New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-09
IfSTALNENT ABUSES.

Mr. G. G. SperanZa has called public atten-
ton to what Is undoubtedly grave misuse of
the processes Of the law as a weapon for
swindling Nobody who is at all familiar with
the life Of the East Side has any doubt that in
stalment sales managed there are means
OF victimiZng and expressing the poor The
University Settlement workers have long been
convinced of this, and some Of the Justices of the
minor courts who have to try these nstalment
cases have declared that the code should he
changed to prevent persecution and extortion
under cover Of laws intended 20 regulate entire
ly different transactions.
1t would doubtless be misfortune for the
poor TO have the instament business entirely
broken up. sewing machine may be needed
to make possible the earning Of Il living. and IT
can be paid for only from these earnings Repu-
table firms have foe years carried on the bust
ness Of supplying such needs, and while the
purchaser often has to pay largely for his lack
of ready money n reasonable extra charge over
the cash price is dcfensiblc on account Of the
trouble and risk involved. But the dealers
complained Of do not stand ready to supply the
legitimate wants of people. Their plan Is to
take advantage Of the ignorance Of poor for
eicners TO force upon them articles which OF
their own motion they never would think OF get
ting. Canvasscrs 20 about in the tenement
houses palming Off pictures, clocks, jewelry and
other cheap goods at prices far beyond their
value People who do not know what the
articles worth and that they being
cheated at the very beginning. If at any time
the purchaser fails to pay his instalment
charge Of conversion is trumped up against
him, and the law meant TO punish real attempts
to dispose Of anothers property is used to wiring
more money out Of him. The last thing the
swiDdler wants is TO recover his goods, and, ac
cording TO Mr. SperanZa. extensive frauds are
perpetrated by agents swearing falsely that
they have demanded return OF the goods. ON
their testimony body executions are secured
under which the poor foreigner is lodged in Jail
unless he pays all the demands Of his persecu-
tor One man Is now said 10 be in Jail subject
to six months Imprisonment because he cannot
pay 50 o. In many such cases much more
than the true value of the article purchased has
been paid before default, and probably In al
most all OF them the article would be returned
to the seller willingly, but he rather than take
1t back, according to agreement, manufactures
a charge of conversion under which he hopes
to enforce further payment as an alternative
TO Imprisonment.
There is certainly need Of Il reform in law
which can be made so oppressive The tene-
ment-house dwelers are in the main honest.
What they buy they scrupulously pay for The
honest insalmcnt merchants to whom they
come for things that they need find little
trouble with them. The sharpers who go
among them TO play upon their ignorance are
certainly not entitled TO special consideration.
If they want TO force trade they should take
their own risks The proposal 10 abolish body
executions for debts of less than S25 is worth
favorable consideration. We pretend that we
have abolished Imprisonment for debt, but we
really do nprIson for the most petty debts
under the law OF conversion in cases where
there is no real conversion at all. The honor of
the bar is involved in this abuse OF legal proc
esses Mir Speranza charges that many of the
most oppressive cases are carried on by one
lawyer working with one court officer. The
Bar Associate n should not be blind 10 any such
doings. The "shyster lawyer" has been too
long tolerated in the petty courts and the hon
oIable members of the profession should take
measures to extirpate him.