The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-10-29
CRIMINAL VARIETIES.
Culled Here and There from the Columns of
the Daily Press.
a Washington stink.

1t has long been known that among the nu-
merous women employed IN the different de.
par,mcnts at Washington are scores who hold
places at good salaries that do little service
and are retained solely because they are the
kept mistresscs of influential senators, repre-.
sentatves and other high officials. 1t seems
the same bestialty has got into the printing
bureau. Mr.. Oyster, a late foreman in that
department. makes the following revelations
to correspondent of the Chicago Times, in
Mondays issue OF that journal
Mr.. Oyster charges gross immortality IN the
place, and says that old women are kept upon
the payroll to act as PROGRESSES for some OF
the subordinate officials. In answer to a gen.
eral 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 correspondngly small
Their promotion to more lucrative position
was the result OF an understanding with sew
eral toremen that they would aid them IN their
nefarions scheme to debauCh certain of the fe.
male employees. The methods employed are
substantially these: The old women's tenure
of Office depends on the fidelity with which
they discharge their trust. A young GIRL or
y,
on piece work. This work Is distributed
among so many that instances are not want
Ing where days wages at times amounts on
| ly to 10 or Is cents. Believing, and not with.
out reason, that the old women have friends
at court, the girls apply through them for
more work. OF course, that means better pay
than the starvation prices at which they have
been laboring. With the craftlness and know
ledge of human nature which these fends pos
sess the innocents are led on step by step un-
til, 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 1t can only be secured at
the price of their virtue. For the credit of the
lady employees and the fair name of woman
hood in general, the insulting proposal is gen.
orally spurned with indignation. Still, there
are exceptions, but whether they are so from
inherent badness or because the girls are drv-
en- to accept by force of circumstances, can
not say. A woman who has family depend.
ing upon her for support, or young girl, pen
niless and trendless, who accepts these degrad-
ing proposals, does so, | believe, far more as a
matter of stern necessity than from lewdness
of character. You remember Becky Sharp's
tavorte maxim: It's very easy to be honest
on five thousand q year. But if we have no
charity for these poor creatures, what punish
ment should be meted out to these Sc0undrels
who crafty their lust at the expense of their
victims?'
why not expose these men by publishing
their names?"
at is possible will do so early next week.
For the present you must be satisfied with q
recital of the facts"
Mr.. Oyster SAID in conclusion that to such
an extent had unbridled license been carried
that during the noon hour, when most of the
employees are absent at dinner, a certain lore
man and his mistress secrete themselves for an
hour at a time in one of the many crooks and
crannes of the establishment, while the pro
curess stands guard. 1t is burning disgrace
and ourags that such practices should be per
mltted III government department, but the
gentleman with whom the reporter talked not
only atlrms the truth of what has been set
down, but claims that the half has not yet been
told.