The morning times., 1895-07-07

The American metropolis is about 10
follow the fashion Of the gay French me-
tropolis in the matter of the care OF its
poor and deserving citizens. II is well
known now throughout the country that
The Washington Times proposes TO furnish
relief and remedy TO those at the Capital
of the nation who have been SO unfortunate
as 10 fall into the clutches OF unscrupulous
holders Of money, who pile a Pelion OF
interest on an Ossa OF incidental charges,
in the way ofloans. and make the borrowers
chattel slaves on their chattel mortgages.
II goes without saying that the men who
make slaves of their debtors are the eX-
oeption in Washington. But The nations
Capitol is big city, and the exceptions
reach, in Tie long run, annoying status.
The shibholeth OF The Times has been
that the poor and worthy oppressed are TO
be looked after. As a rule they are
tnid and shrinking class, who have been
taught TO believe according TO the quaint
definition in Murray's old grammar that
life means "to be, to do and 10 suffer"
HOPE FOR THE POOR.
It has. however, been sufficiently demon
strated TO these people by successful suits
against usureTS, which were secured by
The Times, that there is hope in the propo-
Impulse can relieve the distress of the city
so lar as ii is the result OF cruel and in
eXorable money-lenders-
Working to this end The Times has
launched an enterprise which bids ialr 10
be a magnificent success, and the public
already know that this IS the Peoples Loan
Association, the fate of which is now IN
the hands OF tie public of Washington.
In this movement there is nothing new.
1t is ouIy one OF several kinds in America,
but al OF thu IN are OF recent transplantatiOn
TO this continent. The mother OF all such
movements is the Mont de Pete of Paris.
In Paris the poor are the children and the
wards Of the republic. and even of the en-
pire No deSpot, no Napoleon, has ever
disagreed on the basic principle OF the
Mont de Piete, or the government loan
shop of Paris. Marie Antoinette could
send her Jewels there and raise money on
them. iusC as easy as the fishwoman who
Teviled her at her prison windows. 1t Was
meant for The poor, Just as is intended
The Times sLoanAsSociation ofWashington.
HISTORY OF THE MONT.
What is the Mont de Piete? 1t was
founded in i777, under monarchy. and
Just eight years before the people stormed
the Bastilc and before they cut off the
head of tie wife Of Louis XVI II is the
property OF the city OF Paris, and has a
monopoly of loans and pledges.
The capital necessary 10 establish il was
taken from the general hospital fund,
and this is a pointer for the citizens OF
Washington. for all the net profits OF the
Mont De Pietc are applied back TO that fund.
Being a municipal concern all its transac-
lions ara perfectly honorable and its patrons
are saved the loss they would sustain at the
hands OF the eunscrupulous class who usually
manage such matters.
It is considered. the world over, that con-
sidering The number o! poor people IN Paris
the government has come TO their relief
There is a central office and more than
twenty auxiliary Offices Most Of the
pledgeS are deposited at the auxiliary offices
butthey are subsequently sent TO the central
office. The articles pledged bring IL
per cent. irtalcu direct to the central office
and 2 per cent. II taken TO any one OF
the auxiliary offices. The engagement or