The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1909-01-16
AT NATIONS
CAPITAL
(By Guy w. Finney)

"A CHdIlDlOu III tbO AiNNA 1865
ate to father a measure designed to
protect the needy clerks from the
Vaccinations of the INSCRIPTIONS mon
eylender. This champion must be fear
less in action, possess a voice vigorous
and convincing, a body capable OF en-
durance, and be able to hurdle that
august chamber with a bill handicapped
by the opposition of a powerful lobby.
A reward in the shape of the enduring
gratitude of II. B. F. mcfarland, presi-
dent of the Board of Commissioners,
District of Columbia, will accompany
the passage of this bill by the Senate.
Perhaps if COMMISSIONS Masfarland,
who in projecting this praiseworth.'
measure has thrown his p%aternal arm
around the 10000 or more Federal
clerks in Washington, would only post
a few such notices as this in conspicu-
Gus places on the Senate side OF the
Capitol building his attempt to stamp
out usury in the District would not be
in vain. At the present writing, unless
some doughty champion fares forth
and calls it into action, it looks as
the session; in which event the hard
up Federal workers will continue to
pay, as they have almost since the gov
eminent was established, this illegal
tribute to the usurer.
Just how many thousands of unearn
ed dollars annually go from the hands
of the government worker into the
pockets of moneylenders is only to be
conjectured. Though efforts have been
made by department secretaries to ap-
proximate the sum, the way is blocked.
The moneylender for business reasons
won't tell, and on the part of the Dor
rowing clerk there are obvious reasons
for concealing the facts. All except
the usurers agree, however, that the
practice should be stopped by Federal
legislation.
The bill by which Commissioner Mac.
farland proposes to stop usury went VI
to Congress last session. After much
debate and a deal of expert lobbying
it passed the House late in the session
Now it reposes in the room of the Sen
ate Committee on the District of Co
lumbia, of which Senator Gallinger, Of
New Hampshire, is chairman, and there
it is likely to remain with other bits
of hold-over legislation unless it,
friends get busy with zeal ant
enthusiasm.
The provisions of this bill, while con
sidered liberal and permitting Of sub
stancia, profit to the moneylender, pu'
an effective quietus on all forms Of
Misunderstanding, wolfsh usury, sucl
as have been practiced in this Chris
tian community for years. The money
lender is allowed 2 per cent a month
with an additional So for examining
papers, securities and Incidental expen
SEES. To do business he must pay a Ii
cense tax Of $1,000 annually. This fea
ture of the bill has caused the money
lenders class discrimination, inasmucr
as his banking and real estate lending
brothers are not assessed SO much.
When the bill came up last year, this
heavy license law was holly opposed
Hearings at the Capitol and before thS
District Commissioners were held, al
which former United States Senator
Thurston, Of Nebraska, now a p~ractic
ing lawyer here, appered for the mon
OFFENDERS. He argued against this tax
declaring it to be without warrant il
law, but the House thought otherwise
Now it remains for some of the Senate
lawyers to find some legal precedents
for it is hard to move that deliberativs
body with a mere sentimental plea foI
the government clerks.
Now Commissioner Mcfarland know!
something Of the temper of the Senate
and, guided by his past experience, he il
prepared to discharge his heaviest am
munition there. This is a bit of tn,
letter he has sent to Chairman Calm
ger urging the passage of the measur
GA great mass and variety of pamph
let's, cards, dodgers, and other adver
Using matter representing money loan
ing concerns, other than national banks
trust companies, savings banks, and tn.
like, are distributed over the Distric'
! and illustrate the extent to which sucl
concerns are being multiplied here
Most of the establishments which senf
out these circulars are anonymously
conducted, and offer every conceivable
inducement to entice people to borrow
money from them"
Commissioner mcfarland, who il
something Of an a~ltruist in municipal
affairs, knows whereof he speaks. HI
has delved deeply into this subject OF
illegal money-lending, and his probe
: has shown him that some of thes,