The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-06
Bleeding Government Clerks.

Assistant Secretary of the Interior
Jocelyn touched on sore spot few
days ago when he said he would not
help money-lenders get their loans from
his clerks. The extent to which en-
ployes are bled by these usurers is
scarcely credible. One firm is said to
do business of $4,000 month, and
there are several others whose transact
tionS are nearly as large. II suppose
seyenty-iive per cent. of the Govern
ment clerks, said one of these brokers,
''are behindhand. and in the habit of
borrowing money. The rates vary
from two per cent. to ten and even
twenty per cent. month One large
firm which does business on conserva-
tive basis charges its customers the
legal rate of eight per cent. per an
mum, and then two per cent a month
for discounting the notes In this way
the brokers evade the laws against
usury. The common charge for dis
count is ten per cent. a month. The
Washington broker is worthy of COM
mittee OF investigation, and a rigorous
inquiry by the Democratic House would
bring to light some very sensational
scandals.
There is no legal process for collect
ing these usurious debts, but the bro
kers know how to bring influence to
bear on the clerks. Often a chief of
division or bureau is himself customer
in the brokers' power, and willing to
apply the thumbscrews to a subordi-
nate to ease the pressure on himself.
Besides, the brokers, like all men who
control large capital, have great indi-
rect influence with the higher officials,
and can secure themselves in that way.
Many of the chiefs employ their own
capital and that of their relatives and
friends in the brokerage business. The
brokers do not use their own money
even after they are rich. Most of them
begin with nothing but good credit at
bank, 'Legitimate" bankers readily
discount all the paper brought them upon
the endorsement of the broker at one
and half per cent. a month. The
brokers use the bankers money, and
turn it over and over. They have no
end of tricks of the trade to get their
money. One day forlorn looking
lady in widows weeds came to General
Walker with a pitiful tale. One of the
census clerks, she said, was defrauding
her Of her board bill. She wiped her
tears as the indignant Superintendent
told her that the clerk must pay up or
go, He paid. 1t afterward appeared
that the poor widow was worth $780,
900, and was settling up her late hus-
bands brokerage business.
In all the departments the failure to
pay debts is regarded as justifying in
reference on the part of appointing
officers, and this gives the brokers a
lever which they soon become expert
in using.
There is a regular clientage of these
impecunious clerks, who are chronic
borrowers. Formerly the brokers kept
a black list for mutual protection, but
of late less fraternal policy has pre-
vailed, and new firms are left to find
out the dead beats by costly experience.
There are many setbacks, even when
the lenders are shrewd and careful.
Borrowers get deeper and deeper into
the mire, lose their positions, and dis
appear. But in spite of their occasion
al losses, most of the sharpers get rich
Few women clerks borrow money
When they do they usually get the en-
dorsement of men. Very often the lat
ter have to pay the note. This phase
of the subject illustrates an unpleasant
feature in department life, but fortu-
nately one that is much exaggerated.
The colored employees are great Dor
rowers, and pay enormously high rates.
They are said to be better pay, how
ever than white people. Two or three
firms of colored brokers have become
quite rich in this business among their
own race Washington Cor. N. Y SIN.