Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-25
FOR "LOAN SHARK" BILL
Measure Will Again Be Reported
Favorably to Upper House.
MANY CASES OF ExToRT1oN
Legislation Empowering Commits
sioners to Prevent Exhibition OF
Indecent Moving Pictures.

Prohibition advocates in the District
will be given an opportunity to argue
their cause before the Senate Dlstrlct
committee one week from today.
At q meeting OF the committee tooay II
was decided to give public nearing on
Senator Gallinger's bill to better regulate
| the aio,,or traffic in the District next Fri
day morning, and the prohipitlon Clans
will be invited to gather then in the large
hearing room on the fourth moor OF the
Senate office building. to present their
views of the liquor traffic Of the National
Capital Those opposed to the bill will,
Of course, have q chance to swing their
hammers on the measure.
The Gallinger bib making more strict
the regulations for the sale Of intoxicants
in the city has been Endorsed by the Anti
Saloon League, by many temperance or
CARNATIONS in the city and by other or
CARNATIONS, and it is expected that many
representatives OF the societies will be on
hand next Friday.
BY unanimous vote OF those present
the committee this morning decided to re-
port again the so-called "loan shark bill
for the favorable action of the Senate.
withdrawn so that more amendments
could be considered.
Rate of Interest Fixed.
AS now drafted by the committee the
bill will allow money lenders to charge 2
per cent a month interest AS first re-
ported from the committee the bill au-
thorized per cent per month on loans up
int
| from $25 to $780, The amount to be loaned
at the rate of per cent per month. the
committee decided, should be limited to
800. The bill also prohibits the collecting
| of other charges or fees than the interest
In his report on the bill in behalf of the
District committee Senator Dillingham;
will call attention to some cases of ex-
| tortionate interest. as showing the evils
which the measure is designed to correct.
Evidence was presented to the COM
mittee which discloses a most remarkable
condition of affairs in the city of Wash
ington.' the report will say. Many in
stances were cited In which loaners were
extorting from poor and timid borrowers
rates of interest upon small loans ranging
| from 30 per cent up
Provisions of Measure.
Explaining the general provisions of
| the measure, the report says:
The purpose of this measure Is to Sc
cure publicity to all acts OF this class of
loaners and to prevent the abuse Of poor
borrowers by the exaction of extortionate
rates of interest. To this end those en-
gaging in the business of loaning money
at q higher rate of interest than per
cent per annum are required to pay
license fee of 500, to give a bond in
the sum of $1,000, with sureties that the
obligor will not violate any law relating
to the business; that the llcensee shall
keep q register in the form prescribed by
the Commissioners Sirl District of Co
lumbia, showing The amount of money
loaned the date when due. the name of
the borrower, the security takgn. where
the same is located and In Those pos
session, the amount of interest received,
as we'll as all fees. commisLions and re-
newals charged under whatever name,
which register is required 90 be kept open
to inspection of the Commissioners or
their agents.
and provision is maze for the publica-
ton Of the same. The licensees are for
hidden to receive greater rate OF IN
come than per cent per month On the
actual amount of the loan, inclusive OF
all expenses. demands and services OF
every character. Penalties are provided
for violation of the law. and the Com
missioners of the District of Columbia
are given power to enforce the act and
to revoke licenses for cause shown"
report on the bill Is. 719D to authorize
the Commissioners of the District to pre-
vent the exhibition OF obscene. lewd. in.
decent or vulgar pictures in public places
of amusement in the District. The bill
directs the Commissioners to prevent the
exhibition of any indecent picture in any
theater, moving picture show or other
place OF amusement.
Makes Commissioners Censors.
The measure also makes the Commits
sioners censors of all pictures to be ex-
hibited in amusement places. No pictures
are to be exhibited unless they have been
submitted to the Commissioners and
found by them not to be indecent. The
penalty for violation OF the act Is a
fine Of not more than $40
To the subcommittee on excise and
liquor legislation was referred the bill
making drunkenness in the District a mis-
deameanor and providing for the estab-
Iishment of hospital for inebriates.
The bill aimed to prevent the Commits
sioners from converting portion Of the
old right Of way of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad through the northeast sec
ton of the city into property yard was
referred to the subcommittee on streets
and avenues. Of which Senator Scott is
chairman,