The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-22
TEE woaKINGwoMEa,s ASSOCIATION.


The Ragpickers Of the Observation-Disclosures
vaushn-Political Rishts-Proposed Com
versaxion.
The Workingwomen's Central Association held lis
regular meeting in room "A Cooper Institute last
evening, Miss Susan h. Anthony, the President ID
the chair. The minutes OF the last meeting wee
read by the Secretary, Miss Elizabeth G. Browne,
and approved. A "change OF base'' was then fouId
necessary in consequence Of the fact that an organ
cation OF men had through some misconception pre-
viously engaged the room. The workingwomen, OF
whom there was large attendance, then adjourned
to room is and proceeded with their business.
Reports from the special committees were An
nounced as in order, and the Tombs Prison Inveai-
eating Committee was called upon TO respond. A
member OF the committee stated that the Chairman
absent she did not think 1t practicable to report
at present There also difficulty In the matter.
from the fact that the committee had been instructed
TO report with reference TO one woman VINO was cen,
Tombs they found there were three women IN ,us-
tody there for killing their husbands lSensatioI)
Mrs. s. 8. Norton, chairman ~ OF the Committee
OF Investigation into the condition habits labor and
earnings OF the ragpickers OF New York, thenpre-
ns s' w 1ssla rsI ae
posed. The ragpckers were, however, class never
properly estimated and were treated with much con-
tempt. IL was ascertaned that, as q rule, one
.searchn during the twenty -four hours was the aver
age time spent IN picking up the rags paper, bnes,
&C., ana tnelr laDOr usually commenced AT tnrb OF
four o'clock In the morning. One small class geier-
ally commence their rounds about midnight, reich
ing their homes about two O'Clock In the ater-
noon each day, and devoting the remaining
time to the assortment OF their findings.
The prices realized by them averaged-for paper
three cents per pound for broken glass one cent ind
for bones, scraps OF bread and garbage fty center
bushel. Metal scraps varied with the markets. The
average earnings OF the chhonnier were from f,rty
cents per day to ten dollars per week. large ma
]ority OF the ragpickers are Germans. One snail
colony in Willett street. of JOG families. numbe'ed
482 persons. Another colony almost as large, iifed
on the west side OF the Park in shanties. As cass
| the Germans were frugal and INDUSTRIOUS sending
their children regularly to school, and their aim As
| BILE them to emgrate to the West. 1t was appDxi-
mately estimated That there are about 1920 rag
| pickers In New York.
report, from which it appeared that the average
| rental or tenenents paid by ragpckers was 1fty
cents per week fer single attic room, ami thai in
many cases nve or SIX persons occupied single
| apartment. She had found family Of husband and
wife and six children in one ROOM clothed in rags.
When suggestion was made to the mother that she
| might secure employment at washing Srubbing
| she replied, "lndade, maam. Misther DOnaho0 sup
ports his family, and wud be ashamed tohave his
wife go out to work." The reports were accepted.
Mrs. Parrish presented report in relation to pho
tographers, from which i appeared that so per
dozen was the average price paid to womel for TINT
| ing pictures and that some women receiyed fifteen
dollars per week and upwards.
Mrs. Frances McKinay then addressedthe asso-
citation on the subject OF the condemnatioIpf Hester
| Vaughn, claiming that had her conditiN In life
savored less OF poverty than it did she Would not
have been convicted on the insufficient evidence
presented, the only voice raised in her behf being
that OF her counsel In consideration of tirty dol
lars, and poorly ''raised" at that The rmedy for
| such injustice would be in women possessing the
| right to sit In the jury box. These rghB women
| must have, and the workingwomen had lone well
| In securing Miss Anthony as their standat bearer
The speaker then closed by requesting MisAnthony,
In the name Of the association, to conduit or par
ticipate in series Of conferences. with view to
instructing workingwomen in their potial rights
The matter was put to vote and carried.
Miss Anthony then made q brief address, claim.
ing in effect IN reference to the opinion the pre-
ceding speaker, that 1t had been found hat white
men IN the South could not be entrustedwIth the
administration OF equal and exact juiIcen to
the blacks, 1t was quite as logical infeence that
men could not be depended upon to rendr Justice
to women with an unerring precision.
"A Mr.. Hill made some suggestions on thequeston
Of establishing cooperative eating house, for the
laboring classes where they could procuresubstan-
tial meals for small sum-say five cents.
Mrs. Charlotte LOzler endorsed the proportion for
conferences, or sOciabes TO be held at the residences
OF members, and 1t was on vote resolved hat they
should be held.
After some other unimportant business theassOcia.
ton adjourned until Friday, January g.