The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-03-20
LIVE GOSSIP At
NATIONS CAPITAL
Opportunities For Fraud in
Present Banking Laws
PEOPLE EASILY GULLED
Bennett Resolution Seeks To Expunge
From Record Criticism of Former
President Rooscyelt-SullO-
way For Strong Navy
BY RoDERICK CLIFFORD

Washington, March 19-(Special)-
Speaking of taking candy from a child
why it is just as easy to take money from
the innocent folks in some small country
towns said Representative Frank Clark
of Florida to a party of friends discuss
ing the law governing national and state
banks
There is no opportunity for making
money like opening a bank" he contin-
ued. 1.-THE law makes it inviting to the
schemers to do So Just as an illustra-
ton, recall an incident that happened in
a county in Florida not many months ago.
Two very smooth New Workers came
down our way and with a capital of
$500 opened a bank. They were hustlers
and soon were doing a good business.
They were smooth, all right, for when a
depositor presented a check for money
the bank charged discount of per cent
for cashing it. The depositor never ques-
toned the charge, thinking it was legiti-
mate. One day, however, fellow from
Missouri who had received a check on
the bank for $3.50 presented it for pay
ment. The paying teller took out the
QlSCOunIt DuI the 1olueT u tue GufCh assn
ed what he meant
I'VE discount our checks, said the
paying teller.
"'Well, you don't discount this check.
THE check WAS returned and the holder
of it went back to the depositor and
complained The result was that the news
soon spread all over town. The bank
cIoSad IA payf
while we don't boast of a press CEN
sor-and the people. l am sure, would
not stand for such undemocratic in
stitution-yet our postoffice department.
in a measure, exercises all the powers
of censor. said Congressman Victor
Murdoch OF Kansas. himself an editor.
commenting on the power of the postof-
flee department. you know" he con-
tinued, ut was through the postofflce
that we broke up the Louisiana lottery,
and after the passage OF the anti-lottery
law the department really became the
guardian of the people in more ways than
one. At least. the officials of the de-
partment feel that ii is their duty to
protect the innocent from the schemers
who use the advertising columns of GER
tain newspapers and magazines to sep
arate country and city folks from their
coin, by promises of small fortunes for
a mere song. We have now before the
committee on postoffices and postroads
bill to codify the postal laws so as to
protect the newspapers and advertisers
whose mail may be shut off without due
process of law.
"A fraud order may be issued against
an innocent person and much harm done
under existing law; there Is no redress
A newspaper may be excluded from Sec
ond-class privileges-that is what the
department terms it-claiming that it is
not all right; and the publisher is pow
erless to have the wrong righted by law.
But it is the postoffce department that
furnishes the funny stories; stories that
have their origin in the censor branch
of the department.
II recall an advertisement that appeared
in number of newspapers a few years
ago to which the department took ex-
ception. A man, in Boston, l believe.
advertised scenes from higher life; rare
and rich; most interesting book ever
published; sent securely sealed on re-
ceipt of 81 The advertiser did big bust
ness. 1t aroused the suspicious of the
ever-watchful postofnce inspectors. They
bought book and found 1t to be a cheap
Bible The advertiser was notified that
II he did not change his 'ad in the pa
pers fraud ORDER would be issued
against him He pleaded that the Bible
was not misrepresented, as it was a rich
and rare book and purported to give
scenes from the higher life
Now. that fellow did some good. He
sold Bibles to persons that perhaps 9TH
erwise would never have seen one. OF
course, the department does good in
trying to keep the mails free from
frauds who prey upon the credulous, but
lie . off l., nc
that the innocent are made to suffer and
they have no redress. 1t is this knowl-
edge that makes it imperative that we
should pass the bill to codify the postal
laws"