Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-08
NO TRADING STAMPS.
SENATE COMMITTEE WILL REPORT
HOUSE BILL FAvORABLY.
Law TO TAKE EFFECT JULY iST.
The Decision OF the Committee
Reached at Nearly Midnight, After
Herring Both Sides-The Vote
stood Four to Three.

The Senate Committee on General
Laws last night decided to report ia
vorably the bill forbidding the use of
trading stamps and trading checks.
amending it so as to make 1t effective
July lst. There was decided opposition
to reporting the bill, and the final vote
was to g.
The hearing was held in the Senate
Chamber, which was over half filed, the
large majority of the spectators being
businessmen of the city. There were
many spectators in the gallery, also.
From the frequent applause of the
speakers on each side. the audience ap-
peared to be nearly equally divided in
sentiment. 1t was nearly o'clock when
the committee was called to order by
Chairman Sands. After a short consul
tation it was agreed that those favoring
the bill should consume one hour in
stating their side of the case, and that
the trading-stamp people should be al
lowed an hour and a half.
Delegate Murphy made a brief state
through the House, and Mr.. G.. Med.
Blake then spoke at length concerning
trading stamps. giving a detailed his
tory Of the system. He said 1t was a
Yankee trick. pure and simple, origi-
mated by Yankees to make money, and
he believed they made it.
A PROFITABLE BUSINESS.
at has been shown" he said, that
many OF the presents given by the
trading-stamp concern, and supposed TO
be worth s. apiece, really cost only SlS
per dozen, Sl.5O each. pretty fair
profit, you see"
Mr. Blake then traced the system in
its extension throughout the country,
saying that i'm some States it had been
declared that it was a lottery scheme
everywhere it had demoralized busi-
ness. He read the decision of the SUI
preme Court of the District Of Columbia,
declaring it not a legitimate business.
He said bills were now pending In the
State legislatures Of Maryland, Virginia,
Tennessee, New York, New Jersey, ana
probably other States, forbidding the use
OF the stamps He said if the system
were not discontinued the trading-stamp
concern would take out Of the State by
he time the Legislature convened again,
S2CO 600 i'm cold cash u have heard il
said that these people would take the
law to the Supreme Court, were 1t en-
acted. =" he said. I'm set up a supper to
this committee if they do" He said it
was ridiculous TO say it is fight for the
big stores against the little ones, AMI
cited the fact that the largest store in
Richmond was the only one i'm the dry
goods business giving the stamps.
SPEAKS FOR HIS SYSTEM
Mr. E G. Flood, of West Virginia, a
member of the trading-stamp firm. fol-
lowed Mr.. Blake, telling how the system
originated in Jackson. Mich, several
years ago, and had since been extended TO
all the cities I'VE never exclude any
man from purchasing stamps" he said.
..We show them it is a good thing, and
thoy are anxious 20 take II up
MIR. Flood alluded TO the fact that his
system had been excluded from the all
vertising columns of the newspapers, ana
attacked i'm the editorial columns or the
Dispatch. The other city papers had not
attacked the system editorially; tie
Times had used the stamps at one time.
"And now, Mr.. Chairman said Mr.
Flood. regarding the statement that "A
bill TO prevent the use Of the stamps
was pending in the Tennessee Legisla-
ture I wish TO let you hear telegram
| have lust received" He then read a
message from Nashville to the effect that
the anti-trading bill had just been
defeated in the Senate by vote OF II
to H.
THEY USED THE STAMPS.
Mr.. O. o. owen said he used the stamps
in connection with several Of his drug
stores. and found them highly beneficial.
He saw no good in closing up a business
of this character, he thought 1t only done
because OF the fact that those who did
not use stamps were jealous of those who
did.
Mr.. Charles II. Page coal dealer said
he was using the stamps with the most
satisfactory results. He cited many in
stances in which the stamps had been
productive of good results, particularly
i'm keeping down the price of coal to 90
something which he had not known be-
fore. He denied emphatically, that he
added the price of the stamps to the
goods he sold his customers.
Mr. j. H. Busby, furniture dealer, spoke
for the stamps. He was bitter against
the newspapers for condemnng the
trading-stamp system, and strong in his
commendation of the system. saying
most excellent results had been obtained
from it.
SPOKE FOR THE SYSTEM.
Mr.. S. /. Bloomberg the counsel for
the trading-stamp/ firm. made a strong
plea for the system, speaking at some
length. He subnttted a petition, asking
the Legislature not to abolish the stamps,
and said the sfgners were substantial
merchants. who paid all their legal dues.
and thought the system very helpful.
The paper was 'signed by 2S merchants
of Norfolk l6 of Portsmouth 6 Of Berk-
lev. lS of Newport News. OF Hampton.
% of Petersburg 3S of Lynchburg, l6 OF
Roanoke. " of Alexandria, Is Of Man
chester. and 81 Of Richmond. He then
discussed the history of the bill in the
House. and read, and commented upon
the contract between the stamp firm, and
the merchants, endeavoring TO show that
IL was not intended to exclude any dealer
from purchasing the stamps.
SPOKE AGAINST STAMPS.
AT the close Of Mr.. BloOmberg's argu-
ment. Mr.. Charles Hutzler, a dry-goOds
merchant, was introduced, and said he
felt that the question had gotten into a
shape from which n Philadelphia law
yer could not untangle il. The gentle
men who had been brought before the
committee 10 uphold the system were as
good men as there were i'm the COM
munity. Mr.. Flood, according TO his own
statement. he said, took 80 per cent. Of
the profits Of the merchant who bought
the stamps If ne sold them on credit,
he might not get the profit before the
merchant did, but he got II before the
customer got his present. He said the
whole question was one Of figures. He
could not see how these businessmen
could support a plan which enabled the
promoters TO toll not, neither spin. yet