Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-26
Calm They Are Frauds.

Calm They Are Frauds.
THE jewelers. Association would be
satisfied toilet these men continue, IL
they were actualiy trying to make an
honest living, but we claim that they are
frauds, and that they work great harm
to the legitimate merchants Of the city.
I'm the states of Wisconsin, and Michi-
gan acts of the legislatures have been
passed preventing night auctions as well
as fake auctions, and permitting only
residents Of the states to be auctioneers.
We ought to have some such modern
law here in the District, but, until we
get one. We feel assured that the D strict
Commissioners have the right to protect
our citizens under their police powe. $. /.
Mr.. Peyser had prepared yesterday f0r
submission to the District Commissioners
copies of the laws on the statute books
OF the District affecting auctioneers.
They are as follows:
Act of July 1. 1902. Co6 Stat. L., 6oS)
That auctioneers shall pay license tax
OF 800 per annunl. Hereafter the pro-
visions Of the act Of Congress entitled
An act to prevent fraudulent transac-
tions on the part of commission mer-
chants, approved March 81. 1892. shall
be applicable to all licensed auctioneers
and their employees
Commission Merchant Law.
Act of March q. 1892 CT stat. I. 10
Provided that IL any factor, commission
merchant. consignee or other person sell
ing goods on commission in the Distric,
OF Columbia shall fail to pay over tn.
proceeds of such sale to the person en-
titled thereto within five days after re-
ceiving the money and after demand
thereto he shall be deemed guilty Of a
a nd n6
N,OOe and imprisoned not exceeding six
months"
Act of June 4, 1929. (Not an Act o.
cOngress.) mo person shall sell or ex
pose to sell by way of vendue, or auc
ton. any property, real or personal. with
IN the city Of Washington unless suel
person or persons shall reside within tn,
said city and has obtained license fol
the purpose from the mayor, and sucl
person or persons shall pay to the corpo
and council with two good securities, IL
the sum OF 500 for the due Performance,
of all duties required by law
Mr.. Peyser pointed out last night tina
the act Of March p. 1892, will not likely
prove of much help to the members O
the jewelry association in it's effort /,
fight fake" auctioneers, inasmuch n
the members Of the association do not
| complain that fake" auctioneers do no
hand over the money they realize to th
persons who are entitled to 1t. Mr.. Peyser
added that he is now searching the law
to find out If the act of June 4, 1879, il
still on the statute books.
Must Grant Licenses.
| At the Office of the license clerk yes
terday 1t was said that the law gov
erning the granting of licenses to auc
tioneers does not make the granting
of such licenses discretionary. 1t mere
| ly provides for the granting of tn.
license and the payment of the annua
| tax of 800 for the privilege of dis
posing OF goods at auction.
Discussing the question. of. issuins
| licenses to auctioneers. clerks in tn,
license Office yesterday afternoon stat
ed that they are required to gram
such licenses to all applicants whs
! pay the amount OF money demanded
of them by the law.
IF man tenders the money and il
Is refused" said one Of the clerks, "ths
court has held that the tender is al
that is sufficient, SO that there seem,
to be no such thing as refusing an auc
| tioneer's license"
made for the refusal Of other license,
| and in some instances certain REQUIRE
ments are demanded of applicants be
fore licenses are issued. but In case O.
auctioneers there are no requirement,
other than the $10O.
| Police reports are required in case,
of applications for barroom, poolroom
| employment agency and clairyoyan,
| licenses. it was explained. and man,
such applications are rejected.
Complaints to Sylvester. a
Under the law said Maj. Sylvester
chief OF police, II believe there is no wa,
that license to an auctioneer can be re
fused"
| Maj. Sylvester said. complaint had bee,
made to him about the manner in whicl
business was being conducted In some o