Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-08
FAKE AUCTION BILL
NOW BEFORE HOUSE
Measure Is FavorabIy Report
ed From Committee on Dis
trict of Columbia.
DESIGNED TO ELIMINATE
CROOKED BUSINESS FIRMS
"Washington Seems to Have Become
Mecca for Fake Auctions"
Report Declares.

The fake auction BILL" designed to
prevent fraud at public auctions in the
District of Columbia, was favorably
committee on the District of Columbia.
The bill is aimed at the notoriously
crooked" auction establishments
where every variety of cheap plated
jewelry has been sold by willy auc-
tioneers to credulous customers.
The necessity for such a law has
been impressed upon Congress by COM
mittees of business men, particularly
retail merchants, who have been in
conference with Chairman Johnson of
the District committee on several oc-
casions for the purpose of perfecting
the bill. Laws relating to auctions, as
far as present statutes are concerned,
were not drawn to cover the fake auc-
ton of today, as that pest of the mer-
camille world had evidently not made
it's appearance at the time the regula-
tions on the subject were drafted.
Under the proposed law. as represent
ed in the bill favorably reported to-
day, no auction can exist in the Dis
trict of Columbia without a permit
from the Commissioners, who must
first ascertain the nature of the auc-
tion. If brass watches are being sold
to credulous purchasers under the guise
of gold ones, or glass stickpins are
going under the hammer at diamond
prices, or if any other of the many
tricks of the fake auction are in evil
dence, the Commissioners would have
the right to refuse the license and
prevent the fraud from existing.
Ordered Reported in May.
The fake auction bill" was ordered
favorably reported as long ago as May,
and would have been before the House
before now had not Chairman Ben
Johnson of the District committee gone
to his Kentucky home for rest. He
directed that the report be filed
Through a misunderstanding the re-
port on the bill was not prepared until
yesterday
The report itself is brief, containing
the ordinary recommendation that the
bill should pass, and also the following
paragraph:
washington seems to have become
the mecca for fake auctions. Not only
local residents, but thousands of visi-
tors from the states are made their
victims 1t is believed this bill Will
minimize if not entirely put an end
to their vicious operations in the Dis
trict tof Columbia"
The bill makes it unlawful to hold ar
auction of stocks of merchandise with
out the permission of the Commission
ers, who are authorized to issue a per-
init for a public sale not over twelve
months in duration The bill stipulates
also that the goods must not be falsely
advertised. A fee of not more than $50
for each permit is to be charged. The
merchant desiring an auction permit
must make his application in petition
form, setting forth in detail the goods
to be sold and what statements or rep
reservations are to be made concerning
these goods, and any other Information
the Comm issioners may require.
Right to Suspend Permit.
After the permit is issued the Com
mssioners have the right to suspend it
if the auction turns out to be a fake
The bill specifies further that there
shall be no public auction of jewelry
between pm. and am. from April l
to September 80, nor between pm.
and am. from October l to March 80.
Along with jewelry in this section the
bill prohibits sales at these houses of
gold and silver plated ware. statuary,
porcelains, bric-a-brac or articles of
virtu.
An auctfoneer who makes misrepre-
sentation of the goods he is Offering
is liable to prosecution in the Police
Court Fines are mentioned in the
bill running from SO to $500, with
Imprisonment of not more than
sixty days, or both fine and imprison-
ment, at the discretion Of the Police
Court judge.
Under the terms of the bill no permit
is required for the sale of any wagon,
~t~jl at.aef rNNye
used farming implements, live stock.
including game, poultry dressed or
undressed). vegetables, fruits, melons,
berries, flowers, or for the sale of used
household furniture and effects, when
being sold at the residence of the
housekeeper selling them