The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-17

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. IL
Congressman w. G. Brown has re.
cetyed this week petitions from every
large town in the Second district.
signed by the leading business men or
the section, asking him to use his in
fuence In this session OF Congress in
support Of a bill fashioned after the
bill by Representative Htnebaugh,
which was introduced in the last Con-
eress and referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary, in order that ies1s-
lation may be enacted which Will COM
pel concerns selling goods direct TO
customers. entirely by mail, to con-
tribute their portion Of funds IN the
development OF the local community,
the country and the state. The meas
ure is intended to aim q body blow
at the mail.order houses who annually
derive large profits from selling en-.
tirely by mail, directly to consumers
reaping the benefits of the prosperity
which has been built UP by home con-
Germs. The business men OF the state
feel that as they are called upon TO
bear a part OF the expense in the
building and keeping up OF good
bridges: in the maintainence OF
schools and in the establishment OF
farmers institutes, agricultural col
Ieges and institutions OF learning that
all in the state may be made more
prosperous, it Is unfair that they
should bear this expense without some
adequate protection of their rights
against the mail order houses, who in
wade their territories without contrt-
buting their portion toward further
development.
AS It is now, individual states, or
counties, have no right or authority
to fix an assessment, or to collect in
any way from5these concerns because
of their being exempt through the
workings of the interstate commerce
laws. In the petttionti is also included
a plea for some enactment of legtsla-
ton which will, in a measure, correct
the deception, fraud and misrepresen.
tntion being used in advertising mat
ter sent out by certain OF these firms.
Here, too, the remedy may not be: ar
rived at because of the interstate
commerce laws. A plea for legtsla-
tion which will cover both these
phases of business problems OF West
Virginia merchants is made and they
urge immediate legislation enacted
which will compel all concerns to give
9. true and honest description OF mer.
chandise as to value and quality OF
goods advertised.
Cne Of the bills introduced In the
upper house Of Congress this week
re.opened the long discussed question
of providing for a permanent exhibit
OF the States to be maintained tnGthe
Capital. The bill, introduced by SEN
atur MARITIME, of New Jersey, was re-
ferred to the committee on industrial
provisions. Under the provisions Of
the bill the Secretary Of Agricultural
is instructed to investigate and report
to Congress- on the expediency Of the
government setting aside a part OF its
land, in or near Washington, sutti-
cient to provide ample room for the
proposed exhibit from the States.
This is not a new subject for agt.
tation. AS long ago as 1910 the COM
'mittee on industrial interests Of the
Board Of Trade of Washington start
ed the movement recommending the
establishment Of commercial. buildings
and exhibition of q permanent char
acter representing each State and for
eign nation. for the purpose OF furth-
ering interstate and tnternattonl
trade. The time seems oportune just
now to effect the realization OF the
project and, 1t 10 expected, that at
the coming session OF the Chamber
Of Commerce of the United States Of.
America, February $40, at which ev:
cry state of the Union will be repre-.
scented, support will be forthcoming
from that body al that everything pos
sible may DO done. to secure favora-
BILE legislation at this session of Con.
gress.
Adjutant General John Bond and
Major John n Charnock have been In
Washington EllSot the past week. in
attendance on the meetings OF the
NatlonalsRif9s Association Gen. Bond
s-,S ESl8rfss a tis SssEsi sssasn