The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-28
Chr 9ailg Argns,
Friday, February Is, 1873
PROSTITUTION IN ST LOUIS
Rsmou,rrapes- Of THE wOnan's Journal
Against Ihe Ordinance Licensing the 80
eiaI Evl---ssryO the Two Sexes Alike J
How the Thing Works.

/ TrIm me " UIHNII dVUTHNIi IVO' I0'I
~. risl Of hainr arrested for sendi

anywhere set on laws SO odlous' cruel' VI
vulgar. ---- -..
They provide that board of police
shall license houses III
each house % pay $40
month 10 the medicaleSaminer' ana 81 eN-
animation fee. Each inmate must pay
al 30 a week, as hospital dues to the city
treasury.
The board of police commissioners is re
ouired 10 keep a record of all houses OF i'll
fame and Of the names and former occu-
nations of all the inmates. Its empowered
NOT only to license, but 10 break up such
houses, nc its pleasure, aud any violation
of the lawful orders" of this board, may
be punished by fine, not less than S2U'
nor more than $500, $50.
Once in house of ill-iame no inmate
can leave it without permit anu "nlie
thpre i cnmpclled once week, to sub
mir IN a medical examiner, who IL, IN every
case a man. and this man Is legally en-
titled 70 make such physical explorations
a. he may deem necessary.
1t one browning argument were need
ed, to convince any doubter that women
need the right and opportunity to protect
themselves, it is found in this shameless
ordinance which disgraces the city Of st.
Louis
Stripped of all verbiage this is the plain
fact one of the worst crimes licensed, UNI
der the plea that the public health requires
il. OF those who commit this sin, the wo-
men alone, who are by far the smallest
number Of the guilty are required to have
every name registered, and that there
may be no coucealment, and no escape.
the former occupation also Is recorded. \
weekly tax is exaoted, and, most shameful
OF all, medical examination is made by a
UaH- doctor, every week, and rs much
ofteuer as he pleases. One would sup.
pose that common decency would have
sought for a woman examiner.
The men who share with these women q
common sin and shame, and who are fan
greater IN number, are not required u
have either their name or occupation re-
corded They pay no tax 10 the city rev.
enuc. they are subjected 10 no medical
examination.
II this licensing of house, Of prostittI-
ton had been really 70 protect the public
health, and not Ia give imnunity 70 men,
why /, every diseased and dlssOlute man
left free o. communicate disease II his
PARTNER Ia crime Surely the health of
these women is part Of the public health,
and equal care should be taken 10 protect
IT,
But this system does not even pretend
a. protect H. II absolutely exposes them
to contagious diseases, makes them pay foI
the prilege. and taxes them for medica
treatment atterward Thus while the
health J., not protected dereury aud mo
rllity are both outraged
ID it L. desired ~ put an end % the vic,
ot the city and thus secure moral anC
physical health the law should require the
publication, IN the daily papers. OF the rea
name, occupation and residence OF every
man or woman who enters house ct inia
my Such publication would break up the
system in single week.
But % code Of laws which 50 discrimi
nate, between equally guilty partners, in
the same crime, can work only evil to the
mora, SENSE of the community More
than this. II Is a sin to license sin and
one step downward in this direction lead,
the way a. the next makes the way easy
Tor one set OF sinners, and increases tn,
demand tor more licenses, for larger Oppor
tuHity.
We believe that If the attention Of tn,
authorities OF the city vt ST. Louis is fully
called Ia the real facts in this case, for tn,
sake ot their own honor, and of the pub
hr morals. they will hasten To abolish IN,
present law, which bears so unequally, anI
which is certainly disgrace. not only Il
the city but u civilization. l.. :.
From th, &c. Louis Timo.. Fch %.
Heretofore great power has been place.
iu the hands Of the medical examiners
and they have been allowed a wide latitud
IN dealing with their tickle patients
the women were Ia bad health. the tender
hearted examiner would excuse them for
while. or If times were hard and bushes
dull. he would make his weekly return TO
the favored one simply in arrears
In accordance with the regular tax upo
these women when the roll contained
thousand names, the weekly reyenu
should be $1,000, with an extra $1,000 fu
the first week in the month, instead
this result, the books show that the week
revenue, month after month, was betweC
500 and 5000, with only $500 addition
for the first week in the month. when d
landladies come down with their due
There was little or no check upon the lei
icncv Of the soft hearted examiners. The
received their tickets and made the
weekly returns with great regularity bt
still the collection fell of 81 900 or more
month, a. compared with what the regi 81
would Justify the board in expecting
With the exception of the unfortunate
whose deceittulness is an automatic prime
pie with the board Of health nobody pr
tended % question the honesty of the c.
amlners, IL was an error of the heal
that affected the financial results of tn
system, aud SO the board put up with tn
deficit. Occasionally there were rumors
something wrong. The examiners wcr
honorable men, but nevertheless the di
honorable women protested that they pa
mp, when they were charged with being
arrears for week. Sometimes Kim
hearted examiner would allow girl to RI
behind with her dues eight or ten week
Then she would have "a streak Of luck
aud pay up All that he cared for vi
her last week ticket The others we
left with the doctor and he could retu
them to the board Of health, with 81!
for the missing ticket or the full amou
received, according to his own option
It was o year and over before the boa
Of health awoke to the fact that this W
an exceedingly loose way of conductiT
even a social evil business. and it was on
after numerous complaints of mismanag
meut had been made through the poll,
that the board commenced 10 talk Of r
form The medical examiners heard
the movement and opposed it with all the
power Members Of the board we're sec
individually, and influences Of all kline
were brought 10 bear topreyent the threa
ened legislation. 1t was astonishing to $,
how the pro spective change affected tho,
benevolent examiners.
Finally just before the close Of last yea
the board Of health came 10 a decision al
adopted the following resolution
Resoiged, That the medical examine
are hereby prohibited from collectiI
hereafter any dues from registered wome
other than the regular dues for the week
examinations and the current month
dues from the keepers all balances DIT
under the law by such women on accou
Of absence from the city without a PERM
or other cause, shall be paid TO the clei
Of this board only he 30 procure ticke
from the examiners, paying them for Il
same, and deliver said tickets 10 such re
lsstered women. And it is hereby requir,
mat no new tickets be issued by the e
ahlulhR physicians tO any person who