New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-22
PRISONERS or POVERTY.
COMMISSIONER MocLAvE's PLAN.

HE SUGGESTS wOMESs PROTECTIVE BUREAU
SUPPORTED BY THE sTATE-HoUsEwoRK.
Police Commissioner John Mcflave said he had read
tho articles Prisoners Of Poverty" in THE TRIBUNE
with interest Think" he said every iDteiii
gent who reads those papers must see that some
thing ought to be done for the protection OF the
working women in this city II easier to the need
OF protection than devise plan for securing It, have
boon thikng the subject and am convinced that
the legislature could furnish relief hut not all thar
Is needed 1t Is plain that the law at present does not
prevent crafty and INSCRIPTIONS men from rubbing
OF their Just Suppose that manufacturer
I'D versos for help to make up lan articles such
necktes. aud poor woman or girl answers the adj
verseent In person. she is told that the manufacturer
Is willing to her week on trial. that 1t rrobaoy
win take week to learn how TO do the WORK prop
erly and that she will receive any pay for the first
weeks work At the time she s led to expect tnat
II her work Ia acceptable she will receive fair wages In
following weeks Now, II the manufacturer discharges
her end of the week she has no claim against him.
although she probably learned how to do the work well
ia few hours and deserved full weeks wages II
seems almost Incredible that enough work is stolen In
such manner to affect seriously the price OF mannsct
ureo articles city, and yet the proof OF sucn rob-
berry is found on bargain counters In many big dry
goods stores Suppose the Legislature should pass
law making snch robbery OF womeh's work a crime
how could such a law be enforcedi The poor woman
who was cheated out Of her weeks wages could not
afford to time which to her Is money In prose-
cutting the rich ofenfer.
The moro think O; the matter, the more beueve
thar help must come to the through special
bureau or through orporated society like those pre-
sized over by sir. Gerry and Mr.. Bergh- Or course,
some help De given ny the LeRislature i woulu
have, II sou please, Working Women5 protective
Bureau by law and Supported ny tne o'st,
ami at tho head NJ tho bureau you'd nave capau,o
aud practical woman Cheers OF such bureau Should
have tue rsat any shop or mandatory where
women employed and to insIect ths WORK Id case
refusal part OF any employer 10 pay TOT ~oik
performed. the empOye could make complaint 70 TUG
bureau and could have her cass investigated WITHOUT
c. rye the law ought he amended so as to ponisn
by fine or imprisonment, both. any employer VINO
kee back fairly earned believe tbat All
reputable cuisines, OF the city would ne gsd 10
rhe amended They would have all the more
security their business II the men engaged IN steans
work under cover OF the Ia suppressed
Ii belief that much Of the rninOus competition
in the OF women would he avodei II more younS
who obi Jed support themselves WOul" ca
domestic service. There Il 80 dount tina nteIi-
OF homework trcatet much better thah factory
girls Their mistres,es rule arc quick TO recognize
Deancss and disDae in their work ana are realy 10
grant may ugences In return Tor the Truthful Pero
nance OF duty. The notion that domestic srTsico ~
more ,ding work IN factory probably leads
young women 10 ruin. They thlnk IL Is oet'ei "
work in crowded where the light IL b"i ana no
ventilation sleep III mean III
Tenement houses exposns Themselves day ana nen 20
Sickness than wOrk where they would receive Iree
board fair and lie subject to good iunuences
my wives ami mothers In the city, R0oi women, 700
have much trouble with stupid ana chreioss scr
wants ami nl 1t difficult matter TO get any oher hnu
hrlp GOOD wages unable 10 understand tnat 80
much misery and starvItIon exists among WORKING
There would DO less trouble II the polish prey
uilIce against domestic service we're relnONei