The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-08
IT'S UP TO COURTS
Difference of Opinion Regard
ing Trading Stamp Bill.
Measure Goes to Capper for His
Signature Today.
MANY SINGERS REMOVED
Conference Committee Extracts
House Amendments.
Big License to Do Business
Still Sticks to the Bill.

what the new law really iuedHS Ue-
ponds entirely on the man who fur
nishes the information. There are 16o
legislative members and nearly that
many opinions. Every lobbyist has
an idea of his own. Now the matter
will probably be rushed to the courts
for judicial Interpretation.
Adoption of the conference report
precipitated a red hot fight on the
floor of the house. Harvey OF clark
county, submitted a minority report
and the members took advantage OF
the opportunity for a new fight After
a call of the house, the majority re-
port was adopted by a vote OF Oh TO
AS. In the senate, the conference re%
port went thru on creased track
The senate approved the report by
vote of "a to S.
r. AS officially announced the confer
ence committee removed all house
amendments to the stamp bill except
the amendment by Stone of Shawnee
county. 1t also removed the Sutton
amendment as attached in the senate.
The bill was sent back to the legisla-
ture after these operations. Just
what the committee did to the bill
after the rather generous use of the
pruning knife, is a matter of uncer-
tainty There is seemingly no ques-
upon at once to place an official in
depreciation on the law. Whether the
legislature, seeking to abolish trading
stamps, merely legalized them, or
stamps and coupons and protected
local merchants, is a matter which
the courts must determine.
Needed Call of House.
The bill had gone thru the house on
final passage after a prolonged call of
the house and determined fight for
every vote. The house had attached
an amendment by Stone of Shawnee
providing that merchants might give
stamps, coupons or due bills, redeem
able in cash or merchandise from the
regular stock of the merchant. An
optional redemption was required.
Johnson of Wallace, attached an
amendment which compelled all firms
or corporations using stamps or cou-
pons to be incorporated under the
laws of this state.
Kent of Marion county, secured
passage of an amendment which had
the positive purpose of preventing
the advocacy of anti-stamp and cou-
pom legislation by Capper solicitors
The measure went thru the house
with a constitutional majority in its
favor.
In the conference sessions, however,
the newspaper and magazine amend
ment was removed The Johnson
amendment was also removed, leav-
ing only the Stone provision attached
to the senate bill. But removal of the
Sutton amendment makes doubtful
the meaning and extent of the law.
Can Pay License.
TT is all very clear" explained
Moser of Jefferson county, author of
an anti-stamp bill in the house The
bill as passed bars the green stamp
people except where they desire to
enter county and pay a license of
$1,000 a year. The Lee people and
the other coupon concerns, must clean
up their stock as it is now sold under
the coupon plan and be ready to meet
the law July l. OF course they can
include premiums in packages. But
coupons or premiums, if attached to
packages must state that they have
trade or cash value, optional with
the purchaser. Thus, if ten coupons
are worth a bar of soap or a bottle
of smelling salts, the coupon must
state that if the purchaser desires
neither, he may turn his stamps back
and receive stipulated cash redemp-
ton. AS for the local merchant. he
may give his own stamps or COUPONS.
redeemable in cash or merchandise at
the option of the purchaser
Senate Isn't Certain.
The senate adopted the report I, f
the conference committee after
enough argument to demonstrate that
of the bill Advocates, opponents and
mere friends of the bill attempted to
explain its effect as amended by the
conference committee and they failed
to agree upon a single point.
Senator Getty, who moved to turn
down the conference report, held that
the bill as amended legalizeS the green
trading stamp business and prohibits
the manufacturers and wholesalers
from continuing their premium bust
| ness in Kansas.
| you started in to put the green
trading stamp out of business and
the senate placed a provision in the
/ bill eXempting the wholesaler and
manufacturer with their coupons and
! tickets and tags. AS the bill comes
| back to us the situation is reversed.
The green trading stamp evil, as re-
ferred to on the floor. is permitted and
the manufacturers and wholesalers are
shut OUT
| Senator Doerr of Pawnee, who con-
Quoted the fight for the bill after its
author, Senator Paulen and some of
its best friends had lost hope, de-
clared that the pill as amended does
what was originally intended. He de-
clared it prohibited all premium stamp
I business in Kansas except upon the
payment of the licenses provided for.
They Don't Know.
Senator Paulen had nothing to say
on the subject of the conference re-
port. altho he was a member of the
! conference committee and the author
of the original measure. His seat
mate, Senator Snyder of Leavenworth,
who has been friendly to the bill
from the beginning, admitted before
the senate that ne does not know just
| what it's effect now is.
| It believe it prohibits the use OF
| trading stamps and other premium
| business in Kansas unless the license
fees are paid,' he said, but even il
! it does not go all the way, we will be
! in no worst shape than we have been
/ Senator Getty says it does not affect
green trading stamps as it stands
Maybe it does not. I am not a law
yer. But we have the green trading
stamp now and if we put a part OF
the premium business out we viii
have accomplished something"