The Detroit times., 1914-03-20
U.S.. employees
ARE EASY FOR
LOAN SHARKS
Asgrsgste Leans Estimated ut
$6oey 900; Interest Averages
$50 Per Cent
GOVERNMENT CLERKS ARE
USUALLY EXTRAVAGANT
Ceugrenional Interference ID
Hvaded When Lenders Move
Across the Potomac

Across the Potomac
WARRINGTON, March 20.-Of ell
the shady "sundown'' interests whacn
are carried on by government en-
ployss In every department the loan
shark" evil u said 70 be the worst. FOR
years department heads and bureau
chiefs have failed to stamp out the
class os men who carry on the busi-
ness among their associates Of lending
small sums ct excessively large rates
OF interest.
IN the once Of the United States at.
torney Tor the District Of Columbia are
Tiled at the present time no less than
30 distinct charges OF 'loan-sharking.'
the Offenders including professional
monsy-lenders. In preliminary state
mGnt recently given out. Assistant DIS
triet,Attoruey Given said that no less
then 1000 complaints Of violation OF
the loan shark law have been received
from persons who requested that their
names b NOT made public.
Y Nttlo over year ago congress en-.
acted q drastic law against loan.
sharkiug." The Interest rates. which
had formerly ranged from 50 per cent
TO 800 per cent year. were cut TO one
per cent q month. For q time It was
believed that the business In Washing
ton was dead. Then the money-lend'
ers put their heads together, and sew
tral Of the professionals who maintain.
- lv ~ t<Svn az
The city. tried the frst evasion OF the
law.
II IL about IL city blocks from the
western edge Of the downtown district
to the Virginia side Of the Potomac
river. Within Is feet Of the high.
water mark on the Virginia side OF
Tho river two or three OF the lenders
built ollces and hung out three balls.
IN interurban electric line gave easy
access to and from the city. Signs
giving notice Of the change OF location
were displayed before their downtown
Washington ofFices and several other
shops bore signs Of . change OF resi-
dence TO Alexandria, Va. hve miles
down the Potomac.
Thus by cooperation between the
moaey.lenders the entire professional
.1oGh-shark" business Of Washington
va moved to Virginia, with the ex-
rertion of the amateur" mOney-Iend-
Gro In the government departments.
Thh, the police found, IL the thing
|taat the District-Attorney's once u
|Letermined TO stamp out.
Il n said that Negro messenger IN
| the treasury department accumulated
over $50. 900 during : 8 IS years OF SER
yice through loaning small sums at e.
ceesive rates of interest.
One OF the money-lenders establish.
I'd between his Washington once and
| his once on the Virginia shore half
hour automobile livery service for
clients In downtown Washington.
across Potomac park and the High.
way bridge, into Virginia. II proved
too expensive. however.
Washington. filed with residents
whose homes are elsewhere. has prob
abiy the most apathetic civic con-
acisnce In the world. Its population 10
nearly a cosmopolitan as that Of At
anfsc City, and there IL q spirit OF
rivalry a. to dress and 'front.' In the
ycrv municipal atmosphere. A man
With = government position has pres
slsG IN his home community that few
other positions OF employment confer.
srhe incumbent thinks he must I've up
| "a 4 by aping the dress and manners
of the idle rich. The messenger. with
\ salary of $500 or 500 year, aims
10 dress like his superior, the clerk.
lie does not want the public to think
ne Il q mere messenger. The clerk
would be Z division chief, and he a.
Tres 10 dress the part. He goes the
n, essenRef one better by allowing HIM
self 70 be drawn into the ultra atmos-
,.here OF petty social affairs In Wash
lnetop, which rarely get him any
where. The division chief likes to be
mistaken for an assistant secretary.
And thus the merry game goes on.
The "loau.shark" who puts up the
money TO nay for this extravagance
6nds the departments . fertile field.
He ands that Jones wife, In order TO
NIT up as much Of front as Smiths
wife. had spent the major portion OF
Jones' bi.monthly pay-check and the
grocer. the butcher and the baker are
Tunninx. Jones must, have money, and
hia fob IL the security. Enter the loan
shark. His arrangements are not bind
Inr BY law, but they are binding all
ths same. Fear Of exposure consti-
tntss security. Jones borrows. on the
ann OF the month, say. four days AFTER
the bi-monthly payday, 90. He may
aer,ee 20 pay back $12. or even $3.50
~ the seventeenth. II II the same
fka next month. There stands the
'loan-shark" always with his conven-
lent ron Of "grssh" and his agreement
moro binding than law.
The once Of the district-a ttorney
estimated the interest In the district
wiffin the past year ct 116O. 900 % .
ION asErssating 100000. This. Of
c0urse. means violation Of the "loan-
rhark" act. The average interest. It
q "a. amounts to about $50 Ler cent
= pear. .ts-.
~ recognised loan companies OF
the district, whose chief business
ocmso IRON the eOvornment clerks, are
~ % represent only cre-half Of tine
Ioon.sAarks" who do business 10
l1NDON, March 20-When asslst.
m oueon Mary 70 .disrobe last night