The Washington times., 1916-01-31
FALSE ADJ AND
BAD CHECKARE
TARGETS
Congressman Ben Johnson In
PRODUCES Measures to Pun
iSh Practices in Washington.

After a further conference with Presl-
dent Andrews and Secretary Columbus
of the Retail Merchants Association,
and Assistant Corporation Counsel
Roger J. Whiteford. Chairman Ben
Johnson, of the House District Commit
tee today introduced bills to prohibit
false advertising and the issuance of
bad checks in the District OF Column
bia
Both bills are sweeping and drastic in
their provisions and have been carefully
drawn by the District Committee chair
The false advertising bill provides:
That 1T shall be unlawful in the Dis
trict OF Columbia for any person. hTm,
association. corporation, or advertis-
ing agency either directly or indi-
rectly to display or exhibit to the
public in any manner whatever.
whether by handbill, placard poster
picture, film. or other wise; or to in
sert or cause to be inserted in any
newspaper. magazine, or other pub
llcation printed in the District of
Columbia; or to issue. exhibit, or in
any way distribute and disseminate
to the public; or to deliver, exhibit,
mail or send to any person, firm, as
sociation. or corporation any false,
untrue. or misleading statement, rep
resentation. or advertising with a
or induce any person, firm, associa-
ton, or corporation to purchase, dis
count, or in any way invest in or ac-
cept as collateral security any bond,
bill. share OF stock, not, warehouse
receipt, or any security; or with the
fraudulent purpose to deceive, mis-
lead, or induce any person. firm. as
soctation, or corporation to purchase,
make any loan upon, or invest In any
property of any kind; or use any Gf
a nfnrnCnfHn mn wny1N N,nV
ulent intent or purpose to deceive,
mislead, or induce any other person,
firm, or corporation for valuable
consideration to employ the services
corporation so advertising such serv-
ices"
All False Ads Prohibited.
Under the terms u the false adver-
tising bill a false advertisement Of
practically every article for use or sale
in the District of Columbia, including
personal services, is prohibited.
1t is provided that. prosecution for
violation OF the law shall be had in the
Police Court. and that such violation
may be punished by a fine of not more
than sixty days or both. An Offend
ms corporation Is liable to a fine and
Its officers to imprisonment.
The bad-check law makes II unlaw-
lul LOI any person Win an intent 10
defraud Ito use any check, draft, or
other similar paper by whatever name
1t be known. to procure from any other
person, firm. association, or corpora
ton any money or other thing of value
when the maker of such check, draft,
or other similar paper knows, or should
Know, that at the time the money or
other thing of value is got he has not
to his credit with the bank. trust COM
pany, financial Institution, person, firm
association, or corporation, upon whiCtl
1t Is drawn. sufficient funds to pap
such check, draft, or other Similar
paper
1t is also made unlawful to withdraw
from the bank funds upon which a
check has been drawn. when such with
drawal leaves a sum insufficient to
fully pay the check.
The johnson bill provides that the
making, drawing. entering, or any at
tempt to have honored or paid worth
less check shall be primafacie evil
dence of intent to defraud.
A graduated system of punishment is
provided for violation of the bad check
law. II the bad check is under the sum
of $50 the maker may be fined not less
than $25 nor more than 500, or i'm
prisoned from ten to thirty days. or
both. II the check Is more than 500
the punishment shall be a fine of $50 TO
800, or imprisonment for not more than
one year. or both.
The modified bill received the approval
today of representatives of the Retail
Merchants Association and Assistant
Corporation Counsel Whiteford