The Washington times., 1915-12-27
LAWS i
FO|L|NG SW|NDLERS
Enforcement Of Regulations Are
Giving More Protection
Against False Advertisers.

Strict enforcement Of the law Is hav-
ing a deterrent effect upon manv pro-
moters who have hitherto relied upon
schemes to defraud through the mails,
according to the annual report Of So
licitor w. II, Lamar OF the Postoffice
Department.
The solicitor says: "A direct service
of genuine benefit to the public has been
rendered in eliminating to a large de-
gree the elements of fraud in the con-
duct of business in which tho mails
are used. This result has been obtained
in two ways First. by a continuance Of
the Vigilant and aggressive campaign 10
bar the mails to mail order swindlers
and fraudulent promoters which was
decided upon at the outset of this Ad
ministration: and second, by co-opera-
ton with associations of publishers and
advertisers, which has resulted in an
unprecedented raising of advertising
standards throughout the country.
There Is no doubt that very largely
through the efforts fthis office a
strong public sentiment has been de-
veloped in favor of honest advertising
which is shared alike by legitimate
business and by members of the general
public"
Schemes Less Flagrant.
strict enforcement OF the fraud Oc-
der law Is having its effect" the So
licitor continues. and schemes nov
brought to the attention of the ofice
are not so flagrantly fraudulent rs
those presented during the preceding
years OF the Administration.
Another and very striking effect OF
the policy of this Administration with
respect to fraudulent operatio~s :
through the mails Is that the lea d q,
organizations of advertising men and
newspaper proprietors throughout
the country have inaugurated and
are now actively carrying out plans
to clean up all false and fraudulent
advertising. 1t Is strongly urged by
those behind this movement that taC
public Will have more faith in adver-
tising matter generally and that T.
VIII patronize the advertising c)I-
umns to a greater extent when al
vertisements are uniformly honest
and that the standing of the news
papers themselves will soon be rated
by the character of the advertise
ments they carry. Many newspapers
and magazines now make 1t rule
to accept none but absolutely clean
papers even go so far as to guarante.
the truth OF the representations con.
tanned in their advertisements and lc
offer to reimburse anyone defraudcd
by having placed reliance upon them
In New Guises.
The lottery, however thrivcs still in
new guiscs. These" the report cx.
plains. ARE Of such infinite varcty
that their description would be an end
less task. They range from the simple
raffie for small sums to the most stu.
pendous enterprises involving hundreds
OF thousands of dollars each. and. asidc
from the lottery feature, many OF then
abound in frand. Included among tho
latter are so-callcd bond investmnrt
schemes, ome-purChasing plans end
less-chain enterprises, and other seIlinc
+ propositions of great magnitude. one
recent stock k-eellins scheme involved the
raising OF $13. 200, OCo and provided for
the distribution of $4,000 in prizes Ir
another the first grand prize was al
Legged to amount to S102 inO.'
The solicitor calls attention to tho fact
that the law prohibits tho mailing oi
dunninC postcards. The time horored in,
stitution. the postcard dun still thriNes