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The law was passed by Congress on March 4, 1909. There is no
record of procedure under it, but it was subsequently tightened
UP by the amendment removing enforcement from the discretion
of the court. It had apparently been generally forgotten and it
remained for C. Walter Randall, distinguished New York attorney,
to bring it to light. Mr. Randall wanted it understood that he was
merely amused at the discovery, and that he would have kept it
to himself if there were any remote chance that it might stir up
trouble.
“ Someone might find it interesting on its bearing on the current
Problem of literal law enforcement,” he said. There’s no getting
around the law, as it stands. The language of the statute is im
perative, and anyone who uses anything for money less than $1
is violating the laws of this country and is subject to punishment,
rf his country wants to punish him.”
The federal statute was the outcome of currency troubles, fol
lowing the money panic of 1907. To meet emergencies, there were
issues of cashiers certificates and clearing house certificates and
Particularly, in the west where there were municipal and county
issues of scrip, and a general run for synthetic currency, almost as
troublesome as the present circulation of homemade gin. Congress
nocked all this in the head, but that was 20 years ago and no one
could foresee the great progress that would be made by coin
operated devices of all kinds, and in the consequent demand for
a law national in scope that would effectively check efforts to de
fraud these machines.
It is not our purpose to suggest that present plans backed by
Rational organizations and firms interested in the coin machine
Industry should be let go. As far as our information goes, the
kills that have been drawn up, the fellows back of them, and the
Motives of all concerned are worthy. Since a very trivial incident
jn the life of one of the world’s wealthiest men has brought to
*ght this forgotten law, we would like to see a test case instituted
to determine its application and effectiveness in relation to the
Problem which our industry faces.
A test case is the quickest and surest way to determine what
a law means, and if the legislative committee of the national as
sociation, or one of the large corporations interested in “ slug”
Prevention, can bring a test case before the courts the whole trade
win look on with intrest and hope that a statute promising legal
relief is already at hand.
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