The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-23

the latter class is an injury both to the
individual concerned and the community at
large, and 1t will be found, on examinations
that exemption is resorted to because tha
earnings of the exempted have found their
way into the Golfers of the gambling rooms
the saloon the bowling alley and pool rooms
and the brothel. There is a great cry go
ing up from the lips of the poor washer
woman, the widowed boarding housekeeper
and the proprietor of the small business be-
cause of the losses incurred through these
accursed exemption laws. Many an Garner
of high wages worms himself into the conf
dence of these unsuspecting people and runs
up a big BILL only to snap his fingers at
the liability and take refuge under these in
famous laws We are fast being trained into
a nation of cheats. 1t is easy to concludes
that It is right and proper to take an exemp-
tion though able to pay, when the Law says
that it may be done and sets its seal of APP
prevail upon such a course. Many man
Is ruined between the alternative OF prac-
teal boycott or the furnishing o. creCit
with exemptions to follow. Too many snail
dealers have been told, in eject: IF YOU
do not allow me credit l viii report you ID
my fellows, and we will destroy your busi-
ness and, after credit is given, a break up
follows because of inability to collect ex-
emption laws preventing, The whole theory
of our laws seems to be that ii is some~
how an outrage for the creditor to demand
payment or what IS owing, ana TO make lC
as difficult as possible to collect, no matter
how the debt is incurred. The maxim might
aptly be phrased: Better that one hundred
able debtors escape than that one innocent
creditor be paid" This is all wrong. One
man has as good a chance as another, as
he does not do so it is usually because he
lacks applca ton, or industry, or sobriety,
or prudence, or, perhaps, trustworthiness, or
some essential which he could himself pros
vide, and it is not right that others should
be made to bear the results of his folly. lm
these days Of grinding aggregations OF eapl-
tai every encouragement should be given To-
the man who is ambitious of accommodating
some small means with view to embark-
ing in business for himself with ne fear that
he will be robbed of it by those with whom
he must necessarily deal. If the small dealer
and trader be encouraged Ii Will go far to-
wards neutralizing the efforts OF huge COM
binations to force up prices. 1t should be
remembered that the man who saves ana
who accumulates and who wants to get on
in the world, has rights as against those
who do not. and that we have an endless
fund of assistance from public sources for
those whom misfortune prevents. 1T should
be taught that to incur liability where It
is known that there will be an inability to
pay is to steal, and the law should back this
up and, if the law We're so framed that
would be an end of expenditures for useless
and extravagant purposes.
Practically. our exemption laws allow an
exemption of at least double the sum Of $500
because Of the necessarily low values placed
on used goods, and the owner OF as much
as $3.50 worth of property may invoke the
exemption as against creditors who may not
be worth a dollar or possess the where
withal for the next meal. The writer knows
whereof he speaks having men In his debt
who can pay, but will not because they do
not have to-
The legislator who aids in passing just
laws this subject need fear no loss OF
public sentiment for there will be more
to thank than to oppose him for it, just as
there are more sufferers than beneficiarie9
OF the present system. 1t is plain that for
one swindler there are many victims. No
honest industrious man will raise his hand
in defense OF our present laws, and no law
maker should stand in defense of the shift
less and dishonest and become his abettor.
Give the industrious and the honest
chance. PUBLICOLA.
Indianapolis, jan 90