-
sumo only half an hour, and 10 give an
/ hour to the opposition.
II was finally decided that the advo-
( Gates Of the bin should have an hour, and
! the opposition an hour and a half.
Mr.. Murphy. IN opening. said HIS hill
| had been carefully considered by the
1Iouse Committee, and was thoroughly
! understood by the members Of the House
/ when voted npOn lie had nothing more
to say reseryiag the right TO close the
debate.
Mr. BLAKE'S TALK.
lie was followed by Mr. George Mod.
Blake, who told the committce about the
coming OF the trading stamp people 10
| Richmond last September aud explained
how the stamp scheme worked
"rhe trading stamp" said he, is n
shrewd Yankee scheme. aud II Is one OF
The most diabolical that was ever per-
| petrated uron the American people
! Mr. Blake told of the troubles the trad
ing stamps had caused IN California. Con
/ necticut. Massachusetts,. Delaware. New
! York, Washington. and other places 10
/ had letter from the Mayor of Oswcgo.
y. Y, stating that the trouble occa-
! stoned there by the use OF the stamps
resulted in more bitterness and strife
than anything that had happened since
/ the war The war became 50 hot the
( merchants finally had 10 organize a trad
Ing stamp concern CT their own.
Mr.. Blake dwelt It soHlc lrurth uno~
| the case that came NJ in tho courts OF
| Washington. IL would be argued he
said that the bill was not constitutional
I lie would say In reply that n copy OF the
| Virginia bin had been offered IN the State
Senate OF Maryland by the president OF
that body, who Was one OF the ablest
lawyers TN that state.
Mr. Blake spoke Of tho movements
started i'm a number of States TO enact
laws similar 20 that proposed I'm Vir-
ginia. In order TO drive out the trading
stamp people II would be contendcd
that this was a fght OF the big merchants
against the little ones. He reminded
the committee that the largest store IN
Richmond was the only one in the dry
goods line that got the stamps
THE OTHER SIDE.
Alr. J.. G.. Flood. OF the trading stamp
concern was the nrst speaker for his
side. He said the stamp scheme originated
an Jackson, Mich about four years ago
and was the outcome Of a conference OF
merchants as to how they could best adj
yertise their business and build up new
trade. The method Of operation was ex.
planned and the argument was made that
the scheme was one that would not only
bring a merchant new customers but was
calculated TO make cash customers oA
OF those who had bought on credit
Mr. Flood denied that when a merchant
was solicited 10 handle the stamps ms
people make the proposition not 10 sell
the stamps 10 anyone else in that neigh
borhood. The merchant was man OF
business and was quick TO see a good
thing. II was the merchant who made the
proposition that he would handle the
stamps II they were not sold TO any mer-
chant within his immediate territory. II
was 10 the interest OF the trading stamp
people to sell 10 as many merchants as
possible
Mr.. Flood went on to say that his peo-
pie had great trouble in advertising
through the newspapers Tor the reason
that the merchants would club together
and threaten 10 withdraw their advertis-
ing II the papers printed anything IN
favor Of the trading stamps. The newspa-
pers In Norfolk had established a boycott
against them In Richmond. one paper
here refused TO print anything 10 favor
Of the stamp people out had editoria NY
denounced trading stamps. The Times
and Leader had been perfectly fair. hay
ing published nothing on either side. be-
yond the proceedings OF the LEGISLATURE
on the subject, except that the day after
ground-nog day The Times did remari
! that the trading stamp bill. Ike the
ground hog. had gone into its hole
Mr.. Flood made the statement that not
a trading stamp concern had been closed
UP BY law. With reference to the OswegC
case ne said the merchants there bouRhl
out the stamp people. believing they had q
Klondike, but they soon found out theil
mistake.
THE PREMIUMS.
Speaking OF the premiums offered bJ
the concern Mr.. Flood denied that they
were practically worthless and stated
that the prizes were al OF value. He sale
the fight in Richmond had its origin n
rivalry between two large mercantii'
houses. one reason so many merchant.
were against the stamps was that person.
had gone around and spread the repor
that some firms got the stamps cheape
than others. which was not true.
Mr.. o. O. owens was next introduced
He used trading stamps In two or ihre'
OF his retail drug stores and had foun'
that they helped his trade without am
Necessity OF raising prices The troubn
wi,h his brother merchants was that the,
were on the "outsice." There was no rea
son Why tho outsiders" should not organ
ize trading stamp concern Of their Owi
and cornnefe wf'h the s'arp neop'a.
Mr.. Charles ". Pare used stamps and
was pleased with them. He believed f.
free and open trade. and could not SOC
what right the LEGISLATURE had TO hreal
M this concern. One good effect OF HI
using the stamps was that the price ol
coal had been reduced this winter HI
could not understand why a merchant
could not 10 business as he wished with
ont Interference as long as he did no M
| f,I