The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1937-09-18
QUIZ REVEALS
BY MERCHANTS
City Administrations
Played At First
Public Hearing

Distortion OF the true meaning
OF installment buying plus sppli-
cation OF various forms Of trickery
used by certain merchants TO gain
default judgements against buyers:
racial discrimination In the vari-
GUS city departments, and other
forms OF exploitation OF colored
persons we're verbally dashed Sat-
urday at the first meeting OF the
senate committee. headed by Sen.
Charles c. Digs. which Is investi-
eating the social and economic
conditions Of colored people in GER
tain Detroit districts.
The meeting was held in the
Juvenile Court building. Rivard
street and Forest avenue. DR.. Sam
uel II. Milton. River Rouge, men,
Der OF the state board OF health,
and John F. Young. Saginaw, as
sistant attorney general are 9TH
er members OF the committed
ABUSE. CREDIr. BUYING
Judge Gerald 4. ellis, Common
Pleas court, said that ''installment
has definite place In merchandise
buying, and is productive OF mass
production and mass sales. How
ever. its the abuse Of installment
buying which has created an evil
and caused the exploitation OF
hundreds OF Negroes.
Judge ellis then related how he
had seen colored workers. who had
been sold jewelry and clothing at
ia price which was exorbitant
brought into his court after judge
ment had been entered. He stated
that he had had watches which
had been sold for SIS. appraised
and discovered that these same
watches were not worth more than
So or s.. He also related how pay
ments were added TO accounts
when the purchaser misplaced or
lost their books. Hundreds OF col
ored men. according to Judge Gil
lis have lost their Jobs Because OF
garnishments. in addition to los
ing the merchandise.
USE MANY TRICKS
lie told OF some OF the tricks
used by these companies. telling
how a representative OF jewelry
company which had sued a worker
called the man out OF the court
room while a default judgement
was entered against him.
He suggested that the commit
tee make thorough study OF Gre
DIT in financing OF jewelry. cloth
ing and second hand automobiles.
The Rev. Horace White. pastor
of Plymouth Congregational
church. who followed Judge Gillis
in the witness chair. said that
much Of this exploitation by these
various merchants can be placed at
the doors OF colored people.
MANY OF these firms which ex-
nloit the Negro. hire Negro sales
men 10 sell their goods" the Rev.
Mr.. White said.
The Rev. Mr.. White, In referring
tn the health Of Detroit residents,
said that hospitals we're operated
for commercial gain and health
was Just incidental.
STARTED WITH INFLUX
The Rev. Robert l.. Brady, pas
tor Second Baptist church, said
that the causes OF the present eco
nomIc and social distress started
in the midst Of the migration OF
Negroes from the south and other
poInts. Before the migration there
were about $500 Negroes in the
city OF Detroit and now the popu-
lation has increased to approx
mately 100. 900. which has created
social and economic conditions.
They we're driven into congest-
ed areas. compelled to live In
areas which we're segregated.
where the care and upkeep was not
healthy"
The Rev. Mr.. Brady also attri-
buted prevalent low economic
status OF the colored people to the
city administrations. The city
administrations have not been fair
10 the Negro. They have not been
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