Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-10-29
AN OPENED OYSTER.
Revelations by n Discharged En-
plOye Relative to Printing
Bureau Debaucheries-
Wnshlngton specinl to chlcngo Tribune. !

Washington Special to Chicago Tribune,I
A very bitter fight will be waged
over the possession of the government
printing house. Mr. Defrees, the pres.
ent printer, has dismissed his foreman,
Mr.. Oyster, because he learned that
Oyster was candidate for his place.
Since Oyster has been dismissed he
he has threatened to expose some OF
the inside workings of this great gov
ernment machine. Among other
things Oyster charges gross immorali-
ty in the place, AID says old women
are kept upon the pay roll to act as
PROGRESSES for some Of the subordi-
nate officials. In answer to a general
question upon the subject, Mr.. Oyster
said that several of these old crones
were at one time holding positions
when work was scarce and the pay
correspondingly small. Their promo
tion to moro lucrative position was
the result of an understanding with
several foremen that they would aid
them in their nefarious scheme to de.
bauch certain Of the female employees.
The methods employed are substan-
italy these: The old women's tenure
of office depends on the fidelity with
which they discharge their trust.
YOUNG GIRL,
or woman of more mature age, is
working, say, on piece-work. This
work is distributed among so many
that instances are not wanting where
a days wages at times amounts only
to ten or fifteen cents. Believing, and
not without reason, that the old wo-
men have friends at court, the girls
apply through them for more work.
Of course that means better pay than
the starving prices at which they have
been laboring, With the craftinees
and knowledge Of human nature which
these fends possess the innocents are
led on, step by step, until, finally, when
their minds have been fully prepared
for some great sacrifice they must
make, in order to secure the coveted
boon, they are told plumply that it
can be obtained only at the price OF
their virtue. For the credit Of the
lady employees and the fair name of
womanhood in general, the insulting
proposal is generally spurned with in
dignation. Still, there are exceptions,
but whether they are so from inherent
badness or because the girls are driven
to accept through force of circum-
stances, cannot say. A woman who
has a family depending upon her for
support, or young girl, penniless and
friendless, who accepts these
DEGRADING PROPOSALS,
does so, believe, far more as a mat
ter Of stern necessity than from the
lewdness of character, You remember
Becky Sharp's tavorite maxim: Its
very easy to be honest on five thou
sand year. But if we have no
charity for these poor creatures, what
punishment should be meted out to
these seoundrels who crafty their
lust at the expense Of their victims.
why not expose these men by
publishing their names?"
1T is possible / will do so early
next week. For the present you must
be satisfied with a recital Of the
facts"
Mr.. Oyster said in conclusion that
to such an extent had unbridled H.
cense been carried that during the
noon hour, when most of the en-
plOyes are absent at dinner, a certain
foreman and his mistress secrete