The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-19
THE GROWING SOCIAL EVIL

kew. VIII "A. knlghten, pastor OF Urace
M. E. Church, appeared before the Coun-
Gil and presented set of resolutions re-
Gently adopted at the ministers meeting
protesting against the cribs on Alameda
street north from First street He al so
handed Clerk Luckenhach monster petit
ton signed by a large number OF property
owners. in the Eighth Ward, asking that
the nuisance be abated.
President iced extended an invitation
to Mr.. Knighten to step inside the rail
Gentlemen, said he 81 appear before
your honorable body to present the petit
ton OF the property owners and residents
of North Alameda street. 1t represents
the wishes Of hundreds of respectable. in
dustrious people-men who work for
their sustenance and are endeavorinS to
raise their families in decency.
at represents their interest in their
property and the damage they sustain.
Property depreciates for the proximity of
these dens of iniquity makes it impossi-
BILE for them to rent their property, much
less sell it. Their losses in rents are very
large, They cannot mortgage their prop
erty to pay the city and county taxes.
and they have recently been assessed for
public improvements. such as putting in
sewers and laying sidewalks.
They have to pay their part for the
maintenance of the schools and | would
suggest that if this nuisance is not done
away with it would be adv sable to not
have any more schools in the ward
These people are not represented in
their moral nor financial interests by the
presence OF these houses OF ill-fame. About
four men of wealth own most of these
houses, and they are non-residents. They
rent them and derive Il large revenue
against the interest OF the people.
1T repres -nts the respectable and vir-
tuous womanhood of hundreds Of poor
homes occupied mostly by honest working
people. The maintenance of these cribs
is stigma and a shame.
The protest represents over 1900 chill
dren who are bright and pure. Daily they
are compelled to pass these cribs on their
way to and from school, and the spectacle
which meets their vision is demoralizing
and degrading. The school buildn gs are
now almost barricaded from the city by
these brothels. Which is needed most,
these holes or decently surrounded school
houses?
1.-The protest represents the church
people, both Catholic and Protestant, and
they appear as a unit against the perpe-
tuity of this crying outrage
AS soon as Mr.. Knighten had taken his
seat, Councilman Savage jumped to his
feet and said: 81 earnestly endorse all
that Mr.. Knighten has said. always have
and do now favor the removal of these cribs
from the Eighth ward
MY business is that of pressman and
calls me out at or 3 O. clock every morn
ing, and | see more of these dives than
other people 90, and would be derelict
in my duty if I did not want them legis
lated out OF my ward.
However, if they are driven out at
once, these women. as was the case in
New York City. will be forced into lodg
ing houses and decent houses, which
would be worse condition of affairs
than at present exists.
81 would suggest that place be found
where they can be moved. and then
will use my best endeavors to take them
off Alameda street,
Mr.. Savage then moved that commit
tee of three be appointed to investigate
the matter with the Board of Police Com
missioners, and it was carried. The
president appointed Councilmen Savage.
Snyder and Kingery as the committee.