The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-09-13
Mas,,,ngton E.errer.
fFrom cur regular correspondent
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ftrom our regular corespondentl
WASHINGTON, D. G., Sept. O. 1899.
The business of loanng money to gov
eminent clerks at usurious rates Of inter
est has hourished since the last election,
lenders being reasonably certain that Re-
publican clerks, and nine tenths of the
employees no matter by whom appointed,
claim to be OF the same political faith as
the reigning administration, will be re-
tanned in office for at least four years. The
sharks seem to spring from the ground.
Some have cosy Offices in fashionable build
| ings, two have even banking establish
ments and these carry their offices about
in their ancient and infirm silk hats. One
of the banking establishments, run solely
as a Shylock affair, pays its depositors one
per cent per month. which is however,
not surprising when one is informed that
the institution loans cut its money in
amounts of $50 or 800 at two to five per
cent per month. Some of the smaller
Shylocks receive as high as twenty per
cent. per month. Many of them are de-
partment clerks themselves and by loan
ing to the chief clerk or the chief Of their
divisions, secure immunity from punish
ment and are even able to dictate terms TO
their unfortunate debtors,
The other day Treasury clerk, after
having refused to pay further even the
principal of note for 500, upon which he
had paid $40 interest in two years, was
boldly reported to the auditor under whom
he worked for failure to pay his debts.
Strange to say, while ne law exists to conf
pei payment, this auditor insisted npon the
immediate payment of the entire principal
and the last months interest, under pain
of dismissal. | have since learned that the
usurer is a brother-in.law of the auditor
and my surprise ceases.
Secretary Teller. whose great ability and
broad character has never received Il suf-
ficent need of praise, understood these
money lenders as they are. He thorough
ly detcsted them and during his admins
tration they fought shy of the Interior De-
partment. One man who was employed
in the Patent Office and who had loaned
money at ten per cent. per month to fellow
clerks for so many years that he had como
to be worth about $50, 900, reported a mes
sepger in the office for owing him twenty
five dollars and failing to pay it promptly.
The Secretary sent for both men. The
messenger,a shiftless, weak fellow, with a
large family and a small salary, had no
defense to offer His accuser was eloquent
and in conclusion called attention to the
fact that he was poor old cripple whom
it was sin to cheat and who needed every
cent he could get. Secretary Teller lis
tened to him smilingly and conrteously
and only when the shark was through did
his hot temper burst forth. What said
he ''you reason to me that because you
are cripple you must needs be a vampire.
Out upon you, you scavenger. Consider
yourself discharged this day as a warning
to the scurvy race Of tricksters to which
you belong. AS for you" he continued,
turning to the borrower, return to your
desk and brace up. BE man. Be fair
handed with the world and take care of the
family the Lord, in His infinite wisdom.
has seen fit to give you, with confidence
in you that time has certainly shown to be
i'll placed.
The Cabinet meeting of Saturday decid-
ed one thing, and that is that the Presi-
dent will call no extra session of Congress,
The President had told numerous members
of Congress that an extra session would
probably be called TO open about October
goth, or November 1st. but by some patent
argument he left the matter to the Cabinet
and an adverse decision was reached Sec
retaries Window and Tracy are said to
have most vigorously opposed the call
The exact political effect Is hard 10 fore
tell, as it relates to the fall elections. The
lethargy into which most people fail as re-
CARDS Congressional matters during the
year following Presidential election, may
perhaps preclude interest in the matter.
The Speakership contest may be affected
by the failure to call an extra session. The
Western candidates will look upon the
failure as favorable to their chances, while
Mr.. Reed, Of Maine, will undoubtedly
be weakened by a more prolonged
fight, as the strongest candidate is
always killed off first by the COM
bined efforts of the small fry. AS
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio, opposed the call it |
is supposed that he is especially oyerjoyed |
The truth is that an early extra session
would kill Mr.. McKinley's chances, as it |
would be impossible to get the western
members here until the middle of Novem-
Der, when the contest would be a thing Of |
the past and Reed elected
The announcement of John i. Sullivan
that he will run for Congress is the amus- |
ing topic of this mornings conversation
everywhere. 1t is an exhibition Of arrogant
self-suiiiciency that claims passing notice
That he could be elected is impossible |
Even Mayor 0'Brcn, of Boston. attributes
his defeat for reelection to the fact that he
presided at meeting in honor of the prize
brute. WESTON.