The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1905-03-24

Through the efforts of Mr.
John Dueber, a manufacturer of
the precious metals, in Ohio, the
last Congess has passed bill,
which received the signature of
the president Feb. 21st, which
cannot fail to have a salutary
effect upon the common honesty
of certain manufacturers of gold
and silver, products. The bill is
directed against the use of mark
ing watch cases a number of
karats, which they do not possess
and then to make the deception
doubly sure to engrave the mystic
words Omitted States Assay on
the case which to the majority of
people in this country means that
the government itself guarantees
that the gold is of the karat fine
ness that it is marked. If this is
the general view of the matter IN
this country, it is more absolutely
the case with our exported goods,
Abroad the governments take a
hand in the matter, and the
metals are assayed and so marked
by governmental authority. Rules
are very stringent in regard to
the gold and silver being of the
pureness that it is claimed in
European countries. The natural
supposition is then to the, for
eignor that the mark "U. S.
Assay" means the same as does
their government mark upon their
own goods. AS matter of fact
"the United States Government
does not assay, stamp, or IN any
manner determine or certify to
the tineness of watch cases, plate,
iewelry or other goods made from
gold or silver and goods so mark
ed are frauds pure and simple,
with an occasional exception to
make the deception the more
complete. The watch cases are
padded with lead, and are often
of brass with thin wash of gold,
and they never fail to bear the
magic assay mark. This especial
fraud is more general than it is
pleasant to contemplate. The
new law upholds the dignity of
Uncle Sam who has been used as
a shield to cover fraud, and ii
also brings him out from under
the cloud of having his honesty
questioned BY our foreign traders.
Section three is in regard to the
seizure of goods marked in this
manner after the bill goes into
effect. Sections one and two are
as follows, which fully explains
the purpose of the bill.It shall not
be lawful for any person, partner
ship, association corporation en-
gagged in commerce among the
several states, territories, District
of Columbia and possessions OF
the United States, or with any
foreign country, to stamp any
gold, silver or goods manufacture
ed therefrom, and which are in
tended and used in such COM
merce, with the words Omitted
States Assay" or with any
words, phrases or devices calcul'
ated to convey the impression
that the United States Goven'
ment has cert fed to the fineness
or qual1y of such gold or silver
or contained in any of the goods
manufactured therefrom. Each
and every such stamp shall con
stitue a separate offense. Every
person, partnership, association OF
corporation violating the provi
sions of this act, and every officer
director or managing agent o.
such partnership, association Of
corporation having knowledge o
such violation, and directly par
ticipating in such violation Of
conseuting thereto, shall BIT
deemed guilty of misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, be punish
ed with a fine of not more thar
five thousand dollars, or impris
onment for not more than ont
year, or both, at the discretion o
the court.
The world Is almost obliged t
give a grudging admiration fol
the attitude of the Russian gov
eminent in the spirit they possess
even in the face of crushing de
feat. Those best informed on tn,
+I,,e rne,C+1aC,