Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1916-05-11

Measure VIII prevent tniufy 10 Sma'i
er Cities and Towns From Cutthroa
Monopoi,St.c Methods Of Mai Orde
Houses and Big City Stores-WM In
sure Uniform Prices and High Quality
BY ". BOB HOLLAND.
"a bill to protect the public
against dishonest advertising and
false pretenses in Advertising"
This is the comprehensive title or q
measure introduced in the present con
GreSS 10y Representative Dan '. Ste
pltcnS Of Nebraska. 4. similar hiIl has
, been introduced In the senate by SEN
tor .AShurSt OF Arizona. No one cai
lind fault with legislation that vii
achieve the objects stated IN the titles
AZ the Stephens Ashurst till. The pub
liz certainly needs protection against
dishonest advertising and false pre-
lenses IN "hNndtsing."
TIE bill now under consideration Is
tlIt. Successor Of the Stevens bin. q
measure introduced IN the last cen.
sr,.>S 10y Representative Stevens "l
New Hampshire. Ii WAS widely dis
cu,~,,i and died In committee artri
several puhiic hearings, nj which lis
merits and dement's We're considered,
Tie Stephens hill emh"iieS the exchanges
that seemed adv isable after these
hearings aud discussions, and il Is 'u'
llrvt1t that In its present form II safe
guards the producer. the merchant ana,
the consumer.
Far many years The right OF n pro
du'cr to contract with merchants fuI
tlt. resale OF his products at standard
uniform prizes WAS generally rrcos
i'2ed and It's legality MAS not lues'
ti"urd. Then the supreme court uf the
United States held that such Il contract
was "in restraint OF trade" and
against public policy" The court iii.
Sifed an the question. ! 10 /. and the
MINORITY round 10 specific law forbid.
din. the practice that had hong been
common. but held that congress had
ilitNti'i'h ttf iNll'i tlill INV " llolI'bll
such business methods.
Agency System Is Legal.
This court made law upset long es.
tahli>hel custom. but It does not pre-,
vent the end sought from being reach
ed by other means. Producers who
wish 10 have no Discrimination shown
10 favored individuals can insure uni
form prices for their goods hy rstab-
fishing branch establishments or by
apl'o!ntlng agents. This Is the method
followed by manufacturers Of urtumo.
biies. Bakers who sell their products
within II restricted area can also regn-
late their prices lay making grn'erS
their agents ana thereby retaining title
10 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. mr.. denied the
right that In-ri in other lines have.
The Stephens .>Shurst till is designed
70 rcstur. to tll--.. producers II prutur-
ton they had before it WAS taken
away from them by the supreme court.
Ont rate department stores, 50 called
chain drug and grocery stores In the.
large cities, and mail order houses use
u prices on standard. we'll known
articles to draw trade away from
small stores and small towns. The
loss they may suffer on these standard
articles Is more than made mp by the
nigh profits On aiIruylno'is goods or
goods put up under their brands.
In this way the producer Is injured
because the reputation Of his p%roluct
j. ruined; tti. retail merchant IL dam
aged because lie cAnIirt afford to nd
vcrtlae widely II special bargain bait
To attract customers Ia whom other
goods may he sold 1T II profit; the ON
Sulncr l. damaged because Producers
are not encouraged ~ maintain quality
and b@ccalIe" inferior articles are sub
stitut.d.
Ample Protection Afforded.
The Stephens Ashufst hllI IL not
compulsory. No take advantage of its
provision. the prml,"er must REGISTER
his trademark or special brand with
the bureau Of corporations IN Wash
ington mud must pay II fee NJ SO. He
must not have II monopoly Of articles
BrlUnying TO the SaIL,, general class or
merc haIdiSc. aud h. must not agree
with any competitor to control prices.
The producer must also file n SEIZED
ule giving the prices at which his listed
article Is sold 10 wholesalers, To- retail
ers ana TO the consumer. This sche,i.
NE Of prices becomes a public doc,l.
ment. The prices scheduled must be
uniform TO buyers under similar cir
c,InstanccS. This permits reduction IN
prices for quantity purchases and al
lowanccs to eIualiZe freight rates.
a merchant who decides to Quit busl.
ness, who wishes to discontinue any
line OF listed goods or who becomes
bHnlrtipt must first offer such listed
articles TO the manufacturers for re-
dcinriion at the fnll price paid. Should
the manufacturers neglect or refuse to
redeem the goods then the dealer can
sell them at any price he desires or can
get. Damaged goods must also be Of
fefcd for exchange or REDEMPTION, and
II later offered for sale at reduced
prices the reason for the reduction
must hc made known TO pure hascra.
S0nIblc sales.