Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1889-09-12
Washington Letter
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON. SEPT, 9th 1899.

washington LeLLer
| FROM OUR REG ULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WAsn1NGToN. SEPT, 9th 1889.
The business of loanlng money to
government clerks at usurious rates of
interest has hourshed since the last
election, lenders being reasonably GER
tain that Republican clerks, and nine
tenths of the employees no matter by
whom appointed claim to be of the po'
litical faith as the reigning adminlstra-
ton, will be retained in office for at
least four years. The sharks seem to
spring from the ground. Some have
coy offices in fashionable buildings, two
have even banking establishments, and
these carry their offices about in their
ancient and infirm silk hats. One of
the banking establishments, run solely
as Shylock affair, pays its deposltors
one per cent per month, which is how
ever not surprising when one is inform
ed that the institution loans out its
money in amounts $50 or 500 at two
to five per cent per month. Some OF
the smaller Shylocks receive as h gh as
twenty per cent per month. Many OF
them are department clerks themselves
and by loaning to the chief clerk or
the chief of their divisions secure i'm
munity from punishment and are even
able to dictate terms to their unfortu-
nate debtors
The other day a Treasury clerk. after
having refused to pay further even the
principal of a note for 500, upon which
he paid $24O interest in two years, was
boldly reported to the auditor under
whom he works, for failure TO pay his
debts. Strange to say, while no law
exists to compel payment, this auditor
insisted upon the immediate payment
of the entire principal and the last
months interest, under pain of dismiss
al. | have since learned that the usur
er is a brother-in law of the auditor
and my surprise ceases.
Secretary Teller, whose great ability
and broad character has never received
sufficient need Of praise, understood
these money lenders as they are. He
thoroughly detested them and during
his administration they fought shy Of
the interior department. 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 come to be worth a.
bout $4,000; reported a messenger in
the office for owing him $25 and failing
20 pay promptly, The Seer etary sent
for both men. The messenger, shift
less, weak fellow, with large family
and small salary, had no defence 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 listened to him smllingly and
courteously 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 vampire. Out upon you,
you scavenger. Consider yourself dis
charged this day az warning to the
scuryy race of tricksters to which you
belong.
GAS for you," he continued, turning
to the borrower, "return to your desk
and brace up. BE a 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 a
confidence in you that time has GER
tainIy shown to be Ill placed
The cabinet meeting of Saturday de-
cided one thing and that is that the
President 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 90, or Novem-
Der |, but by some patent argument he