Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-26

ouI q ACW dOOAo away pAA
volved in the breezy world of
no-down-paymen finance, said
this:
IT do not feel I can comment
intelligently until the bill has
been signed by the President. I
have not seen the bill, nor have
I examined it. Perhaps I will
make a statement if and when
the bill is signed"
Changes Forecast
Generally, reactions to the
bill along the TOO block of Sew
enth street, credit capital of
the District, are as varied as
the items offered for sale. Some
say the bill means credit
houses operating with little
capital will fold up. Others are
certain that credit clothing
stores will stop selling clothes
and go into furniture and ap-
planes. The theory here, is
that the new law will prevent
a merchant from quicklys at
taching 4 mans salary If he
refuses to pay off, and that the
merchant could recover his
losses If he had sold the debtor
something of resale value.
Clothes, on the other hand, lose
their resale value quickly.
One merchant. Daniel A.
Hammock. president Of MarvinS
Credit Department Store, 734
Seventh street N. w.. said he
was very much in favor of the
change in the law"
1T has worked in New York, "
he said, land there is no reason
why it can't work here"
Mr.. Hammock. however, added
the whole town would be better
off without any punishment
law.
Protests Heard
Other merchants feel the law
was aimed at Seventh street
with the result that many
honest businessmen have been
stigmatized-c charged with
"heartless" praetices, however
legal under the old law.
In the midst of the normal
amount of confusion following
any new law. those who have
worked for a change are certain
the new law is going to be
easier on everybody.
In the past, under the old
garnishment provision-which
will remain in effect until go
days after the President signs
the new lava man who fell
behind in payments to a credit
store stood a good chance of
losing his entire salary and
often his job. Often he quit one
job, went to another because Of
the pressure, and found the man
he owed money to was Close
behind. His salary was at
tached again-with the result
the breadwinner was penililess.
New Limits Provided
Under the new law. attorneys
point out, the man in debt will
only have to pay 10 per cent
of his salary. if he earns up to
5000 a month, toward payment
of the debt. A few dollars will
still come into the family. The
attachment will be no more
than 20 per cent if he earns
more than 5000.
Another major provision, one
which irritates the merchants,
is that garnishmentS suits
efforts to get a man to pay his
debts-will have to line up in
a row. Previously, if a man
owed several stores, all the
stores came down on him with
garniShment suits at the same
time.
Some of the merchants feel
that regardless of the debt
owed them. they will have to
wait in line to get their money
just because they were behind
in filing their claim.
On this point, Chief Judge
Leonard A. Walsh of Municipal
Court. said that it will take
time for the new law to "jell. /"
He expects a great rush of suits
as soon as the law becomes eff
fective-becauSe of the wait
in-line provision.
But Judge Walsh feels there
are more important aspects of
the new law which will be felt
in time.