Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-31
TRADING STAMP DAY.
Business Acn's Associations Before
 Judiciary committss.

Hartford, March 31.-Fiye bills, aimed against the use of trading stamps. were considered by the con- mittee on judiciary yesterday. Many merchants appeared to complain that the use of stamps involved great bur den and they wanted the use of them forbidden. One bill makes each stamp i'etieeHalde at mot less than cent. An other forbidsdgiving anything entitliHg the holder something of what the na- ture and value is unknown. Another foIbids outright the use of stamps.
 A substitute bill was also presented fo1'bidding the use of trading stamps or similar devices that are to be re- deemed except by something known to the purchaser The stamps must have legally and legibly upon them their redeemable value in money not less than 1 cent. Stamps aggregating cents worth or more must be redeemed when presented in goods or money. Any tradesman who shall deliver stamps in consideration for trade shall be liable for their face value. A fine of not less than $50 or more than $A,O is provided for. The last section pro NIIVS tudG tut uCt 6uuH hVt dpDIy tU tickets, coupons or other vouchers placed by any merchant or manufac- turer in or upon packages of goods sold or manufactured by. if such tick cts. coupons or other vouchers are is- sued by such merchant or manufactur- CT in his own name to be redeemed by him." An amendment offered by Joseph l.. Barbour cuts off everything from the word ''if'' in this last sentence.
 The first speaker was Dwight ". Hewes, who. as president of the Con- necticut Business Mems association, asked for legislation against what many merchants called the trading stamp nuisance" He conducted the hearing and called on other business men to talk.
 H. T. Barrows, director of the New London Business Mems association. called the problem the most serious that merchants have come up against. He said that minor merchants first use the stamps. and then merchants of the higher class are forced to use them, too. In his town he believed all those who had stamps would like to get rid of them. Large merchants find them a great tax. They use up almost all the profits.
 c. !. Finley of Waterbury. appearing for the stamp concerns. asked Mr Bar rows some questions, but had not gone far when House Chairman Kenealy said:
 If we go on at this rate we'll be here a week. For heavens sake take it for granted the committee knows something
 R. J. LeBOeuf spoke in behalf Of trading stamp users. He objected to having those in the trading stamp busi- ness called swindlers and other hard names. He claimed that the stamps are perfectly legal and can't he legis- lated against. On the legality feature and the general way the business is conducted Mr LeBouef spoke at length, answering many questions from the committee.
 Daniel Davenport of Bridgeport also spoke in behalf of the trading stamp companies. arguing that the proposed legislation is against concerns that may and do carry on an honest and reputa- ble business. He touched on the con- stitutiOnality of the legislation and took up and replied to the various ar guments made against the use of the stamps.