Kanne v. Segerstrom Piano Manufacturing Co.
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Kanne v. Segerstrom Piano Manufacturing Co.
Opinion of the Court
The title of chapter 287 [p. 402] of the Laws of 1911 is: “An act to compel those offering special inducements to the public or to prospective purchasers or customers in trade, to pay a certain proportion of the amount of such inducement or offer in cash, if such prospective purchaser or customer so elects, in lieu of the sum promised in trade and to provide a penalty for the failure to do so.”
Section 1 reads as follows: “That all persons, who shall offer special inducements to the public or prospective purchasers or customers in trade, or shall agree to credit such prospective purchasers or customers with a certain amount on the purchase price of any article or commodity that may be purchased, as the result of any drawing or the solution of any puzzle, problem or device, shall, if such prospective purchaser or customer so elect, pay to him or her in
Section 2 provides that one who refuses to pay one-half in cash to a prospective customer who elects to take that instead of the inducement, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
The complaint alleged that in June and July, 1911, the defendant advertised an offer of a premium for the solution of a puzzle, publishing such advertisement in newspapers throughout the state; that plaintiff’s solution of the puzzle was accepted by defendant as correct, and it duly issued to her the certificate for the premium offered, which consisted of an agreement upon the part of defendant to credit her as a prospective purchaser of any new piano in the store of said defendant the sum of $150, if she should buy the same. The certificate is in the following words:
“Purchase Check.
“Minneapolis, Minn., 'July 22, 1911.
“Pay to the order of Lillian Kanne $Í50.00. (One Hundred Fifty Hollars). Not transferable unless authorized by us. Only one check can be applied on any one piano.
“Void after Aug. 5, 1911.
“Segerstrom Piano Mfg. Co.,
“per V. E. Segerstrom.
“Good for the above amount toward.the purchase of any new piano in our store.”
It is further alleged that plaintiff elected to receive, in lieu of the credit of $150 upon the purchase of a new piano, $75 in cash under the terms of said law, and duly notified defendant of such election on July 29, 1911, but defendant refused to pay any part thereof. The court sustained a demurrer to this complaint, and plaintiff appeals.
While the constitutional guaranty referred to secures the right to pursue one’s legitimate calling, it is also time that certain callings may be regulated, and that methods employed in business dealings between men are not beyond the interference of the police power of the state. Where avocations or business methods affect the public health, safety, or welfare, the legislature may rightfully exercise itauthority. And it must be conceded that laws may be directed against the perpetration of fraud on the public — for instance, the validity of laws in regard to labels showing ingredients of articles of merchandise, regulation of weights and measures, and like enactments are upheld as coming within the proper exercise of legislative power. Within the realm of public welfare, the police power of the state is vested in the legislature to enact laws which, in their effect, may restrain the individual liberty of action even in legitimate enterprises. It will also be admitted that it rests in the first instance with the lawmaking power to determine what enactment is necessary to promote public welfare and protect the public.
However, the public offense designated in this statute is not against holding out or giving the inducements mentioned therein, but against
The act does not purport to directly protect the public against fraudulent business methods. The prospective customers who are not keen enough to detect the fraud or deception that may be lurking in the method of holding out the inducements, or in the inducements themselves, but accept the same according to the terms, receive no protection from this law. Only the ones who are after something for nothing, so to speak, are assisted. It may be true that the enforcement of the law indirectly accomplishes prohibition of all efforts to attract trade by any of the inducements mentioned therein, for it is manifest that no one in business resorts to such inducements except to secure customers and trade. The tradesman is not a philanthropist in this matter, and is not seeking for an opportunity to confer a gift or concession to any one except one who becomes a customer, and then only in the manner proposed. So that, if the law compels him to pay out cash to one who elects not to do business with him, of course, he cannot hold out any inducement that may produce such undesirable result. But we are not justified in holding that the legislature intended in this indirect manner to absolutely prohibit a merchant from attracting customers and trade by the inducements designated in the act. We must assume that, if such had been the intention, apt language indicative thereof would have been employed.
Order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LILLIAN KANNE v. SEGERSTROM PIANO MANUFACTURING COMPANY
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published