New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-10
POLICE NATIONS GREATLY NEEDED.
Mrs. LILLIE DENEKECX DbAkE I'M IINISE7S TIT
OBJECTIONS OF COMMISSIONERS MAR
TIN AND vOORHIS.

TIN AND vooRHIs.
TO the Editor Of the Tribune
Sir: VIII you permit few words from one of the
earliest advocate, Of the appointment OF police ma
irons to for women in the police stations OF our
city, Twenty years ago. in 1870 first became IN
terestcd in this reform and went with committee OF
ladies to superintendent Jordan, who was then the
head of the Department Like all his successors, he
entirely oppos I'd 10 the innovation; and although
he admitted that there some reason in our argu-
ment>. our efforts were frntlcSs. 1t would be long
story to tell all that has been done since IN the pup
hcaton Of articles. holding Of public meetings and
attacks upon the legislature In 1881, 1882 and 1883
was actively Interested in pushing Police Matron bill
before the legislature II passed the Assembly thrce
times by unanimous vote but failed in the senate, or
for want Of the Governors signature, because OF the
persistent opposition Of the Police Department That
bill was mandatory in IT, provisions the present DILL
passed in Lass. through the efforts of the WomanS
Prison Association. is only permsivc. and Is therefore
imperative. The Police Department Is determined not
accept the reform, and now. in apology, they offer
the recent utcrances Of Commissioners Martin and
Voorhs.
In reviewing their objections the first point that
strikes one j, the statement that women are now
placed in cells separate and apart from men, which
IS Immediately followed by the assertion that to carry
out the provisions Of the bill would require 100000
tor the alteration Of the station-houses. But why
regard to the separation of the Scxes i aready carried
out
Tho next objection Is to the large sum Of money re
quired for the ,aare, Of police marOn, although the
admission is made that would be perfectly feasible 10
esignatc ten station houses To which all women under
arrest ,houd be- conveyed Now II i, 0bvious that II
there were two maron, at each the station houses
stipend 81 $500 year each. no more than 10000
would be required for their salarie> The expenses
# the Police Department mp into the hundreds
II thousands Of dollars. Of which vast sum women
pay In taxes large proportion. Certainly the small
additional amount If $4,000 could be spared.
Then follows the extraordinary statement that
matrous are not needed because women are now ON
poycd each police station to search women prisoners
and 10 perform other duties. Nothing is said about
any payment to those for their labOrs, but II
seems to be urged that il is fitting to allow this
half way. unofficial unpaid service. than for the city
b. employ well chosen rcspcc table and regularly ap
pointed marons While the Commissioners are much
distressed over the thought that the marons might
hear language not bcnttng delicate feminine they
DO not to feel any apprehension in behalf Of
those unpaid female employees
70 one doubts that police matron would sec and
hear much that wonld be painful in the round Of
her aborS. but it j. expected that the women chosen
to nh those places VIII De Of mature years. The
bill piovidc> tnat they hall not be under thirty; and
That they VIII lave the mental ana physical strength
10 discharge. without nlnchlug. all the duties of their
place. Certainly II Is better that women should be
tAo only hearers II any uusccmly language from
women. The tpHIful-- .ou"7~ make TN" u~ulIng in
situation that thr presence Of matrOn would be
dcmomTins % the force" surely decent. middle
aged woman iu official place would be much less
dcmprtIiug than the presence of hundreds II Young
immoral women - which b" the force is now con
-tanty subjected.
lu conclusion, u should 10 remembered hat the poor
Hnfnrtufate~ Il our -cA are not the only women IN
the polio" stations. hui that Young glIl- accused Of
first crime II which they are. perhaps innocent and
also all homeless wand 'r'r> whose only ,in /, pov
afa fla lode. la,
falls 1 th" Street from accident incsS is hll-
ucd hrs' ~ I'll - th" nearest lion house and al
fc- vpiIcu under tine pre- mt ar; tnecmrut~.
OBJ" hands ~ men alone. n 70 he hoped thai the
NOV" intelligent and humane coun,cls ~ President
MarLctn and COMMISSIONS Nc lave who favor the
reform viii prevail ard that before another year our
long agitation VIII he crowned with success. and We
shall have police mairunS IN station houses.
LILLE DENERECX BLAKE.
New York. Jan. .. 1-9l.