The Washington times., 1915-12-27
POSTOFEICE LAWS
FOILING SVINDLERS
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
llcItor W. II. Lamar. OF the Postoifice
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 70
bar the malls to mail order swindlers
and fraudulent promoters which was
decided upon at the outset of this Ad-
minlstration; and, second, by co-opera-
tion 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 fthls 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 now
brought to the attention of the ofac;
are not so flagrantly fraudulent as
those presented during the preceding
years OF the Administration.
HAnnfhAr V,A a.EI 81
! the policy of this Administration with
respect to fraudulent operations
through the mails is that the leadi ~
organizations OF advertising men and
newspaper proprietors throughout
the country have inaugurated and
are now actively carrying out plan,
| to clean up all false and fraudulent
advertising. 1t is strongly urged by
those behind this movement that tat
public Will have more faith in advPr,
tising matter generally and that 1
VIII patronize the advertising c)l
umns to a greater extent when al
Verttsements are uniformly honest
and that the standing OF the news
| papers themselves will soon be rateC
| by the character OF the ADVERTISE
ments they carry. Many Newspaper!
| to accept none but absolutely clear
and true advertisements, and sorl,
papers even go so far as to guarante,
] the truth OF the representations con
tanned in their advertisements and L
offer to reimburse anyone defraudc.
by having placed reliance upon them
In New Guises.
| The lottery, however, thrives still IN
new guises. These" the report ex
plains, ARE OF such infinite variety
that their description would be an end
less task. They range from the simpI'
rafhe for small sums to the most stu
pendous enterprises involving hundred
of thousands of dollars each and, asid;
| from the lottery feature, many OF thea
| abound in frand. Included among tn,
latter are so-called bond investmen
schemes, home-purchasing plans. end
less-chain enterprises, and other seIliui
+ propositions Of great magnitude. On
| recent stock-sellng scheme involved tn,
raising OF $13,OO0,0O0 and provided 70
the distribution of 100000 in prizes II
another the first grand prize was al
| legged to amount to Sl02 100"
The solicitor calls attention to the fac
that the law prohibits the mailing %
dunning postcards. The time-honOTed in
stitution. the postcard dun, still thrives