Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-27


following letter from Mr.. L. C. Barley,
delegate in the legislature from this
city, in reference to the trading stamp
question
January %, 1898.
| John F. Tackett, esq.,, Alexandria, Va:
Dsar SRI have your favor of the
18Th inst. aud in reply thereto will state
That the press did me great injustice as
to my position on the trading stamp bill.
did not oppose the bill on the ground
stated in your letter 'that the senti-
ment of our community is largely in
favor Of the trading stamp scheme and
would have corrected this statement
the next morning had not been
necessarily absent from the House on
both Tuesday and Thursday (no session
on Wednesday, on account OF my being
in attendance at the meeting of the
Board of Visitors of the Virginia Mill
tary destitute of which l am a member.
1 did correct it on Friday, az you have
no doubt seen. | opposed the bill on
tended to speak but very few minutes
on the subject as it was matter of ex-
treme Indifference to me personally and
my only aim being to do what l thought
was best for the most people. When l
had proceeded only few seconds in
what l had TO say the patron of the bill,
and others fayoring it, interrupted me
so repeatedly that apparently and un-
consciously assumed attitude of in
terest in the bill and spoke much long
er than Intended. had not intended
to refer to my peoples attitude on the
bill, for not enough at that time had
expressed themselves on it for me to
form any opinion, but had intended to
address myself briefly to the merits of
the bill, and what brought up the sub
| ject was that l was interrupted by one
of the members with the question
whether or not my merchants had not
expressed themselves by petition
against the use OF trading stamps. This,
together with other Interruptions,
brought forth some further discussion.
! NY reply was that l had understood
that at that time about 40 of my best
merchants hsd signed in favor Of the
bill, that few had signed against it,
but that large majority had not sign
ed any petition, which was absolutely
true al that time. You can see how the
statement of the press had distorted
what | said until it put me in very
false position before the merchants of
Alex If the statements in the
press, that had said al my people, in
Guiding ali merchants, were in favor of
the trading stamps, had been made by
me, would be unworthy of your con-
fdeuce and that of the other ofmv con-
stituents, for had received letters from
both you and Mr.. Ramsay on the sub
ject and had been spoken to by Mr..
Summers, and therefor knew the views
of you three gentlemen perfectly. As
stated above had two reasons which l
wanted to present to the House why
the bill should not pass and they are
briefly as follows:
1st. That it increases competition be-
| tween merchant and merchant and,
therefor, must necessarily lower to
some extent 10y receiving the trading
stamps or a discount in lieu thereby
the price of the article purchased and
| the purchaser would receive the benefit
OF the cut. AS there are more pur-
chasing people in community than
| there are merchants it necessarily fol-
lows that more people must be bene-
flied.
Pad. That the bill was unconstitu.
tional aud if passed would be void.
That the courts of other States had so
held it under like conditions and that
our courts would be almost bound 10
so construe it.
/ have the petition of the merchants
favoring the hill and shall present it to
the House, when the bill is reached. l
will give il all the weight l can and
shall state that while my views differ
from those gentlemen, that inasmuch
SIS it seems 10 be their wish, shall
make no further objection TO the bill.
| believe that the bill can be killed in
the House, rs it has many opponents,
but do not intend to further impede
its passage IS / always want to repre-
sent fairly and honestly the wishes of
the people. | saw Mr.. McCuen and
MIR. Summers when they were in Rich
mond on Friday and I thought they
fully understood my position.
understand, through some of my
friends, that l have been adversely
criticised under the misrepresentation OF
facts as published 10 the paper. Please
do me the kindness TO show this letter
to those who you know have expressed
themselves in this way, so that may
have my position clearly defined.
hove Won al loDOfD an that
the matter may be fully before you and
| hope to your entire satisfaction and
that OF the rest of the merchants OF
Alexandria. Very truly yours,
LOUIS G. BARLEY.