The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-27
LAW AGAINST
BAD CHECKS
ASKED HERE
Local Credit Men at Meeting
IndorSe Bill to Be Presented
To Congress.
By BILL PRICE.

Passage by Congress of a law 10
punish negotiators of fra uduient
checks will be the aim of Washing,
ton business men, who find IhRJ
they sustain considerable losses
through these frauds each year The
lack of such a law has long been
felt, and this community is about
the only one in the nation y hich is
not fully protected against both pro-
fessionals and amateurs engaged in
, this line OF work.
The campaign took definite shape
last night at the monthly meeting
and dinner of the credit sect on OF
. the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association at the St. Marks. when
by unanimous vote the members in
dorsed a bill that has been drawn up
for presentation TO Congress.
Provisions of Bill.
The bill provides that any person
who, with intent to defraud, draws
and passes any check, draft, or order
upon a bank, knowing at the time
that he has not sufficient funds to his
credit is guilty OF q felony and upon
conviction shall be fined or imprison-
ed. The drawing OF the check is
prima facie evidence of intent to de-
fraud, and unless the maker shall
otherwise make good.
The existing laws OF the District
are almost useless in furnishing the
worthless check operator if he falls
back upon the plea that he thought
he had sufficient money in bank" II
he proves that he has been maintain
ing q small bank account he has a
strong defense, despite the fact that
in many instances the checks are far
greater in amount than the largest
total the operator ever had in bank
Because OF the weakness of District
laws many professional operators, in
addition to local amateurs who re-
sort to this form of defrauding bust
ness men. are to be guarded against
U. 9. Cheeks Tempered with.
This is just one OF the many
troubles OF Washington business
men, who have lately found numerous
Government checks tempered with
through false Endorsement. raising of
amounts, and in some instances
actual forgeries. As result the
stores, which cash the bulk Of Gov
eminent pay checks, are compelled to
resort to careful methods Of identiff-
cation before cashing these checks.
It was for the purpose of discuss
ing these and other matters, including
granting Of credits, that the credit
section met last night, with David
Sanger presiding and Charles J. CO.
lumbus in his place as secretary.
The various aspects were discussed
by Mr.. Sanger, John d. Clarke, Ste
phen Talks, Mark Lansburgh, Samuel
Schwartz. c. NJ. Keifer. Herbert J.
Rich, and others.
Max Fischer, OF Woodward &
Lothrop, described by Chairman San
ger as the dean OF Washington
credit men," introduced l. 5. Crow
der, executive secretary of the Re-
tail Credit Mems Association, who
spoke upon the trials and fluctuations
Of credit men and women, and meth
DDS pursued in various cities Of the
country to guard against exceptional
losses. He praised the effective work
OF women as credit managers in large
stores, giving instances of unusuaI
cleverness and tact on the part of
women managers Of large stores. He
referred TO organized fraud as prac-
uced by rowing operators.
Advises Close Cooperation.
Mr.. Crowder advised close cooper
alton among credit managers in re-
porting the number Of accounts car
ried by some customers to the central
rating bureau OF the association.
Secretary Columbus has a STAFF of ex
perts who make reports to stores
upon the names sent to his office.
In this way business men obtain a
rating on the standing or credit pur-
chasers.
, United States Senator David Walsh. |
Of Massachusetts was the PRINCIPAL
speaker, discussing business con-
ditions and the business outlook. He
v as introduced by John W. Clarke. /
formerly of Massachusetts. Senator
Walsh is optimistic as 10 quick re- /
adjustment and prosperity in this ]
country.
The credit section finds that its
monthly gatherings are helpful in /
bringing members into business and /
social touch and will seek to greatly I
increase the membership.
Among Those Present.
Among those who enjoyed the
evening were Wallace +. Randolph. /
Hull Estabrook, Miss Hardie. Miss |
Mildred Wright, l. r. Mcdowell, and 1
Mrs. Mcdowell, Albert R Kruger.
John H. Mckay, Harry J. Backer, II. 1
Claude Turner, Standish j. Wilcox.
Miss Lillian Hambreau, J. d. Clarke.
Miss Helen ZUschnitt, Miss Banks.
Miss Reynolds, Mrs. Shade, Miss
India Quinn, q. Merritt MacWhorter,
E. Beatty, Harry Ostermayer. w. Z. |
ID
bash, Miss Jameson, Mrs. Ethel Nc
Cahrey, Leo Baum, Miss Lorraine
Radel. Miss Elizsbeth Miller, Nj and
Mrs. o. J. Moore, Miss Gladys Rus
sell, H. J. Rich, Mark Lansburgh,
Dvaif +. Sanger, George H Mihm,
John N. Water. Max NJ. Rich, c. J.
Columbus, Charles Keifer. Miss May
7. KappeF, s. Zirkin, NJ. H. Leech, A.
V. Hoffman, Stephen H. Talks, Martin
NJ. Watson, Mrs. Bert Jones, w. F.
Thompson, Samuel Schwartz, r. B.
Clokey, z. W. Whitehead, Benjamin
D. Jenkins, W. p. Jacobs, George o.
Smithson, J. NJ Dug2n, A B. Roche,
l. n. Hewlett, J. r. Simms, Mrs NJ
p. Simms, c. Mills, Miss Dorthy z.
Farr, Sarah Dulin, Mrs. Gladys c.
Dance, Mrs. F. Kama, z. RinggoId,
Miss Julia Giovanetti, Miss Josie c
Martin. Miss May McCauIsy, Miss
Elsie II. Lee, Miss Beatrice A. Ridge