New-York tribune., 1919-09-06

80 patrolmen re- of
ooTrp"ers pa5roinlen.
a.. a,.- Sts ......,............... 90
,9l6-l l.3la .................... 1s.s
t94S-i''9' .'... -................... l5.3
Figures From annual Report
These figures are taken from the
company's annual statistical statement
dated January /, 1919
The exact figures showing the num-
ber Of patrolmen at present on the
companys book are not available, but
officials of the company and of the
Patrolmen's Benevolent Association
agree that they are higher than last
YEAR and cnll 800 the MINIMUM
In every instance the loans have
been made for the purpose Of meeting
necessary and unavoidable exrcad;-
lures in the homes OF the men. Ona
of the first rules of The Morris Plan
Company rcad~ as follows:
morris Plan loans are made only
to people who need money for a use
ful purpose
OF the 5,192 patrolmcn who have
borrowed none from The Morris Plan
Company during the past four years
the reasons for borrowing are esti-
mated to have been apportioncd as
follows:
Sickness in family ......... % per cent
New uniforms .......4........ Is per cent
Vacations usually for patrol
Im.n eh,,dr'n '...'.'...... 10 per cent
Reasons for Borrowing
Among the miscellaneous reasons are
included bills for dental treatment. to
pay loan sharl:s, 30 pay rent in advance
and to pay for children's education in
the higher grades.
The clrcum stances Of each borrower
are nvc, gated, and the loan is Sc
Gu, ed by note signed by the borrower
and two other citizens Of established
financial resources.
The charge for all loans is per
cent per annun, with an initial investi-
CATION charge of per cent, which must
not exceed So. patrolman who bor-
rows 500 will receive S92, and is re-
quired to pay back in weekly or semi
monthly payments 500 at the rate Of
81 a week.
OF the 1900 patrolmen at present on
the company's books, it is estimated
that 800 are maxim, their second, third
or fourth loan. Over 100 have been
borro wers since the Morris Plan was
instituted. The remaining 600 have
been forced into making loans by rea
son OF present prices for necessaries.
More than 80 per cent Of the patrol.
men borrowers are married men. Sev-
enty-fve per cent have one or more
children.
In Debt to Loan Sharks
Disrcgarding the recruits who have
borrowed from the Police Fund to pur-
chase uniforms and equipment, at least
! 900 other patrolmen in debt to
friends, to loan sharks, or have pur-
chased jcwelry on the time-payment
plan in order 10 pawn it. This is the
L,- ;rL
dent of the Patrolmen's Benevolent AS
sociation.
In the case of the latter the men
usually buy diamonds on a weekly pay
ment plan at prices above the market
value of the stone purchased. The!
give in return confession of Judg
ment which is promptly filed with the
Building The diamonds are pawneo
and the cash thus acquired diverted
to meet immediate needs. The pro
cedure is ruinous, involving the pur
chase of an article at an inflated value
long period of garnishec deduction:
from the patroiman's pay and tho
sacrificing of the article purchased tt
value. But the patrolman gets Quicl
action and the scheme is quite com
monty used.
Six Typical Cases
A survey Of siX typical cases o
patrolmen borrowers from the Morri
Plan Company demonstrates that il
five cases the borrower was marriet
man with from two to four dependents
In two cases the money was borrowe,
to meet expenses resulting from sick
ness In one case the borrowed none.
was divided to pay a dentists bill an'
provide the funds for an operation fo
the borrowers daughter. Another MAJ
needed funds 20 pay FOR coal, clothin;
and vacation for his wife. A iift|
needed furniture. and one unmarried
patroman borrowed $50 to pay 70
uniform. In three cases the loal
under consideration was the thir
made by the borrower from the Morri
Plan Company, in one case it was tn
second loan and in two the first
Here are the details:
Case No i. A patrolman. Married
with four dependents. He borrowe
$3.50 in August, 1918. There was sick
ness in the family and he could not pa
his doctors bills out of his salary.
Case No 2. A patroman. NJ rrc
and with three dependents He Dor
rowed 500 III August, 1918. which VA
the third loan he mad made from tn
company. The money was needed t
meet doctors and druggists bills
caused by sickness in the family. II
could not pay these bills from HI
salary.
To Give Wife Vacation
Case No. 3. a patroman. Married
with two dependents. He borrowc,
$l50 in October. 1918. The none
was needed to buy coal and clothing
and to pay for two weeks vacation
for his wife. This was his third loan
Case No 4. A patrolman. Married
with two dependents. He had bill
for dental treatment to pay. and hi
daughter was about to undergo maJo
operation for which he had no funds
He borrowed Sa00. This was the thir'
loan he had made.
Case No. s. A patrolman Married
with three dependents. Has recentl
borrowed $50 to pay for furnltur
which no cannot buy from his salary
This is his first loan from this com
pany.
Case No. g. A patrolman. Is nov
borrowing $3.50 to buy new uniforms