The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-30

making Of 4 single one of these money
,platss, with Ill the lettering and geoAastric
lathe work involved, II q formidable tssk.
" IN not on this account that Chief En-
eravor Casilsar thinks tho proposed aitera-
tiona unwias. HA opinion IL thAt II ~ =
mistake to change the appearance 81 cur
rancy mora oftsn than Ii absolutely Iscas,
aAry. Ths people do not readily accept pa
per cash that HAS 9 strange look.
To illustrate this Mr.. Casilsar Yesterday
teld how he happened to b. IN New York At
ono tims Outing tho war locking ont for =
gang OF countsrfoitsrs. 10 avoid making
his Appcarance in the CITY conspicuous, he
put vi at n second rate h 1tSi, where NC was
unknown. For some purpose no handed 70
the clerk At the desk u brand-new DOC note.
ner's portrait on IT, the likeness having
bsen substituted for q picture Of Jnstics
with her scales, which the forgers had imi-
tat6d very. successfully.
The clerk looked at the note with evident
suspicion, and handed II bnok.
y never saw anything like that before"
be said.
II i good, 7 assure you,"' replied Mr.
Casilear.
"Idon't believe IT,, said ths clerk.
Every we'll" rsjoinsd Mr.. Casilear.~ 1T
doesn't matter, though know II 10 good,
because | made IT myself"
The clcrk smiled ~sardOnically.
..Ihat IL Just what occurred to me-" ho
said, therefore i refuse TO accept it,
MI. Casilsnr felt that tho joke wal on
himself, SO he treated himself to a bottle Of
soda-water at tho bar and left for Wash
ingtnn' that evening.
Secretary Fosters recent order providing
the treasury employees shall have the priv
lege OF drawing their pay weekly will help
Thorn very little to keep out OF the clutches
Of tho usursrs at 10 por cent n month. There
are 1G, COO clerks in she departments here,
and a large proportion Of them aro perpet-
ually in the handSOf money-lending sharks.
II will mover be otherwise. 80 long as the
government lasts \ crowd OF such parasites
will fattsn upon 4 percentage of the wag0s
earned by it, civil hirelings at Washington.
Some Of the most prosperousof these par
asites are negroes-colored persons OF
means and swell pretensions. who drive
stylish ~turnouts and affect no. small degree
Of fashion. They have Offices on the bust
ness streets. where they do not disdain to
transact money business with imEecunious
and proportionately humble white custom
era. A dozen of them could be named here
-ons notably, an u type. who is known
about town ~ somewhat of q sport. lie
wears rather loud clothes and a glossy silk
hat, has gray whiskcrs and is good looking
In y seal BROW African way.
There arc colorsd messengers in everydo-
par.ment OF d thrifty turn, who lend money
in q quiet way to clerks. The interest is
always usurions. and they would loso their
places il the businesSs were found out; but
they only have dealings with those whom
they know they ran trust. Many clerks
there ara also who assist their fellows at
oent-per-oent or more on the sly. But that
il a matter OF course. There is hardly a
great business establishment Of any sort III
tho country which has not one or more em-
ployes who add to their wages by denllnRs
in loans with their fellow-laborers.
@ HIL.-- /. - - G 49, * nAnh1r n rn A1k ~ &H u
street, controlled by colored men. which
does a largo business in loans to department
clerks and other persons in need Of fnan-
cial assistance, at very TemunsrAtiye rates,
Tho usurers here generally, while pursuing
their trade with an oponIess scarcely toll
Grated elsewhere, assumes the guine OF
stock brokers or real estate agents. Sew
oral of tho most prominent real estate
agents in the city are known to have made
their beginning as money lenders ut 10 per
cent = month.
That seems to be the regular rates charged
department. clerks. The haplsss govern
ment servant is hard up. he goes to the
gives a note ut thirty days for $50. receiv-
ing S45 in exchange for it. Tho usurel
takes his 10 per cent a month in advance.
May be whom his pay comes in. the victim
clears off the debt, but in a majority Of in
stances the unfortunateH never got, or kecl
Tor any length OF time, OHt OF the &tlP q
the ohylocks. They pay something, Dor
row more, and so on, forever contributing
a considerable slice Of their wages TO thu
support OF the sharks who prey upon them.
II they fail in a payment of interest the
usurers pursue them relentlessl,, not hest
tating to appeal to the secretary. Tbs de-
partment authorities have used all their in.
fuence against these leeches. and the aid o:
the secret service has actually been called
in to helm combat the evil; but still it goe,
on and will always continue so long as thi!
army of salaried clerks in Washington
exists.