The Washington times., 1915-07-10
Capital Branch Of National Body
Would Drive Them Out or
Have Them Regulated.
OPPOSE "sHARP PRACTICES"
In Many Cities Problem Has
Been Met and Solved by
Drastic Measures.

The Washington Branch Of the
American National Retail jewelers.
Association will enter the lists
against the fake auctioneers OF
Washington when the campaign to rid
the city of their shops, or bring their
methods under adequate regulation. is
begun this fall
Charles A. Goldsmith. president Of
the local organization. declared today
that he is heart and soul in the hght
as is every legitimate jeweler, large
and small. in the city, whether or not
the existence of the so-called pawn
broker sales" stores is directly af-
fecting each of them.
1t is Mr.. Goldsmith's intention to
propose at the first fall meeting that
the Washington jewelers. not only
give the Corporation Counsel. District
Attorney. Chief Of Police. and the Re-
| tail Merchants Association. who al
ready are in the fight. their unquali-
| fed support, but also begin an active
| campaign of their own.
Would Not Injure Innocent.
If the Retail jewelers. Association
| will authorize him to do so. Mr.. Did
| smith, as president, stands ready to
set in motion legal machinery for the
| drafting of a bill to curb the sharp
practices OF this class OF auctioneers.
| Whatever form the legislation pro-
posed as a remedy for the evils of the
1 m oafh hnI dc II snI IN, ,,ch NI, tak
| declared Mr. Goldsmith care must be
exercised not to injure the reputable
members of the auctioneering calling i'll
the city. l do not believe it is the de-
| sire of any of us to work any hardship
to auctioneers who have established
| themselves here, and through many
years built up reputable businesses
through honest methods.
| IT, personally, and many other jewel
| ers in Washington. are unalterably op-
| posed to the establishment here of any
| shops that step outside the pale of
strictly legitimate business. And many
| jewelers. in Washington. who might
| never be hurt by these auction rooms.
| In some OF which we believe sharp
| practices are indulged in, feel the same
way. as a matter CT business principle"
Solved In Many Cities.
1t was learned today that at tho
last meeting of the local retail jewel
ers, held June "a. many Washington
merchants advocated legislation to
| bring the cheap auction rooms under
| the law, and at that time considerable
| attention was devoted to a discussion
of the matter.
Next month, when delegates from
| the Washington jewellers go to New
York to attend the sessions of the
national oagrnization. it is believed
that the question of ridding Wash
ington of auction shops of the charac-
ter which are now troubling the po-
lice, as giving rise to complaints Of
Misrepresentation and sharp prac-
tice, will be brought up. The local
jewellers hope to find something In
the experience of the tradesmen of
other cities represented at the con-
vention that will help them in deal
ing with the situation here.
:. 1t is pointed out that Washington
Is only one of a number of municipal
tiles which have suffered from an in
) vasion of establishments of this
character. In many cities the prob
lem has been met and solved. either
, by drastic measures on the part of
the city authorities. who in some
cases could act under existing stat
utes, or by the passage of legislation
empowering the regulation of auction
rooms