The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-06
ERADICATING A.NUTANCB
The Board of Trade Takes Steps TO
Prevent Fake Auction Sales.
Congress TO BE Appealed 10 for APP
propriatc Legislation - Newspaper
fuse 10 Advertise Itinerant Deal
ers in Worthless Merchandise.

The expected action OF the Beard Of
Trade against the itinerant merchants and
promoters of fake" auction sales who have
invaded the city was inaugurated yester-
day afternoon at a meeting of the Com
mittec on Mercantile Interests, held in the
Board of Trade rooms, in the Ames Build
ing. Chairman Isadore Saks appointed
two subcommittee from his committee,
which weTe instructed as TO the methods
10 be pursued. The committee will begin
active work this morning. and further ac-
ton will be based on the results of their
labor. successful crusade against the
fakirs and swibdlers is promised.
One of the subcommittees will call upon
the various local newspaper publishers and
will request that none Of the publishers ac-
cept advertising from any of the itinerant
merchants or so-called fake auction"
stores
The other committee will wait upon r.
Ross Perry, counsel for the Board of
Trade. and request him to draft such
bill as in his judgment will meet the ex-
igency to be disposed of. TIE bill will
then be submitted to the District Commits
sioners for their opinion, and will finally
find its way to Congress.
The gentlemen who will serve on the
first committee are Charles Kraemer. ".
II. Martin. and Kimon Nicoiaides while
the gentlemen who will call on Mr.. Perry
are Robert B. Tenny, F. ". Eberly, aud
S. c. smoot.
There is a. general interest manifested
by legitimate merchants in the result of
the incipient crusade against the itinerant
merchants. All are of the opinion that a
time for action has arrived. and all are
sanguine that success will crown the ef-
forts of the men who are striving TO pro-
tect not only the interests OF legitimate
business. but the welfare of the public.
Successful legislation against the alleged
swindlers is said TO be assured
fsadore Saks. OF the firm of Saks & Co.
in speaking of the matter yesterday after
noon, said: Il am bitterly opposed TO any
method OF business that is calculated TO
impose on a trusting and credulous public
i am. therefore, against itinerant mer-
chants. the promoters Of fake auctions
and, In fact, any enterprise that is not
wholly legitimate. / am not alone in that
opposition, as was evidenced at the meet
ing OF our committee yesterday afternoon
10 say nothing of the expressions given
vent to by numberless business men
throughout the city. The consensus OF
opinion Is against that which We are s,riv-
ing to prevent.
when the committee met this after
noon all phases of the question OF
itiperant merchants were thoroughly dis
cussed with the result that we were unit
as to the action to be taken. II was de-
eided thai business interests were being
!eopardized by these INSCRIPTIONS mer-
chants. who pay no taxes, contribute moth
ing TO the welfare Of the city or its people.
and yet reap benefits from those whom
they care not one iota for Blu; that Is not
all These merchants open up store, adj
vertise wonderful bargains display alleged
valuable wares at ridiculcusly low prices
on the plea that a failure or money strin-
gency actnates them, and then after perpe- |
trating swindle Of great MAGNITUDE leave (,
without the expenditure of a dollar that /
was not put forth for selfish gain and for 1
the purpose Of furthering the scheme I
operated
Naturally enough the result is bust |
ness depression, because when the public ]
realizes time and again that il has been
duped IL is chary of paying attention TO in
ducements which are apparently less than
those set forth by the fake auction sale
In legitimate business the purchaser is
given every opportunity TO buy the best
and the most for his money Quality as
well as quantity is considered by all per-
sons. and q is the aim Of every merchant
10 give his patrons what they desire. And
the patrons OF a legitimate merchant are
either satisfied with the manner in which
they are treated or they go somewhere
else, and wheE the patrons go the iner-
chant might as well shut up shop. Nat
urally. then, every merchant strives to
please.
When credulous and unsuspeciing
purchaser visits one OF those fake sales
he is impressed with the heralded quail
tty' OF the goods on sale and is then drawn
In with the .ridicuiously low price at
which such valuable wares are being
disposed OF. to quote in part from the auc-
tioneer. And the auctioneer is not 10
blame. When the purchaser at later
date seeks redress 1t is too late The
merchant has gone 20 another
neld and all the gullible purchaser has TO
remind him Of his credulity is the thought
OF how be was swindled and the memento