The New York herald., 1870-02-28
SERVANT GAL-ISM.
How Jobs Are Put Up-Intelligence Offices as
Aids to Burgiars-Suggestion for the Le-
gislature-The Case Of Emma Bloom.

1t Is an axiom generally received as true py the
lowest but governing class III New York that yilany
IL blamable only when 1t Is found out; that honor
merely sentiment aud honesty an Idle word. In ts
progress upward In Its descent toward the lowest
strata Of society this dogma OF the inc0rrgoles has
left It's mark. The VIII OF the mob is universally
resnected the protest OF the quiet citizen is toer.
ated while 1t Is sneered at Complaints are ire-
quenty made through the press that through the
loose relations that exist in political matters
the proper domestic oDservances between employer
aud servant are disregarded. The hired help, whe-
ther native or foreign, regards his ner employer
as . person to bleed, and acts accordingly. Seeing
tie general public neeced TO The tune OF thousands
OF dollars Melissa and Biddy have no quams Of
conscience IN despolling their employers to small
amounts.
The system OF employing servants Is utterly
wrong. Prostitutes tired OF the mOnotonous work
OF tie street. woman hardened in crime, girls lost to
shame, but having a purpose In view, seek for do.
mestic employment. The means are ready to their
hands. For fhe outlay Of few dollars they are
able 10 obtain q number OF recommendations and
to gain the active assistance OF persons Of apparent
respecablity in the prosecution OF their plans. The
natural result is that IN hundreds OF houses In this
city to-day there are women engaged ostenslbly an
servants who are cancers la the family in which
they serve. anu the paramoars and assistants or
foreign born and newly arrived servants arc faith
lul to Their employers; but the police assert
ina, csn ever % osay OF ss occurs
reason why the ponce proclaim their annOsity
toward the "hred hep' OF families is thar their
efforts TO ferret our ana detect crime generally
defeated Dy the paramours anu dssis stants or bur-
glars and thieves who are employed In private
houses. The intelligence Offices The oci OF pros
titntion and theSery In these esta6iishmenfs
recommendations are ..sealed, sold ana delieve1,n
and men and women are recommended into
Ia mi me mol lNA huN m 1.tr Ia
ter When servant perpctrales robbery and
suddenly takes her departure the guardians Of the
peace nave no clue 10 60 upon. Jhey no these things
better In France S,nce the revolution, AMI PERHAPS
since the relgn OF the Grand Monarque, employ.
Of the police. No woman Of bad character can poa-
slbiy hld an opportunity for the exercise OF bur
eari0aa act III respectable family aud no waiton
female room for breaking The peace OF household.
Aud Whenever q robbery Or burglary does occur the
police are generally prepared to lay tner hands upon
the guilty parties thcir s;istan,s. IL Is diieren
here Intelligence orces are 1run'' by parties who
are III with thieves, ana robbery and the DurglaIies
which occur nightly are the result OF arrangements
made between the rufiana who ''haug aroundf' the
employment onices aud tine girls While the present
system exists burglares and robberes Will con-
troi OF these offices and the entyee always. They
should know who Is 10 ne employed, where and by
whom; the antoce1cnts of the women, their char
ncter ana o fuI knowledge OF the parties recoin-
mendlng them. Let tue Legislature give this power
TO the police and there Will DC fewer crimes Tor The
press 70 chronicle.
This lengthy preface leads 10 u case IN point.
woman named Emma Bloom, but who rejoices III
dozen aliases Is now under arrest and awaiting final
examination before Justice Scott OF Essex Market.
She IL charged oy Mrs. Fl1ck, or Brooklyn, with
stealing several hundred dollars worth OF properly,
anu u dozen other paries Fictmzed by her are
ready 10 testify 10 M0r dcxterty In criminal trans
actions. Through the agency Of intelligence Offices
she Obtained piaces in families won the confidence
Of the inmates, stayed Tor some time, and dnay got
OH with considerable pluntH. She - charged with
crime Dy large aulaoer Of c.izens and II is stated
by the pOica that her operations for the last six
months have netied her $4,000 exclusive of gratui
ties to outsiders. The allegations AgaiDst sh,s
man ars clear and precise ana euppor ed by AM
dayit5; but the woman has political influence and
OF course VIII escape the ineshes OF the law. She
may he punished however, but while tue inteIll.
genc8 01ce stem remains uncontrolled and un-
regulated oy the police the root ot the evil will De
uudissurbed and the plague Of servanJ ga- Will
remain 70 iostar crimc and encourage burglary.