The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-22
JOAN SHARK BILL A ION DELAYED
 IN UPPER HOUSE
Arguments Indicate Several Amendments To Measure
 Are To Be Offered
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD !


 The senate committee on banking and insurance postponed action on Senator Crafts loan shark bill after arguments of more than an hour showed that several amendments would be offered and that all l.provis- ions of the bill were not satisfactory. Motions to report the bill favorably by Senator Slone, a motion to table that motion by Senator Teasley and 8 motion to report it without rec ommendation by Senator Solne all resulted in a three-three tie.
 No one appeared before the com mittee in opposition to the bill, which would place money lenders under S1,0o0 bond and force them to re- strain from charging an eXorbltant rate of interest. The rate of interest provided in the measure is 31a per cent per month. This was objec- tionable to Senator Teasley who said 1t would prevent some people from getting loans while it would increase rate to others. Senator BroWer off, fered an amendment striking out section 19 which exempted certain people from the bill if 1t becomes a law.
 Pleads For Adoption.
 One of the strongest pleas for passage of the bill was made by Senator Powell. who said for years he had watched for legislation of this nature to relieve the poor people of Alabama. He said he had wondered if any one would appear in defense of the measure. That such conditions axist as the charge of interests claimed by others appeared was known by every one, he said. He declared he would be a strong sup porter of the bill on tho floor of the senate.
 A letter was read by Senator Dun can, chairman, of the committee. written by IT. c. Deweese of the legal reform bureau. who said to please permit the author of the bill to with draw the same" if it could be done through the regular course. 1t not, said the writer. the bill could be postponed indefinitely.
 Robert A. Thach Birmingham attorney, related several examples of the high rates of interest charged and told how the law had been ap- piled in other states and had worked successfully. He said it had saved the poor people of one state more than S6,0Q0000 in one year and said he thought it would relieve the suffer ing among the poor that now ex- isted
 w. C. Taylor. of the Brotherhood Of Railway Trainmen, also spoke for the bill and two other railroad em- ployes told tales of interest rates they had been forced to pay and the procedure in getting such loans. Successful Elsewhere.
 Dr. Genther of the general reform bureau, told the committee of the success the reform bill has achieved in other states. He was adequate be- cause it regulated the business He was asked by Senator Teasley wheth- CT he thought it was better than the credit union method and said it was. in his opinion. He explained the inner workings of the bill as 1t was a law in other states and told what states now had the same law on their statue books.
 Senator Slone moved to report 1t favorably and this motion was asked to be tabled by Senator Teasley. Sup porting Slone were Senators Harlan and Randall while Brewer and Dun- can supported Teasley. An effort to report the bill without recommenda- tions failed. The bill will be heard by the committee at q near side in the future Senator Duncan said Senator Craft argued against this saying it had been postponed too long now. and asked that t be placed on che floor of senate for final dis pcsal.