Views of Members of the Commission of Senator A.A. Makarov (1906-1917). Part 10. Police of the Russian Empire in suppressing abuses in the production of credit transactions, opening establishments for stamping and foundries without legal permission

The responsibilities of the police of the Russian Empire are considered, aimed at suppressing the illegal opening and activities of loan banks secured by movable property of citizens. First of all, there should be relevant information (external and internal) about them and the rules of credit activity: 1) about the monthly payments charged, their growth on loans; 2) about prices for storing mortgages. Police control was intended as a preventive measure to prevent the public from being deceived or misled. It is noted that police officials not only had to monitor the maintenance of mortgage books and sales books in loan offices, but also carry out their regular (annual) audit as part of a special commission. The police monitored the opening and operation of bank offices, money changers, commission and information offices. The article draws attention to the police checking information about the illegal activities of managers or managers of private and public credit institutions and, if available, their decision to bring the perpetrators to justice. A significant place is given to the process of police monitoring of the legality of opening bookstores, libraries, reading rooms, stamping establishments and foundries, as well as to ensure that paintings, portraits, drawings and other images, writings that have criminal content and offend morality are not exhibited or distributed. It is noted that newspapers and similar publications under arrest were to be confiscated by the police.