New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-01
CHRONIC DEBTORS FEEL EASIER.
AN OFFENSIVE AND OFTEN ABUSED METHOD or
DrNSING PROHIBITED.

AN OFFENSIVE AND OFTEN ABUSED METHOD OF
DrNNING PROHIBITED.
@I,ve lost my right bower" said the head of little
collection agency yesterday, ana I've got INC PoS'"
authorities to thank for it,"
"How's that - asked Tribune" reporter.
BY way of reply the professional dun opened a
big drawer, disclosing few thousand envelopes al
of which bore in startling rcd and black characters OF
considerable size the words " Bad debit THESE
used TO send through the post-oiice' he Continued
10 my delinquent debtors, inclosing request to pay
up First I'd call the man, then If that failed u
send an envelope with the tetaie inscription written
small upos one corner; the next envelope had much
larger characters and on until finally the very worst
kind received postal cards bearing the words 'bad
debt I'm iaIing colOrS one side ana calling the
debtor Mr. Dead Beat and other harsh terms on the
reverse side This used TO fetch a great many hard
cases who could be compelled to pay their debts In
no other way There is no man who wants to make
any pretentons to honesty but diSkcS to have such
publicity given to his shortcomings Is insured by
sending such letters - him through the pubic naS
he fancies everybody them and Is laughing at
him or thinking little of him, indeed great many
people must
But now my pet scheme is knocked on the head
for new act of Congress was passed the other day
providing that all matter, otherwise malabc by law
upon the envelope outside cover of which, E.
lbcouS, scuTilous threatening dciineations, cpl
thets, terms or language, rejecting inindclOusiy
upon the character or conduct Of another, may be
written or printed, are declared TO be nonmailable
matter and shall not be conveyed in the mails, nor
delivered from any post-oGcc nor by any letter car
rlcr The act further provides, as penalty for do
posting such matter in poStof!co, fine OF from
500 to $4,000 or Imprisonment at hard labor from
one TO ten years, both. l never did see such a
happy hunting ground for dead beats as New YORK
IS ANYWAY when man won't pay his honest
debt YOU can't clap him into jail iii he does as yOh
should be able 10 do You've got to start snpile
mentary proceedings and have him examined as to
his income and what he does with it, The law here
allows every man TO retain enough Of his income free
from the claims of creditors to enable him 10 live
decently and rs a hard matter to get your knowing
man a5out town. generally the worst kind Ga dead
beat to admit oath that there arc any loose ENDS
of his income not fully absorbed in purchasing iof
him the very nccessarlcs OF He"
"what will you do now" said the reporter Il
suprosc there are lots of Objectionable ways OF col
Letting debts, are there not 2"
There are the tricks Of the trade. Of conSc such
as sending 2 loud mounted and experienced collector
to dun clerks within hearing Of their employers; try
ing 20 catch debtors In public places, shfrouhueu pS
people whose good opinion they value ETC., etc. but
none so effective as this one now rendered us'i'sS.
I think shall havo TO introduce the Chicago method
OF going round in a big covered wagon, painted bright
red and yellow in the most attractive manner VITA
such fine notices bad debt collector Terror 10
dead beats etc. cOnspcuOUsly enDlazohcu Oh -
Let this stand for an hour day for few days De-
fore denquenrs house and tho neghbors VIII get
into the way Of looking for It the small boys ana the
loafers will form an admrnG circle round II. ana
stale M into the house windows, and If the police
don't stop IL for or other guess IL VIII
do almost as well as the postal cards, but It's more
expensive
"Who are your best customeIs!'
"smal tradcsmcn and doctors The iatter can
refuse an urgent call because The pay may Dc poor
and so large proportion of their accounts are mover
collected We used 10 do big business collecting
crocer hills but now retail grocers in this city have
2 mutual protective and collecting agency OF thcr
own. Tho two work together admirably \ black
list is kept Of people who don't pay their grocer
bill and when debtor finds he can't get credit any
where il soon brings him TO Tine