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Stamp Scrip (by Irving Fisher, 1933)
IV. STAMP SCRIP ADAPTED TO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IN READING, PENNSYLVANIA
By Hans R. L. Cohrssen
The Chamber of Commerce to issue a certain amount of dated stamp scrip to the
city, school board, county, factories and the merchants. For the amount issued
to the city, county and school board, the Chamber of Commerce would receive
anticipation tax warrants as collateral. Scrip issued to manufactures or others
for payrolls must be bought with cash or checks. The scrip is to be issued in
denominations of 50 cent and $1.00, to he stamped three or four weeks after
issuing. Perhaps the first stamping will be Wednesday, April 5. The reason for
having the scrip circulate without stamping in the beginning is (a) to issue any
needed amount as a substitute for money which might not be available at this
moment and (b) to get general acceptance of the scrip and gain time to fully
prepare the public for the stamping feature through a publicity campaign.
The proceeds from this issue is to be used primarily for poor relief so as
to help the unemployment situation, as a relief not only to the poor but the
city, county, school board and the taxpayers as well.
The Chamber of
Commerce will set up a clearing house service which operates in two ways.
1. Central Clearing House
The Central Clearing House is to take scrip off the hands of local retailers
and wholesalers who cannot use it for out-of-town purchases. It passes this
scrip on to local manufacturers who pay for it with out-of-town checks or cash
which is then given to the local retailers. In the same way, any surplus of
scrip is taken off the hands of the banks.
2. Branch Clearing House (3)
The Reading banks will accept scrip on deposit by merchants and others and
pass it on automatically to their customers, rather to those of their customers
who have agreed to draw a certain amount of scrip for payrolls. Any surplus the
banks will not be able to dispose of immediately goes to the Central Clearing
House. For outright redemption in cash asked at the banks by persons who have no
regular accounts, the banks are entitled to charge a redemption fee of 4%. Scrip
deposits will be carried by the banks on special scrip accounts. After all scrip
has been retired from circulation, these accounts will be changed into regular
accounts and the bank shall be entitled to charge a special fee for the service
rendered. In case the banks should be in no position to cooperate with the scrip
transactions they may permit the Chamber of Commerce to establish "scrip
windows" in their offices from which the Clearing House Service could be
operated. The scrip bills will contain the following information on the front
side:
"READING, PENNA. STAMP SCRIP NOTE"
Issued by the Reading Chamber of Commerce to circulate at face value in trade
and may be accepted for taxes until further notice by the City of Reading,
County of Berks and Reading School District.
Redeemable at face value when
fully stamped on back with 52 special "Reading Unemployment Stamps" upon
presentation not later than May 5th, 1934.
Stamps for sale at all stores
displaying signs.
On the reverse side there will be 52 spaces in which the dates of the 52
consecutive Wednesdays of one year are printed beginning with Wednesday, April
5. On a one-dollar bill, a "2" is printed in each space and on the fifty-cent
bill, a "1" is printed. The bills are to be a little larger than the present
one-dollar bills.
OPERATING THE PLAN
To begin with there might be a rather large issue in order to satisfy
immediate payroll demands. The city, county and school board will soon receive
large amounts of this first issue for taxes in arrears, etc. Part of this they
will use again for payrolls. Any excess they may receive would be returned to
the Clearing House which in turn would give back the same amount of collateral.
Another large portion will go to local retailers who will deposit it at
their banks. Through the banks it comes in part to the Central Clearing House,
that part goes to the Clearing House which could not immediately be exchanged by
the banks into cash received from local manufacturers for payrolls. This excess
over the amount which can comfortably be kept in constant circulation within the
community will be exchanged by the Clearing House for the (perhaps temporarily
frozen) collateral received at the beginning.
Thus any amount which was
originally issued in excess of local requirements will be retired automatically.
After "stamping" has started we may expect that the scrip will move at
greatly increased velocity as everyone will want to avoid the stamp tax. Besides
stimulating business this will also reduce the volume of outstanding scrip
considerably. The amount of stamp scrip which can be carried through a period of
one year depends entirely upon the cooperation of the community, on the part of
labor to accept it in payrolls, the merchants to accept it for goods and the
Clearing House Service to prevent anyone from getting overloaded. It is
desirable that public sentiment be aroused in order to carry through a large
issue and thus get the greatest possible benefit for the relief of unemployment.
It depends, of course, how the national currency situation will develop within
the next few weeks or months to determine whether stamp scrip is merely an
addition to ordinary currency for stimulation of trade and poor relief, or
whether it will constitute the major part of the local circulating medium.
PLEDGES
In order to work the plan successfully pledges should be solicited from the following. (Of course, it will not be necessary to have everyone signed up. It is sufficient to have the leading men in each field; the rest will follow without much thinking or will be forced to follow for reasons of competition.)
1. Labor is to accept scrip in wages. Percentage according to conditions, but
not less than 20%.
2. Retail merchants are to accept it at face value in
payment for goods.
3. Manufacturers are to pay it to labor to the extent to
which the laborer is willing to accept but not less than 20%, and to take it off
,the Clearing House hands regularly.
4. City, County and School Board are to
accept it for taxes and use it in payrolls not less than 20%. Municipal
employees are to accept it in salaries and wages not less than 20%.
5. Banks
are to accept it on deposits as outlined above and are to aid in the Clearing
House Service.
PLEDGE FOR LABOR CROUP
"We, the undersigned, agree and pledge the members of ........
to accept
part or whole of our wages in Reading Stamp Scrip. We understand that by
accepting a minimum of 20% of our wages in stamp scrip (and this might be up to
100% at times) for the period of one year, we help ourselves and our fellow
workers towards more work and better conditions. We urge upon our fellow workers
the following of our example."
PLEDGE FOR MERCHANTS, PROFESSIONAL MEN AND CONTRACTORS
"We, the undersigned, agree to accept in trade for goods and services
rendered or work done 'Reading Stamp Scrip' at face value. We also pledge full
support to make this issue of stamp scrip a success by displaying educational
signs, distributing literature, and displaying signs 'Reading Stamp Scrip
Accepted Here.'"
For Stores Only
"We also agree to sell Reading Unemployment Relief Stamps which we shall buy
from the Reading Chamber of Commerce for cash paid in advance."
PLEDGE FOR MANUFACTURERS
"We, the undersigned, pledge ourselves to buy from the Chamber of Commerce or
from our banks for cash, part or whole of our weekly payrolls (to the extent to
which labor is willing to accept it) 'Reading Stamp Scrip.'"
"We understand
that Stamp Scrip will stimulate local trade, reduce the burden of taxation and
bring relief to the poor."
COMMITTEE ON MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE FOR BERKS COUNTY (4)
Merchants' Bureau
Retail Grocers
Mayor of the City of Reading
Chairman, Board of County Commissioners
The School Board
Chairman of
the Relief Board
Manufacturers and Building & Loan Assn.
Contractors
& Builders Exchange
Utilities Executive (Electricity)
Utilities
Executive (Gas)
Utilities Executive (Telephone)
Railroad representative
Transportation Executive (Street Railway)
Attorney-at-Law
Federal
Trades Council
Labor representative
Farmers' representative
Chain
Store Executive
Wholesalers
Berks County Medical Society
Reading
Industrial Loan & Thrift Co.
Insurance Interests
Welfare Federation
Manufacturers' Division of the Chamber of Commerce
Chairman, Board of
Poor Directors
Milk Interests
Gasoline & Oil Interests
Hotel
Interests
Automobile Dealers
Berks County Bankers Assn.
Reading
Clearing House
The Penna. Trust Co. - The Berks County Trust Co.
The
Reading Trust Co.
The Farmers National Bank & Trust Co.
Council of
Civic Clubs
At this writing the actual operating of Stamp Scrip in Reading has not yet
been started. All preparations have been made. One of the local banks, the Berks
County Trust Company whose president, Mr. J. Turner Moore, is Chairman of the
Operating Committee, has turned over to the Committee an empty bank building
which is planned to be "Scrip-Headquarters." The Operating Committee will also
appoint the employees of "Scrip-Headquarters." The following is a circular
suggested to be printed and distributed in large quantities to the citizens of
Reading.
READING-BERKS COUNTY STAMP SCRIP
Why? When President Roosevelt declared a national bank holiday and closed all banks, Reading-Berks County, like the rest of the country, was left without a medium of exchange. This bank holiday is not yet determined, and even if it were, business conditions as well as the unemployment situation in Reading and Berks County must be helped. Therefore, the issuance of a supplementary local medium of exchange of "Stamp Scrip" has been effected.
By What Authority? Under pressure from local business men, manufacturers, and
banks, the directors of the Reading Chamber of Commerce authorized its officers
to prepare for and effect the issue "Stamp Scrip" as outlined in a plan
especially adapted for this community by Mr. Hans R. L. Cohrssen. The plan had
been approved by a group of representative citizens who met on Sunday night,
March 5th. This action was dictated by the need of the community:
Manufacturers were anxious to pay their workers in scrip as they learned
they could not obtain cash;
Merchants were anxious to see trade continue inn
spite of a shortage of cash; Labor simply could not afford to work and go
without pay at the end of the week.
Thus, necessity was the prime factor in
the plan to issue Stamp Scrip.
Who Will Operate the Plan? The President of the Chamber of Commerce has
appointed an Operating Committee consisting of 10 bankers and 2 business men to
operate the Stamp Scrip plan. This assures the utmost efficiency and competence,
as the same men will handle the scrip who ordinarily take care of money in this
community. They know best how to transact the various phases of the plan which
are all essentially of a banking nature; they are best acquainted with the
financial needs of this community, so as to give the best advice that can be had
in any case.
This is the list of the members of the Operating Committee:
MR. MYRON H. CLARK Vice-Pres., Reading Iron Co.
MR. A. H. SMITH, Topton
Berks County Bankers Assn.
MR. D. C. KERSTETTER, Hamburg Berks County
Bankers Assn.
MR. L. M. RUTH, Wernersville Berks County Bankers Assn.
MR. S. C. HOUCK, Boyertown Berks County Bankers Assn.
MR. GEO. D. SNYDER
Secretary Reading Clearing House & Berks Cty. Bankers Assn.
MR. HENRY B.
HAGY Pres. Penna. Trust Co.
MR. J. TURNER MOORE Pres. Berks County Trust Co.
MR. GEORGE R. HOWELL Pres. Reading Trust Co.
MR. CHARLES T. CUBELLIS
Assistant to the Pres. Farmers National Bank & Trust Co.
MR. HANS GRAMM
MR. WALTER G. WADE Pres. Peoples Trust Co.
This Operating Committee has set up a Scrip Clearing Service to perform the usual functions of a clearing house.
Who Can Get Scrip, and How? Any one who desires to get scrip may fill out an application at Scrip-Headquarters 308 Penn Street, for his needs. The Operating Committee will pass on this application before allowing the issuance of any scrip. The Operating Committee has determined to give scrip under the following conditions:
(1) To depositors holding savings accounts in any Reading or Berks County
Bank or Trust Company up to onehalf the amount of the deposit, conditioned upon
surrender of the pass book, and the earmarking by the bank holding the deposit
of double the amount of savings
(2) To holders of check-accounts up to 50%
of their balance upon presentation of an assignment on which is certified that
the double amount has been earmarked against the withdrawal of scrip
(3) To
manufacturers and other payers of wages upon transfer of negotiable collateral
to be passed upon by the Operating Committee
(4) To the City of Reading, the
County of Berks, and the Reading School District upon depositing anticipation
tax warrants with the Operating Committee and subject to such other conditions
and security as may be determined by the Operating Committee
(5) To all
citizens upon delivery of other security, at the discretion of the Operating
Committee.
How Does Scrip Look? Reading-Berks County Stamp Scrip comes in denominations of 50¢, $1 $5 and $10. The 50 cent bill is yellow, the $1 bill is green, the $5 bill is rose and the $10 bill is blue. It is printed on especially secured safety paper. When holding the bills against the light you will detect the watermarks. Protect yourself by looking at the watermarks before accepting any doubtful looking bills, or if you are still in doubt you may come to Scrip-Headquarters for verification. The reverse side of a bill is divided into 52 spaces in which the dates of the 52 Wednesdays of a year are printed.
How to Use. When you receive Stamp Scrip in your payroll or in payment of a bill you may accept it without any hesitation. Each scrip bill is fully backed by ample collateral - it represents the same value as your ordinary money bills. (You have seen above by what collateral it is backed.) Take your scrip to your merchant, grocer, department store to buy whatever you need. Almost every business in Reading has agreed to accept Stamp Scrip in trade. The City of Reading, the County of Berks, and the Reading School District have also agreed to accept it in payment of taxes due them. Look at the signs: "Reading-Berks County Scamp Scrip Accepted Here." If you do not want to spend your scrip, but want to save it, you may open a Scrip Savings Account at Scrip-Headquarters. Ask for further information there.
How About the Stamps? Until Wednesday, April 5th you will not have to think of the stamps. Beginning on that date a special "Reading Unemployment Relief Stamp" amounting to 2% of the face value of the bills has to be affixed on each Wednesday by the holder of a bill into the space dated for that particular Wednesday. Stamps may be purchased at all stores displaying sign. After a bill has been fully stamped it will be redeemed at face value at Scrip-Headquarters. When depositing Stamp Scrip in a Scrip Savings Account or with the Scrip Clearing Service it must be stamped with the next stamp due.
Why Stamps? There are a number of important reasons for the stamping of the
scrip:
First, as we have seen, stamping self-liquidates the scrip; it makes
the scrip pay for itself. This means also that each stamp on a scrip bill is
security added to the collateral which has already been placed behind the scrip.
Second, there will be a profit from the operation of the Stamp Scrip plan
which will be given over to unemployment relief after the costs of operating the
plan have been paid, and all outstanding scrip has been redeemed.
And third,
the stamping puts speed behind the circulation of the scrip. As each one wants
to avoid the affixing of stamps, he passes his bills on very quickly, and so
does everybody else. In other words, stamping makes the scrip more effective as
a medium of exchange; it stimulates business; it wipes out debts.
Another
advantage of the quick circulation of the Stamp Scrip is that only a small
quantity is needed to transact as much business and do as much good as a many
times larger issue of slowly circulating medium. It goes without saying that the
smaller your scrip issue is, the easier it is to handle and to redeem; it is a
smaller responsibility for the Operating Committee and for the community.
Other plans have been made for publicity, such as explanations and addresses
by members of the Operating Committee over the local radio station. A Speaker
Committee has been formed and the training of a number of men to, explain the
plan is contemplated. The teachers in particular are to be instructed in
explaining the plan to their classes.
Some of the policies of the Operating
Committee have not yet been decided on; for instance, whether it would be
possible for the Committee to issue its own negotiable papers to the merchants
who deposit scrip with the Scrip Clearing Service. The manufacturers' negotiable
papers received for scrip would then be sent out directly for clearing by the
Scrip Clearing Service. This would simplify scrip clearing, as it would permit
the Scrip Clearing House to give the merchants negotiable papers reading for the
same amount of dollars as they have deposited in scrip.
Another point is
"Premature Cash Redemption," or exchange of scrip into dollars at any time. The
redemption fee has not yet been decided on.
(3) On account of the emergency directions issued by the Secretary of the
Treasury, prohibiting banks to handle scrip, banks were unable to cooperate to
that extent. This has been met in Reading by setting up "Scrip Headquarters."
See explanation on the following pages.
(4) Called upon to approve of the
plan as presented by the Chamber of Commerce authorizing the President of the
Chamber of Commerce to appoint an Operating Committee to put plan into effect if
needed.