Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-22
The Republican Opportunity.
The Debts of Clerks.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Will some enlightened person who is
husband, father and a legislator tell the
unenlightened thousands how one Is to fol-
low the precepts so strongly advocated by
the President against race suicide and at
the same time live under the law proposed
by Representative Dixon of Montana? In
his bill recently introduced before the
House it provides that whenever a govern
for debt he shall immedia tely be suspended
1t would be as well to establish at once
the debtors prison, and render 1t impos-
sible for man to even make an effort to
pay his just liabilities. The government
clerk finds life sufficiently difficult under
existing laws, and his creditors seem to
have ample power to harrass him and en-
danger his position without further legis-
lation. Representative Dixon lays particu-
lar stress upon a man paying both his
physician and his undertaken. These are
bills which no man willingly incurs. but
they usually fall to the lot of all suffering
humanity, and often far in excess of ones
ability to pay them. President Roosevelt
insists that race suicide Is a crime. Repre-
sentative Dixon insists that IL a mans sal
airy is insufficient to pay his physician for
bringing his children into the world. or the
undertaken for taking them out, he must
at once be deprived of all means of liveli-
hood. Few men or women enjoy being in
debt, but with the best Of Intentions debt
cannot always be avoided. Even before
President Roosevelt startled the people with
his avowed disapproval of small families
children were born into the world. Now
these childrens broken limbs must be set
their ailments and diseases attended to the
same as of old I ask any fair opinion on
the subject. If your salary Is simply suf-
f1cent to clothe and feed your living chill
dren, Is it just that that salary should be
withdrawn because of your inability to pay
your physician and your undertaken for
services to your dead. have neither hus-
band nor children nor am dependent upon
the government for aIfvelih0od, so speak
from an entirely unprejudicial point of
view. Let Representative Dixon introduce
bill against trusts and trust legislation;
make life easier for the poor man instead
of harder, it would be time more profitably
spent. The clerk has no more debts than
the senator or member, only there are
more ways of harrassing him. The worst
tenant ever had was United States SEN
ator. After many years he is still my
debtor, and / do not presume mine was an
isolated case. Why not introduce q bill
depriving senators and members Of their
seats who do not pay their house rent upon
demand. Representative Dixon and the
President are both, I fear, trife to siren
uous and desire at one blow to correct an
evil that is too far reaching Tor any mans
hand. Let the legislators Of our land enact
laws by which living Is possible for the
countless millions who now toll from sun
to sun simply for subsistence, and the
grave question Of race suicide and debt
will take care OF itself without legislation
by Congress or advice from the President.
ELIZABETH LEE.