New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-08
CITY ITEMS.

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Yesterday was bleak and wintry, the temperature
being strong contrast with the mild Spring weather
of the psst week. The city was deluged with dust,
throughout the day, aui general discomfort prevailed
In the course of the previous night furious gale Of
wind ragged accompanied by a light snow. Last even
ing the air was keen and biting and cold enough for
Christmas. The change, though sudden, and produc-
tive of good deal of physical suffering, was very
much needed in order 20 check the vegetation which,
under the impulse of the unreasonable warmth OF las,
week, was about to become prematurely developed.
| PAwaBRoKISG.-Tbere is a bill before our Assembly
intended 10 regulate the business Of PawDbrokers,
which contains good provisions If they could be
enforced. Unfortunately for this city, particularly for
the poor people who necestated TO go 10 this class
of none Lenders for relief this proposed law is not
the value of the paper it is written upon There is
now law regulating Pawpbrokers, that lie violated
every day by every one Of the tribe OF Shyocks en-
gagged in the business
They are forbidden to charge more than 2per cent
interest per annam yet they do charge so per cent
oener than 25 and sometimes they charge interest at
the rate of 900 per cent, and while Fernando Wood
has the censing power, they may charge 1t with i'm
punity and do any other act in violation Of law. The
poor of the City are robbed Of more than half the
value Of half the articles pledged which they fail to
redeem for they are never sold for their benefit. As
the business is now conducted il is TO the poor
the bitterest curse ever inflicted upon them. There
should be most positive restriction upon pswning
articles of wearing apparel Of women AID children
uns of which 90 in at the sign Of the three golden
balls every year and never come out again.
No pawnbroker should be allowed 10 receive any ar
tcle Of clothing or bedding from woman child; and
q drunken man should be positively prevented from
pledging an article. Many drunken man has pledged
bis watch or other valuable article for trife and in
nine cases out Of ten lost il.
What we want In this city ia an institution ike the
" Mont de Pete" Of Paris under the management Of
men of better character than the most Of those now en-
gagged as pawnbrokers in this city. 1t lie entirely
less for the Legislature of the State attempt
strain such men, while the profits Of the business are 50
large There are several establishments which we be-
Heve would not be willing to sell their annual profits
for $50, 900 each. And there men who have been
licensed year after year By the Mayor to carry on the
pawnbroking business, who, we are sure, would not
hesitate 10 rob starving woman Of her las: shilling.
To talk about licensing "pone but men Of good
moral character" Us the proposed law does is simply
TO talk nonsense. Men Of the worst character in New
York can get licensed to carry the business of pawn
broking.
There is one provision that may be made 20 prevent
the iniqutous robbery Of what now termed for
feed articles such the pawnbrokers consider al
articles not redeemed in year. They don't consider
that the owner has any right to redeem after the expi-
ration of the year. and they entirely ignore bis claim to
an oyerplas on he sale. These sales always man
aged for the interes. Of the pledges, and not the
pedgers Of the goods.
An auctionoer should be appointed, to be Known as
the "auctioneer Of unredeemed pledges" Require
every pawnbroker the first Of every month, 10 send
tho articles that have been hand twelve months 70
this auctoneer with An invoice which shall be copy
for each article of the certificate given TO the pledgor
On the first Thursday of each month the auctioneer
shall commence SALE and continue IL daily till all the
articles Of the previous month sold when he shal
pay the pawnbroker the amount Of the pledge and
interest," and the balance, less his fees ne shall hold
one month for the owner Of the pledge, and if not
called for in that time be she'll pay j. into the city
treasury for the benefit Of The outdoor poor Of the
city, As these sales would be upon certain fixed days,
special advertisements Of the articles would not be
necessary but the day Of sale, and the name Of each
pawnbrokcr whose goods TO be sold, should be
given in all the leading daily papers And every
person engaged in the business o. pawnbrokng should
be prohibited from buying pledges, directly ndi-
rectly. Such law would put stop % q vast 6eal
Of nquity and be OF some benefit 10 those pretends
10 fsvos.