The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-14

Dr. D.vts n. ere.r's views go Ths.. ..
the Ahr,b.- Rr~thsr-

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On the chief point 10 the pawnbroksrs' busi-
ness the Rev pr. David H. Grecr and the
pnwnbrokers agrees That IL the need OF prom
eriy conducted pawn shops On the neIt
Point. however. there ia a siisht difference Of
opinion. That Ia the rate Of interest While
DR.. Greer insists that 80 per cent. year IL
usury. the pawnbrokers insist that II doesn't
cover expenses, and that they have all been
earning their living the past year or two BY
losing money. lust as the Cohens have pros
rered In the clothing business for twenty years
back. DR.. Greer's proposition to open q
pawn shop Tor the benefit Of the poor surpri sod
great many persons. The presum ptlon was
that the Doctor had Investigated aud deter
mined that the rawnbroker was the oppressor
OF the poor man. that he was fattening on the
misery ofhis patrons and that he ought 10 be
stopped. The presumption Is wrong TBE
Sun reporter called on the Doctor At his
home. next to the 81 Bartholomew's Church.
IN Madison avenue at Forty fourth street. on
Friday.
As to the evils OF the pawnbroksrs bust
ness as II is At present carried on. " said the
Doctor. " don't think anything need he said.
Everybody knows that the rates Of interest
charged are usurious. But II IL not alone the
interest charges that are depressing; It Is the
contem porsneous charges that they make. For
instance. they charge. you know. for hanging
up coat for putting away stick. and the
like. with the result that II often costs . great
deal more than the article is worth TO redeem
II The idea Of pawn shop for the benefit OF
the poor is one have thought OF for several
years. In Germany and France believe. the
shops are conducted by the Government but
here. OF course our ideas OF the relationship
OF the Government to the people would not
permit Of such . thing. and the pawn shops
are all In the hands Of individuals. who
make money ont OF them; l do not
& s os the men IN t. S.lsSe tSS there
are many mon who might even be generous.
Even as the business 70 conducted ! think
man. and often It saves him from going TO the
very extreme. A PAWN shop such as Is PRO
the poor man to obtain money he needs with
out losing his self-respect. He patronizes the
Gis w s oF something Of value With the priVi
lege OF getting 1t back. You know to m ost m en-
the rent is the monster that he fears. That
money enough to stave OF the landlord
II he can IN get that money at reaso1aSls in:
terest, lie can redeem the article when times
Improve but II the interest is u'uriops then
not get il back."
Dr. Greer said he thought he would be able
would probably be started in the mission
house which is supported by the church. and
have had many SPECIFICATIONS from men who
know all about the business. said the Doctor
Vow for the pawnbrokers' side OF the story.
1t was given by b. Abraham & sons OF 81 Park
row. They have been in the business forty
two sons SS were e there why say. said one.
I" want to tell ron that the pawn shops in this
s ssns only az ST' tSS ao
lar for II right along.
give you facts about the business"
ssD in SsT 9o GsS sh;
We ihssa to sell p' goods pledged Tor sso.6o6
last year. and we didn't get our money out q
let G sSsds ;ss & n get 80
don't get their money back"
saloons pay And look what we're paying for
lights and our ERE and our electric burglar
alarm como in? Tho people amt got any good
sss hiy esyG
There's no money In the business"
We don't do any good no: ~ tell you
hadn't been for. tSs paTpb5oEsr;" said the
people. just let 'em close the shops up for
about = month. and see whether We do any
And whatll this DR., Greer. dol demanded
the other. :" He'll Just be giving money to
tramps. and he'll have a lot Of old clothes on
give me a job in his business OF being char
table. The result OF that DIR. Greer's shop will
be that they'll get the biggest rub hing in any
body ever got. They'll bring In the tramrs
from al, over. They'll Influx the city with
trampa"
At this point there was q lull and tho re-
rorter asked some questions. in reply to
which the Abraham brothers said that fIon-
est. there wasn't any money in the business at
all: that IL cost liz per cent. 10 run the stores
and that in the best OF times there wasn't more
than two or three per cent. over all expenses.
A man came in with . silver bowl while the ro-
porter sat there. He wanted $50 on II. II was
weighed-l+', ounces He got $40 on &C.
see" said the other Mr.. Abraham. We take
n IN ree-tolar chance on that, and we'll lose
ouF money, maybe, but that's the way In all
the business. we take the chance"
Ii is not known that Or. Greer has looked at
the Abraham side Of the pawnbrokers' husi-
ness and when he reads this he may decide to
halt Or. at least he may not try to run his
shop on a basis Of less than 30 per cent q year
interest.