The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-28
PHASES OF "C1TY HoUsEkEEPING.v
Presidents of Three WOmen's Health
Leagues Speak of Their Work.
Boston Transcript.

Boston Transcript.
An excellent idea of how women are in
was given before the Home Congress of the
Food Fair this morning. Three presidents
OF Women's Health Protective associations
spoke for those organizations and gave en-
tertaining accounts of what has been ac-
complished in arousing public sentiment in
FAVOR OF better sanitary conditions. Mrs
James Scrimgeour, sister of DR.. Caroline
Hastings. of Boston, was first presented by
Mrs. Richardson. She told, in most anus
ing manner, OF the way in which the work
was organized in Brooklyn, of the ridicule
that followed, and the qualification that
comes to it's members when they reflect
that they now have a larger constituency
than any other society in that CITY, and
covering wider field of usefulness. IF
Brooklyn authorities said the speaker
had looked ahead a little when laying out
the city we housekeepers would not be suf-
fering from our present inconvenience
notably the lack of back alleys. Because of
this we have been obliged to gaze into the
streets upon solid rows of ash barrels filled
with the aceumulations of week-a dis
grace to modern civilization
we never shall have good government -
Mrs. Scr1mgeour went on to say, until the
ash barrel is redeemed for its condition
shows the consideration of the owner for
the community. We are criticised in our
attempts to have ordinances on this matter
by those who say we have things enough in
our own homes to look after without med
ding with what the police and the city
authorities ought to do. This is true, but if
those who are supposed to do it will not
then women must. a better state of things
will not come about, however, until the
masses learn that liberty is not license
The speaker told of the attempt to improve
the vacant city lots for the benefit of chill
dren; of the prohibitory signs regarding un-
and ferry boats; of the stabling of trucks
ana wagons in the streets and of the dis
posal of garbage.
Mrs Ralph Trautman, of New York
president OF the parent society which was
founded in 1874, said that at that time
eIeVen women residing on Beekman Hill,
overlooking the East river a most desir-
aple section, We're outraged by the foul
doors that polluted the air that they deter
nlfed TO investigate the cause. According
~ they made a tour of the abhatoir district
It was a revelation. and while they re-
ton, they decided that some steps must be
TAX TAKEN l., at once to improve matters. Since
that time We have neglected nothing that
tend tends toward the protection of public
health. We are now hoping said Mrs
TPrautman. Ito effect, through the Health
green vegetables and fruits before the
small Nall grocery store will be prohibited"
described the Woman's Health Protective
Association. of which she is president.
which was founded in 1898 as a committee
inspiration from Mrs. Trautman. The coun-
try at that time, she said, had been threat
e edeir With choiera, and the women of Phil
the dire results of the neglect of sanitary
laws The speaker traced this modern re-
form movement from 1888. and the uproot-
ing of the general belief that disease is due
to special Providence or the vengeance of
an offended Deity. The organization she
represents has committee to consider
the water supply. and great improvement
has been made in the drinking water of
the Schuylkill and the Delaware by sand
filtration. This work was emphasized as
showing how women banded together can
lead the thought of their community in
realizing public dangers to health and
safety and can materially assist in rous-
ing public sentiment to effectually demand
mueh-needed reforms. The STRENGTHENING
committee receives complaints from every
part of the city, verifies and forwards them
each week to the Department of Public
Work. The collection of garbage and
ashes and. the paper nuisance are also
carefully considered. A chldrens league
has been established and it's outlook IS
hopeful. At the instance of the committee
a memorial was sent to the city's car com
panies asking for tenders that overcrowd-
ing be prevented. that motormen and con-
ductors be not allowed to work more than
ten or twelve hours a day, instead of six
teen, as at present that they be protected
from the weather by. vestibules. that the
cars be heated, and lastly that the rules
regarding expectoration be enforced Tho
association has carried it's interest to the
SWeatShopS and the schools some of which
were In bad sanitary condition.