New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-26
SHARKS SHOW TEETH.
InstaIment Dealers Could Resume
old Practices Under Nes0 BtH.

Various prominent East Side residents who as
sisted The Tribune in Its crusade against the
instalment sharks three years ago. which re-
suited in the passage of legislation making
abuses impossible, are disturbed over Dill now
before the Legislature. introduced by senator
Elsperg which restores the legality of body ex-
ecution for debt contracted for certain goods
for sums below 500. 1t was the repeal of this
law that absolutely wiped out the old situation
which filled Ludiow-st Jail with victims OF
the sharks and made city and county authori-
ties merely collecting agents willing I'M
willing of the instalment dealers, whose prac-
tioes went to the extent OF murder in some In
stances. Earnest effort will be made to have
Senator Elsberg withdraw his bill, which ii is
believed was introduced under nlisapprehen-
sion.
Mrs Rosa,ie Loew Whitney. formerly counsel
for the Legal Aid Society, who materially as
sisted IN the former struggle against the install
ment sharks, said of the Elsberg bill yes
terday:
1t will have the effect of restoring all the old
abuses that The Tribune fought to put down
two years ago at Albany. 1t is so cleverly
drawn that person who didn't know the actual
conditions would not see that under the old
state of affairs could be put In Jail, no
matter how little he owed, on one of those in
stalment contracts. The elimination of the
fight of The Tribune and the Legal Aid Society
carcerated only where he owes over 500.
The result of this bill has been that almost
every one OF the offending instalment dealers
who had been throwing men into Jail has been
Obliged to go out of business, and the few re-
naming ones claim that the business has been
entirely Improbable and that they only
winding up in order to withdraw entirely.
The proposed bill, by referring to jewery.
gives the impression that it would hit only per-
sons who well deserve to go to prison, IL they
undertake to buy such unnecessary things as
Jewelry. AS matter of fact. the instalment
dealers method is to induce poor persons, chief
ly foreigners, to purchase jewelry, such az
watches and chains.
L do not know who is responsible for the in
PRODUCTION of this bill. The one responsible may
not be aware of the sinister motive behind 1t.
but undoubtedly its effect would be 10 restore
the oldtime conditions, when the county was
cauea on TO pay large sums OF money for the
support or persons who really the victims
of nstalment dealers greed
In the last two years another line of install
Inent business has grown up, but on a higher
plane. 1t is the sale of diamonds by certain
Maiden Lane jewellers, whose advertisements
are to be seen in the magazines and in the
streetcars. 1t may be that these men are not
satisfied with the right, which they now have to
arrest when the amount is over S10O but they
should not be encouraged, for they are DELHI
erately seeking to increase their market and
to tempt persons. whom they we'll know to be
without means, into buying things which they
posed bill does not go into effect and If the
500 enactment could also be wiped out these
Maiden Lane instalment Dealers like the cheaper
grade, would go out of business. The Univer-
stty Settlement workers are entitled to the
credit of having put the 800 bill through.