The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-10
GIRLS WITH PUBLIC SPIRIT
WOmRU's Municipal League Re-
rruit. Volunteer inspectors.
street Cleaning Department it

TII3 Street Cleaning Department is
receiving the help of a band of
i sharp eyed volunteer inspectors
who are looking after the matter
of garbage disposal Tho Warning Ju-
venile Citizens League. an organization
OF school boys and girls recruited by
the Woman's Municipal League. IL maxi
ing canvass of the city to see what
people are giving the u. s. c. men to
empty.
ON the upper West side there are gall
vanlzed iron garbage cans very generally
provided with covers. But on the East
Side there Is a motley collection of old
boxes. dishpans and wash boilers. This
is contrary TO the law. for the receptacles
are seldom dust proof their contents
leak and the mems time IA consumed
unnecessarily in emptying large numbers
Of small containers.
Perhaps the organlza ton most active
in this work ls the American Post; the
divisions OF the league are called posts
This post consists Of Jewish girls in a
ncighborhood that Is rapidly becoming
Italian. Tho girls have adapted them
selves to changing conditions and are
holding meetings for Italian women with
speakers of their own nationality Mt the
recreation rooms. 1S6 Chrystle street. to
explain the sanitary code. The girls
have asked Commissioner Fetherston to
enforce the rule requiring tenants to
put their garbage cans out on the street
before 10 A. NJ
Last summer the American Post,
which contains only twelve members.
succeeded In having the streets of It's
district nstzlN1 . L,,I
day. Commissioner Edwards AT first be-
lievcd the request Of the girls To be
against the law. but they proved that IL
was not and he complied with 1t. to the
great relief Of the neighborhood.
BEFORE they began their garbage can
campaign the children took up the mat
ter OF vacant lots and wrote letters to
the people who lived near by asking
them not to make dumping grounds OF
these possible play places. They also
investigated the cellars and dumb
walter shafts Of the tenemcnts In which
they lived
In many cases they found that the
door required by law Mt the foot Of the
shaft missing or permanently hooked
back giving the flames fine pathway
through the building IN case Of fire.
lUfN examined inc nOiltn-
pieces on the speaking tubes to see &
they compiled with the law. They de-
cided that these tubes ought 10 be nbol.
ished in favor Of bells and tod tho Health
Department so They linked 10 the
janitors aboat keeping the shaft doors
shut. and put up signs asking the
tradesmen to close them.
In the intervals of their H. S. G. work
hnSs 1
the elevated al the request Of President
Theodore r. Shonts himself. Mr.. Shonts
spoke to one of the groups of the
league not long ago and asked them to
Keep an eye on the men whom the In
terborough hires To sweep its steps
The children are investigating at regu-
lar hours and reporting.
The posts all meet in their respective
school houses. and all the posts in
neighborhood are frequently gathered
together to hear some city official tell
about his department. Each post has
its own leader and holds a weekly meet-
ing at the school. Miss Marion G. Pet
ers directs the work on behalf Of the
Womans Municipal League.
She sees that the children hiv.
jaunts and outings, especially in the
ization Is cooperation with every city
department Each city official who
speaks is supposed To tell these little
citizens what they can do to help In
his work. and each member takes n
pledge To- work To- make the city a het-
ter place before he or she j. invested
with the white hutton bearing the
American flag. which is the badge Of
the league.
Each post has some special work 81
rs own. The small girls of clara Bar
ton Post of Public School .. at the
corner Of West End avenue and Eighty
second street. supervise the cleaning NJ
their particular block To the grea'
amusement Of the White Wings The
boys of Columbus Post. Public school
-. at 81 West Fifiy-Second street.
have helped the Jan!tors of the neigh
borhood To clean out their Easements
to minimize the danger Of fires The
girls OF CIaremont Post. Public School
"a. AT lfith street and Amsterdam ave.
nue.. issue newspaper filled with
news of the organization.