The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-03
ORDINANCE AIMED
At FAKE AUCTIONS
Stringent Measure Adopted
by the Commission
ABBOTT is PRESENT
Says Sale He Is Conducting Is Legiti-
mate One-Harsh Denies That
Ordinance Is Directed
Against Mr.. Beasley

What Is believed to have been the
death blow of fake fire and bankrupt
sales in Birmingham was struck by the
city commission yesterday VIXEN 1t
adopted an ordinance prepared and
urged by a committee of Board OF
Trade members and jewelry merchants
of the city. headed by G.. f. Harsh, n
local attorney
The ordinance prohibits what Mr..
Harsh terms "underfeeding," or in 9th :
er words, putting on sale some fire
damaged goods or bankrupt stock
and then adding 20 it a lot OF cheap
goods from other sources by which the
public is defrauded and made to be-
lieve it is buying legitimate bargains.
May Increase License
The ordinance as originally pro-
posed stipulated that itinerary auo-
tioneers who made business of con-
Quoting these sales should be required
to secure the Endorsement of 20 reput-
able citizens of the town as being of
good moral character before being is
sued a license. A suggestion was also
made that itinerary auctioneers should
per day instead OF $10o per week as
at present Both of these two latter
propositions have been taken under al
ySement by the commissioners as to
whether or not they shall be included
in the yearly license schedule to be
adopted January l.
Although the name of the Colorado
Loan company was not mentioned Ia
the al guments until A. v Abbott ap-
peared, Mr.. Abbott charged that the
ordinance was aimed at him and that
the jewelrs of the city for some rea-
son believed he was conducting an
Iillegitimate auction sale. He stated
that in this they were mistaken; that
he had bought the goods of the Col
orado Loan company from Mr.. Rich for
$43,750 and that he was selling 1t out
in a legitimate sale. which he had a
right to do.
Mr.. Harsh stated that no particular
person was aimed at by the ordinance;
that there were reports of several fake
auction sales, fire and bankrupt sales
in the city. and that If there were
these people would be prosecuted un-
der the law. Mr.. Harsh mentioned a
sale, but did not give any name
The amended ordinance as adopted
follows:
Ordinance Is Adopted
mo. &C, an ordinance to regulate fire
sales bankrupt sales, etc, and to
prohibit Misrepresentation in tha
sale of certain classes of merchan-
disc.
BE it ordained by the board of COM
missioners of the city of Birmingham
as follows:
Section /. 1t shall be unlawful for
any person, firm or corporation con-
ducing or assisting in the conduct of
any sale except JUDICIAL sales) wheth-
er the same be by auction or 4other-
wise of any goods wares or merchan-
disc, which are or have been or which
are claimed to be or to have been IN
or damaged by a fire, or which are
or have been or which are claimed to
be or to have been sold or purchased
on account of any fire, or which are.
or have been. which are claimed to
be or to have been the property of
any bankrupt firm. person or corpor-
alton who has failed In business or
has made a general assignment. or
is, or has been, in voluntary or invol-
untary bankruptcy; or which are being
sold or offered for sale in any other
way than through the usual channels
of trade. to sell or offer for sale IN
said sale any goods. wares or mer-
chandise not so circumstanced or af-
fected or damaged, or to add to or
to permit to be added to or to bring
into or permit to be brought into any
store warehouse or other building III
the city for the purpose of adding to
said goods, wares or merchandise so
circumstanced or affected and which
are on hand in any such store, ware
house or other building for the pur-
pose of being sold at such sale.
Sec O. Any person, firm or corpor~
alton violating any provision Of this
ordinance shall. upon conviction. be
vided in section 1915 of the code of
labama."