The Washington times., 1905-12-28
SHAW OPPOSES
FRENzIEBB ] FINANCE
Would Dismiss Habitual
Debtors and "HOckers."
FEELING ONE OF UNEASINESS
Treasury Department Will Not Be-
come Agency for Collection
of Debts.

The Department will not become an
agency for the collection Of debts con-
uacted by Government employees, nor
will 81 retain In its employ persons who.
without some specific and sufficient
cause, habitually neglect 10 pay their
necessary personal and family expenses.
II will not enforce the payment OF loans
for which usurious interest has been
paid or contracted. nor viii ii retain in
the service persons who habitually bor-
row at excessive discounts. No person
will be tolerated in the Department who
engages, directly or Indirectly, in loan
ing or negotiating loans.
Persons offending in either Of these
particulars, after having been warned,
will be reported TO the chief clerk for
investigation and report, with recon-
mendauons, to the Secretary.
Bills or claims presented by profes-
rionai collectors. or attorneys acting as
collectors. will not be recognized.
This order was today issued by the
Secretary of the Treasury, and is a
warning TO creditors, debtors, spend
thrifts, and pawnbrokers in general. An
order something similar TO this was is
sued December 81. 1901. by Secretary
Gage.
Two clauses in the new order has re-
suited In some uneasiness on the part
of certain persons In the Treasury De-
Iartment. The order OF Secretary Gage
declared that the payment of a debt at
usurious rates Of Interest would be en-
forced. but nothing was said about the
removal OF q person who paid frequent
visits 10 the pawnbroker
Shaw's Questions.
Now II so happens that few weeks
ago the Secretary of the Treasury sent
around among the employees of his de-
partment a list Of questions which he
asked them to answer. One or two of
those questions were like these: How
much do you over" Are you in the
habit of borrowing money at high rates
of INTEREST," 1t also happens that many
people in the big money shop answered
these questions promptly and fully.
Most OF them owed no debts and never
borrowed money at usurious rates of
interest. which was true. Some few.
however, also told the truth and ac-
knowledge their debts and admitted
that they occasionally visited the pawn
broker.
this information was TO make a speech
before :he Civil Service Retirement AS
ISOLATION, and he stated that il was not
even necessary for the employe 10 sign
his or her name to the little list OF
questions. The information was also
confidential.
Feeling of Uneasiness-
But ali this does not prevent a little
feeling of uneasiness in the minds OF
some Of the employees who told the
truth. While Secretary Shaw will keep
his promise and regard the information
as confidential. the debtor and hooker
cannot but remember that Mr.. Shaw is
In possession Of their own acknowledge
ment that they do the things which he
has prohibited. Some of them did not
sign their names, 1t is true, but their
handwriting Is known, and is almost
the same as a signature
Then, too, there are some persons in
the Treasury who occasionally heIp
poor fellow" out by lending him $40 or
80. and charging him interest ranging
from ! per cent TO 10 per cent a month.
All money lenders in the department
VIII have TO close their books at once