Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-13
loan SHARK" LAW
AMENDMENT URGED
Chamber of Commerce Believes It
Works a Hardship Upon Small
Borrowers in the District.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles Sees Motion
Pictures of G. A. r. Parade
Presented at Meeting.

merce last night went on record ir
favor of change in the existing la"
governing pawnshops and loan brokers
in the District of Columbia, change
that would permit their operation lin
a manner equita BILE to both broker and
borrower"
The matter was brought to the atten-
tion of the chamber by Oliver S. Met
zerott. who declared that the present
law has served to work a hardship on
small borrowers-persons having no
standing at banks who are forced to
turn to the pawnshop or loan broker
when in need of money. The law has
driven pawnshops out of the District.
he said. Loan brokeSs have attempted
10 continue to operate under the old
system of exorbitant rates. but the po-
lice have made repeated efforts to sup
press them.
Necessity for Pawnshops Great.
The necessity for pawnshops is great
in the District, Mr.. Metzerott contend
ed. Considerable difficulty now is ex-
perienced. he said. in recovering stolen
articles which find their way into
pawnshops located on the outskirts Of
the District.
U.
which WAS adopted by unanimous
vote, declaring:
The Chamber of Commerce believes
that experience has demonstrated the
necessity for pawnShops and small loan
brokers in urban communities. and that
the situation in Washington at present
urgently requires legislation which Will
provide for them in manner equi-
table to both broker and borrower.
The Chamber of Commerce call this
matter to the attention of the Commits
eioners of the District of Columbia and
of Congress
resolution introduced by Joseph
u. Sullivan calling for the election by
the chamber of representative on a
joint committee composed of members
of the trade and civic bodies of Wash
ington, which shall endeavor to obtain
the best possible personnel for the Dis
trict committees in Congress was re-
jected.
Urge Free Books in High Schools.
On the motion of E. l.. Tucker. dele
gate from the Central Labor Union,
the committee on schools was directed
TO look into the matter of obtaining
free text books in the high schools. Mr..
Tucker said that books should be fur
nished high school students the same
as those in the graded schools. The
fact that high school students now are
required to purchase their books works
a hardship on many families, he said.
A resolution urging the chamber to
make an effort to have the city directory
and the telephone directory printed in
Washington was introduced by George
Seibold. delegate from Columbia Typo
graphical Union. The matter was re-
of George II. Judd. Ross p. Andrews and
George Seibold.
Robert ". Harper. Oliver Metzerott and
A. Leftwich Sinclair were named a COM
from the Board of Trade and the Retail
Merchants Association relative to plac-
ing markers along that part of the Lin
coin memorial highway lying within the
city limits The design for these markers
is to be decided upon at meeting to be
held soon in Baltimore, Mr.. Harper said.
Vote of Thanks to F. J. Mersheimer.
vote of thanks was given to Fred ].
Mersheimer. chairman of the outing COM
mittee, and Miss Marie Collier. assistant
secretary of the chamber, for their work
in connection with the recent excursion
of the organization to Chesapeake Beach.
point a delegate to the convention of the
Safety First Federation, to be held in
Detroit October 1920. The project of
the Loyal Legion to erect a memorial to
Clara Barton was Endorsed.
AT the conclusion OF the business ses-
8 on motion pictures Of the recent G. a
r. parade were shown. Stereopticon por-
traits of the members of the executive
committee of the citizens committee
which arranged for the entertainment of
the veterans also We're shown. An in
terested spectator during the showing of
the motion pictures was Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. L. S. A. retired. former chief OF
STAFF Of the United States Army and
grand marshal at the recent parade
Nathan Boone Williams spoke on the
work of the federal trade commission.
which he characterized as 1.-THE high
tide of government regulation of the vast
business interests of the country"