davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21
PTAcEK AND DAVE WEBER,

The Assistant Chief Denies that He ID
an Agent OF the Money Lenders.
Assistant Chief Of Police Ptacek de-
nies that his office Is being used as q
collection agency for money lenders.
He admits that he takes pains to see
that the policemen pay their just debts,
such as coal and laundry bills, but says
that no loan broker ever gained any
satisfaction from him. He declares
that he has several times refused to
take such action for David Weber, the
money lender.
This office Is not tool Of Weber's or
any Of the loan brokers'" said Assist.
ant Chief Ptacek. III any Of the Off.
GERS owe money to storekeeper or
owe their board bill and It Is brought
to my attention see that It Is paid.
But do not do SO In the case Of the
loan sharks. In fact. the webers know
very well that they need not ask any
favors Of my Office, for they would get
the worst Of It,"
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21

$.JOO. About the City Hall It Is COM
mon gossip that within the last month
an agent Of one Of the loan men went
through the Hall boasting that he had
OH his person $1,000 which was to be
delivered to clients In the building.
The Imprisonment of Policeman Pat
rick W. lloran. of the Lawndule Ave
nue. station. on the charge of obtain
ing money under false pretenses from
David Weber. of ~ la Sale street. has
called the attention of the authorities
to the loan shark" evil. To-day the
validity of these loans will be tested
In Justice Gibbons court, when the
case of Policeman John W. Gibbons will
bc heard. City Comptroller KerfoOt Is
made the defendant. as he has been Or
dcred to hold back the salary Of the
officer, and has refused to pay 1t over
to the money lenders until he has been
ordered to do 80 by the court.
Chief Ripley says that the money
lender who Is willing to advance cash
to policemen without any collateral
whatever except the fact that they are
Oh the city pay roll hns brought grief to
many homes ana led many weak
minded officer astrny. Mayor Harrison
and Comptroller Kerfoot bear the Chief
out In this declaration. and unhesitat-
ingly say the advancing Of money to
men on salary IL not conducive to
good citizenship.
According to reports from the Comp.
troller's office these money lenders Use
| all sorts Of methods to advance their
business. Circular are sent to the en-
ployes making them apparently fair
! offers. but the City Hall officials say
the offers are deceptive. and when the
sharks" get a patron In their clutches
there Is no end to the expenses which
are piled up against the borrower.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21

sary order Accordingly the Mayor
was appealed TO, and he allowed the
Treasurer aud Comptroller to pay the
mon VI the electrical department every
two weeks, This will he quite an cN-
pcnSc to the city. ~ It costs almost 500
N Labor aud loss Of work 10y the mcn
on pay day. However, it will solve the
problem " avoiding the loan shark.
thereafter any employc of the elec-
trical department who patronizes a
loan broker will meet with instant dis
missal," said Mr.. Ellicott. by having
my men paid twice month | believe II
will not be necessary for any of them
30 20 to loan brokers to borrow money"
said MIR. Ellicott. IL worked hard to
have this system inaugurated in my
department. and IL will affect all Of the
10 men | have. Hereafter any EN-.
ploye of this department who seeks to
borrow money from A loan broker will
be- Instantly dismissed. believe this
would he a good scheme Tor all the city
employees, although It would be quite
expensive"
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21
SHARKS ARE TOUGH.

Mr.. kerfOOt Tells Of Some OF His
Troubles with Them.
Interview with Comptroller KerfOOt
In the Times-Herald July 10:
"NO one can have any conception of
the immense trouble that the money
lenders cause the ComptrOller's Office
There are hundreds of cases now pend
Ing. 1t Is not alone one money lender
that claims the city employees pay, but
several claim the same individuals pay
ana will hold me personally responsible
if ! allow payment of the mans salary.
Then again they will come to some
agreement between themselves and en-.
ter suit against me personally for the
officials salary.
what under the circumstances am ]
to do! There Is no mercantile estab-
lishment In the city that would permit
Its employees to mortgage their salaries
In advance ana interrupt the business
Of the establishment by their private
affairs. Such Il man would not retain
his place u week, but u city emplOye
cannot be discharged. He Is guarded
by the civil service law. and the city.
his employer, Is p0werless to protect
itself. II will require at least three
additional bOOkkeepers to attend solely
to the money lenders and their clients
In the clty's employ, ana intend short
ly to request the City Council to grant
an appropriation for this purpose.
"The whole of the city administration
Is honeycombed by these money lend
ers. Policemen, tiremen, electricians
and other city employees In every de-
partment are In their grasp, and In nd
ditiOn To the bona iide claims made
there Is forgery. | have received let
ters claiming the salaries Of city en-.
plOyes signed Savage Mr. Savage
now asserts that he has never signed
these letters.
Rather than 10 pay all these claims
] VIII hold up the whole pay roll.
have consulted with Chief Ripley and
he told me that he will aid so far as to
suspend every policeman that has n.y.
pothccatcd his salary. Something has
to be done; the City Comptroller's Office
cannot and was not intended by the
taxpayers to he collection agency for
the money sharks of Chicago. | recent.
ly met man from Washington, ana
inquired of him how such matters were
adjusted there, and gol the answer that
n government employe Is fully aware
that he will not he permitted to mort
gage his salary and that such things are
unknown in the departments"
Mr. Kerfoot was asked how present
conditions could be rcmcllied.
II Intend" said the Comptroller. "to
propose 10 the Civil Service Commits
sion 10 enact rule that any cmployr of
the city that sells his pay without the
consent Of the head of his department
ana of the Comptroller shall forfeit his
position. | am not certain if such n
rule would he legal, but it is worth try.
ing for We have II State pawner's so.
clety intended to lend money to people
In distress.
Il would propose that city employe
who for some reason or other was com
PEELED TO borrow money on his salary
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21

should fll In a blank, stating the rea.
son. the amount needed. ETC.. and have
the head Of his department sign rec
OmmendatiOn to the Comptroller. who
in his turn would sign II and recon-
mend 1t to the State pawner's society.
In this way a record could be kept Of
the employees who had borrowed mon.
cy on their pay. and to this I would
cheerfully give my consent. AS II Is
now. I have to employ private counsel
ut my own expense to defend my action
for not paying out the money Of the
city to u host Of money lenders, who
claim the employees salary. am only
authorized to pay the salary once and
to the man whose name Is on the pay
roll. I hope that I. In my position as
n business man. am too well known to
the community ut large to need eny de.
fpnse"
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21

The amount transacted Is very great.
1t was shown last year that one firm
Of sharks alone had over 800 policemen
In their debt.
Every payday saw thousands Of dol.
lars handed out to the sharks by pub.
lie employees Of every description.
Naturally the public Is now anxious
to learn what amount Of personal prop.
erty taxes the sharks have been paying
on their immense incomes.
When it Is remembered that not only
public employees, but salarled people
generally, owe hundreds Of thousands
of dollars to these men and pay from
10 per cent. to anywhere further up for
the use of these great sums. It Is but
natural that the public should exhibit
some interest In the matter.
The public Is especially interested In
the personal property scheduled by
sharks who want to use the public of.
fees for their private ends.
In another column the figures OF the
Weber crowd ds published In 1900 are
given.
They speak for themselves.
The pawnshop alone Is worth many
times what they scheduled their whole
menagerle at.
1t might be well for the Board Of
Review to summon the following after
scanning the schedules put In by them
this year:
Sammy Heyman.
Sattler.
Dave Weber,
Max Weber.
Hank Weber,
Louis Weber,
Jake Weber.
$. G. Kanter.
II. l.. Weber,
Jacob Weber,
David b. Weber.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21
ENDS ALL WAGE ASSIGNING.
City Comptroller Denies Entrance TO
the Money sharks.

the Money sharks.
Chronicle. July 10:
To the outside world William II. Ker-
foot, city comptroller. remained in his
office on the third floor of the City Hall
yesterday voluntary prisoner. Only
visitors personally known to the police
men guarding the doors were admitted
to the offices. Messenger boys with
misslyes marked personal" and Post
master Gordon's special carriers with
registered letters were compelled TO
leave their charges with the bluecoats.
This extraordinary precaution was
taken 10y the Comptroller to avoid no.
ticc of assignments from the money
lenders who have 80 long infested the
corridors of the buildings and whose
tcnaclty Mr.. Kerfoot seeks to cut short.
At u o'clock. when the coast was clear.
Mr.. Kcrfoot left the building. his face
wrea,hed In smiles. lie claimed a TEN.
porary victory.
The forcible exclusion of the money
lenders from the Comptroller's depart.
ment came rs u climax to the efforts
made by Mr.. Kerfoot aud his assistants
to put an end to the sale of the claims
for wages on the city by iiremcn and
policemen. During the first three days
Of the week the agents for the money
lenders found their way into the offices
TO give notice of assignments In spite
of frequent rebuffs, which were painful
M times in their severity. one of the
most persistent visitors was elected by
Chief Clerk Polachek In person. though
the finishing touches were impaired 10y
Officer Koehler.
Mr.. Kcrfoot finding that ordinary pre-.
cautions We're of no avail against the
crafty money lenders directed Wcdnes.
day afternoon that the doors be barred
only to those personally known to the
policeman detailed In the office. When
the so-called mercantile bankers came
found the doors barred. They expressed
great surprise and went away appar.
emily nonplussed.
Soon messenger boys began to come
In delegations. At first they were ad.
mitted. but rs soon rs the nature Of
their messages was made known to the
Comptroller he gave strict orders that
these aggressive lads DE- barred like.
wise. Registered letters were present
ed toward the closing hours and II was
announced that the signature of Mr..
Kerfoot was required IN person. This
regulation was complied with. but only
temporarily.
When the Comptroller came into his
office yesterday he prepared TO stay.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21
SHARKS DODGE TAKES,
hut They Get Favors from Com ptroil.
ore Assistants lust the Same.

hut They Get Favors from Com ptroii.
ors' Assistants Just the Same.
The persistency Of the confidential
credit" men and loan sharks" In using
public offices to collect usurlous debts
alleged to be due them has attracted
public attention to q new phase Of the
subject.
The public announcement made by
the City Treasurer that he would not
allow his office to be longer used rs a
collection agency by sharks" has been
made good In deed as well as In word.
But the public has been Interested
keenly In the amount Of business
which these men have done In the
past in the City Treasurer's and other
public offices.
The public Is also keenly interested
at present In the amount Of business
the sharks" transact In the county
offices.
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21
PROPERrY.OWNERs KICK.

They Never Got their Rebates, but the
Sharks Get All They Want.
Property owners arc wondering why
1t Is that they never get the rebates
they are entitled to on special assess.
ments paid by them.
They also wonder why It is that the
Webers and other loan men can escape
paying their just taxes on their per.
sOnal property, and at the same time
get every dollar they demand from the
city. 81,
70 the Weber gang going 70 20
permitted 70 tie up salaries In the
City tH0asurO1'O ONCE fo4ovOY7
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21

Weber Brothers,
Louis Weber Il Co.
Or Heyman2
Or McClun3
Or "Padden?"
or Monroe?
Or Murphy
Or Zuckerman3
Or webster3
Or Brewer7 y
Or Smith?
Or richardson
Or Ohlsen2
Or Harper7
or Tolnan7
Or Montgomery
Or Kelly2
Or McI.eanf
Or Erd?
Or TOmlInson3
Or vallision?
Or Cessna2
Or Cullen?
Or Diedrich?
Or Heckman2
Or Siegel?
Or Funk2
Or Knowlton?
Or American Mortgage Coz
Or Mills & Cot
Or Wilkinson.
Or Illinois Credit Cor
Or A. NJ. Smith,
Or Hopkins?
Or Wenham?
Or RoSs2
Or Gri6lng3
Or r. r. Employee Loan Company
Or N. w. Mortgage Loan Company
Or Model Loan Company
Or Fidelity Loan Company
Or French3
Or Commercial Credit Cor
Or Chicago Loan and Discount Co.3
Or Wright?
Or Lake View Loan Co.2
Or Bubb3
Or Eagle Loan Co.?
Or Benedict?
Or Farley?
Or Ferguson?
Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-21
PREY ON THE POLICEMEN.
"Al0ney sharks" Nictinixc Guardian
of the City's Peace.

Times.Herald. July IL:
Conservative estimates place the
amount of money lent annually by
money sharks" to city employees NJ
The Democratic advocate., 1900-09-15
The Cost of Imperialism.

The first session of the present Congress,
the Fifty-Sixth, created 1909 offices and
abolished >, 799, according 10 Senate Docu-
ment No. 353, published by authority of law.
The total increase in the number OF new
offices created and salaries increased IN old
ones is 2, 749, while the annual increase in
salaries amounts in the aggregate TO 50 ,56S,
193 &C. This does not mclnde the number
less commissions appointed by the president
with salaries attached.
This document also shows that the appro-
priation for one year made by this first ses-
sion amounted to S7I0 $50, So. 50. Ia addi-
ton to this it shows that the amount of con
tracts authorized by appropriation acts in ad-
dition to appropriations made therein is
$5S, 44O, ,374, the total being S768, 59l, 1858
From these official figures the people may
gain some idea of the cost of the imperial
policy of the Hanna Mckinley Administra-
ton.
When the 51st Congress made appropria
tions aggregating billion dollars. and was
known as "The Billion Dollar Congress,
the people hurled the Republican party from
power in the House of Representatives. The
present Congress will likely appropriate one
billion and half dollars, as the second ses-
sions are usually more extravagant than the
first Hthe people revoIled at Billion Dol
Gar Congress, what will they think of Bill
lion and Halt Dollar Congress?
The Democratic advocate., 1900-09-15
McComas' Blindness

Maryland gave p, 90 maionty Tor NJ
kiuley before aud | see % reason phv she
should no, give a, many this year
Thus spoke Senator McComas 10 Mari
Hanna ia New York last week. II NcComa.
believes this, why IS be spending so mUch
time a, Republican headquarters "a Balm
more? Even il Chairman Goldsl,araush is
not skilled ia party management, ~ith -acb
majority ia prospect Mccoma,' Survives and
advice would not be needed II she cosai.
tons now we're the same a. ghey s~r- 80
1896, any kind Of Republican ChaHmau
would do Indeed il would pol matter u
there we're no Republican heaaqusrisS..
McComas. however, knows there IS q ys-l
difference between eoudiiious 10 I~sG aud
nov. II he knows anything Of Pubiic seD-
lineut he Anows that Mckinley viii un, a',iy
not get 81 90 majority ia Maryland iu No
y..mber ba, will ~, none. Manlaa Is gsias
for Bryan.
The Democratic advocate., 1900-09-15
New Meaning of the Fourth of July.

Roosevelt is out in the Dakotas, and the
further away from home he gets the more
reckless he is of speech. On Tuesday at
Flandreau, South Dakota, he told his hearers
that at is on the Fourth of July that we cell
citrate the victories of Bunker Hill, Yorktown
and Appamattox. Most people thought
the Declaration of Independence was promul-
gated on the Fourth of July, and that event
was the occasion of the observance of the
day. But Roosevelt and his fellow lmper-
ialists have cast aside that document, and
started ON a tour of subjugation around the
world denying that all men are created free
and equal and this is,why he has changed the
meaning of the Fourth ofJuly. Most people,
however, will not accept his dictum on the
matter, and will continue to celebrate the
Fourth of July on account of the Declaration
of independence and vote against the party
that denies the principles of that document.
The Democratic advocate., 1900-09-15
The Election in Maine.

Maine elected state officers and congress
men ON Monday. Hanna made special efforts
to carry the state by large majority, for the
effect it might have upon the voters elsewhere.
The Republicans were supplied with larger
campaign fund than they ever had before aud
speakers from other states were sent into the
state to arouse the Republicans, including
Gen Adam E. King and Major A. NJ. Han
cock of Baltimore
As in Vermont last week, the result in
Maine was Disappointing. As compared with
the vote Of 1896 the Democratic vote lu-
creased - per cent aud the Republican vote
Tell Of IL per cent.
II the change ia Vermont aud Maine holds
good throughout the country, aud there is uo
reason to suppose otherwise, the Democrats
will carry Maryland, Ohio. Illinois, Indiana.
West Virginia, Michigan, Minnesota, Ken
tucky. California, Delaware, lows, Oregon
aud North Dakota in addition TO the states
carried Ia lsg6.
The Democratic advocate., 1900-09-15
Trusts and Travelling Men

The commercial travelling .men ~ 1880 we're
nearly unanimous for Mckinley. They re-
garded Bryan's election 10 mean the payment
Of their salaries IN deprecated money. Bryan
was defeated aud the travelling men conirh-
uted materially TO the defeat
There would not have been any depreeia-
ton in any dollar bearing the government
stamp had Mr.. Bryan been successful, but
there would have been some check put upon
the rise and growth Of trusts. More trusts
have been Organized since 1896 than in all the
previous century, aud the travelling men are
seriously feeling the result In Bryan's de-
feat they escaped the alleged impending %
cent. dollar. but in Mckinley election many
of them haven't any kind of dollar.
In an address at a meeting Of the CONNER
cial Travellers aud Hotel Mems Antitrust
League. in New York, on Tuesday, John NJ.
Gwinn said there we're $50, 600 travelling uien,
aud of these 30, 600 had been thrown out OF
employment by the trusts aud 5000 more
had been taken OF the road aud made to ac
cept reduction Of over thirty per cent 10
their salaries. The withdrawal Of these CO.
goo men. he said. neaut an annual loss ai
81. 600, ,O00 10 railroad, express and sleeping
car companies. an amount equal TO the entire
snrplus earnings Of The railroad companies N
the country for lsas. and il meant loss ~
SIS. .0oO. 600 to hotels Ia addition. the tTas-
cling men hav, lost S60, ,000, 900 in salAnes-
These figures are doubtless correct, aud il
is little wonder that the travelling men and
hotel keepers have formed an antitrust league
and are working for Bryan's election. Iitrusts
keep on organizing, as they will i Mckinley
is re elected, GO, 00O more travelling men may
be laid Oft. and self preservation Is The main.
spring Of the endorsement of Bryan by the
travelling aud hotel men.
The trusts have not only injured the travel.
ing men by throwing them cat Of employment
and reducing their wages, bnl they have raise
the prices upon the necessities OF life. Not
only for travelling men have prices Of neees
sites been raised, but the whele 1900, 900
Of people have ielti The band OF the trusts.
Aud the trusts have done even worse than
raise prices and exact exagbitant profits from
the people They have, By coercion Of en-
ployes aud the use OF money, controlled the
election of Legislators, congressman and pub
lie officers, and slifed popular government
The Hanna Mckinley Administration Is doml-
mated by the trusts, aud it is from ihe trusts
Hanna expects 10 raise the money to buy Nc
Kinley's re-eleetinn. The trusts Sill respond
literally, for their salvation depends upon
MeKinley's reelection. Mr.. Bryan is foe
TO every enemy of the people, aud il elected
will use every power 70 RESTRAIN The trusts
from plundering the people, aud every person
opposed to trusts should vote tor him.
The Democratic advocate., 1900-09-15
For the Democratic Advocate

MIssRs EDIToRs.-The "Open Door to
Westminster is as catchy as the Republican
cry of Full Dinner PAIL and Protection
to Labor All are misleading Until per
sonal spleen prompted hostility to the Wash
ington aud Westminster Turnpike, everybody
thought that good roads we're a benefit 10 any
town. They were regarded as an Open Door,
for they made access easy. Now, however, "A
good roadway on a road that was either dusty or
muddy the year through, is condemned solely
because "A certain citizen of Westminster was
instrumental in its construction. The people
who are opposed to it are mostly the people
who twice tried to build a turnpike, and tor
lack of means or lack of energy or business
capacity failed. No matter what was the
cause, they failed.
Now let some of the leaders in the move
ment to break up the turnpike on the Wash
ington road state why the pike Injuries the
business of Westminster 10 u greater extent
than does the Baltimore and Reisterstown
pike or the Meadow Branch pike Don't
people coming TO town by these roads have to
pay toll? If so, is not the toll charge for
entering the town? Why not apply TO the
County Commissioners for roads paraleling
them. And how about the railroad? Can
anybody come to Westminster on a railroad
train without paying fare? Ii not why not
build IA free railroad?
And why did not the opponents of the pike
demonstrate before the road was built and the
stockholders spent their money? They all
had notice of the granting of the charter aud
the purpose to build, through the Westmin
ster papers. Then would have been the time
for public meeting to protest; not now, after
some eight or ten thousand dollars have been
spent, considerable of which was paid TO most
Of the professors for stone for the pike, picked
off their lands, thereby improving them. Peo-
pie should be consistent, be reasonable, be
just-not stihe public improvements because
of personal feelings.
Politics and business jealousy are at the
bottom of this opposition is my opinion and
the opinion of many of our best citizens.
Truth
The Democratic advocate., 1900-09-15

Pursuant to the action of the Democratic
Central Committee Of Carroll County, at a
meeting held on September m the city OF
Westminster, Bryan, Stevenson and Talbot
Climbs will be organized in the respective elec-
ton districts of the county on
SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10,
at 7.30.
Ali persons who oppose the United States
adopting an Imperial policy aud who oppose
Trusts aud Monopolies are invited to be pres :
ent and unite ia The organizations. CIuhs "i'i
be organized IN the respective districts al me
places named, As follows:
Tapeytown district-At Harvey aud fancy
town.
Uniontowu distriet-At
MYERS district-At Silver Run.
Woolery's dislricl-At Sandyyille.
Freedom districl-At Masonic Hall, free
dom.
Manchester district-At Manchester.
Hampstead distriet-At Hampstead
Franklin district-At Taylorsvlle.
Middleburg disirict-At Double Pipe Creeh'
New Windsor district-At New Windsor
Tnion Bridge district--At Union Bridge.
Nh Airy district-At Mt AIRY.
Secretaries of Clubs will please send TO me
Secretary of this committee, E. .. Neant,
Westminster. at once, the names OF officers oil
The club and the number of members, as a
record of these are desired by the committee
B. +. GROUSE. Chairman.
E. o. WEANT. Secretary.