Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-15
ALAMEDA-STREET WOMEN,
The Police Commission Asked
to Remove Them.
A Delegation Of Citizens Express
Their Views.
Proceedings Yesterday at tho Mestine
OF the Commissioners objection
able Door Plates and Blinds
to Be Pulled Down.

At the meeting yesterday Of the board
Of police commissioners Mr.. Lewis, in
the absence OF Mayor Hazard, presided.
The chief Of police turned over $l25,
part Of sum sent him by the Adams
Express company as mark of apprecia-
tion for his services in the capture OF
Sly, the partner OF Hedspeth, of train
robbing fame. The chief explained that
the amount originally sent was 5000,
but that he had withheld $75 from it
and had given it as reward to three
Of his officers. The board approved
this action and then Chief Glass filed
demand for the $125 he had just paid
in.
In view Of the favorable reports of the
police department license to conduct
saloon at 1O5 San Pedro street, was
granted Messrs. Froehlinger & Bester,
and the transfer of Schneddig's license
to Mr.. Fighter at 14l South Los Angeles
street was approved.
Upon the presentation of a certificate
from Police Surgeon Bryant, the petit
ton of officer ]. 9. Glidden for half pay
for twenty-five days during January,
while he was incapacitated from duty
by illness, was approved.
Permission was given the chief to
allow one of the newly appointed specials
to temporarily take the place of Police
man L. Harris, who has important
business outside of the city, on the Goth,
the time of Harris absence to apply on
his vacation.
THE SOCIAL EVIL AGAIN.
A delegation consisting of Rev. Mr..
Campbell, DIR. Widney, J. H. Book and
G. u. Mills having expressed the desire
to address the commission were invited
to seats. -
DR.. Widney, as spokesman Of the
party, spoke in plain, unmistakable
terms. He said that several nights ago
he was on the Santa Barbara train, and
had been, shocked by the open display
OF prostitution as it Is practiced on Ala
media street. He, as we'll as many
others, had witnessed, not one block
from Also street, the boldness of painted
females whose open windows disclosed
theirgaudily clad forms, the more visible
by reason OF big lamps hanging in their
dens. The overland Southern Pacific
trains, carrying numerous tourists, pass
there every night when these dens of
sin are in full blast, and he had made
the calculation that no less than thirty
trains pass through the street daily.
He reverted to the bad impression that
such q sight must make upon people
visiting this section for the purpose of
making real estate investments, or who
are seeking homes. DR.. Widney de-
plored the publicity of this shocking ex-
hibition of boldness. He thought that
the abandoned women who had their
abode on Alameda street should be
forced away from that thoroughfare.
Mr.. Mackay told the speaker that the
matter was a very hard one to deal with.
Mr.. Widney-The commissioners have
the power to drive these women into
secluded quarters. If it cannot be done
directly, then they should be pushed
into other places by indirect means.
driven away from New High street.
What shall we do with them If we now
drive them away from the Alameda?
Let me remind you Of the time when
stringent police measures had virtually
closed the cribs. The women, thus de-
prived of the ordinary avenues, became
street walkers and patrolled our princi-
pal streets at night, to the great scandal
of our citizens.
DR.. Widney repeated what he had
said and added that leaving alone the
moral aspect of the situation, he be-
lieved that the condition of affairs was
hurting the business chances of the city.
He asked that steps be taken to have
them ousted as quickly as possible.
| Mr.. Snyder-l am willing to cooper
ate with the board for their removal
from Alameda but 1 object strongly to
their return to New High street.
| Rev. Mr.. ampbell-Another thing.
The employees of the railroad wave
their pocket handkerchiefs to the
women. have seen it frequently. A
lady first called my attention to it. Why
cannot the railroad company be directed
| to build q fence in front of these
houses? (Signs of amusement, quickly
subdued under the eagle glance OF the
reverend gentleman.)
Mr.. Snyder-I move that the chief be
instructed to cause the inmates of the
houses of i'll fame on Alameda street to
remove their names and door-plates
from their abodes.
Mr.. Shatto-To which 1 offer an
amendment that the women be driven
from Alameda street altogether. They
can come in my ward if they want to.
will modify my amendment to read
that the chief be instructed to disperse
them quietly.
The original motion as made by Mr..
Snyder was adopted.
Mr.. Shatto said it was strange that
/ the board should so often express the
ambitious desire to- deal with the ques-
ton of the social evil, but he took notice
that when committees, as the one just
departed, came along with their griev-
ances their desires were never properly
Mr.. Mackay-Becau we do not de-
sire that this board shall become the
laughing stock of this city. We do not
propose to make ourselves ridiculous,
cir. do not care if there were q
thousand motions of that kind, l, al
least, would not countenance them!
Mr.. Lewis-I move that the chief be
instructed to use diligence in the
premises and order that the women be
forced to keep their windows or blinds
closed. will add that the police moi
being very numerous in that district tc
attend to the enforcement of this order
few might be taken from Mr.. Shatto'i
1 district where, for obvious reasons, they
are not so much in demand.
Mr.. Shatto-Ohl yes What would
it avail? The women will remain quie
for couple of weeks and then they'll
give the policemen dollar or two ane