Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-18
SALVATION
ARMY PROBE
ORDERED
Judge Heen Summons Manoa
Matron to Answer Charge
Girls Are 0verWorked

Without preliminary announcement,
Circuit Judge William H. Heen in juv-
emile court this afternoon began an
investigation of conditions at the Sal
walton Army home, Manoa Valley.
Adjutant Annie Sabine, assistant at
the home, was asked to appear for the
institution.
The investigation is based upon a
letter received by Judge Ashford Sep
TENDER from one or the inmates or
employees" OF the home, about 23
years old, who is said to have charge
Of the laundry work for the liz or
more children cared for there. Among
other things, the letter alleges that
one girl, thought to be a minor, does
all the cooking for the 116 children;
that one girl does all the washing;
that the girls work from 8 o'clock in
the morning until 6 O'Clock in the
evening; that the girls are not given
good food, and that girls who are near
ly of age are not allowed to go out
and earn their own living.
IF you don't believe me, you please
so up" says the letter to the Judge.
Circuit Judge Heen declares that
if conditions are as outlined in the
letter, thorough investigation will
be made by the juvenile court Off
Gals. The girl who, according to the
letter, cooks for all the inmates, was
requested to appear this afternoon.
Following is the letter received by
Judge Ashford, printed verbatim:
Dear Sir:
Il am writing you these few lines
to let you know how this home are
treating the girls.
There are three girls in the laun.
dry, two girls on the iron.
And the girls that doing the work
in the laundry, there scold them every
time. *..
Because the washing and there
don't let the girl rest.
There is only one girl doing all the
washing for 116 girls in the home
They don't give the girls good
food to eat. There's only one girl
cooking for the Ward children in the
house
There are many older girls in that
home, good enough to go out working
and earn money for they living.
Some of those girls are nearly over
age, and they don't let them go out
working to earn there living because
these want the older girls to stay in
the home, for work hard for all the
children
Dear sir if you don't believe me
If you please to go up or some one
to come and see what the girls doing
the hard work There let the girls
work from eight to six O'Clock in the
afternoon. l am the girl that is older
than any Of these bigger girls in this
heme."
That the girl who wrote the fore
going letter is not mentally RESPONSE
BILE for her acts was the statement
made by Adj. Sabine. She said that the
girl had gone to the home four years
ago, in trouble, and that her child was
born in August. The adjutant added
that the girl has been given several
opportunities to leave, as she is over
age, but that she has never taken ad:
vantage of them. Her father lives in
Hilo. The allegation made by the girl
ShoI Su6 W o6hOO IOE 44O "dS
denied by the adjutant, who said that,
at times, there are as many as eight
girls in the laundry.
The writer of the letter said she
had complained to outsiders that the
work was too hard. The girl who
does the cooking and baking was. al
so examined, but said she always had
help. She added that she had no com.
plant to make.
Judge Heen expressed the opinion |
hat girls now in the home who are
over age, should be assisted in getting |
positions outside.
Il would rather see them work for |
! small family and get something, |
han work for 116 girls at the home |
md get nothing, and with little op-
oortunity Of advancing along educa.
tional lines" he declared RI +,