The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-02-21
WASHINGTON SIlYLOCI{S.
Money Lenders at the Capital
Who Blood tho Clerks.
improvidont nnd EHtrnvagant Govern.
mont Employos Who Borrow at
Exorbitant Katos OF III
tcrast.

delphia Press. This Is true at least in
Washington, where tho majority of tho
employees ore protected in their posi-
tions by the civil service laws, and
where itwould be supposed there would
be more opportunity for saving than in
positions less sure Of tenure.
The average department clcrk re-
ccives what would be considered a very
snug salary in most any other city, es-
pecially In cities where metropolitan
prices for living do not prevail. Itwould
be safe to place tho average salary re-
ceived at ono thousand dollars per an
mum. 1t can be stated rs rule almost
that these clerks arc In debt from one
years end to the other. They are in
debt to tho butcher, the baker and the
grocery man, and their frequent
changes of residence nrc due to II habit
they have of neglccting to pay rent for
their houses. This sort Of thing isltept
UP until their debts are brought to tho
attention Of their superiors in Office,
when the alternative is given Of paying
Off their Indebtedness in monthly in
stallments to bo kept out of their
salaries or of leaving tho government
service
The faculty Of the government clcrs
to get in debt has created Il class Of Shy
locks In the various departments in
Washington the like of which would DO
hard to find In any other city. They are
appropriately called "tcn per ccntcrs."
They feed upon the unfortunate clerk
who Is living beyond his or her salary
like vulturcs upon tho stricken deer
They have their spies out in every
direction, and learn Of the financial con-
- l,oi,, toto x1,l ,s,{s> |.
no honorable person would udopt. TO
| clerk In distress for ready money they
appear and offer the cnsh to meet press
ing wants. The bait is too tempting,
and the victim borrows under tho
agreement that 1t shall be paid back ut
the end of the month at the cXorbitant
rate OF ten per cent interest for tho
| thirty days. If not met ut the end of
| the time stipulated the loan, or part Of
1T, is continued ut the same rate for
another month, and often times within
Il twclvcmonth the poor clerk has paid
more than the original sum in interest
alone.
Enticing circulars arc sent to tho
clerks by these "tcn per ccntcrs" Sums
ranging from ten dollars TO five hum
dred dollars are offered rs loans under
the "strictcst secrecy" The security
! asked is merely nominal. Furniture is
usually the security suggested in the
circulars. These sharks well know
that the clerks nominal note is sufficient
to guarantee payment Of the loan, as
the presentation of it to the chief Of
office usually results in arrangements
being made for the return Of the money
out OF tho monthly salary of tho victim.
The local newspapers arc full Of tho
advertisements of these "tcn per cent
crs." Their alluring offers arc espc-
cially intended for that class of en-
ploycs who desire to cut Il figure In
Washington society, bat who need ready
cash at times to indulge their ambition.
For instance, lady In one of the de-
partments feels that H. will add very
materially to her standing in society If
| she were to give 'pinle ten" or somo
function of that sort. She must do so
at certain period Of tho ycar---during
the social season She has exhausted
her credit ut the grocery and the con-
fectionery, 80 n little ready money in
hand is IN absolute necessity for the
accomplishment Of her plans. The en-
ticing circular of the 'trn per center"
is brought to her notice. and she can
not resist tho temptation. The money
Is borrowed, the social function passes
Off, and the poor victim finds herself in
tho clutches Of q money shark, who
will keep her stinted for the necessities
Of life until his ten per cent. n month
interest and principal is paid.
This Shyloclt business was begun
years ago, and to the discrcdit Of tho
government was largely carried on by
employees Of tho departments who were
in position to know the wants and
necessities Of their fcllow-clcrls. So
oppressive did tho system become that
rules were adopted forbidding cmploycs
Of the departments to loan money to
their fellow employees. These rules
| have been observed SO strictly that the
| "ten per cent" business has been pretty
we'll driven from the departments. 1t
| Is now carried on, rs has been sug-
geStcd above, by means of circulars
and advertisements in the daily news
papers, and tho average government
clerk finds 1t as difficnlt to got out Of
debt rs formerly. The success that
has attended this system of money!
lending has at last aroused competition.
Tho chronic desire Of government
clerks to borrow money has stimulated
the organization Of company that now
proposes to cut rates with the old-timo
Shylocks, and offers to loan money at
three per cent. per month. This means
yearly rate Of thirty-six per cent,
but that Is quito reduction from ono
hundred and twenty, which is now
charged.
Sampson Pope to Looturo In Washington.
WAsHlNaroN, February II. - DR..
Sampson Pope, late candidate for Gov
ernor, is arranging to deliver here or
Saturday, the 28th inst, lecture or
South Carolina politics.
| '~------~---------r----
All South Carolina Vegetables Destroyeu
| CHARLESTON, 8. G., February 9Th,
thermometer Here reached twelve de
grees this morning, the lowest OF
record for February. Everything il
the way Of vegetation is destroyed.
|
To Complete tho Charleston Building.
, | "AauJNaToN Fahruorv 10 THE sec.