The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-03-11
NOMINATING IN WASHINGTON.
CHfsous Eass of "Raisiag the wind"
Adopfed ~ Residents Of the Capital.


" There are many curious ways OF
making money in Washington, said
leading lawyer TO ne last night. writes
Carp to The Cleveland Leader.
The curbstone brokers here do
better business than pawncrokers Of
other cities, and they charge as nigh as
10 per cent. a month for money, There
arr 1900 clerks in Washington. Nearly
haii Of them live ahead Of their salary
and not a few speculate. These men are
always borrowing money. and they pay
2, ;, S. and 10 per cent. d month for t.
The business OF lending has grown to
such an extent that there ire men who
follow IL as profession. The national
banks are concerned in it Indirectly and
there are numbers OF small banks which
do nothing else. These small banks
have their agents among the clerks
Such agents are generally employed III
the departments. and a banking firm
has one N each of the big buildings.
This man gives out that ne has u
little money to lend on his OWN hook
The borrower goes with him 20 his
bank, and with two good endorsers gets
fhe money on his nromissory note Al a
high rate of interest but The Interest,"
is put In the note and not charged upon
its face. The bank then endorses this
note over TO the national bank with
which it deals, and when the time
comes for payment the clerk paws IL
or he finds. the influences brought TO
bear which will turn him out OF Office
If. he refuses TO pay.
Many prominentm men with an eye to the
main chance haye been engaged in this
/. business through third parties, and there
is<as bank now near the Post-ofIice
Department whose capital comes from
leading Ohio statesman who had
charge OF one of the leading bureaus last
year"
:. How about speculation in Washing
ton?"
So This is the greatest place in the
world TO speculate. Everyone does it,
and women and men, poor and rich
clerks and Congressman. all watch the
ticker aud bet on the rise and fall of
stocks. There are dozens of bucket
shops in Washington located near the
great departments and there is one
q within a stones throw Of the Capitol
where YOU may find Congressman daily.
''Of course. such speculation brings
ruin 10 many clerks this gentleman
continued, land it brings about petty
lefalcaiions to the Government. It Is
on q par With hundreds of poker games
which ara played night after night here.
and speaking OF this reminds me tha; |
know the inside history OF "A little trouble
in connection with the Congressional
Library which has never been published.
'' Several years ago the Young man
connected With the Library who went
monthly to the Treasury with an order
from the Librarian aud brought the few
thousand dollars needed in a bag. re-
ported that he had lost the money. |
think il amounted to 5000. He had
stepped, he said, into a restaurant, and
had the bag down for a moment. WheI,
he started 10 go he found il had disap-
peared.
s.. He reported his loss, and the state
ment was given out that the authorities
had perfect confidence in his honesty
and some of them repaid the money
for him. He was retained for 4 short
time IN the Office and then disappeared.
'' met in Boston the other day an
old lady who is q great friend of
wealthy Congressman or ex-Congress-
man of that place. who is known To
the world as Jolly good fellow. She
spoke to me about this defalcation, ana
told me that this Congressman had told
her that this So, 600 which was reported
TO have been lost was in reality stolen
By the Young man, and lost by. him
TO a General of the Army and n couple
Of Congressman in poker game the
night before. He had gotten the draft
;Ile day previous to the reported stealing
and cashed It.
The Statesman ard military man did
not. Of course, know where it came from,
but il is supposed that fearing, If an in
vest.Eation was ordered. NE fact oftheir
pukcg came would come to the public,
thev brengilt such influences to bear that
tne voung man was not prosecuted, and
the story he trumped up was maze 10
hold good"