The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-26
SHARP SW|NDLES
 IN INDIA MARKETS How Spurious Goods Are Often
 Disposed Of WORK OF BAZAAR DEALERS Sell cc:nterfeit Goods With Elaborate Labels and Fancy Packages Pur- porting to Be Genuine lmpor-
 tations-The Remedy.
WORK OF BAZAAR DEALERS

Washington August 25.-(Special.)- Consul General William H. Michael fur nishes report from Calcutta explaining the skillful methods of some of the na- tive dealers in substituting, by means of spurious brands and packages, counter feits for imported articles. He writes:
 The cunning Indian has demonstrated that putting up liquors in labeled and capsuled bottles, with special stamps on the corks, Is no protection at all to the high-grade goods thus treated. In fact, these precautions simply make the way of the swindler easy and profitable Ho- tels and individuals who import their own goods derive more or less comfort able assurance of the purity of the goods from the elaborate capsules and marks but those who buy goods from the ba- bars can have no such assurance. These bazaar leaders make a great show of car rying only superior imported goods and exhibit the capsuled and gaudily labeled bottles as proof of their claim. They always offer their goods. the same brands, at a lower price than can be had at rep utable European establishments and ex- plain that their expenses of doing bus mess are much lower than their com petitors, and hence they can sell at lower prices But the fact is they are selling spurious ind really vile goods in bottles that are genuine.
 Methods of Procedure.
 The method of procedure by representa- lives of concerns dealing in counterfeit articles is to form the acquaintance of head walters of hotels and the "khansa- mas of private establishments where first-class wines and liquors are used and by satisfactory nrlbe secure capsules undamaged or slightly damaged. A good price is paid for bottles with labels in tact and for corks with the brand on tLe side or bottom that can be used But the corks are not essential. The fakir can use new corks and mark them with his own metal die. With a supply of capsules. bottles and labels and corks tn, counterfeiter. with a supply of Ger man spirits, brandy and whisky essence etc, Is ready for business Sklful blend ing follows. the filling of the bottles al ready labeled and cor<ed a fine brand from some other country Is ready for the seeker after high-grade wine or liquor which he believes is the same article that he would have to pay quarter or third more for at a reliable dealers. If the buying of wines and liquors is left to the Ehansama, he will invariably buy oI these native dealers because he can get a larger 'rake-off." He will show his master the bill and expatiate on how much he had saved for his master by buying at the bazar, or from a native firm of great wealth who can undersel the European merchants.
 The Remedy.
 There is a remedy to be used against the swindlers of this sort, but the trouble is to catch them first The only pro- cess is under the trademarks and mer- chandise acts. The action Is brought in the police court and involves consderab ble expense and immense amount of trouble and the chances are all against con viction
 Probably the only remedy is for the manufacturers or exporters in America and Europe to have in each city or town an exclusive agent for the sale of their goods and then that the agency is absolutely the only place where their goods can be had.
 One of the leading dealers in firearms in Calcutta is handling a revolver that is perfect imitation of q well-known American revolver and is sold for that weapon. The only difference in the ap- pearance of the pistols Is that the in tlals sew contained in the ring on the handle and the name on the side of the counterfeit are made dim that they cannot be made out Thus the dis guise is complete, and the rights of an American manufacturing company are be- ing infringed and an inferior article is imposed on the public. The Calcutta firm sells this counterfeit. which is made in Spain, at 30 rupees. whereas the gen uine American article is sold for 60 ru- pees or $1O and s20 respectively.
 I am not advised as to whether Amer ican inventions can be patented in Spain or not. If the American manufacturers have taken out patents in Spain and are laboring under the impression that their rignls are being protected in that coun- try. they are apparently laboring under a deluson.