Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-21
A NATIONAL PAwNHsOP.
The Operation Of the Institution 4
the City of Mexico.

the City of Mexico.
Correspondence the New York Evening Post.
The question of pawnshops in Mexico
really affects the prosperity of the people,
as with majority the pledging Of articles
Is not an incident in their lives, but the
most natural thing to be done to meet an
emergency. The act is repeated as often as
the need Of little extra money arises. A
multitude Of families among the poorer and
middle classes live in this way-never know
ing what it Is to be free from a state of
bondage.
Answering the demand for such loans. an
abnormal number of pawnshops exist in the
City Of Mexico and over the entire repub-
lie. From IS to Is per cent is demanded. At
regular intervals advertisements appear in
the daily papers announcing that in certain
pawnshops the articles must be redeemed or
they will be placed on sale.
That rateros, as Mexican .piekpockets are
called, find ready way to raise money on
their spoils in these places Is certain, and
the polica are given authority to make thor
J0ugh raids when necessary. A government
pawnskpp, the "Nacional Monte de Piedad,"
was founded In 1875 by the rich and kind
hearted Pedro Romero de Terreros Count Of
Regla, owner Of the famous old mines OF
Real. del Monte. Seeing the suffering en-
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
good work. The capital has increased to
$115O,0OO In round numbers. In 1888 $1,153, :
O81 was loaned; in 1899 over s., ZOO 900, and
the loans for 1900 were half million more.
In spite of the crisis through which 1t
and so great the confidence inspired by the
honesty of its administration that in 1900
the personal deposits In the savings depart
ment were s6OO.OOO.
de Piedad has not been able to aid the poor
est classes Of people. The necessity for
having loans perfectly secured admits of its
receiving only articles of a determined
may be loaned as can be lost without evil
erect II the owner fails to redeem. The
national government and the administra-
ton of the institution have tried several
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. though the rate
OF interest was higher. On account Of the
crisis referred to, these branches or sucur-
sales were withdrawn. One by one they
have been re-established, until now there
city. N
Notwithstanding these national pawnshops
the ordinary shops,i EHpeno y Bazaar. -four
ish by extending leanss1on the most insig-
nifcant articles conoAfvable, demanding to
the last centavo the highest rate to be got
ten from the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. who will
pawn anything, no matter how necessary
to the family, in-ordeat to get drink, or to
have a few centays to gamble with. Rules
are made governing nhese places; tnspec-
tons are made. burdittle advance has been
the result in rectifying the inevitable evils
Those who have the good Of the poorer
classes at heart long fcrjthe day when there
shall be more thrfft.a fThe national pawn
shop Is as yet the s6nlylremedy In sight to
offset the evils Of the E,mpeno y Bazaar.