The times., 1901-04-21
A NATIONS LOAN OFFICE.
The Operation of PawnshOps in the
City of Mexico.
(From the New York Evening Post.

}
The question of pawnshops in Mexico
really affects the prosperity of the peo-
pie, IS with a majority the pledging Of
articles IL not an incident in their lives.
/ but the most natural thing TO be done to
meet an emergency. The act is repeated
as often the need of a little extra mon
ey arises. a multitude of families among
the poorer and middle classes live in this
| way-neVer knowing what II is to be free
from a state of bondage.
Answering the demand for such loans
an abnormal number of pawnShopS eX-
list i'm the City Of Mexico and over the
entire Republic. From IS to 20 per cent
is demanded. At regular intervals adver-
tiscmentS appear in the daily papers an
nOuncing that in certain pawnshOps the
articles must be redeemed or they will be
placed on sale.
That rateros as Mexican pickpockets
are called, find a ready way 10 raise
money on their spoils in these places is
certain, and the police are given author
ity to make thorough raids when neces-
Sary. 4 government pawnshop. the Ma
ciDnal Monte dc Pledad was founded In
l775 by the rich and kud-hearted Pedro
Romero de Terreros, count Of ReRia, own
or of the famous old mines of Real
del Monte. Seeing the suffering endured
by many worthy people for the lack Of
small sums of money. he endowed this
institution with 100000 To give credit
on small sums of money at the lowest
possible rate OF interest, to the very poor
has proved Il good work. The capital
has increased to 8. 80. 600 In round mum
bers. In 1SSS 81 .t53.0Sl was loaned: i'm 1899
g 200, coo, and the loans for 1900 were half
Il million more. r+.-
In spite OF the crisis through which II
passed a few years ago. so firm is it's
basis and so great the confidence inspired
by the honesty of it's administration that
in 1900 the personal deposits in the saw
ings departmentlwe $500 900.
From its origin Jand conditions the
Monte de Piedad has not been able TO
aid the poorest classes OF people. The ne
cessity for having loans perfectly secured
admits of its receiving only articles OF
determined value on which only such
moderate sums may be loaned as may be
lost without evil effect if the owner fails
to redeem. The national Government and
the administration ofithe institution have
tried several times 10 extend the benefits
to the very poor, and at one time. several
years ago. established branches in the
principal parts Of the city. In them the
loan was made easier of accomplishment.
on account of the crisis referred to, these
branches or sucuT-salcs were withdrawn.
one by one they have been re-eStabliShed
until now there are four in widely separ-
ated parts of the city
Notwithstanding these national pawn
shops the ordinary shops. Empeno Ba-
Zar. flourish by extending loans on the
most insignificant articles conceivable dee
mandiug 10 the last CentdVO the highest
rate 10 be gotten from the miserable Great
matter how necessary to the fam
lily in order TO get drink or
70 nave Il few centaNos to gam
BILE with Rules are made governing these
places, inspections are made, but little adj
vance has been the result in rectifying
the inevitable evils Those who have the
good OF the poorer classes at heart long
Tor the day when there shaI be more
the only remedy in sight to offset the
eSllS or the Empeuo BaZar.