Commercialized Prostitution in New York City Part 22

Definite work to reform this cla.s.s of women done by three religious organizations may be mentioned here,--that of the Chinatown Settlement, the Rescue Mission in Doyers Street, and of the Salvation Army. These organizations are in a position to touch those more deeply involved in vice; but the majority of the girls they reach are not prost.i.tutes.

The Chinatown Settlement offers a home and friendly relations to girls drawn into Chinatown. It affords entertainments, religious teaching, and practical training. It brings to the home an average of 75 different girls per month. Two thousand calls on girls were made in 1912. It has a small country place for summer use.

The Rescue Society reaches girls through mission services, clubs, and cla.s.ses. Two thousand, seven hundred and forty-eight women were touched by the services in 1911.

The Salvation Army maintains rescue and industrial homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as it does in all the chief cities of the land. The home in Manhattan cares for 50 women and is always full. Some midnight rescue work is done; but the girls actually taken from the streets are few. This work, which formerly depended largely upon religious results in meetings, now accomplishes more by personal influence of workers. The girls are of all nationalities, their average age, 25. So far as possible, the different cla.s.ses are separated in the home. Of 115 inmates in one year 60 were betrayal cases, 19 were cases of prost.i.tution, and 27 girls were under serious temptation. Capable girls are trained and sent out to service. The leaders state that perhaps 80 percent are reformed. The Army also maintains a home at Tappan on the Hudson for young girls about to become mothers. This work was formerly the Door of Hope and is still in charge of Mrs. Whittemore. The Army also does a preventive work for young girls on its farm in Spring Valley.

The two homes that probably touch the problem of the prost.i.tute and commercialized traffic in women more closely than any others are Waverly House and the Florence Crittenton Home. The leaders in these homes are in close relation to the magistrate's courts and both take care of witnesses in white slave cases pending in the Federal Court.

Waverly House is under the management of the New York Probation a.s.sociation. It accommodates 18 girls, who come through the courts, as above mentioned, and through philanthropic and religious organizations.

Two hundred and nine were cared for in the house in 1912. They remained from one day to three months, for Waverly House is a temporary home and not a reformatory. Most of the girls are young, the largest group between sixteen and eighteen. With the exception of the court witnesses, girls are placed in such permanent inst.i.tutions or positions as will meet their needs. Personal attention and careful study are most prominent in this house. Cla.s.ses in the useful arts, English, and music are provided. One night each week is "play night," and entertainments of all kinds are provided. The higher spiritual truths are brought to the girls through a Sunshine Circle. Through the Employment Bureau the girls of the house, as well as many who have been arrested, those in moral danger, and many difficult and incorrigible girls, find situations.

The Florence Crittenton Mission in this city is one of many homes of the same name situated in the larger cities of this country. It formerly engaged in a rescue mission work for both men and women. Its work is now limited to the care of erring women. The home contains 16 rooms, each occupied by two or more persons. The girls are probationers, girls released on suspended sentences, witnesses in white slave cases, and women discharged by the courts; a few come from cafes and from the streets.

During an entire year, 501 girls pa.s.sed through the home, some staying but a few hours, others remaining for the year. They range in age from fourteen to twenty-five years. A night school is maintained, as well as cla.s.ses in physical culture and the useful arts. A Helping Hand Cla.s.s makes sc.r.a.p books and small articles for sick children. The pleasure side of life is met by entertainments, and religious services are regularly held. The disposition of the 501 girls above mentioned was as follows:

Situations 183 Sent home 185 Deported 17 In care of organizations 58 Committed to inst.i.tutions 19 Left against wishes 17 In Home 22 --- 501

The work is financed and managed by the National Florence Crittenton Mission.

Though not placed strictly under the reformative heading, certain fundamental phases of the work of the Probation a.s.sociation and the Church Mission of Help may here be presented. As stated above, the sphere of these societies is largely that of clearing houses. They study carefully the girls who come to them and make of them the disposition best suited to their needs. The time of study allows opportunities for personal helpfulness and it is well improved.

The Church Mission of Help began its work by a prolonged study of 229 cases of wayward girls who were more or less connected with the Episcopal Church. Parental and good home conditions were sadly lacking in most cases. On the basis of this study the society began its work of information to the church and of helpfulness to the girls. During the year 1912 it was in touch with 352 girls, of whom 148 were under its direct care, 58 were cared for on leaving inst.i.tutions, and 103 were in inst.i.tutions. Two hundred and six of these girls were connected with the Episcopal Church. Twelve other religious bodies were represented, while a small number of the girls had no religious affiliations. All cases are referred, where possible, to the churches with which they are or were connected. The work of this society is largely personal. Besides locating girls in homes and inst.i.tutions, employment is found for those fitted for it. Some court work is done. In addition to paid workers, an increasing number of trained volunteers are being used. Besides the care of the church girl and the work of education and prevention done by this society, its service of visitation in inst.i.tutions is most valuable. The visits of sympathetic women to girls in inst.i.tutions pave the way for a useful service in their social reinstatement later.

The wider work of the New York Probation a.s.sociation, which deserves mention here, is in the form of a careful study of all the cases with which it has to do. A thorough physical examination is given each girl by a physician. A mental examination follows and cases are placed under the direct supervision of a skilled neurologist and psychologist. Careful records of all facts are kept. The discovery of physical and mental weakness, often after prolonged study, leads to a definite course of action. Such scientific results are not only valuable in the practical treatment of the individual girl, but furnish a basis on which the courts act, and are of wide usefulness to the student of the conditions which lead to moral delinquency.

(c) CORRECTIONAL WORK

There are three main correctional agencies in New York City: the New York State Training School for Girls at Hudson, the State Reformatory for Women at Bedford and the Workhouse. A real work of correction is also accomplished in the case of those committed to the House of the Good Shepherd, the House of Mercy, and the Magdalen Benevolent Society Home.

The State Farm for Women, to be situated at Valatie, is not yet established, and the House of Detention, in connection with the Night Court for women, which would serve as an intermediary to correctional agencies, is not yet available.

The New York State Reformatory for Women at Bedford Hills, New York, was opened for commitment in May, 1901. It is supported entirely by state appropriations. It receives women between the ages of sixteen and thirty years from the First, Second, Third and Ninth Judicial District, _i. e._, Greater New York, Long Island and the tier of counties on each side of the Hudson River as far north as Albany. Over 80 percent of its inmates come from Greater New York. A woman of suitable age may be committed by any judge or magistrate for any offense over which he has jurisdiction, except murder in the first and second degrees, provided, however, that the woman has not previously been convicted of a felony.

The inst.i.tution is situated in the heart of Westchester County--39 miles north of New York City. Here the State owns 192 acres of land and leases an additional 57 acres. It has at the present time a capacity for 340 inmates, with a population of 505; the expenditure for maintenance last year was $4.06 per week per capita. It is built on the cottage plan. This permits of cla.s.sification, whereby the younger girls are separated from the older women and the less innocent from the more hardened offenders.

The idea of the inst.i.tution is that of a good industrial school. There are book schools in which the inmates receive instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, nature study, etc. Physiology and s.e.x hygiene are taught by the resident physician. All the work of the farm, including the care of the cattle, pigs and other live stock, is performed by the inmates, with the exception of the plowing. Much out-door work of a constructive character is carried on, both for its physical effects and for mental and moral results. In this constructive work is included a milk house, silo, stairways and sidewalks made of concrete. Industrial training in laundry work, various branches of needle work, cooking and other branches of domestic science is given. The inmates have musical and dramatic clubs.

Their religious needs are met by services conducted by clergymen of their respective denominations.

The Board of Managers const.i.tute a Board of Parole and while the inmates are all committed for a maximum of three years, they may be paroled at any time, if in the judgment of the Board of Managers, such action is considered to be for their best interest. Parole officers find suitable homes and suitable work for the paroled women and follow them up carefully until the expiration of the parole period.

The New York State Training School receives girls under sixteen years of age from the entire state. Those from New York City come through the Children's Court. The equipment of the school is very good, the chief need being for more room. The cottage system used accommodates 385 girls, in separate sleeping rooms. It is, however, necessary to use other buildings and parts of buildings for housing purposes. The households are practically independent of each other, thereby offering, as far as is possible, the conditions and spirit of a real home.

The methods of work and the life in the school are most commendable. A personal and individual interest in each girl is manifest from the time of commitment through the school life and for years after the school is left.

By careful study each one is placed in the cottage and environment where she will receive the most help and the best training. Changes to insure development are made, as necessary. A girl's grading depends on her conduct and proficiency. Discipline is varied, with the principle always in mind that the individual and not the offense is to be treated.

Humiliation and loss of self-respect are avoided, if possible. The living conditions and training seem excellent. The girls do the cottage work, changes being so arranged as to give all a thorough experience in housework. School sessions of fifteen hours weekly in the morning and eight weekly in the afternoon prevail. The morning session is the book school, the afternoon the industrial school. Cooking, plain sewing, dressmaking, physical culture, gardening, and vocal music are carefully taught. Religious instruction is given by representatives of various churches under direction of the state. Amus.e.m.e.nts are afforded at proper times, are well arranged and heartily indulged in. That there is a spirit of pride and enthusiasm in work and a feeling of happiness in the life is quite believable when one realizes that so many old girls wish to visit the school that they cannot be accommodated. The records show that the delinquent girl of normal mind can be and is cured. Girls of sub-normal mind are still to some extent cared for in this school; but they should be in a special inst.i.tution.

The Workhouse receives about 75 percent of all women prisoners convicted of offenses related to prost.i.tution in the magistrates' courts in this city. In the year 1912, three thousand, five hundred and thirteen women charged with soliciting and loitering were committed to the Workhouse for periods up to six months. About 50 percent of these, as shown by the fingerprint process, are repeaters, each of whom had been arrested from two to eight times. The life in the Workhouse is generally conceded to be not only useless but actually harmful. The Chief Magistrate of the city has stated in print the following: "The present Workhouse, through no fault of the Commissioner or its officers, is a poor place for these women. The building does not meet the requirements for these cases. A new inst.i.tution should be provided; not a lounging, unsanitary place, but a real workhouse, looking to reformation as well as punishment."

The reformatories in 1912 received through the courts 286 women. To Bedford were committed, 108; to the House of Mercy, 4; to the House of the Good Shepherd, 100; to the Magdalen Home, 74. Most, though not all these cases, were strictly related to prost.i.tution. Through the Children's Court of the city, of the 120 cases charged with tendency to moral depravity and convicted in the year 1912, sixty-two were committed to inst.i.tutions and 58 were placed on probation. Girls under sixteen committed to the House of the Good Shepherd numbered 64, to the House of Mercy, 57, and to the Training School at Hudson, 32; but not all of these cases involved immorality.

The following table summarizes the inst.i.tutions for friendless and wayward girls, in so far as they are described in the text; though numerous, their capacity and resources are obviously quite inadequate to the need:

---------------+--------------+-----+--------+-----------------+-------- NAME OBJECT CAPA- TOTAL SOURCES OF EXPENSES CITY CARED SUPPORT FOR 1 YEAR ---------------+--------------+-----+--------+-----------------+-------- Heartsease Prevention and 25 204 Contributions $ 3,300 Work reformation House of the Prevention and 75 177 City grant, 13,850 Holy Family reformation contributions, sewing-room, etc. Washington Prevention and 27 85 Investments, 6,160 Square Home reformation city grant, for Friendless contributions Girls Margaret Reformation of 24 80 Investments, 3,238 Strachan first cases. contributions Home Training House of the Protection and 500 880 County grants, 100,690 Good Shepherd reformation industrial dept. House of Mercy Protection and 110 183 Investments, city 22,247 reformation grant, laundry, etc., contributions New York Reformation 106 237 City grants, 27,690 Magdalen laundry, etc., Benevolent contributions Society St. Michael's Reformation 60 88 Investments, 8,000 Home and training contributions Waverley House Temporary care 26 209 Contributions, 22,371 investments, fees Salvation Army Reformation 50 115 Sewing room, 7,652 Rescue Home and training etc., contributions Door of Hope Shelter and 25 56 Contributions, 3,451 reformation sewing Chinatown and Care and 6 84 Contributions 3,059 Bowery reformation Settlement Florence Reformation 36 967 Contributions 9,319 Crittenton Mission New Shelter Reformation 20 140 Private patron St. Faith's Shelter and 17 31 Contributions 7,404 Home reformation Lakeview Home Care for first 25 60 Subscriptions, 8,476 offenders (plus 45 contributions infants) St. Katherine's Shelter and 13 13 Subscriptions and 3,531 Homes reformation (plus 13 contributions infants) Ozanam Home for Care and 100 865 City grants, Friendless reformation industrial dept., 8,957 Women contributions Wayside Home Reformation 21 67 City grants, and training contributions Free Home for Care and 30 53 Invests funds, 5,402 Young Girls prevention contribt's Brooklyn School Care and 30 94 City grants, 8,000 and Home for prevention contributions Young Girls New York State Correction and 335 440 State grants 99,278 Training School reformation for Girls State Correction and 340 763 State grants 89,721 Reformatory for reformation Women Daily average, 422. ---------------+--------------+-----+--------+-----------------+--------

Appendices

APPENDIX I

SUMMARY OF PLACES IN MANHATTAN WHERE PROSt.i.tUTION WAS FOUND TO EXIST DURING PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION (JANUARY 24TH TO NOVEMBER 15TH, 1912)

--------------------------------------------------------------------- _Places_ _Number of_ _Different Vice_ _Number of_ _Buildings_ _Resorts in Them_ _Investigations Made_ ---------------- ------------ ----------------- --------------------- Parlor Houses 142 142 441 Ma.s.sage Parlors 70 75 78 Tenements 578 1172 1245 Furnished Rooms 112 112 148 Hotels 105 105 560 ---- ---- ---- TOTALS 1007 1606 2472 ---------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX II

SUMMARY OF PLACES IN MANHATTAN CATERING TO PROSt.i.tUTION--INVESTIGATED JANUARY 24TH TO NOVEMBER 15TH, 1912

----------------------------------------------------------------------- _Number of Different_ _Places_ ------------------------------- _Number of _Addresses of_ _Investigations_ Prost.i.tutes _Buildings_ _Made_ Counted_ --------------------------- -------------- ---------------- ----------- Saloons, cafes and concert 308 1304 2689 halls Miscellaneous places allied with prost.i.tution 71 145 385 Semi-public places used by prost.i.tutes 20 35 150 ---- ---- ---- Totals 399 1484 3224 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX III

SUMMARY OF INMATES COUNTED AND ESTIMATED AT PLACES IN MANHATTAN WHERE PROSt.i.tUTION WAS REPORTED DURING PERIOD OF INVESTIGATION FROM JANUARY 24TH TO NOVEMBER 15TH, 1912

--------------------------------------------------------------- _Places_ _Number of_ _Inmates_ _Total Including_ _Inmates_ _Estimated but_ _those Counted and_ _Counted_ _not seen_ _Estimated_ --------------------------------------------------------------- Parlor Houses 1686 2609 2609 Ma.s.sage Parlors 153 .. 153 Tenements 2294 2976 2976 Furnished Rooms 227 .. 227 Hotels 583 .. 583 ---- ---- ---- 4943 5585 6548 ---------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX IV

MONTHLY EXPENSES OF THIRTY ONE-DOLLAR PARLOR HOUSES

---------------+---------------------------------------------------------- _Mmes. or Housekeepers_ +--------------------------------------------------- _Maids_ +--------------------------------------------- _Cooks_ +--------------------------------------- _Butcher & Grocer_ -----+--------------------------------- _Lighthouse_ +--------------------------- _Gas & Electricity_ +---------------------- _Telephone_ +----------------- _Rent_ +----------- _Entertain- ment Tickets_ +------ _Address_ Total ---------------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+----+------ No. -- W. 18th $140 $104 $40 $160 $120 $35 $15 $150 $50 $814 No. -- W. 24th 132 80 40 160 100 20 8 175 20 735 No. -- W. 25th 48 78 34 140 60 18 8 200 20 606 No. -- W. 25th 148 148 40 200 40 25 10 208 20 839 No. -- W. 25th 65 88 47 148 82 32 . 208 35 705 No. -- W. 25th 160 76 32 120 . 25 8 125 25 571 No. -- W. 28th 136 116 32 140 100 30 15 110 50 729 No. -- W. 28th 248 88 40 140 120 25 . 110 50 821 No. -- W. 31st . 80 40 120 . 35 8 208 25 516 No. -- W. 35th 192 78 34 200 84 30 10 150 20 798 No. -- W. 40th . 52 32 48 . 12 6 125 . 275 No. -- W. 40th . 56 40 60 . 12 . 125 . 293 No. -- W. 40th 128 80 36 120 72 35 12 125 20 628 No. -- W. 56th 172 112 48 180 60 35 15 175 . 797 No. -- 6th Ave. 72 60 44 140 100 25 . 200 50 691 No. -- 6th Ave. 108 100 48 120 60 15 10 208 20 680 No. -- 6th Ave. 128 80 40 120 120 30 . 175 40 733 No. -- 6th Ave. 60 64 48 200 . 20 10 166 25 593 No. -- 6th Ave. 120 60 32 140 . 25 8 150 20 555 No. -- 6th Ave. 64 48 32 48 80 15 . 150 . 437 No. -- 6th Ave. 128 54 40 140 60 25 10 175 35 667 No. -- 6th Ave. 128 120 44 180 100 35 15 175 50 847 No. -- 6th Ave. 60 44 . 180 72 20 6 225 20 627 No. -- W. 24th 72 96 36 80 160 20 10 175 25 674 No. -- W. 26th 168 120 36 180 60 40 15 150 50 819 No. -- W. 27th 60 52 40 100 80 25 8 175 30 570 No. -- W. 28th 60 76 40 160 120 25 10 200 50 741 No. -- W. 28th 60 56 48 140 . 12 . 125 . 441 No. -- W. 36th 160 88 40 140 80 30 10 150 50 748 No. -- W. 36th 180 80 36 120 80 25 10 150 25 706 +------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+----+------ Monthly Totals $3197 2434 1139 4124 2010 746 237 4943 825 19665 Year's Total $41561 31642 14807 53612 26130 8952 2844 59316 9900 248764 ---------------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+----+-----+----+------