Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-25
ARE SURE OF ACTION
Advocates of the Loan Shark
Bill Predict Victory.
APPEAL TO NEXT CONGRESS
Measure Said to Have the Approval
of President Taft.
LICENSE-FEE CHANGE MADE
Amount Reduced to 800 From $500.
Activity Of the Monday
Evening Club.
APPEAL TO NEXT CONGRESS
LICENsE-FKE CHANGE MADE

The propaganda aimed at the loan
shark evil has the sympathy of President
Taft, 1t is asserted on the authority OF
Frederick L. ddons. The loan shark
bill, drafted by Mr. Siddons for the Mon
day Evening Club, prime factor in the
crusade, and supported by all the inter
ests united in urging Congress to legis-
late against the usurers. will. he states,
have the support Of the President when
it comes again before Congress.
AS the bill passed the Senate and was
unanimously approved and reported t.
the House Of Representatives by the Dis
trict of Columbia committee, with one
change, it will be introduced in the spe
cial session Of Congress, which begins
April 4. If the District Of Columbia com
mittee of the House is named at tn,
special session OF Congress. the bill VIII,
be referred to that committee. Of coursI.
and it's passage will be made possible.
Failing the naming of the committee, IN.
measure Will go over to the regular SeS-
sion.
Relates to License Fee.
The proposed change in the bill has to
do with the amount Of license to be
charged to loan concerns doing business
in the District of Columbia The commit
tee of the Monday Evening Club. in
charge of the bill, would restore the tax
to 500, the amount as they originally had
1t in the bill, but afterward amended IN
the Senate to 500. This change tn,
committee never concurred in, and the
members believe 1t Is calculated to drive
monopoly to larger associations.
George Wilson, secretary Of the boar
Of charities and q member of the Mon
day Evening Clubs committee. says tina
there will be a vigorous effort made t
keep the Commissioners loan-shark bd
Commissioner Rudolph believes the bi:
as drafted, will cover the west pocke
loan shark" who does business private.
in the government department, and bu.
pressed the opinion that any District en-
ployes carrying on a vest pocket loan
business at usurious rates is a At subject
for dismissal
Loans by Private Parties.
Speaking Of the private individual loan
Ing money to fellow-employes in depart
ments and bureaus, Mr.. Wilson said to-
day:
This loan shark bill has been SO care
fully drawn up that we believe it will
stand almost anything. It has been under
the scrutiny Of attorneys on both sides OF
the question.
The bill provides for individuals loan
ing money at high rates, by stating that
all individuals as well as firms, corpo: a
tons and other associations must operate
with q license and shall report their busi-
ness to the Commissioners"
Mr.. Wilson said that the question of
government employees doing q money
lending business had been taken up by
the investigators OF the Monday Evening
Club and that several specific instances
had come to their light. He also said
that the matter would probably receive
fresh impetus in the light Of the bureau
of engraving and printing loan episodes.
Members Of the Committee.
The members of the Monday Evening
Clubs committee Of citizens on loan
shark question are Gen. George H. Har-
ries, William F. GUIDE, Mrs. Richard
Wainwright. Mrs. Archibald Hopkins,
ohm B. Sleman. jr.; Emmett l..
Adams. Evan H. Tucker. John Joy Ed
son, H. b. F. Macfarland, H. L. West.
John D. Colpoys. William H. Baldwin,
Frederick L. Siddons. Walter C.. Ufford.
Rev. John Van Schaick. jr.; DR.. George
NJ. Kober. George 8. Wilson and Miss
Mabel n R0ardman