davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-11-15

Colombia may ban the entry Of
toys from foreign countries.
Evening star., 1939-11-15
Recalls Fire in 1929
Rozed Same Village

By the Associated Press.
ABILENE, Tex, Nov. 15-The
disastrous blaze which swept La
gunillas, Venezuela, reminded Je-
rome l.. Gum Of fire which razed
the same village 10 years ago this
month.
The 1929 death toll, never definite
ly fixed, was between 18 and IS.
American oil field workers piped live
steam from their boilers to help viii
layers combat the fire, which burned
itself out in about four hours.
Ninety-five per cent of the village
was destroyed in 1929.
Evening star., 1939-11-15
Fire
Continued From First Page.)

Of Venezuela S rich petroleum coun-
try, were reported undamaged.
Three major producers-Royal
Dutch Shell, Standard of New
Jersey and Gulf Oil Corp.-have
terminals in the Lake Maracaibo
region. Much of Venezula's annual
production of about 188,000,000 bar
rels is handled through Lagunillas
and the neighboring towns of La
Roza, Cabimas and La Salina.
At Lagunillas, oil piped from In
land and from wells drilled in the
bed of the lake is loaded on small
tankers for conveyance across the
shallow bar at Maracaibo to ocean,
going tankers in the harbor.
Evening star., 1939-11-15
Plane Wreck Found
In Far North Lake

BY the Associated Press.
WHITE HORSE, Y. T., Nov, 15.-
Airplane wreckage found in remote
Lake Lebarge was identified today
as the plane of Jesse Rice, who dis
appeared six days ago with two
passengers.
Rice took of from White Horse to
fly Mike Medallion and D. H. An
derson to Dawson, Y. T. Searchers
reported no trace of the three men.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

starting operation, broadcasting
invitations to visit them when in
need and sending out preferred
credit cards" to thousands of per.
sons, urging them to come and get
loans.
The moneylender wants that
AZ per cent return on his capital
but he really doesn't take many
chances.
Let's pause for a moment ano
look at his first plea, that his is
a hazardous business. When you
analyze conditions, there isn't sc
much hazard as you might first
think.
Here in Washington, the vast
majority Of workers are employed
by the Government, and mostly at
a wage which while it is safe and
steady, isn't high.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

in some sort of scrape and had to
find money, unbeknown to the
family.
Those men will go to almost any
extreme to meet the payments.
rather than have the fact revealed
that they were forced to go to the
moneylender.
So, when you come right down
to the bottom Of the question, the
risk the moneylender takes is not
so great. In fact, it's not nearly
great enough to entitle him to the
high rate Of interest he charges.
But the law Is the law, and so
long as there are persons in trou-
BILE or in need, just so long will
his signs invite you in, and If you
can qualify for membership, you
may have to pay his AZ per cen
a year.
Nice substantial profit, Is 1t NJ
Continued Tomorrow in the
Sunday Herald -TimeS)
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

The moneylender doesn't ask
questions where the payments
come from-all he demands is
that they be made promptly. And
if they are not made, he is quick
to ascertain why.
One of the pleas made by the
Russell Sage Foundation, which
sponsored the 312 per cent a
month interest on small loans
amounting to AZ per cent a year,
mind you-is that the business is
hazardous, that the moneylender
is taking a chance on losing his
money, and that therefore he is
entitled to a high return. They
scott at the "sanctity of 6 per
cent"
The moneylender also points
out that the 31a per cent rate
they always stress that and not
the fact that this rate figures out
at AZ per cent a year-has been
declared legal in "a States in the
nation.
''Preferred Credit"
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Takes Fatal Step

So the Government worker, con
fronted with illness, or some fam
lily emergency, is an ever-ready
victim for the high rate of legal
interest.
Now the argument might be
advanced that a Government pay
check cannot be attached, that
you cannot garnishee the salary
of a Government worker.
True. But out of the great mass
Of Government workers who have
fallen into the dire need of going
to one of the loan companies
there are few, if any, who have
defaulted.
Because, while the loan com
pany cannot attach the salary
they can make q formal complaint
to the chief clerk of the office Of
the debtor in default.
And the chief clerk will come
around, and Sternly suggest thai
bills and obligations must be met
Or else. And that means that il
the payments are not made anc
the complaints continue to come
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
III, Couldn't Pay,
Effects Are Seized

The case of John D., of
Virginia, is an example Of
the tenacity of a mOneylender
in protecting his loan. John
d. needed $500 and obtained
it from q mOneylender.
Illness struck and unable
to meet his payments, John
ID. saw his effects seized.
Later, with a balance still
due the lender, he obtained
work as a labOrer and on his
first payday found the money.
lender waiting. He estimates
his balance on the loan at
SIS, and already has paid
nearly S1OO in interest and
fees on the amount paid.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
WINNERS
Bridge Cup Presented
To Gard7erS

To Mr.. and Mrs. Warren A.
Gardner was presented last night
the Herald Times bridge trophy,
to remain in their possession for
six weeks.
They won the two-foot, silver
cup by placing first in the city's
first series of winter play. They
will receive replica of the trophy
at the end of the current series Of
play.
The presentation was made by
William A. Cheeks.
Second place in the first series
went to E. G. Daniels, of the Vet
Grams Bureau. while Miss Jean
nette Blech and Goodwin Graham
tied for third. Gardner is with
the Securities and Exchange Com
mission.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
1913 Questions

On the application blanks that
you must sign there are total
of 1913 questions you must an
swer. All about yourself, your fam
lily, your wife and children If you
have them, your lodge affiliations,
your insurance, if any, employ
ment records-well, just about
everything but your fingerprints.
And after you have filled out
the answers to all these questions
investigators for the company
check up on them. And if you
come through this examination
with flying colors, why then you
will be granted the privilege OF
paying as much as AZ per cent a
year for that money you need so
badly.
Another thing that makes the
moneylender fairly sure that he
is going to be paid is the fact that
most people dread having their fl
nancial plight made public.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
M0mey/emderS' Victim!
U. S. WORKERS MADE TO ORDER FOR LOAN FIRMS
Loss of Job Faces
DefdulterS

As a result of conditions
uneGrthed during the GnVes-
tigation ~ hich preceded
publication of this series,
The Washington Times
and Washington H erGId
haze discontinued pub1ica-
tion of advertising from
all "Personal Loan CompG-
MES" operating IN nearby
Maryland and Virginia.
Pub lis lie r, Washington
Times and Herald.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Speaks From, Experience

Speaks From Experience
T DON'T suppose there is anybody in the coun-
try that has had more to do with loan COM
panies than I have. The Provident Loan So
ciety in New York, founded by George Baker, is
strictly and honorably run. The men connected
with it are of the very highest standing, and Mr..
Baker founded this organization for the poor
souls who needed money quickly and had no other
way of getting it. The borrowers are fully pro
tected and these loan companies are carefully
regulated.
How different it is across in Maryland OF Vir.
ginia, as found out to my sorrow one day.
was trying to save the Washington Post and went
to one of these socalled big men with some Of my
jewelry. He charged me ONLY 20 per cent for
the kind favor he did for me- This simply goes to
show what they will do to you when they get the
chance.
Here are our banks overloaded with money, but,
unless you have collateral that is foolproof just
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

ton Of you is Just about as rigor-
Gus as any the Omen ever gave
a suspect.
You see, he isn't taking any
chances of losing that money he
is going to hand you. He wants it
back, and along with it some ~
per cent or more.
You walk in and are greeted
with smiles, but while the smile is
there you get a third degree that
reveals just about everything in
your life-past, present and fu-
ture.
If you are a transient or have
only recently come here, even if
you have a job, your chance of get
ting that money is nil. The
moneylender is taking no chances
that you will get his money and
then depart, far from where he
can get his fingers on you.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Legion Fun-Makers
To Dine on Oysters

An oySter-eating champion may
grace the Washington scene by
sunset tomorrow. Thousands of
the succulent bivalves are ready
for an oyster roast, to say moth
ing of a barbecue, to be staged by
the Forty and Eight. the fun or.
ganization Of the American LIE.
gion. Scene of the festivities will
be the Potomac Boat Club
There'll be eating from p. m
to 6 p. m. and dancing from
p. m. until p. m.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
POUNl
Pleads for Return |
Natural, Common La,

Reorganization of modern Ii
along the lines of "the old natu1
law codes" was called for la
night by Dean Roscoe Pound, des
emeritus of Harvard Law Schoo
He scored New Deal agencie'
for failing to follow establishe;
legal precedentS and attemptir15
to decide each case on it's appal
ent merits rather than on the
preceptS Of common law.
A return to the natural" or
Divine law as pronounced by
Gracian and Thomas AquinaS is
urgently needed, Dean Pound as
serted, to combat Subversive Marx
ian principles. Religious principles
are the basis of common law, he
pointed out.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

Senate Appropriations Commit.
tee to block economy in relief.
It has opened the eyes of
the lawmakers to the Difficult
ties they will encounter in any
future efforts they may make
to reduce expenditures and
balance the budget.
Highly org anize e d groups,
taking their cue from the
Presidents pre- s-conference
prediction that 5,0O0,0 900 would
be affected by the $15O,O00.000
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

and additions to plants owned by large companies.
In many sections there is practically a total
dearth of recentlybuilt business structures of any
kind.
One thought inspired by these observations:
Is there something wrong with the New Deals
whole philosophy and policy of restoring pros
perity?
The tragic truth is that this depression has
been more prolonged and more severe than any
ever suffered by the American people since the
Civil War-even longer than then.
Yet, no Federal Administration ever had at its
command one-tenth as much money to stimulate
recovery. We are in our ninth successive year
of governmental deficits. Since 1890, our Federal
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

IN Maryland and Virginia and
refusing advertising from any
Of these firms.
This IS one of the worst and
most appalling situations that
exists today near our beautiful
city and I hope everyone has
read the stories so they can
get an idea of what is really
going on.
I went into this situation
thoroughly last year and I am
going to reprint, at the end OF
this article, what I wrote then
about the conditions.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Paid $500 Interest
On Loan Of $500

Mr.. ID. b. of Maryland was
forced to borrow a total of
$500 from q small loan COM
pany because of serious ILL.,
ness in his family, entailing
an operation.
To date Mr.. d, B. has paid
back more than $500 in inter
est on his loan. He still owes
$15O.
Put the mOneyIenders will
collect additional interest of
S63 o this remaining sum,
cOStin Mr.. ID. b. more than
so per cent interest.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
"B" Appears the Wednesday
s And
Political Parade By George RotheOeu Brozvn

ceedingly when they were reported to him. There
is no evidence whatever of the truth of these
yarns, which would reflect on the Presidents
sincerity.
What really happened to relief is that in the
by-play back stage the Appropriations Committee
conservatives, led by Representative Woodrum Of
Virginia, outsmarted the spenders by employing
the identical tactics which the spenders had used
N the last Congress to outwit the conservatives.
Mr.. Woodrum, chairman of the subcommittee
handling relief, went about quietly, in some in
stances as early as before Christmas and pledged
I majority of the committee to a slash in the
elief funds.
When the spenders found out what was in the
vind it was too late.
Influenced by Testimony
0NE of the things which influenced the con-
" ServativeS was secret testimony that WPA was
laying off thousands week" of chiselers loafers
and malingerers
The committee also wanted to know why such
vast sums were to be expended in relief for
100000 persons, when there are $4,000 900 un.
employed in the country.
1t was admitted that even the full $s75 200, 900
would merely "take off the edge"
Now the Senate committee is discovering that
the forces in this country which are determined
through political pressure to keep the relief spend
ing at the peak and to make it permanent are
organized. working in complete harmony and
understanding and are backed by the executive
side of the Government.
The conservatives in Congress feel they must
now appeal for public support
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

are vacant.
It is not astonishing that so
many persons have found it
necessary to apply for public
relief.
Although our population has
increased approximately 8,00O,-
900 since 1880, one comes
across abnormally few estab-
lishments which bear any ear
marks of having been con-
Structed since then. The rela-
lively few new buildings con-
SiSt 1orOa1v Nf modest homes
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

reduction in the relief bill, Geo. Rothwen Brown
have brought their main and auxiliary batteries to
bear on Senators who are trying to inject
little belated realism into Federal expenditures
The queerest thing in all this controversy is that
no heat whatever was turned on the House and
that President Roosevelt himself never asked
the House Appropriations Committee, either as
body or individually to grant the full $875, 100000
he requested.
1t is said freely, if confidentally, at the House
now that if the President had sent for the COM
mittee, as he has done in the past, and had laid
his cards on the table the committee would have
given the full amount asked
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
By EUalw WalSh Mclean

try and get any of this boarded gold they have
in their vaults.
Grateful for Exposure
A GAIN my sincere thanks to the Patterson
4 papers for exposing this evil, and am going
to end with quotation from my article of last
year:
Then another evil these good banks are bring
ing into life by their refusal to lend money are
the horrible money-lenders that are springing up
like mushrooms overnight. They are not allowed
to operate here in the District but go right
into Maryland and Virginia and see what they
do to the nth degree.
They take the small Government employe and
their rate Of interest is 31a per cent a month, or
AZ per cent year. am going to tell the ex-
perience of one young couple here in the District
so you can see how appalling conditions are.
These young people married, leased little
apartment bought their furniture. When their
baby arrived, of course they needed little extra
money Reading the flowery ads of one of these
lenders, the husband applied for loan. His
salary was $1,000 per annum and they granted
him $500 loan, accepting his furniture as col
lateral.
His payments amounted to SIS each month
PLUS INTEREST. In other words, his first
months payment was $3.50, of which $1O.5O was
INTEREST FOR ONE MONTH.
Pays for Seven Months
GGENOR seven months he paid faithfully Then.
l. owing to sickness, he fell behind in his pay.
ments Trouble started good and plenty then.
Calls to his office. Calls daily on his sick wife,
threatening to take the furniture and jail her
husband if he did not pay up Immediately.
And so it goes, getting these hardworking,
hardup young couples in their clutches and then
clamping down on them, and 10 out of IL times
running their lives"
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Risk Is Yours

Many of the men borrowing
money do so without their wives
knowing about it. Perhaps they
were in a card game and lost their
weeks pay. Or perhaps they were
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
ARTICLE SIX
By CARROLL PEEKE

IT have been a victim Of
Maryland and Virginia money
lenders for three years, and since
can hardly pay the interest I
guess I'll be for three years more.
But I'm not going to let them
drive me to suicide, although I
have felt mighty like it at
times"
A Government worker - EN-
ployed in the Veterans Administra.
ton at 81 ,260 a year and crushed
under the burden Of AZ per cent
interest on the money he borrowed
because of illness in his family
poured out his story today.
A sick wife, six small children
and only a tiny wage. Sudden
emergency. No recourse but to Dor.
row-borrov at the illegal" rate Of
interest that has driven him so
frantic at times that he has con-
sidered ending his life.
Hundreds of Victims
The story this man told is not
a new one. It is a story that could
be repeated in the main by hun
dreds of men and women in the
District, victims of a legal rate of
interest that ranges from AZ per
cent year to as high as 80 per
cent.
This man has determined not to
be driven to, suicide. But there
have been others without his
courage, others who have sought
death as the only release from ex-
tortionate payments.
Others have stolen from their
employers to meet he crushing
payments, and there are men and
women behind prison bars today
who committed theft under the
pressure of demands from money
lenders.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

DARELY has the heat been turned on COM
~ mittee of Congress to influence legislation to
the extent to which it has been turned on the
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
TwO Conflicting Schools of Thought

UO0 Conflicting schools OF h0ughc
WHAT will happen at Washington during the
" present session of Congress2
Two sharply conflicting schools of thought
have evolved: The ROOSEVELT tEccles Hopkins-1ckes,
ETC., group that persists in clingng to the theory
that America can be made prosperous only by
plunging the nation, the people, the taxpayers
deeper and deeper into debt. The other (spread-
ing) view is that continuous incurring of sky
rocketing public debt and continued invasion of
private business by Government, discourages en-
terprse discourages investment, discourages bust
ness optimism and retards unemployment.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

TOURNEYING through many small towns, one
feels depressed by seeing how many little
factories stores and other business establishments
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Rigid Inquiry

So much for those in the Gov
ernment service who are forced
to borrow money. Now let's look
at others. Despite the signs which
make 1t appear so easy to borrow,
and despite the invitations to go
over to Virginia or out into Mary
land, it really isn't so easy as it
seems.
When you have reached the
point that you just simply HAVE
to have the money, and you go to
the moneylender, his investiga-
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
My Say

GENERALIZATION and best wishes to the
Patterson Newspapers on the stand they are
taking against the small personal-loan companies
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
May Lose Post

Perhaps it is fireman or police
man who needs the money and
gets a loan at the modest 42 per
cent interest rate, and then fails
to pay.
If complaints come in, the po-
liceman or fireman may be sum-
moned before the Trial Board. >
And that Trial Board verdict
may mean a fine, suspension with
out pay, or even dismissal from
the department, depending on
past records.
So, you see, there isn't such a
serious danger to the m on ey
lender of having a default by
Government workers. s,ssa
Officers of the Army and Navy,
whose means are limited yet must
maintain a certain standing while
on duty here, would not dare de-
fault if they were forced to make
a loan. For failure to pay bills
might result in a court martial,
with reduction in number or even
dismissal
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

Little Progress in Reducing Idleness
How much longer will those in authority at
IA Washington remain unconyinced that they
have, not been on the right track, that their
policies have miserably failed to achieve salts
factory economic and employment results?
Dishearteningly little progress has been made
in reducing idlenesS.
And the number Of individuals and families
subjected to the humiliation of having to accept
relief from taxpayers recently reached new
heights.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Victims of Ouun Strategy

RI is SAID that rumors floating around Capitol
lounging rooms that Mr.. Roosevelt was asking
for more than he really wanted and that he was
passing the buck to Congress under a challenge
to cut relief If it dared ansered the President ex
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
preferred Credit"

A rich profit this, so no wonder
new companies are constantly
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
Tell Your
Experience

What has been YOUR ex-
perience with the money
lenders?
The Washington Times is
anxious to hear your story.
Address your communications
to the City Editor of The
Times. Your name will be
held in strict confidence, If
desired.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
World of Finance ByB. c. Forbe,

debt has expanded almost $4,000 900 ,OoO-on top
of which the Government has sponsored add
tional obligations aggregating almost $5,oOo,OOO'
900.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

in, ultimately the debtor is going
to lose the job.
The Washington times., 1939-01-21
No Questions Asked

lenders,
The Washington times., 1939-01-21

Continued Tomorrow in the
Sunday Herald-Times)
The Washington times., 1939-01-02
BELL WINS $4OO
IN COAST GOLF

PASADENA, Calf. Jan. 2.
Art Bell, young professional from
the Midwick Country Club here,
has established himself as a fore
most threat for future golfing
honors along the Pacific Coast by
his winning of the $500 South
ern California Open Golf tourna-
ment. Bell won the 72-hole test
with a score of 283 over such
standout performers as Harry
Cooper, Jimmy Thomson, Will
Goggins and others.
His performance was worth
$400 in cash.
Light Horse" Harry Cooper
finished four strokes behind for
second place which was good for
a sum of $500. Jimmy Thomson
and Eddie Loos of Chicago fin
iShed in a tie for third place
honors with 288, and split $170.
Leading the amateurs for low
were Frank Hixon of Pasadena
and Art Doering of Stanford Uni
versity with 293.
The Washington times., 1939-01-02
Central High, W.B.C.
Mermen Go SATURDAY.

The Boys Club of Washington
swimming team is billed to meet
the Central High School varsity
at the Southeast Branch Pool in
the feature event of the Boys Club
athletic program Saturday after
noon starting at 3 o'clock.
The Boys Club schedule follows
SOUTHEAST BRANCH
Indoor League-Touch football: Tues
day January 3, 7:15 p. M, Maryland
VS.. Alabama: S:15 p. M, Navy vs.
Harvard. Soccer: Thursday, January 5,
ISIS p. m, Georgetown VS.. Notre Dame
Sis p. M, Princeton vs.. Yale
Swimming Pool-Water polo: Thurs
day, January s. 7:25 p. m. s. f. Br. Jrs.
VS.. Georgetown Br. Jrs. Swimming
Thursday, January ., p. M, S. E. Br
Srs. VS.. Georgetown Br. Srs. Meet:
Saturday, January I, 8 p. M, Central
High School vs. Southeast Br.
NORTHEAST BRANCH
Basketball League-Wednesday, Jan
uary 4, 3:45 p. m.. Baboons VS. Bears:
Friday, January 6, AS p. M, Tigers VS.
Ba boons; Saturday. January Z, $3.50 p, m.
Socialists vs. Laborites