Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-12
GoYnishments

A simple solution to the
punishment problem outlined
by Emerson Beauchamp in
The Sunday Star would be to
do away with the legal COL
lection Of unsecured debts.
This would relieve the
courts of a large and costly
task, and place the respon-
sibility for extending un-
secured credit upon the seller
or lender, where it belongs and
not upon the taxpaying public.
People temporarily annoyed
by not receiving extensive
credit would in a short time
be benefited by learning to
restrain their urge to buy
until they have saved the
means of paying for what they
want. People with established
regulations would have as
much credit as ever.
Credit sales secured by the
article sold. as autos, television
sets. etc. would not be af-
fected. Nor would any credits
based on real estate security.
But the mass of small in
stalment credits would cease
to be the problem of the body
polite and the expense of
government. Credits would be
properly investigated or not
granted.
Committees Of State bar
associations and other thought
full groups have frequently
suggested taking this mass of
small and needless litigation
out OF our courts but the COM
bination of habit and vested
interest has kept UP the
nuisance and expense in spite
OF the simple and effective
remedy.
The way to end the garnish-
ment problem is to do away
with garnishment.
Richard SeeIye Jones
Emerson Beauchamp is to
be applauded for his article on
pay garniShments in the April
Z star. and We sincerely hope
this is the beginning of a hard
night for revised legislation on
this point in the District. 1t
Is not only the large depart
ment stores that are affected.
out homes with maids find
proportionately as much trou-
Die. The credit stores have all
the protection of pampered
children. and poor people are
urged by these stores to 90
way over their heads in debt.
IL is a sad state of affairs.
Elizabeth w. Reynolds
Your paper and Mr.. Beau
champ are to be commended
on his articles on d. C. garn-
lshment practices now being
exposed.
The practice OF garnisheeing
the entire wages OF workers
is as archaic as Imprisonment
Tor debt. and President Roose-
vets maxim "caveat vendi-
tor" should be applied to the
type OF creditor who recklessly
encourages needy persons to
purchase on credit beyond
their means in reliance upon
using the courts as collecting
agencies.
1t is hoped that the workers
who are the usual helpless vic
tins OF the vicious practice
and their labor representatives
and organizations will support
your papers good efforts in
the workers behalf.
Robert Z. Ennis.
y
II anyone is planning to 90
into debt soon. he might read
Emerson Beauchamp's April
Z and 8 articles on wage gar
nishments first.
The credit systems Of most
department stores and other
firms, as a rule. are respectable
and reasonable. But some
credit outfits could stand
looking into. How do so many
poor risks obtain credit?
On the other hand, some
times a creditor uses some
fairly obvious means to pro-
tect himself. One In par
ticular is rather offensive to
an honest customer. It is a
fee, in addition to the carry
ing charge, he requires OF a
buyer for the creditors will
ingness to trust him. 1t is an
extra charge for credit. The
amount may be relatively
small, but its principle is re-
pulsive.
Thanks to The Star for its
series, Costs of Credit"
which explains the proce-
dure Of garnishment and the
expense 1t involves for all
concerned--not only the store
and the customer, but the
customers employer as well.
Mary Al