Evening journal., 1905-12-12
USURIOUS RATES OF INTEREST
ASKED BY LOAN CONCERNS
Many Victims Found Among The Poorer
Classes Who Are Seeking Temporary, Relief
From Misfortune
FIFN-NINE PER CENT. IS CHARGED

IeOple ledQ shakespeare Mercndnl
Of Venice with feelings of hatred and
disgust for the shylock. with pity for
the unfortunate victim Of the terms
stipulated lin the bond" and finally
with glee over the advent of a Portia
who put to rout the usurious Shylock
and his bond.
But there is no need to HE away to
ancient Venice, or go back to the six
tcenth century to hnd prototype of
Shylock, to find the money lender who
would have the pound of flesh and
who provides always that the victims
find "tis in the bond" We have every
day in the city OF Wilmington the old
story of the Merchant of Venice ex-
cept that the victim as yet is unaware
that a Portla can be called to the
rescue.
Local Loan Companies.
These Shylock concerns take a more
modern name. They are called Loan
Companies and their names i'm this city
are the Peoples Trust Company. the
Delaware Loan Company. the Whining
ton Loan Company.
They hold themselves out to the
public as benefactors of the poor, as a
helping hand i'm days of financial
trouble. as necessary institution I'm
the complexity of human affairs to-
day.
They advertise their trade boldly
They will make a loan on the salary
which you are to receive in the COM
ing months.
They viii loan you money on youl
household furniture without removal
from the home. They viii furnish YOU
money in any amount from s. to S50l
to help you out of your trouble with.
out inconvenience to you and on shor
notice.
screcy Guaranteed.
Best of an this is to be done with
out publicity" The borrowing public
is to be protected from the prying eye
of other unfortunates of the borrowin.
public and 10 this end the loan com
pary has it's offices so arranged that tn
whole transaction is SO conducted as e
secure the greatest secrecy for both tn
company and the victim.
The offices of these Institutions ar
usually on the second or third floor O
a building on the main street. I'm thl
city they are on Market street. TIL
WOuld-be victim enters a room cale
the reception room. He finds himsel
surrounded by frosted glass partition
I'm which are several doors marke
Private" and i'm one of them is
small window with brass grating. BE
hind this grating smooth tongued in
dividual appears and asks your busl
ness.
Questions Asked.
The victim wishes to get a loan o
furniture OF salary Where do yo
work? How much do you wish? Ho'
long have you been employed there ?
These questions properly answered IN
victim is invited into one Of the privai
rooms. where the first questioner pro
duces a<blank form on which the 70
lowing questions are printed and mus
oe answered. Amount asked Nam
Address. Married or single. Whei
employed. How Long? Wifes name
or salary loan. fathers and mother
name address and occupation). Nan
of two business references2 Length
time of loan?
These questions properly answerC
by the victim he will be told that
the company's investigation prove
satisfactory he will receive the none
the next day. The investigation is col
Quoted by a mercantile agency, or
an agency conducted by the loan con
panies themselves.
They Keep All Papers.
II the loan is on his salary the victi
returns the following day to find a col
tract and promissory note made out f
his signature. The contract is an ire
(Continued on Second Page.l