The Portland daily press., 1882-06-10
TEE w. @. T. U.
And It's Work at the Police Station.

propriating the sum OF S2OU IN part payment Oh
the salary of police matron, the remainder
being paid by the Woman's Temperance In
ion. is to be commended, as the service to the
city of matron can hardly be too highly esti-
mated. 1t is well known to our citizens that
this important work originated in Portland
several years ago, and we have reason to take
lust pride in its success. So important is the
work considered in other cities that kindred
societies, modelled upon the plan of the Port
land society, have been formed in New York
city, Brooklyn and Providence, the latter city
being the first to follow Portland, and paying
salary Of $500. The purpose and work OF the
society can be no better stated than by trans
ferring to cur columns portion of an article
written by the president of the Portland socie-
ty, which recently appeared in the Brooklyn
Eagle:
We consider this the most important part Of
the work of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union of Portland. In ths spring OF 10
we sent petition signed by hundreds OF our
prominent women to the city government, ask
ing that woman might be employed by the
city to meet and care for the unfortunate OF
our sex who were brought TO the police station.
AS the thought was SO new one, the CITY an-
thorities were not ready to grant the request,
but appropriated 800 towards paying woman
for the purpose desired. The w. @. L. q. hir-
ed an agent, making up the balance OF a dollar
per day Our attention was called to the I'M
portance of this Office by a physician Qady)
who, being called to the station one night, no
iiced that in cases whore women were Dfought
into the building in state OF lntoXicatlon
their clothing was torn from them in such a
way that common decency demands for them
wornanly care a I'd protection. Ii this alone
were secured for in sozicated women, IL Will pc
well worth the money paid our agent. But
the reformaEory influence eXerted has been
productive of good results far beyond our most
saaguine expectations. We have estimated
that one-eighth of all the women who are
brought to the station during the year have
been permanently benefited, we nave learn
cd that il the agent was wholly paid by the
city it would become, like other city offices
where small salaries are given, merely paid
service. / mean by this that unless an agent
could cooperate with some benevolent persons,
or q society, the reformatory work could not DO
accomplished, 1t needs woman OF large SYM
pathy and good judgment, who works, not SO
much for the salary, as for the desire 70 90
home missionary work. We have in our Wom-
ans Christian Temperance Union standing
committee of three, called the station mousse
committee. The agent confers with this com
mittee, and they follow up every case SO long
as their assistance is needed. The question
may be pertinently asked what can the
agent do with or for these women at the sta
ton houses?' Surprising the case to be one OF
intoxication. The agent is there every night
aud morning, and knowing the cases talks ear
nestly to each woman as soon as she IS IN
condition to understand her. If Catholic,
she takes her to the priest, who is always help-
full and courteous. II possible, she Is induced
to sign the pledge We do not expect I'M
possibilities, and if the woman will sign it for
one month, she is urged to do it, and Is then
watched over and induced to keep it another.
One case we kept along for six months by CIV
ing a weekly pledge. These six months were
the only ones IN four years when the woman
had not been at the station and before the
municipal court for intoxication. We never
mean to lose sight of a case, but try to have
each one feel that she is under the special care
of the society.
larceny. lhese we send to our State Industrial
School When fallen women lin the worst
sense Of the word) arc arrested, some are eager
and anxious to lead better lives. These we
find homes for in the country; often we send
many instances which would assure you of the
good effected among this class. To many,
when arrested for first offense for any cause,
we stand as a refuge from the jail If they will
choose the right once more. The judge Of the
Municipal Court always suspends a sentence
when we ask for it, thus saving the woman
from the disgrace of the jail OF course we do
not mean TO interfere with just penalties, but
with the sentence to hold over them, in case OF
a second offsnse, our hold upon them is very
strong. We have won the confidence OF the
Judge and he always aias us in every way by
the marshal and his aids as well as by the
police force, we and our agent have always
been treated with utmost respect.
On the suggestion of our Mayor last year,
petitioned for $500 from the city and received
it. More than this we do not want from the
city, for, as I said before, it would soon be
merely paid office, if it were not a part of our
society work. Our agent comes TO our month
ly business meeting and makes report OF
what she has done during the mouth. In one
year by keeping odd offenders from the JAIL
we felt that we had saved the city all that it
had given to our society. This has been
part of our work six years, and new cases are
constantly coming up. There are other IN
stances where a woman is needed at the police
station. Women are sometimes arrested for
stealing, and it becomes necessary to have the
person searched. Again, often there are poor
women and children travelling who apply for
nights lodging. These are made comfortable
with food and lodging.
It will be seen by the foregoing how impor-
tant work is being accomplished by this So
cety in one branch OF its work, and that in
addition to the good which it is doing it is saw
ing the city large sum of money every year
Women are often arrested in a condition unfiS
to appear in court, and it is necessary TO fur
nish them with proper clothing. This the So
ciety, through the Matron, does, and also sup
plies them with food at its own expense, be-
sides procuring for them homss in the country,
thus removing them from temptation and pre-
venting them from again becoming charge to
the authorities. We're it not for this society
these women would again and again be arrest
ed and become an expense to the city In the
past month of May homes IN the country have
been furnished to six such women. The city
of Brooklyn lately sent to Portland for mem
Der Of our own union to organize the work in
that city, and Mrs. H. f. Croker, who was
admirably adapted to the work, was induced to
90 there, and has been appointed Police Ma
tron, with an assistant, as will appear from the
following, taken from the Brooklyn Eagle;
Commissioner Jourdan has addressed the follow
ing letter to the Superintendent of Police:
You are hereby notified that Mrs. H. f. Crocker
of 315 Monroe street, and Miss IL. a. Jones have
this day been appointed police matron and assistant
matron respectively You will instruct the captains
to permit these ladies visit the station houses at
all times for the purpose of seeing females who may
be arrested for disorderly conduct, and the conf
handing officers viii facilitate them in every way
they can. consistent with their duties. BY order
SAMUEL RICHARDS,
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Clerk.
The following letter was addressed to Mrs. Crock
er by order of the Commissioner:
Mrs. H. f. Crocker
Madam-You are hereby notified that the Com
missioner of Police and Excise has this day appoint
ed YOU police matron and Miss II. A. Jones assist
ant matron, and that the commanding officers of
precincts and sub-precncts have been instructed by
the Commissioner of Police to facilitate you in
every way relating to such proposed visits station
houses consistent with their official duties.
Respectfully, SAMUEL RICHARDS,
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Clerk.
Mrs. Croker has just made her first month
ly report which we should be glad to copy
entire did space permit We make few brief