Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-05-08
STEPHENS BILL
PROTECTS PUBLIC
Aimed at Dishonest AdV0rtlS-
ing and False PrGt0nSOS,
TO AID HONEST BUSINESS.

Measure VIII Prevent Injury to Small
or Cities and Towns From Cutthroat
Monopolistic Methods of Mail Order
Houses and Big City stores-WiII In
sure Uniform Prices and High Quality.
BY W. BOB HOLLAND.
"a bill to protect the public
against dishonest advertising and
false pretenses in Advertising"
This is the comprehensive title of a
measure introduced in the present con
gress by Representative Dan V. Ste
phens of Nebraska. A similar bill has
been introduced in the senate by Sena-
tor AshurSt of Arizona. No one can
find fault with legislation that will
achieve the objects stated in the titles
of the Stephens Ashurst bill. The pub
lie certainly needs protection against
dishonest advertising and false pre-
lenses in merchandising"
The bill now under consideration is
the successor of the Stevens bill, a
measure introduced in the last con-
gress by Representative Stevens of
New Hampshire. 1t was widely dis
cussed and died in committee after
several public hearings, at which its
merits and dement's were considered.
The Stephens bill embodies the changes
that seemed advisable after these
hearings and discussions, and it is be-
lieved that in its present form it safe
guards the producer, the merchant and
the consumer
For many years the right of a pro-
Queer to contract with merchants for
uniform prices was generally recOg-
nized and its legality was not ques-
toned. Then the supreme court of the
United States held that such contract
was lin restraint of trade" and
against public policy" The court di-
vided on the question, 3 to 4, and the
majority found no specific law forbid
ding the practice that had long been
common, but held that congress had
intended the Sherman law to prohibit
such business methods.
Agency System Is Legal.
This court made law upset long es-
tablished custom, but it does not pre-
vent the end sought from being reach
ed by other means Producers who
wish to have no discrimination shown
to favored individuals can insure uni
form prices for their goods by estab-
fishing branch establishments or by
appointing agents. This is the method
followed by manufacturers of automO-
biles. Bakers who sell their products
within a restricted area can also regu-
late their prices by making grocers
their agents and thereby retaining title
to their bread and rolls until they
reach the consumer.
Producers of other articles, goods
sold in small quantities and which
must depend on established merchants
for their distribution, are denied the
right that men in other lines have. The
Stephens-Ashurst bill is designed to re-
store to these producers a protection
they had before 1t was taken away
from them by the supreme court,
Cut rate department stores, so called
"chain" drug and grocery stores in the
large cities, and mail order houses use
cut prices on standard, well known
articles to draw trade away from
cfO nd m.
loss they may suffer on these stand
ard articles is more than made I'D by
the high profits on anonymous goods or
goods put up under their own brands
In this way the producer is injured
because the reputation of his product
is ruined; the retail merchant is dam
aged because he cannot afford to ad-
vertise widely special bargain "bait"
to attract customers to whom other
goods may be sold at a profit; the con.
sumner is damaged because producers
are not encouraged to maintain quail
ity and because inferior articles are
substituted.
Ample Protection Afforded.
Inc SIepueuS-ASuuTSI Dill Is not
compulsory. To take advantage of its
provisions the producer must register
his trademark or special brand with
the bureau of corporations in Wash
ington and must pay fee of $40. He
must not have monopoly of articles
belonging to the same general class Of
merchandise. and he must not agree
with any competitor to control prices.
The producer must also file sched-
ule giving the prices at which his listed
article is sold to wholesalers, to retail.
ers and to the consumer. This SEIZED.
ule of prices becomes a public docu-
ment The prices scheduled must be
uniform to buyers under similar cir.
cumStances. This permits reduction in
prices for quantity purchases and al
lowances to equalize freight rates.
A merchant who decides to quit bust
ness, who wishes to discontinue any
line OF listed goods or who becomes
bankrupt must first offer such listed
articlaS IN tho rnanufa cturaro Po~ ~