The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-28
TRADING STAMP
BILL. BUTCHERED
IN The SENATE
Amendments Take Away the
Good Features OF 1t.
Representatives of Premium
Concerns Are Happy Today.
BUT The FIGHT is STILL ON
Supporters of Measure Charge
Use of Unfair Tactics.
They Still Hope to Save Fea-
lures or the Bill.
The "JOker" Is in the sutton
Amendment Word "Act."
Representatives of Premium
Concerns Are Happy Today.
BUT THE FIGHT is STILL ON
Supporters of Measure Charge
Use of Unfair Tactics.
They Still Hope to Save tea'
lures or the Bill.
The "JOker" Is in the Sutton
Amendment Word "Act.

Apparently the "insidious lobby re-
ferred to on the floor of the senate by
Senator Schoch of Shawnee. the hired
sentiment-producer mounted on
Fords and the Representatives of con-
Germs using trading stamps and cou-
pous to stimulate business, accom-
piishod their purpose before the trad
ing stamp bill was recommended Tor
passage by the senate Tuesday after
neon.
The collective opinion of Ealf doz-
er lawyers including the office of the
attorney general. the attorney for the
stamp sellers and stamp users, and
even some of the senatorial sponsors
of the bill as amended is that it is
punctured ana may be Summarized.
If the retail merchants of Kansas
desire to curb the premium stamp
business which they vociferously
say demoralizes the mercantile trade,
they viii surely have to be up and
doing to offset the powerful premium
stamp lobby camping on the heels of
members of the legislature and watch
ing their every move.
Attorney General Brewster has
given no official opinion on the bill
as amended. He has not been asked
for it, But in a casual conversation
he stated today that all the bill does
is to change the relationship between
the concern selling the stamps AMI
premiums ana the retailer using them.
BY purchasing the stamps and pre-
niums outright and 'plac cling the
stamps upon or in the packages the
retailer may continue TO give trading
do, al n
The Sutton amendment excluded
from the provisions of the bill all
coupons tickets and tags placed upon
or in articles of merchandise by the
manufacturer or wholesaler. The re-
taller may exclude himself from its
provisions by buying his stamps and
pre- NUNS and attaching the stamps
TO the articles sold. hence there is no
class of business left to pay the Ii
cense fixed by the bill.
The Joker in Ii.
The sutton amendment which the
attorney general and Attorney John
s Dean say has made the bill mean
ingless, reads:
provided, that this act shall not
apply to any tickets, tags, labels or
coupons placed by any merchant,
manufacturer or wholesaler in or
upon any package or article of mer-
chandise sold and to he redeemed by
him
The Joker is in the word act"
Note it carefully and get wise. Mr.
Retailer.
Stamp People Pleased.
y. =. Dean, attorney for certain big
stamp dealers. stated today that his
people are pc rfcctly satisfied with the
bin as amended and recommended
Tor passage
We are operating under this iden-
teal act in New York state with an
amendment similar to the sutton
amendment, he said. and it causes
40 trouble whatever. This act mere
~ changes the relationship between
the stamp people and the retailer
James A Troutman who represents
IN a legal capacity the Retail Dealers
association, opposed to trading
stamps. did not wholly agree with Mr.
Dean.
The bill isn't entirely satisfa Glory -,
ne SAID but 1t goes a long WAYS to-
ward curbing the pernicious tradin,-
stamp system
one of the plans followed by st,r,r.
slNers now Is to issue them upon the
payment of credit accounts. provided
iHeN are paid upon a stipulated date
within thirty days for instance In
der the senate bill. even as amended
a change in the system will be necaS'
S3lE LOT the stamp or stamps must
ne upon or in the package sold.
-AiNli' bllf 4IitnUS OF the ~ ,,
act threw up their hands at one
INN" Tuesday and tried to kill tbeir
own pill after it had been amended
lhey had stiffened up their dafa,seS
l"uaF ana were prepared to make ~
Hller night They were holding hon
" consultations and preparing - ,1IeTd
u5it9 10 De offered when the measure
comes up for final passa &c. II Iii
upJect To amendment and debata
nave some amendments I van
20 Stl INTO that bill" said Senatnr
ShNoer' of Leavenworth III is -
lhe way IL stands and unless we ca,,
llaHe some changes in it we niobt ~
ii Niii II right here in the senate"
Plan Further Fight.
Senator Pauleu. who introd,,,.., 81
measure Senator Doerr who nada "a .
!lSht LOT IL and Senator Malone vvbo
is stun fighting. are consuItine -
people interested and DrobabIt7 49,
line of action will be determine4 9 1'lilI
today. i'eu upon
Senator Malone is still s,,,.,-.+t,,.
under what he terms the .broI,,bo -,
ing methods" of the stamp seiIert SC, \
stamp users anu
It's a shame that a member. of +te
legislature must submit to slch too
tics,' he said today Not onit -
The opposition to this bill mainfainad
lobby here but it has been AZ v,o,.t-
out in my district. l have received
telegram after telegram from rne,,-
chants in my district asking thar 7