The herald., 1895-06-06
THE C|TY'S SOCIAL EVIL
Report of Committee Appointed
to Investigate
THE SHAME=STAINED CASH
Extent of the Evil Is Reduced to
Dollars
A Short but Graphic Picture Of the Blight
Upon Society-A Pertinent Inquiry
as Yet Unanswered

4 committee of three gen ntlemen ap-
l pointed at meeting of secret organ iza-
ton for the purpose has formulated its re-
port. copy OF which, through the Rev.
NJ. Y. Wright, is here given to the public:
The extent of the social evil in our
city is but little understood except by
those directly interested and either they
are making too much money out OF 1t to
kill the goose that lays their golden eggs,
or their morals are so seriously compro-
missed that they dare not make public
what they know. One must make II q
subject of systematic investigation and
inquiry in order to discover its ram fica-
tions. At the base of the fabric is the
woman who. from choice or fancied nee
essity, sells herself for pittance. Prey
ing upon her are the harry known AS
the keeper OF the house and the male
ulcer known as the ac'. Many of these
macs" are saloon keepers, bartenders
and hangeis-on about saloons; there are
gamblers by profession, and still Others
whose mental caliber is OF the lowest yet
have enough of muscle left to be brutes
and terrori2e some poor woman into
surrendering her shame stained cash for
his support. These macs, saloon keepers,
bartendeis, gam bers. loafers. hoodlums
and general riff-raf constitute frater-
nitv at war within itself, preyinG upon
each other, cheating and dei:auding each
near it is shrewd enough to lay its strife
aside vote sulidly and work as unit foi
the councilman or other otlcer who will
represent their interests before the law.
Here comes in the lowest grade OF poll
tician with these votes to trade in con-
ventionns and at the polls, and next
above him the respectable office holder
who profits from it all, but who thinks
he is so far removed from 1t that none
of the filth and moral rottenness will at
tach to him or soil his pharasaical char
acter. This social evil has so intimately
woven itself into the political affairs
OF the city that it has Tor years openly
Haunted itself before the public gaze
without let or hindrance from mayor.
chief OF police or supervisor, and more
than this, this base fraternity has occupied
offices within the gift OF the voters OF
the city. Now let MS see upon what
meat this Caesar of infamy doth feed that
lie is grown so great.
There are in this city no less than
twenty houses of i'll fame known as par
lor houses" containing no less than sew
enty-ive inmates; seventy-hve cribs each
accommodating one prostitute; twenty
five assignatlon houses for temporary
use yet shelteirng large though uncer-
tain number of women-not less than 20O:
while scattered about in the lodgi ng
houses of more or less respectability
careful estimate finds 500 more women
their bodies. Attached to these and iv-
ing off their earnings are at least eighty
males. each OF whom has several so-called
friends in the lowest grades OF society. who
would be macques, but lack the oppor.
tunity.
The seventy-fve occupants OF parilor
houses each pay at least Sl5 per week Tor
board and lodging, making a total OF
Sll25; the seventyfive crib women each
pay SIS per week rent. making total OF
S1l25, saying nothing about board. The
700 others will pay 81 per week. making
$500. For rent OF all these and for board
Of the parlor women we see a total OF
$505O is needed every week. low esti-
mate places the board, clothing, washing
and incidentals at an average OF $40 per
week, amounting to about $4,000. Here
we have a. total OF SIS, $50 that must be
spent in this city each week for the sup
port of these women. Yet the Chinese
women and scattering women OF more or
less shady reputation have not been con-
sidered in the above estimate. neither
have the street walkers been included.
This expenditure goes on eacn week in
the year and gives US grand yearly total
of about 500, 900 What a Patronage
these figures prove! And the money
comes from old men. young men, single
men ami married men, rich and poor, the
laborer and the capitalist: the respect
able and the disreputable.
Connected with THIS nefarlous business
are the owners of the property, their
agents, grocerymen, butchers and mer-
chants, who furnish daily supplies. and
greater than all. the saloon keeper. When
all these men are considered, ana it is re-
mebered that they are voters, it is an
easy matter to comprehend the political
pull OF this fraternity.
The keepers of the parlor houses and
of the cribs have repeatedly testified that
with all this great amount of money fiow-
ing into their Golfers, they could not
keep their houses open on account OF
their heavy expenses were it not for the
liquors they sell. A bottle of beer that
costs % cents elsewhere they sell for 81,
and other liquid refreshments IN like pro-
portion. Truly the house OF i'll fame and
the saloon are twins. The owners of the
property used for these purposes are.
many of them, moving about as respect
able people. Many instances could be
given and names and particulars cited to
prove the assertion.
The law says that it shall be the duty
OF the mayor. the chief of police and the
supervisor of the district to serve notice
on the owners and occupants of houses
of i'll fame to abate the nuisance within
three days but our officers have not
done it. Why?