Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-11
CHECK PAY ROLLS
HELD Theft CURB
Report of National Group Fa-
vors Elimination of Cash
Payments.

After studying more than 200 pay roll
robberies which last year resulted in the
murder of 10 personz' and loss of more
than 81 900 600. the National Crime
Commission declared in a special report
today that payment by check instead of
cash is indispensable to a real attack
upon the cfime problem"
A special committee headed by Prof
Raymond C. Mobley of Columbia Uni
vegs1ty, was appointed by Newton D.
Baker, chairman of the commission, to
study from the standpoint of the prac-
tical business man the possibility of
eliminating the transportation of large
sums of cash. along well known routes,
at regular intervals. for the purpose OF
meeting factory pay rolls.
The committees report, which was
made public in New York, asserted the
opinion that payment by check is "a
major necessity" Two Washington
men, T. B. Clarkson, treasurer of the
Chesapeake e. Potomac Telephone Co,
and E. w. Mccullough. manager of the
department of manufacture, as MEM
bers concurred in the committees declar-
alton that use of checks lis the only
adequate way to prevent the serious
loss of life and property which has re-
suited from present methods of pay
ment."
Problem Found Serious.
Your committee is convinced" the
report said. that this is a very serious
matter and one which, unlike many
phases of the crime problem. is capable
of being solved and remedied. There
can be no pay roll robberieS unless there
Is a cash pay roll to be robbed, and
by eliminating the transportation of
cash, all temptation to this particular
form of crime will diSapOear
In addition, it is the belief of the
committee that many youths who would
not be attracted to any less remunera-
tive or comparatively safe form of
criminal activity. will be kept from be-
ginning a career of general banditry and
1awleSSneSs.
1T is clear that a workable system
OF payment by check is the most eff
Gent, economical and safe method OF
disbursing money to employees" the
report said The three parties con-
cerred-employers, employees and bank
erS-are apparently largely favorable to
this method under proper conditions"
The committee found that most en-
ployers were willing to pay by check
If they could secure adequate protec
ton against dangers of forgertcs and
against difficulties in making the
checks, and that most banks favored
the practice. with many contending
however. that they should BE- expected
to provide service which is, the COM
mittee said, expensive and Inprcfit-
able"
Opposition Believed Declining.
Various groups within organized labor
have been hostile to the use of checks,
particularly in cases where employees are
put to trouble and expense in cashing
them. Quoting Secretary of Labor
James j. Davis as being favorable to
the checking system, the committee
added that there is every evidence that
this opposition (of labor is declining
and that organized labor, and labor IN
general, is quite willing to cooperate"
The essential characteristics of a sue
cessful use of the checking system, the
committee said. would seem to include:
Simplification of the check to the ex-
tent that it is easily negotiable and thus
convenient for the employees. They
should be protected against expense to
themselves and the assuming of unfair
obligations.
Adequate protection for banks against
forgeries.
Some means by which reasonable
profit may be provided for the banks 10
reimburse them for the added expense
and trouble involved.
A fair degree of cooperation with
stores and other places of business
where checks may be cashed."
Rumania's trade balance is II per