Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-11-30
Hard Row for Trading Stamps.

ire having hard luck in most Of the New f
England states.
Their use is prohibited by statute in !
Massachusetts,. An agitation to abolish
their use is now on in Maine. The Angus
ia board of trade have decided to petition
the legislature tor relief this winter. A
dispatch says that at recent meeting "all
declared their animosity to the trading
stamp. as we'll as to the entire premium
system. Many Of the merchants OF the
city have already agreed to stop using the
stamps, while others have stopped without
an agreement. A few still refuse to give
it up. Many say they have derived no
benefit by giving 5 per cent OF their entire
receipts aAd wish to have something done
to have all stop as well as themselves"
There is also trouble in Vermont A
bill prohibiting the use of stamps and
coupons was introduced in the House this
fall, and has passed the House and some
time ago was ordered to third reading in
the Senate. 1t is reported that the bill
which takes effect February l, 1899, has
passed the Senate. At any rate there is
music in the air in Burlington. The Trad
ers' Supply company is the one that has
been doing the business in that city. Last
week the manager closed his office and
packed bis premiums ready to ship out OF
the state. Speaking of this action the
Free Press says
"The announcement that the presents
were being removed led several merchants
interested in the stamp-giving scheme to
examine into their books and to inquire
as to the number of stamps held by
patrons. A considerable number of books
were found to be out and many OF then
were full or nearly so. A few OF the mer'
chants began Friday morning to make al
attempt to learn what redemption, if any
could be secured for the books and thu
result of their labors was the presentation
of eight full books in the hands OF Sherlt
Reeves at the door OF the company stor'
early in the afternoon. The sheriff kicke'
GENTLY against the door and waited. l
} was evident that the men inside though
the rapping came only from holder
book of stamps and no attention wa
r paid to the knocks. More and harde
i rapping brought smiling visage to tn
0 door to lift the curtain and look inquir
ingly into the face of the sheriff. TIL
conner was evidently not known and wit
final smile the man inside dropped tn
curtain to its place again. Well, towar
the bottom OF the door is letter slit an
:. using this as telephone connection tn
sheriff made known his identity to thos
;. inside. The statement that if the doc
was not opened an entrance would b
forced, given in the winning manner s
often used by the sheriff when searchin
q for liquors, had the desired effect and th
door swung open on its fast rusting hinges
10 On this occasion Manager Osborne wa
r invited to produce settlement for eight tu
,. books placed in the sheriff's hands for CO
= lection by Brown & Macomber. The maj
ager offered selection from the goods {
!, hand but the original collection had
IT diminished that the Flobert rifles, lamp
IS and desks did not meet with the approx
D. of the attorneys and inasmuch as breat
), of contract was made in not having tt
y goods named in the agreement ready Il
at selection the manager was asked to brlr
to forth the sum OF 81 each for the book
~ This he did.
10 The redemption of the eight books W!
" soon known among others holding bool
az and the door Of the Traders Supply cor
of pany ratified vigorously at frequent int
CIV walls during the afternoon. Books can
ID into the office of Brown & Macomber III
- the rain OF early April. To make Il
OF story brief, at 10 o'clock Friday evenil
p there were IN the hands OF the attorne
es no less than Sc books for collection again
on the Traders Supply company. This nun
~ Der does not include the eight books 1
nu which settlement was obtained.
les Meanwhile the officials of the Supp
in company we're not unoccupied. Th'
goods were quickly converted into form I
shipment and sent to the Central Vermo
us and Rutland railroad stations. The sto
re- was then closed and two attempts to Ii
EN- the manager at his boarding place we
,ts unsuccessful. The steady increase in
= number of books led to the placing OF
-, immense bundle of writs IN the hands
oi Sheriff Reeves and attachment alter attat
is. ment was levied upon the goods at the t
ON stations. A man was then put over tn
re. to insure their safety"
we There are two of these companies dol
mo- business in Bellows Falls. The stamps
,rd the Traders Supply Co. of Bridgepo
,ist Conn, are given out by j. I. keefe,
nn A. Wheeler, New York Racket, b
cd Store, Barnard Bros, F. B. +. groce
w. S. Durham & Co. and George
vt Welch. The coupons of the MerchaI
20 Protective Coupon Co. of Lowell, Mas
,ds are gwen out by N. A. Wheeler, II.
ox. Richardson, E. j. Knapp 4 Co., Barn'
~ Bros, j. C. Day & Co., c. E. Within
II. Chase Furniture Co., j. j. Fenton q {
.. Dean & Dean, Mrs. L. Gates Hadley,
"a G. & C. E. Howard, S. j. Cray, Geol
,rv B. Wheeler. Some time ago MIR. u
mo- discontinued giving the coupons
ga. The Supply company's headquarters
10, at the Blue Store and Mr.. Blakley says
Ms has already delivered 63 premiums
it, has Is more ready to deliver. The b.
tbs ness o. the Coupon company is handled
ing N. a. -" neeier. VIZ w FL