REPORT 
 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PUBLIC 
 
 WELFARE COMMISSION 
 
 
 OF 
 
 GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 
 
 Presented to the Common Council, 
 
 
 November 10, 1913 
 
 
 Published by order of 
 
 THE COMMON COUNCIL, 
 
 James Schrlver, City Clerk 
 
 PENINSULAR PRESS <^^» 7 PRINTERS 
 
THE 
 
 PUBLIC WELFARE COMMISSION 
 
 of the 
 
 CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, 
 MICHIGAN 
 
 JOHN WYGMANS, Chairman 
 
 JAMES HOOGERHYDE, Secretary 
 REV. RUSSELL BREADY 
 REV. M. J. GALLAGHER 
 DR. J. G. HUIZENGA 
 DR. C. C. SLEMONS 
 GERRITT VERBURG 
 FRED ZIERLEYN 
 
 Note: — Rev. Melvin E. Trotter was appointed by the Mayor, 
 but was unable to serve owing to absence from the city. 
 
 Rev. M. J. Gallagher served only a short time owing to ill 
 health and the pressure of other matters. 
 
m.r 
 (k G 
 
 To the Honorable Mayor and Common Council of the City of Grand 
 Rapids : 
 
 Gentlemen : — The commission appointed, January 13, 1913, by 
 your honorable body to investigate the relation of wages to the 
 social evil respectively submits the following: 
 
 Shortly after its appointment the commission met and perfected 
 organization. After some discussion it was decided to assume the 
 name of “Public Welfare Commission.” 
 
 The following committees were appointed : 
 
 Labor Conditions — Fred Zierleyn, Rev. M. J. Gallagher, Gerritt 
 Verburg. 
 
 Public Amusements and Morals — Rev. Russell Bready, Dr. C. 
 C. Slemons, John Wygmans. 
 
 Health and Housing — Dr. C. C. Slemons, Dr. J. G. Huizenga, 
 Tames Hoogerhyde. 
 
 Legislation — Dr. J. G. Huizenga, Rev. M. J. Gallagher, John 
 Wygmans. 
 
 The scope of the commission was outlined as follows : v That 
 while it was primarily a commission to investigate and report upon 
 :he relation between wages and immorality, still it would be well 
 to also consider and report upon such conditions as were found 
 during its investigation as would be susceptible to remedy and assist 
 in minimizing the social evil, believing it of sufficient importance to 
 make it worthy of being made a portion of this report. 
 
 As this commission was an investigating and not a prosecuting 
 body, we have carefully omitted from this report all names and 
 addresses, in place of these we have used numbers. The definite 
 names and addresses, however, are on file in the records of the com- 
 mission. 
 
 Great difficulty was encountered in securing considerable of 
 this data, owing to the limited powers of the commission. Having 
 no authority to subpoenae and examine witnesses under oath, it 
 was deemed wise to send out requests to employers to appear before 
 the commission and assist it in reaching a fair conclusion. Only 
 four employers so responded. A large number of question blanks 
 were sent out to employes requesting information as to wages and 
 living conditions, but very few were returned complete, either 
 through reluctance to disclose their private affairs or through 
 a fear of loss of employment if the employer became aware that 
 such information had been given, though assurance was given 
 that such information would be held confidential and names would 
 
 3 — 
 
not be published. However, we believe sufficient data has been 
 gathered to give a fair idea of the wages paid in this city in various 
 occupations, and of the conditions which surround the female 
 worker in her struggle to maintain herself. 
 
 To secure reliable information we found it necessary to have 
 our investigators obtain employment in the places reported on, ex- 
 cept where information was obtained from the laborers direct. The 
 typical cases throughout this report are taken from the reports of 
 the investigators in the employ of the commission, investigators 
 that have had experience along these lines, and these are given as 
 their findings. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 John Wygmans, Chairman 
 
 James, Hoogerhyde, Secretary 
 
 J. G. Huizinga 
 
 Fred A. Zierleyn 
 
 Gerrit Verburg 
 
 Russell H. Bready 
 
 C. C. Slemons. 
 
ttOTi. RAA i i wt . PTTTQ«e>-r 
 
 INVESTIGATION S 
 
 Wages Paid the Female Worker. 
 
 An investigation of (1) was secured by one of our investigators 
 obtaining a position in the stripping room of a cigar factory. We 
 found that this company pay the girls $3.50 per week for the first 
 week second week and thereafter are paid by piece work, strippers 
 receive 25 cents per bushel for removing the stems from tobacco 
 leaves The average number of bushels stripped per day .is between 
 three and one-half and four. Some girls receive seven and eight 
 cents per hour for this kind of work. 
 
 (2) had worked at stripping for a period of four weeks, her 
 average wage was $3.75 per week. 
 
 (3) had been in the employ of company for some time, was a 
 stripper and her average wage was $5.50 per week. This girl had 
 no father, and helped her mother support a younger sister and 
 brother. 
 
 We found that the moral conditions surrounding _ the female 
 employes were not the best, the foreman (5) asked our investigator 
 to accompany him to (6) some night. This party also uses rough 
 language in the presence of the girls. The hours here aie fiom 
 7 : 1 5 a. m. to 5.45 p. m. 
 
 The female cigarmakers receive thirty cents per hundred and 
 ‘he average wage in this department is $8.35 per week. Under a 
 system of penalties, which requires the cigarmakers to make one 
 hundred and thirty cigars from a pad weighing eleven and three- 
 quarters ounces, they are fined twenty-five cents for each hundred 
 short, this being deducted from their wages. We found that the 
 majority of the girls employed here reside at home and that the 
 average amount paid for board is three dollars per week. 
 
 At the (7) where our investigator worked in the (8) depart- 
 ment we found that the saleswomen were not allowed to sit down 
 when not waiting on trade, they were told to stand and keep busy, 
 this being in direct violation of the state law. The manager {V) in- 
 terviews the applicant and engages the help at as lo w a salary 
 possible. The girls with no experience receive from $3.5U to i^.UU 
 oer week Cash girls receive from $2.50 to $3.50 per week. When 
 the manager of this place appeared before the commission m re- 
 sponse to our invitation we were told that in employing girls e 
 always showed a preference for the girl that lived at home, these 
 girls having a better appearance. This manager employs many 
 girls, but had no idea what amount a girl could live on, there was 
 no consideration given the cost o£ living. Business was the only 
 consideration in fixing a wage for a girl, other things did not mat- 
 
ter, he stated. 
 
 At this place we found it difficult to secure information as the 
 girls had been instructed to give out no information as to wages 
 they received, the reason given that it caused dissatisfaction among 
 the employes. 
 
 (10) aged about twenty-two, received $6.00 per week, her board 
 and room cost her $3.50 per week, and she told our investigator 
 that she found it very hard to make both ends meet. 
 
 (11) about twenty-three years of age told our investigator that 
 if she were not staying at home she would be unable to live on her 
 salary, she made $6.50 per week. The hours of work here are fifty- 
 two hours, per week, the sanitary conditions were found to be fair, 
 working conditions and surroundings not the best. 
 
 At the (12) we found that the moral surroundings were very 
 bad, in one department the girls were allowed unlimited use of the 
 phone and the head of this department was aware of this. The name 
 of the manager (13). The following girls made dates with our male 
 investigator over the phone, during working hours, (14), (15), (16), 
 (17), (18). These women are of the type that increase their earn- 
 ings by going out with men after working hours. The average wage 
 in this department is $6.00 per week. (19) is manager of the com- 
 pany. 
 
 (20) has worked with this company for three years and re- 
 ceived $5.00 per week and two per cent on the sales she made, some 
 weeks this per cent would average $3.50. (21) received the same 
 
 wages. The girls are started at a wage of $5.00 per week. (22) who 
 was assistant manager received $30.00 per week. Sanitary condi- 
 tions were found to be good, moral conditions very bad in one de- 
 partment and good in two other departments. 
 
 At the (23) we found that the average wage paid girls was 
 $4.56 and the hours of work fifty-four per week. (24) manager of 
 the company. (25) floor walker, does the employing. Our in- 
 vestigator was asked if she resided at home and she told (25) that 
 she did not, she was started to work at $4.00 per week. A woman 
 not living at home and still this man expected her to live on $4.00 
 per week. 
 
 Our investigator applied to (26) for a position. Here she was 
 told that this company always started a girl at $6.00 per week, 
 that they increased this wage as the girls showed the management 
 they were worth more. (27) aged seventeen worked at (28) during 
 the holiday season, she was paid $4.00 per week for fifty-four hours 
 work. The average wage paid at this company is $4.50 per week. 
 This same girl worked at (29) and received nine cents an hour 
 working fifty-four hours per week. 
 
 Our investigator obtained a position at (30) and received $5.00 
 per week to begin. This is the prevailing wage for beginners, a 
 raise of fifty cents is given every six months. (31) aged fourteen 
 years, working as a cash girl received $3.00 per week, she lived at 
 
 — 6 — 
 
home with her parents. (32) aged nineteen years, clerking, re- 
 ceived $5.00 per week. (33) same work, received the same wage, 
 both these girls lived at home with their parents. (34) clerking, 
 aged about nineteen, received $6.00 per week, she boards away from 
 home, was going with a man that gave her money, this girl is of 
 the type known as a “kept woman.” While at this place our in- 
 vestigator was clerking in one of the departments, she was asked 
 by (35) who has an office in this place, to go with him some even- 
 ing to the office of (36), where they would be alone as (36) was not 
 in the office at that time, in return he was to take investigator out 
 for a good time. Another party (37) who has a store in the south 
 end of town wanted investigator to go out with him, in return she 
 was to receive a silk dress. (38) floor walker, (39) manager of 
 this company. 
 
 At the (40) our investigator found that they employ about one 
 hundred girls, that the average entrance wage is $3.50 per week. 
 That the girls receive a raise of twenty-five cents a month until they 
 receive seven and eight dollars per week. (41) is the manager and 
 (42) is the superintendent. In the packing room (43) was foreman. 
 
 (44) has worked here one year and received $5.00 per week, 
 she boards at home and pays $2.50 per week to her parents, she buys 
 he own clothes. While working at this place our investigator saw 
 (45) and (46) who showed investigator their hands and fingers 
 that had become burned from handling bakery goods that they 
 were made to pack while hot and direct from the ovens. Moral 
 conditions here were found to be good. Cleanliness on the part of 
 the employes was not properly enforced. 
 
 At the (47) girls were found to receive a wage of $3.00 as 
 beginners, with a promise of an increase, hours required to work 
 fifty-four per week. 
 
 The girls employed at the (48) receive $5.00 per week to start 
 and work fifty-four hours per week, all overtime is paid for at the 
 rate of time and one-half. (49) receives $5.00 per week, lives at 
 home with her parents. 
 
 While employed at the (50) our investigator found that the 
 average age of the girls employed was twenty years. (51) manager, 
 (52) foreman of the first floor, (53) foreman of the second floor 
 and (54) foreman of the third floor. The starting wage is $4.00 
 per week ; hours, fifty-three per week. 
 
 (55) eighteen years of age has worked here two and one-half 
 years and makes $7.00 per week, she lives with her parents. 
 
 (56) nineteen years of age has worked here three years and 
 makes $9.00 per week, this girl gave her parents all the money she 
 earned. 
 
 (57) married, about thirty-five years of age has worked here 
 three years and makes $7.00 per week. Her husband worked every 
 day and his average pay was $12.00 per week. 
 
 (58) sixteen years of age makes $4.00 per week, she lives with 
 
 —7— 
 
her married sister and pays her $1.00 dollar per week and helps 
 with the housework when she comes home from work. 
 
 A statement of the (59) showing average wage received is 
 given below. Before the commission the manager stated that he 
 believed $6.50 was the lowest wage a girl could live on. 
 
 The manager also stated that it was believed the raising of 
 the minimum pay to $6.50 and the going into effect of the nine-hour 
 law for women would appreciably effect the company financially, 
 but that after matters became adjusted they found the change had 
 but little effect and was more than compensated for by the con- 
 tentment and satisfaction of their employes. He further stated that 
 it was expected to raise the minimum to $7.50 as soon as a proper 
 readjustment could be worked out. This gentleman was excep- 
 tionally fair in his attitude toward his employes and stated he be- 
 lieved the time had come when the employe should be regarded 
 as something more than a machine and should be allowed to share 
 in the prosperity of the place in which they were employed. Out of 
 the one hundred and fifty-one women employed at this place it 
 
 was found that 
 
 Thirty-nine days workers received $6.50 to $6.75 
 
 Twenty-five day workers received 7.02 to 7.29 
 
 Twenty-seven day workers received 7.56 to 7.83 
 
 Two day workers received ’ 8.00 
 
 Nine day workers received 9.00 
 
 Two day workers received 9.50 
 
 Five day workers received 10.00 
 
 One day worker received 11.00 
 
 Two day workers received 12.00 
 
 One day worker received 15.00 
 
 Eighteen piece workers received 6.50 to 10.50 
 
 Twenty piece workers received 9.00 to 14.00 
 
 Average wage paid female employes 8.30 per week 
 
 At the (60) we found that the number of female workers were 
 seventy, that the average age was eighteen years, that the average 
 wage paid was $5.33 per week. That the highest wage was $12.00 
 per week. (61) manager, before the commission, stated that he 
 preferred girls living at home as they worked for less. When asked 
 if in his opinion a girl could live respectably on $6.00 per week, he 
 replied that they could. 
 
 At the (62) we found that they employed fifteen women, that 
 two received $20.00 per month, five received $35.00 per month, two 
 received $40.00 per month, three received $45.00 per month, one 
 received $50.00 per month, one received $60.00 per month, and one 
 received $65.00 per month. The women in this place argiasked to 
 work on Sunday occasionally, (63) manager of the company. 
 
 At the (64) we found that all work is done on a piece work 
 basis. A girl starting work here makes from $3.00 to $4.00 per 
 week, after some experience she can make $7.00 to $8.00 per week. 
 
It requires from five to six months to become an experienced coat 
 and vest maker. The hours required to work, fifty-two. Sanitary 
 and working conditions were found to be fair. 
 
 (65) reported to us that she was employed by (66) as domestic 
 and received $2.50 per week with board and room, the room she 
 had was a small one in the attic and without heat in the winter. 
 This same girl left here and secured a position with (67) and she 
 received $3.00 per week to start with and a promise of a raise in two 
 weeks. 
 
 (68) employed at the (69) receives $5.00 per week, she boards 
 at home. Sanitary and moral conditions are good. 
 
 (70) employed at (71) received $4.00 per week and works from 
 7 :00 a. m. to 5 :45 p. m., out of this the girl pays $3.00 per week for 
 board, leaving her $1.00 for clothes and other expenses. (72) em- 
 ployed at (73) received $4.00 per week for fifty-four hours work, 
 she lived at home. 
 
 (74) aged eighteen working for (75) receives eight cents per 
 hour, for nine hours and fifty minutes work per day. She pays 
 $3.00 per week for her board, and sixty cents per week for carfare. 
 This girl says that if she were to be taken sick and could not work 
 she would have to have outside aid. 
 
 We found that the average wage for female coremakers is 
 $1.00 to $1.75 per day of nine hours. Women in bakeries average 
 93 cents per day of nine hours. Women garment workers average 
 $1.10 per day of nine hours. Laundry workers average $1.17 per 
 day of nine hours work. Canning factory workers from 90 cents 
 to $1.40 per day of nine to thirteen hours work. 
 
 (76) widow, aged forty, two children working, wage of chil- 
 dren $6.00 and $3.50 per week. (76) takes in washing, receives 
 aid from the city poor department, they are paying off a $300.00 
 mortgage on their home, children are sixteen and seventeen years 
 of age. 
 
 (77) widow, aged sixty-four, domestic, charge on city poor 
 department, her average wage is $4.00 per week, she says that 
 without aid from city she would starve. 
 
 One other place deserves especial mention because of its atti- 
 tude toward its employes. The female employes, who number 
 fourten or fifteen, in this factory receive from $12.00 to as high as 
 $16.00 per week, and while the employment needs careful atten- 
 tion, it is not what can be called skilled labor. The work here is 
 piece work, but from all appearances the girls were not straining 
 to do a certain amount, though working steadily, but seemed con- 
 tented and happy. The manager stated that this policy had been 
 adopted through a desire to *reat fairly with their employes, be- 
 lieving that the interest of employer and employe were mutual, 
 and that a satisfied employe was one of the best assets for the em- 
 ployer. He stated that since the change had been made to the 
 present system the output of the factory had been increased and the 
 
 —9— 
 
company was so well satisfied that besides the wages paid, the 
 employes received a share of the profits of the company at the end 
 of each year: This applied to both male and female employes. 
 
 There was also provided a lunch and rest room for the female 
 employes, and while this is true of a quite a number of other places 
 the attitude of this company toward its employes deserves especial 
 commendation. 
 
 The following data was secured by questions asked of forty- 
 seven women, professional prostitutes, occasional prostitutes and 
 street-walkers. While a woman in this life is not noted for truth- 
 fulness, the method the investigator used to secure this data made 
 the information secured more reliable than information one usually 
 obtains from these women. Of this number twenty-two stated that 
 they attributed their present mode of living to being compelled to 
 adopt that method after being ruined by men. Men they had trusted 
 and found that their trust was misplaced, deserted, and several 
 actually taken to house of illfame. Of this number but four received 
 wages over $7.00 per week. One girl was making $2.40 when she 
 went wrong. Of the four making over $7.00 per week, one girl 
 kept books in a wholesale house and was making $12.00 per week, 
 two of the girls had clerked in stores, one getting $8.00 per week 
 and the other $7.50, and one girl was a saleslady on the road and 
 averaged $65.00 per month. 
 
 Five girls said they were in the life they were leading of their 
 own volition, of these five, one girl worked in a laundry and made 
 $6.00 per week, one girl did housework and made $5.00 per week 
 with board and room, one did no work out but helped about her 
 parents home, and two were working in stores, one received $4.00 
 per week as clerk, and the other clerk and cloak model was paid 
 $12.00 per week. 
 
 Twelve girls said they were in the life they were leading by 
 reason of bad associates. Two had been married and deserted, three 
 had worked in stores all making over $8.00 per week including 
 commissions on sales, two did housework, one girl getting $5.00 
 per week with board and room and the other getting $5.50 per 
 week with her board and room, and five of the girls had never 
 worked away from home. 
 
 Eight girls attributed their downfall to low wages, saying that 
 they could not secure the things they needed on the money they 
 were making and had drifted into the “easiest way” by going out 
 with men. Of these eight, two are still clerking and going out 
 with men evenings, one makes $7.00 per week and the other $4.50 
 per week. One girl pasted labels and made $6.00 per week, one 
 was an office girl and made $6.00 per week, two worked in hotels, 
 and two worked in restaurants, one of the girls worked for $8.00 
 per week waiting on table and then said that some weeks she could 
 make as high as $2.50 extra in tips. 
 
 — 10 — 
 
WAGES PAID THE MALE WORKERS. 
 
 The following was gathered from various sources, through in- 
 vestigators* by members of the commission, labor organizations, 
 etc. The furniture industry being predominant in this city made 
 it possible to collect a larger amount of data than from other crafts, 
 as will be seen from the report. The larger number reported on 
 having a working day of nine hours. 
 
 (78) aged thirty-seven, works for (80) as helper, receives 
 twenty-one cents per hour for ten hours work per day; this man is 
 married and has five dependents, give? his average expenses as 
 follows, clothing per month $10.00, heating $3.00 per month, food 
 $25.00 per month, light $1.75 per month, rent $10.00 per month, noth- 
 ing for amusements and an average of twenty-five cents per month 
 for education of children. 
 
 (79) aged sixty, works for (80) as handy man, receives twenty- 
 four cents per hour for ten hours work per day ; this man is married, 
 two in family, gives his average expenses as follows, clothing $5.00 
 per month, heating $4.50 per month, food $15.00 per month, lighting 
 $2.00 per month, carfare $3.00 per month, illness $2.00 per month, 
 is paying on his home. 
 
 (81) works for (80) as machinist, receives thirty-four and one- 
 half cents per hour for nine hours work. Has two in the family 
 mid his average monthly expenses are as follows: clothing $5.00, 
 heating $1.50, food $25.00 lighting $1.00, carfare $1.00, rent $14.00, 
 nothing for education and small amount for amusements, say 
 twenty-five cents per week. He is thirty-five years of age. 
 
 (82) single, aged thirty-seven, supports his father and mother, 
 works for (80) as boilermaker, wage is thirty-four and one-half 
 cents per hour for nine hours work ; his monthly expenses he gives 
 as follows : clothing $7.00, heating $7.00, food $30.00, lighting $2.50, 
 carfare $3.00, illness $40.00 last year, rent $18.00 amusements he 
 says' cost him $5.00 per month. 
 
 (83) single, aged thirty-seven, no dependents, average wage is 
 twenty-one cents per hour for nine hours work. He says clothing 
 cost him $5.00 per month, room $8.00 per month, and meals $15.00 
 per month. He is a helper and works at (80). 
 
 (84) married, aged thirty-five, six dependents, works for (80) 
 as machinist, receives thirty-five cents per hour for nine hours per 
 day and works seven days in the week. He gives his monthly ex- 
 penses as follows : Owns his home, carfare $2.00, education $10.00, 
 lighting $1.00, food $40.00, heating $3.00, amusements $1.80 per 
 month. 
 
 (85) married, aged seventy-eight, colored, has two in family, 
 charge on city poor department, out of employment at present. His 
 monthly expenses are as follows : Lighting 25 cents, rent $2.00 per 
 month, food and clothing from city and from friends, his wife does 
 washings, sanitary conditions around home very bad. 
 
 (86) married, aged about thirty-five, two dependents, works 
 
 — 11 — 
 
for (87) receives forty-one cents per hour for eight hours work. 
 Gives his monthly expenses as follows: Food $25.00, light $3.00, 
 amusements $5.00, carfare $1.00, rent $10.00, no expense for illness 
 the last year. 
 
 (88) married, three dependents, works for (80) as machinist, 
 receives thirty-four and one-half cents per hour for nine hours 
 work. Works seven days in the week. Gives expenses as follows. 
 Clothing $12.00 per month, food $20.00 per month,' light $5.00 per 
 month, education $5.00 per month, amusements $1.00 per month, 
 carfare $1.00, illness about $5.00 per month, owns home; average 
 expense $12.00 per month. 
 
 (89) married, aged forty, four dependents, charge on the city 
 poor department, unable to work. Pays $5.00 per month for rent, 
 all other expenses paid by charities. 
 
 (90) single, aged forty-six, works for (80) as helper, receives 
 nineteen cents per hour for nine hours work. His expenses are 
 given as follows: Clothing (including washing) $9.50 per month, 
 education $1.00 per month, carfare $1.50, illness $1.00, board and 
 room $25.00 per month. 
 
 (91) married, aged forty, eleven dependents, works at (80) and 
 receives thirty-four and one-half cents per hour for nine hours work. 
 He gives his monthly expenses as follows: Clothing $15.00 per 
 month, heating $3.50, food $25.00, lighting $1.50, education $6.00, 
 rent $12.00; says he spends nothing for amusements and nothing 
 the last year for sickness. • 
 
 (92) married, aged twenty-seven, five dependents, works for 
 (80) and makes thirty-four and one-half cents per hour for nine 
 hours work. He states that the moral surroundings at his place 
 of employment are very bad. Gives his expenses per month as 
 follows: Clothing $7.00, heating $5.00, carfare $1.50, illness $1.00; 
 have bought a home and' is paying $22.00 per month on the contract. 
 
 (93) married, aged forty-two, works for (80) receives twenty- 
 one cents per hour for nine hours work, has five children, ages three, 
 five, eight, ten and sixteen. Gives his monthly expenses as follows : 
 Clothing $10.00, heating $10.00, food $40.00, lighting $3.00, rent 
 $10.00 ; no illness the last year. 
 
 (94) married, aged twenty-six, one child three years old, works 
 for (80) and receives thirty-four and one-half cents per hour for nine 
 hours work. Says that sanitary conditions at place of employment 
 are very bad ; they furnish one place for men to wash in and about 
 fifty men have to use the same water. Gives his monthly expenses 
 as follows : Clothing $4.25, heating $5.00, food $25.00, rent $20.00, 
 illness was $8.00 last year. 
 
 We have found that machinists received from $1.75 to $3.50 per 
 day for nine hours work. Metal polishers receive from $2.75 to 
 $4.00 per day for nine hours work. Molders receive from $2.25 to 
 $3.25 for nine hours work. Coremakers receive from $2.25 to $3.25 
 for nine hours work. Horseshoers receive from $3.00 to $3.50 for 
 
 — 12 — 
 
nine hours. Brass workers from $2.00 to $2.75 for nine hours work. 
 Punch press hands receive from $1.25 to $2.25 for nine hours. Milk 
 wagon drivers average $2.25 per day. Pattern makers receive from 
 $2.75 to $4.00 per day of nine hours. Bakers receive from $2.00 to 
 $3.00 for ten hours work. Printers receive from $16.00 to $22.00 per 
 week, eight hours work per day. Pressman receive from $16.00 to 
 $20.00 per week, eight hours per day. Press assistants from $9.00 
 to $14.00 per week, eight hours per day. Carpenters twenty-five to 
 forty cents per hour. Furniture finishers $11.00 to $13.00 per week. 
 
 At the (95) we found that this company employs forty-three 
 cabinetmakers, wage received from $2.25 to $3.10, forty-five machine 
 hands receive from $2.00 to $2.75 v twelve packers and trimmers re- 
 ceive $2.25, veneer hands receive from $1.75 to $2.25. 
 
 The (96) has thirty-one cabinet makers that receive $2.30 per 
 day, fifty-seven machine hands that receive $2.00 per day and seven- 
 teen packers and trimmers that receive from $2.25 to $2.35. 
 
 The (97) have fifty-five cabinetmakers that receive from $1.75 
 to $2.75. thirty-three machine hands that receive from $2.10 to $3.00, 
 twenty-four packers and trimmmers that receive from $1.75 to $2.25 
 per day. 
 
 Report on (98) shows that this company have ninety cabinet- 
 makers that receive $2.50 per day, sixty-five machine hands that 
 receive $2.52 per day and forty-eight packers and trimmers that re- 
 ceive $2.00 per day. 
 
 The (99) employ twenty-two cabinet makers that receive from 
 82.15 to $2.65 per day, twenty-three machine hands that receive 
 $2.15 and twelve packers and trimmers that receive $2.00 per day. 
 The (100) employ six cabinet makers that receive $2.25 per day, 
 sixteen machine hands that receive $2.25 and one packer and trim- 
 mer that receives $2.00 per day. 
 
 At the (101) one hundred and four cabinet makers receive $2.10 
 per day, sixty-one machine hands receive $2.42, and nineteen pack- 
 ers and trimmers receive $2.10 per day. 
 
 (102) employ thirty four cabinet makers that receive $2.27 per 
 day, thirty-one machine hands that receive $2.45 per day and six 
 packers and trimmers that receive $1.95 per day. 
 
 (103) employ ninety-nine cabinet makers that receive $2.16 per 
 day, forty-nine machine hands that receive $2.30 per day and twenty- 
 four packers and trimmers that receive $2.25 per day. 
 
 (104) employ eighty-five cabinet makers that receive from $2.20 
 to $2.35 per day, seventy-two machine hands that receive from $1.90 
 to $2.05 per day, veneer hands receive $1.80 per day and packers 
 and trimmers receive from $1.90 to $2.05, number of packers and 
 trimmers twenty-seven. 
 
 (105) employ fifty-two cabinet makers that receive $2.40 per 
 day, seventy-four machine hands that receive $2.30 per day, and 
 twenty-two packers and trimmers that receive $1.95 per day. 
 
 —13— 
 
(106) employ two cabinet makers that receive $2.15 per day, 
 thirty machine hands that receive $2.15 per day and one packer and 
 trimmer that receives $2.00 per day. 
 
 (107) employ forty-one cabinet makers that receive from $2.00 
 to $2.62 per day, eighty-one machine hands that receive from $2.10 
 to $2.30 per day, and twenty-three packers and trimmers that re- 
 ceive $2.00 per day. 
 
 (108) employ forty-eight cabinet makers that receive $2.00 per 
 day, eighty-eight machine hands that receive $2.30, and nine pack- 
 ers and trimmers that receive $1.50 per day. 
 
 ( 109) pay their cabinet makers $2.10 per day, machine hands 
 
 $2.00 per day and packers and trimmers $1.90 per day. 
 
 (110) employ thirty-three cabinet makers that receive $2.45 per 
 day, thirty-nine machine hands that receive $2.25 per day and the 
 packers and trimmers receive $2.00 per day. 
 
 (111) employ twenty-three cabinet makers that receive $2.75 
 per day, thirty-one machine hands that receive $2.40 and ten pack- 
 ers and trimmers that receive $2.00 per day. 
 
 We found that (112) employ seventy-nine cabinet makers that 
 receive $2.25 per day, sixty-nine machine hands that receive $2.25 
 per day and twenty-three packers and trimmers that receive $1.80 
 per day. 
 
 (113) employ forty-eight cabinet makers that receive $2.08 per 
 day, thirty-one machine hands that receive $2.08 per day and twenty- 
 three packers and trimmers that receive $1.92 per day. 
 
 At the (114) they employ thirty-four cabinet makers that re- 
 ceive $2.25 per day, sixty-six machine hands that receive $1.85 per 
 day and thirty-three packers and trimmers that receive $1.65 per 
 day. 
 
 (115) employ forty-seven cabinet makers that receive $2.90 
 per day, twenty-eight machine hands that receive $2.27 per day and 
 two packers and trimmers that receive $2.25 per day. 
 
 (116) employ fifteen cabinet makers that receive $2.50 per day, 
 eighteen machine hands that receive $2.50 per day, and four packers 
 and trimmers that receive $2.00 per day. 
 
 (117) employ forty-four cabinet makers that receive $2.30, fifty 
 machine hands that receive $2.35 and sixteen packers and trimmers 
 that receive $2.10 per day. 
 
 (118) employ eleven cabinet makers that receive $2.40, five 
 machine hands that receive $2.40 and one packer and trimmer that 
 receives $2.00 per day. 
 
 (119) employ only one cabinet maker that receives $2.25 per 
 day, employ sixty-four machine hands that receive $2.00 per day 
 and one packer that receives $1.85 per day. 
 
 (120) employ sixty-one cabinet makers that receive $2.00 per 
 day, eighty-two machine hands that receive $2.10 per day and thirty- 
 four packers and trimmers that receive $1.75 per day. 
 
 —14— 
 
(121) employ fourteen cabinet makers that receive $2.25 per 
 day, forty machine hands that receive $2.00 per day and nineteen 
 packers and trimmers that receive $2.40 per day. 
 
 (122) employ six cabinet makers that receive $2.60 per day, 
 fourteen machine hands that receive $2.25 per day and four packers 
 and trimmers that receive $2.00 per day. 
 
 (123) employ seven cabinet makers that receive $2.00 per day, 
 eight machine hands that receive $2.25 per day and one packer that 
 receives $2.00 per day. 
 
 (124) employ sixty- three cabinet makers that receive from $2.48 
 to $2.75 per day, fifty-five machine hands that receive $2.26 per day, 
 twenty-nine packers and trimmers that receive $2.05 per day, the 
 veneer hands receive $2.06 per day. 
 
 (125) employ twelve cabinet makers that receive $2.55 per day, 
 three machine hands that receive $2.40 per day and one packer that 
 receives $2.25 per day. 
 
 At the (126) we found that they employ thirty-seven cabinet 
 makers that receive $2.00 per day, forty machine hands that receive 
 S2.20 per day and twenty-two packers and trimmers that receive 
 from $1.60 to $1.96 per day. 
 
 (127) employ thirteen cabinet makers that receive $2.50 per 
 day, eight machine hands that receive $2.50 and three packers and 
 trimmers that receive $2.00 per day. 
 
 At the (128) they employ one cabinet maker that receives $2.00 
 per day, thirteen machine hands that receive $1.85 and one packer 
 that receives $1.85 per day. 
 
 (129) employ four cabinet makers that receive $2.40 per day, 
 twelve machine hands that receive $2.20 per day and five packers 
 and trimmers that receive $1.85 per day. 
 
 (130) employ four cabinet makers that receive $2.75 per day, 
 eight machine hands that receive $2.30 per day and eight packers 
 and trimmers that receive $2.25 per day. 
 
 (131) employ sixteen cabinet makers that receive $2.25 per 
 day, fifteen machine hands that receive $2.25 per day and four 
 packers and trimmers that receive $2.15 per day. 
 
 (132) employ four cabinet makers that receive $2.75 per day, 
 three machine hands that receive $2.70 per day and one packer that 
 receives $2.75 per day. 
 
 (133) employ seven cabinet makers that receive $2.10 per day, 
 seven machine hands that receive $2.10 per day and three packers 
 and trimmers that receive $1.90 per day. 
 
 (134) employ seven cabinet makers that receive $2.25 per day, 
 seven machine hands that receive $2.25 per day and two packers 
 and trimmers that receive $2.00 per day. 
 
 From information received from five companies that employ 
 common labor we find that the average day wage received by 
 laborers is $1.65 per day. 
 
 — 15 — 
 
INFORMATION RELATIVE TO 
 PROSTITUTES. 
 
 The following data is a report on thirty-three women who were 
 inmates of houses of prostitution. 
 
 XI, ag*ed twenty-one, parents American, left school when in 
 fifth grade, was twelve years of age at the time, can read and write, 
 single, no children, first occupation was chambermaid in hotel, 
 started work when seventeen, other occupations chamber maid in 
 sporting house, first intercourse when nineteen, working in rooming 
 houses at the time, influencing cause, said bad associations was the 
 cause of her going wrong, entered house when twenty, reason given, 
 said she was not strong and needed more money, average earnings 
 $30.00 weekly, has never tried other work since she entered house, 
 cannot save money, both parents living. Remarks. Assists parents. 
 
 X2, aged twenty-six, parents American, left school when in the 
 sixth grade, was sixteen years of age when she left school, can read 
 and write, single, no children, first occupation waitress in hotel, 
 went to work when nineteen, other occupation sporting, first inter- 
 course when nineteen, occupation at that time did work in res- 
 taurant and hotel, influencing cause, said she was not earning 
 enough, was only getting $4.00 weekly, entered house when twenty-, 
 one, reason given said that she met a girl where she worked who 
 urged her to enter a house with her, average earnings $30.00 to 
 $35.00 weekly, never tried to secure other work since she entered 
 house, can save money, mother living, father is dead. 
 
 X3, aged twenty-five, parents German, left school when in 
 seventh grade, was thirteen years of age at the time, married, no 
 children, first occupation domestic, started work when fifteen, other 
 occupations sporting, first intercourse when nineteen, domestic at 
 the time, influencing cause, said she went out to dances, skating 
 rinks and met bad companions, entered house when twenty-one, 
 reason given, said that as she was running around with men she 
 thought she might enter a house and get paid for it, average earn- 
 ings $10.00 weekly, has never tried to secure other work since enter- 
 ing house, saves no money, parents dead, mother died when she was 
 twelve. Remarks : Said she lived with her aunt after mother died. 
 
 X4, aged twenty-one, parents German, left school when in the 
 third grade and was ten years old at the time, can read and write, 
 single, no children, never worked, first intercourse when sixteen, 
 influencing cause — said she liked the life, entered house when 
 eighteen, reason given said she liked the life, average earnings 
 $35.00 weekly, has never tried to secure other work since she entered 
 house, does not save money, parents living. Remarks : She said 
 that she has hustled on the streets since she was sixteen years old. 
 
 X5, aged twenty-two, parents Irish, left school when in the 
 tenth grade and was sixteen years of age at the time she left school, 
 
 - 16 - 
 
can read and write, single, no children, first occupation domestic, 
 started work when fifteen, other occupations factory work, first 
 intercourse when sixteen, was working in factory at the time, influ- 
 encing cause, said she went out to dances and got into a bad crowd, 
 entered house when eighteen, reason given, said she could earn 
 more money in a house, average earnings $35.00 weekly, has never 
 tried to secure other work since she entered house, saves no money, 
 parents living. 
 
 X6, aged twenty-nine, parents German, left school in early 
 grade, was ten years old when she stopped school, married when 
 twenty-eight, husband would not support her so she left him in nine 
 months, no children, first occupation domestic, started to work when 
 fourteen, first intercourse when fourteen, domestic at the time, in- 
 fluencing cause she said that she was influenced by others, did not 
 know better, entered house when eighteen, reason given said she 
 had a girl friend who persuaded her to enter, average earnings $25.00 
 weekly, has never tried to secure other work since she entered the 
 house, can save some, parents are living. Remarks: Was married 
 out of house of prostitution. 
 
 X7 aged twenty-four, parents Canadian, left school when in 
 eighth grade and was seventeen years of age at the time, can read 
 and write, married when seventeen, husband was killed in railroad 
 accident, lived together four years, has two children living and two 
 were dead, first occupation was waitress in restaurant when twenty- 
 four, first intercourse with men other than husband when twenty- 
 * three, was living at home at the time, influencing cause said that 
 after her husband was killed she used to go out to dances and run 
 around with men, entered house when twenty-four, came to house 
 with a girl that roomed with her, said she could not live on the 
 money she earned, parents living. 
 
 X8 aged twenty-two, parents Canadian, left school when in the 
 eighth grade and was sixteen years of age at the time, can read and 
 write, single, no children, first occupation waitress in restaurant, 
 went to work when sixteen, other occupations factory work, first 
 intercourse when seventeen, worked in factory at the time, influenc- 
 ing cause she said that she went out nights to dances, cafes and 
 started to drink, entered house when twenty-two, reason given said 
 that she could not earn enough outside, parents living. 
 
 X10 aged twenty-eight, German-Jewess, never attended school, 
 could not read or write, married, no children, first occupation was 
 in a restaurant when she was seventeen years of age, other occupa- 
 tions cook and waitress, first intercourse when seventeen, reason 
 given said she could not find work and needed money, entered house 
 when twenty-four because she needed the money, said she made 
 as high as $50.00 weekly, and saved $20.00 weekly, parents living. 
 
 XI 1, aged twenty, parents were American, left school at the 
 twelfth grade and w*as fifteen years of age at that time, can read and 
 write, is single, no children, nature of first occupation was factory 
 work, went to work when seventeen years of age, only other occu- 
 
 —17— 
 
pation was hustling, had first intercourse when seventeen and at 
 that time was in a factory, nature of influence causing her to go 
 wrong, she said that she was out nights with young folks and was 
 away from home altogether too much, entered a house of prostitu- 
 tion at eighteen as she said she might as well make money that way 
 as running around , average weekly money she makes is $25.00, has 
 never thought of leaving the life she is leading, says she can save a 
 little money, her parents are living. 
 
 X12, aged twenty-six, parents were American, left school at 
 eighth grade and was fourteen years of age at that time, can read 
 and write, is separated from husband, was married when sixteen 
 and has lived with husband off and on for four and one-half years, 
 has had two children, one dead, nature of first occupation was nurse 
 girl, went to work when fifteen, other occupation was a domestic, 
 had first illicit intercourse when twenty and at that time was a 
 domestic, nature of influence causing her to go wrong, she says that 
 she went to visit a girl whose cousin had a house of prostitution, 
 entered a house of prostitution at twenty, says she never ran around 
 before entering the house of prostitution, average money made is 
 $20.00 weekly, has never tried to leave the life and saves no money, 
 mother is living and her father dead. 
 
 X13, aged twenty-three, parents were American, left school at 
 eighth grade and was thirteen years of age at that time, can read 
 work when thirteen, only other occupation hustling, first intercouse 
 when fourteen, at that time was a domestic, influencing cause, out 
 and write, is single, no children, first occupation domestic, went to 
 nights and went to dances and cafes, entered a house of prostitution 
 when twenty for the reason that she wanted more money and pretty 
 clothes, average money made is $20.00 weekly, has never thought of 
 leaving house of prostitution, saves no money, her mother is living 
 and father is dead. 
 
 X14, aged thirty-two, American parents, went to country school, 
 lef^school when twelve, can read and write, single, no children, first 
 occupation was domestic when thirteen, first intercourse when thir- 
 teen, influencing cause was out nights with young people to dances, 
 etc., entered a house of prostitution when twenty-four, reason given 
 was that she thought she might as well go into a house as there was 
 more money and fun there, makes $15.00 weekly, never tried to 
 obtain other work since entering house, saves no money, mother 
 living and father is dead. 
 
 X15, aged twenty-six, parents were American, went to Polish 
 school, left school when thirteen, can read and write, single, no 
 children, first occupation was factory work, started to work when 
 thirteen, other work had been employed as domestic, first inter- 
 course when nineteen, was domestic at that time, influencing cause, 
 met girls that got her to go wrong, entered house of prostitution 
 when twenty-three, reason given was that she thought she would 
 be better off in house, average weekly money $15.00 to $20.00, never 
 tried to obtain other work, saves no money, both parents living. 
 
 —18— 
 
X16, aged twenty-three, parents were American, left school 
 when in sixth grade, was twelve years of age, can read and write, 
 single, no children, first occupation was domestic, started to work 
 when eighteen, only other occupation hustling, first intercourse 
 when sixteen, not working at that time, lived with her aunt, influ- 
 encing cause out nights to shows and dances* entered house when 
 nineteen, reason given she liked the life, average money made $20.00 
 to $25.00 weekly, never tried to obtain other work, saves no money, 
 both parents dead. Lived with her aunt until she was eighteen 
 years of age. 
 
 X17, aged twenty-eight, parents were American, left school 
 when in fourth grade, does not remember how old she was when she 
 left school, can read and write, single, no children, first occupation 
 was domestic, age at that time eighteen, other occupation sporting, 
 had first intercourse when nineteen, was domestic at that time, 
 would give no reason for her going wrong, entered a house when 
 nineteen, reason given said she was decoyed into a house by another 
 girl, average money made $15.00 to $20.00 weekly, never tried to 
 secure other work, cannot save money, parents dead. 
 
 X18, aged twenty-four, parents were Irish, left school at eighth 
 grade, was fifteen years of age at that time, can read and write, 
 married, not living with husband, was married when nineteen, lived 
 with husband three years, no children, first occupation was tele- 
 phone girl, received eighteen dollars per month, started work when 
 sixteen, other occupations saleslady, hustled one month before enter- 
 ing house, first intercourse when twenty-two, saleslady at that time 
 in Chicago at $5.00 per week, nature of influencing cause, said she 
 could not live on wages so she hustled, entered house when twenty- 
 three, reason given needed more money, average money made $20.00 
 weekly, never tried to secure othr work, can save no money, parents 
 living. 
 
 X19, aged twenty-two, parents American, left school when in 
 the eighth grade, was thirteen years old at that time, can read and 
 write, married, separated from husband, married when twenty, lived 
 with husband one and one-half years then left him because she 
 could not agree with him, no children, first occupation restaurant, 
 started work when nineteen, other occupations hustling and sport- 
 ing, first intercourse when sixteen, lived at home and did no outside 
 work, nature of influencing cause, said she wanted to make some 
 money, entered house when eighteen, reason given said she needed 
 more money, average earnings $15.00 to $20.00 weekly, never tried 
 to secure other work, can save no money, parents are living, was 
 married from sporting house. 
 
 X20, aged nineteen, parents American, left school when in 
 eighth grade, age at that time thirteen, can read and write, married 
 when fifteen, lived with husband two years and left him because he 
 was mean to her, no children, first occupation was in factory, was 
 thirteen years of age at that time, other occupations dishwasher, 
 
 —19— 
 
waitress and domestic, had first intercourse when fifteen, occupa- 
 tion at that time married, also did work as waitress, after she left 
 husband she started to go out with other men as she could not earn 
 enough to support herself, entered a house when twenty-one, reason 
 given was that she thought she could earn more money and that she 
 would not be exposed, to the weather, average earned $25.00 weekly, 
 never tried to secure other work, saves no money, parents dead, 
 mother died when she was seventeen. 
 
 X21, aged twenty-three, parents American, left school when in 
 eighth grade, was sixteen at that time, can read and write, single, 
 no children, first occupation waitress, sixteen years at that time, 
 other occupations hustled on streets and cafes two years, first inter- 
 course when sixteen, was waitress at that time, nature of influencing 
 cause said she did not earn enough, entered house when seventeen, 
 reason given said she thought she could make more money, average 
 earnings $20.00 weekly, never tried to secure other work, saves no 
 money, parents living. 
 
 X22, aged twenty-six, parents American, left school when in 
 eighth grade, was fourteen years of age at that time, can read and 
 write, married when twenty-one, lived with husband one year and 
 then husband left her, no children, first occupation was waitress in 
 hotel, age at that time twenty years, other occupations sporting, 
 first intercourse when sixteen, lived at home at the time, nature of 
 influencing cause said she was out nights to dances, entered house 
 when twenty-two, worked two weeks after husband left her and 
 then entered house, average earnings $25.00 weekly, never tried to 
 secure other work after entering house, savs no money, parents 
 living. Remarks: Was sick, man took care of her. A seventeen 
 year old girl who had been in house told her she could earn more 
 money in house so they entered. 
 
 X23, aged twenty-six, parents German, left school when thir- 
 teen, can read and write, is single, no children, first occupation was 
 in bake shop, started to work when twelve, other work in restaurant 
 and kitchen, had first intercourse when twenty-one, at that time she 
 worked in restaurant, influencing cause said she was out nights to 
 dances, entered house when twenty-one, reason given was that she 
 wanted to have the money as long as she was running around with 
 men, average earnings $20.00 weekly, has never tried to secure other 
 work since she entered house, saves no money, mother living, father 
 is dead. Remarks : When fifteen years of age she came from old 
 country to stay with her aunt. 
 
 X24, aged twenty-two, parents American, left school when in 
 eighth grade, was twelve years of age at the time, married when 
 eighteen, lived with husband six months and left him because he 
 would not support her, no children, first occupation was domestic, 
 age at that time was fifteen ; other occupations, worked in factory, 
 hotel and in restaurant ; first intercourse when eighteen and at that 
 time she worked in a restaurant, influencing cause said she could 
 
 — 20 — 
 
not earn enough, entered house when twenty-one, reason given she 
 wanted more money, average earnings $27.00 weekly, never tried to 
 secure other work after she entered house, can save money, mother 
 living, father is dead. Remarks : Had an aunt who ran house, 
 knew she could earn more money there. Assists her mother. 
 
 X25, aged twenty-six, parents English, never attended school, 
 can read and write, married when thirteen years of age, lived with 
 husband four years when he died, no children, first occupation do- 
 mestic, went to work when eleven years of age, other occupation 
 nursing, first illicit intercourse when twenty-four, occupation at that 
 time nursing, influencing cause said she was irregularly employed 
 and became tired of working for low wages, entered house when 
 twenty-four, reason given said she wanted more money, average 
 earnings $40.00 weekly, has never tried to obtain other work since 
 she entered house, saves money, parents dead. Remarks: Says she 
 supports sister. 
 
 X26, aged twenty-nine, parents American, left school when she 
 was in eleventh grade, was seventeen years of age when she left 
 school, can read and write, was married when twenty years of age, 
 lived with husband six years and then obtained divorce, says she 
 hustled all the time she lived with husband, no children, first occu- 
 pation domestic during vacation, fifteen years of age when she 
 started to work during vacations, other occupation in factory, first 
 intercourse at seventeen, nature of occupation at that time factory 
 work, influencing cause said she never did work very much, entered 
 house when twenty-one because she liked the life, average earn- 
 ings $30.00 weekly, has never tried to secure other work since she 
 entered the house, can save no money, parents are living. Remarks : 
 Said husband knew she was hustling, he was a bartender. 
 
 X27, aged thirty-seven, parents American, left school when in 
 twelfth grade, aged eighteen, can read and write, married three 
 times, first time married was fifteen years of age, said she never 
 worked only did sporting, tried to work in a store once but could 
 not earn enough, has a flat of her own with sporting girls, said she 
 liked the life and wanted the money, average earnings $40.00 weekly, 
 has never tried to leave the life, saves no money, her parents are 
 livihg. 
 
 X28, aged twenty-seven, parents Irish, left school when in sixth 
 grade, aged fourteen, can read and write, married when sixteen, 
 lived with husband for two years and left him because he would not. 
 support her, has one child, first occupation was domestic for her 
 aunt, was eleven when she started to work, other occupations laun- 
 dry work and chamber-maid, first intercourse when nineteen when 
 she was chamber-maid, influencing cause said she was out to dances 
 with the wrong crowd of boys, entered house when she was twenty- 
 one, reason given was that a sporting girl told her she could earn 
 more money in a house, average earnings $15.00 weekly, has never 
 tried to obtain other work after she entered house, saves no money, 
 parents are living. Remarks : Supports a baby. 
 
 — 21 — 
 
X29, aged twenty-eight, parents Swedish, left school when in 
 the seventh grade, was thirteen years of age when she left school, 
 can read and write, married when eighteen, lived with husband for 
 eight years and then they separated because they could not agree, 
 has one child, first occupation was domestic, went to work when 
 fourteen, other occupations was saleslady and made $5.00 per week, 
 first intercourse when sixteen, domestic at the time, influencing 
 cause said she went to public dances, entered house when eighteen, 
 reason given said she wanted to earn more money and pretty 
 clothes, average earnings $15.00 weekly, has never tried to secure 
 other work since she entered house, saves no money, mother living, 
 father dead. Remarks: Married from house. 
 
 X30, aged twenty-one, parents American, left school when in 
 eighth grade, was fifteen years of age at that time, can read and 
 write, married when fifteen years of age to a man much older than 
 she was who got her into trouble and then married her, left him 
 after living with him for three years, has one child, first occupation 
 telephone girl, received $20.00 per month, age when she went to 
 work fifteen, first intercourse when fourteen, was attending school 
 at the time, influencing cause said she was out to dances and that 
 the boys would take her to back of saloons, entered house, when 
 nineteen, reason given said that a number of girls became tired of 
 working for low wages and decided to enter the house, average 
 earnings $15.00 weekly, has never tried to obtain other w r ork since 
 she entered house, saves no money, parents are living. 
 
 X31, aged twenty-four, parents Russian-Polish, left school when 
 she was twelve, can read and write, married when fifteen, lived with 
 husband six years when he deserted her with another woman, has 
 three children, first occupation was as cash-girt and was thirteen 
 years of age at the time she started to work, other occupation 
 cashier, first promiscuous intercourse was after her husband left her 
 and she could not make enough to support her children, she entered 
 a house at twenty-one to earn more money, average earnings ’$20.00 
 weekly, has never tried to secure another place to work since she 
 entered the house, saves no money, parents are living. Remarks : 
 She said she would not be there if it were not for her children. 
 
 X32, aged twenty-nine, parents American, left school when in 
 the twelfth grade, was eighteen years old at the time she left school, 
 can read and write, married when twenty-two, lived with her hus- 
 band two years, no children, never worked, first promiscuous inter- 
 course when twenty-six when she entered a house of prostitution, 
 reason given she liked the life, average earnings $20.00 weekly, never 
 trid to secure other work after entering house, saves no money, 
 parents living. 
 
 X33, aged twenty-seven, parents Canadian, left school when in 
 eighth grade, was fifteen years of age at the time, single, no children, 
 first occupation was domestic, started to work when sixteen, .other 
 occupations canvassing and saleslady, first intercourse when 
 eighteen at which time she was a domestic, influencing cause, said 
 
 — 22 — 
 
she was not earning enough, entered a house when nineteen, reason 
 given was that she wanted more money, average earnings $20.00, 
 parents living. Remarks : Does not drink, tried to secure work 
 outside of house but says that she could not earn enough so she 
 went back into the sporting life. 
 
 A synopsis of the foregoing cases reported upon shows that the 
 average at which the girl^ left school was 13^ years. 
 
 Average age at which girls first started to work 15 years. 
 
 Average age at which first intercourse was had 18 years. 
 
 Average age of women entering houses of prostitution 23 years. 
 
 Nature of First Occupations. 
 
 Domestics 15, Hotel and Restaurant 8, Factory Work 4, Tele- 
 phone Girls 2, Nurse Girl 1, Cash Girl 1, Number not employed 2. 
 
 Nature of Occupation at Time of Entering House. 
 
 Sporting and Hustling 9, Hotel and Restaurants 7, Domestics 
 6, Salesladies 3, Factory 4, Nursing 1, Cashier 1, Not employed 2. 
 
 ROOMING HOUSES, Etc. 
 
 These places were investigated upon information placed before 
 the commission by citizens, and also upon information obtained 
 from women by the investigator while seeking data necessary for 
 this report. This is not a complete survey, but is of typical cases 
 showing conditions which the commission found exist to a certain 
 extent throughout the city. 
 
 (135) I find that one — aged twenty-five years, living at 
 
 street, on the third floor is being kept in funds by . This girl 
 
 works at the . He bought this girl household goods. The 
 
 party visited her every Sunday and stayed all day. He was married 
 a few weeks ago and still he calls and stays with her and keeps her 
 in funds. 
 
 (136) . I find that the rooming house known as the at 
 
 street, has two street walkers that have rooms in there. Rooms 
 can be hired by any one, no questions asked. On Wednesday and 
 Friday evenings I saw three couples enter this place. The usual 
 length of time they spent therein was from twenty minutes to half 
 an hour. 
 
 (137) . Rooming house over saloon, corner of and 
 
 street, this place is conducted by an old man. Have seen no 
 
 women that have rooms there and walk the street. The rooms are 
 rented to transients. Have seen two couples enter this place and 
 come out after a period of twenty minutes. These girls were not 
 street walkers. 
 
 — 23 — 
 
(138) . I find that one, , living at avenue, runs a 
 
 sporting house at the above number. In order to get into this place 
 it is necessary for one to call up on the phone and make arrange- 
 ments for a time when to call. She charges one dollar. You can 
 get bottled beer for twenty-five cents a bottle. I called at this place 
 on Tuesday evening and had two bottles of beer, she wanted me to 
 go to bed with her. 
 
 (139) . I find that the , street, is a place where street 
 
 walkers take men. The couples are shown to rooms, no questions 
 asked. I saw one couple enter this place on Monday evening and 
 on Saturday I noticed five couples enter, average stay was about 
 twenty minutes. 
 
 (140) . I find that the party running the rooming house at 
 
 street, solicited a girl that was formerly at street, to take a 
 
 room at her place. . This girl is married. I have been unable to get 
 her name. The rooming house woman told this girl that if sne 
 would stay at her place she would get her plenty of men. 
 
 (141) . The rooming house known as , street is a 
 
 place where street walkers take men. I watched this place and saw 
 dour couples enter on Friday, and Saturday I saw seven couples 
 enter. Several girls have rooms in this place. None of the couples 
 had baggage and the average length of stay was about fifteen 
 minutes. 
 
 (142) . I find that has moved from avenue and now 
 
 lives at street. I called at this place and she asked me if I 
 
 wanted to go to bed with her. She has a little girl about four years 
 of age that was in the house at the time I called. On Wednesday, 
 in the afternoon, from three to four-thirty, I watched the house and 
 saw five delivery wagons stop at the place. Average length of 
 stay was about fifteen minutes. No liquors in the house. I also 
 made 1 a date with her over the phone, she said she was ready for 
 .anything. 
 
 ' (143). I find that a and a are receiving men for 
 
 immoral purposes at their home avenue. I noticed four men 
 
 enter the place on Friday evening. I was not allowed entrance, but 
 in questioning one of the men that had called there he told me of 
 the character of the. place. The man in the restaurant next door 
 tells me that these women receive men callers every day. 
 
 (144) . I find that one , avenue, second floor, has two 
 
 women with him at the above number. He also has an opium lay- 
 out at the above place. As far as I have been able to find out the 
 girls are not addicted to the habit, himself is a slave to the drug. 
 
 (145) . Rooming house avenue, I find that on the second 
 
 floor of this place there are two sporting women and on the third 
 floor there are three. These women receive men callers in their 
 rooms. 
 
 (146) . On Thursday evening I followed two couples to 
 
 .avenue. They secured rooms in company with two men. The girls 
 
 —24— 
 
do not live at this place, one of them has a room at the as I 
 
 have seen her before. I secured, the name of this girl, . They 
 
 picked the men up on Monroe avenue at the corner. 
 
 (147) . From an investigation of the place known as , 
 
 street, I find that this place is a boarding house, that there are four 
 women and three men rooming here. I watched this place Wed- 
 nesday from eight to nine thirty o’clock p. m. and saw one couple 
 enter the house. On Saturday I watched from two o’clock to four 
 and saw three couples enter, of the three couples that entered two 
 couples came out in from twenty to twenty-five minutes. I called 
 at the place Saturday evening and applied for a room but was told 
 that all rooms were taken, I did not see any women in the place. 
 
 (148) . I find that the woman that has this phone, is the 
 
 wife of , avenue. He is a man of good reputation. His 
 
 wife receives men that make appointments over the phone. I made 
 an appointment and called on her Friday afternoon. She told me 
 that her charge was $1.00 and was determined to have me stay. I 
 asked her if we could have any drinks, but found that she does not 
 have any liquor in the house, although she was willing to have 
 some sent up from the corner saloon. 
 
 (149) . House numbered avenue. One runs this 
 
 place as a rooming house. I find that there are two girls in this 
 place, and that they receive men callers, I called and was told that 
 the price was $1.00 and that I could have a room and a girl all 
 
 night for $5.00. I bought two bottles of beer from . I find that 
 
 on Saturday afternoon a wagon stopped and delivered four cases 
 
 of beer. One of the girls that goes to this place lives at avenue, 
 
 three doors from . She goes over every night. I have been 
 
 unable to get her name. She is about twenty-four years old and is 
 very well dressed. I find that this house is next door to a church. 
 
 (150) . , I find that one, lived here, that she has moved 
 
 to , she rented the first floor at , and received men callers, 
 
 she had several girls in with her. I called her over the phone and 
 was told that she would be ready some time this week, she said 
 that she had four girls and would be glad to have me call. Will 
 report on this place later. 
 
 Thursday evening at 10 :20 o’clock I saw a couple at the corner 
 of Crescent street and Monroe avenue. They were met by three 
 men. I overheard the conversation. The couple were married and 
 the husband was insisting that the woman go with one of the men 
 to a room. They became very noisy and the man began to drag 
 her along when an officer came around the corner, watched them a 
 few minutes and walked over and told them to move on. 
 
 (151) . Rooming house, old number avenue, I find that 
 
 rooms are let out to any one, no questions asked, they charge $1.00 
 for a room, no liquor. Saw young girl and man about fifty enter 
 and leave in one-half hour. Couples going in and out every evening. 
 
 (152) . Wednesday, in the evening I was stopped by a girl and 
 
 —25— 
 
she asked me to go with her to her room. This girl goes by the 
 
 name of her correct name is , she is nineteen years of 
 
 age. Has walked the streets for the last year. She lived with her 
 parents in this city until she was fifteen years of age when she 
 started housework. She took her first wrong step when fifteen 
 3 ^ears of age. She says her parents think she still does housework, 
 she says that she makes from $20.00 to $25.00 per week by picking 
 up men and taking them to her room. She charges from fifty ceats 
 to one dollar. She says that she cannot make enough money to 
 live respectable so she makes it the way she does. 
 
 (153) . I find that one, , living at avenue, is conduct- 
 
 ing a sporting house at the above number. Only those she is 
 acquainted with can be admitted, or one being vouched for by a 
 friend. It is necessary to call her up on the phone and make an 
 appointment. There are two other women in this place. I called 
 there once and was refused admittance, then I made an appointment 
 over the phone for Saturday evening at 6 :30. I called and was 
 admitted. There are no drinks served. She charges one dollar. 
 She told me that she must be very careful as the public is very much 
 stirred up just at present and that they are waiting for things to 
 become quiet. 
 
 (154) . I find that one, is living with a young lady by the 
 
 name of who works at the — — . I have followed this couple 
 
 several times, one evening they went to the and the other time 
 
 to - — — . I have been unable to find where he keeps the girl, but I 
 understand that he has fitted up a flat for her. He supplies her with 
 clothes and money. 
 
 (155) . I find that one , , picks up men on the street 
 
 and takes them to hotels, I have seen her enter the three times, 
 
 once this week, each time with a different man. Registering as man 
 and wife. 
 
 (156) . I find that the rooming house conducted by , 
 
 street, is a place where street walkers take men. I have been un- 
 able to find, out if these girls room there. Saturday evening I 
 noticed two girls pick up two men on Monroe avenue and take them 
 to this rooming house. They were given rooms. Within ten 
 minutes after these parties went up to the rooms the men came 
 down and entered the saloon underneath and returned to the rooms 
 over the saloon. 
 
 (157) . I find that two street walkers have rooms at ave- 
 nue. This is a rooming house conducted by . I have been to 
 
 the room of one girl but have been unable to get her to talk. She 
 says that if I or any other person can show her how to make as 
 much money as she now does she will quit the business. She says 
 that I can call her Flora and to let it go at that. She charges $1.00 
 and then gets the man to put up from fifty cents to one dollar for 
 the room although she rents the room by theweek . 
 
 (158) . Last Wednesday evening I followed a couple to the 
 
 — 26 — • 
 
, corner of and avenue. They came out in twenty 
 
 minutes and then separated. The girl went east to Monroe and 
 Michigan. I entered into a conversation with her and she invited 
 
 me to her room at the . She said her name was . She is 
 
 about twenty-two years of age and she says that she only does this 
 on the side. She says that her home is in Howard City and that 
 she comes to Grand Rapids once in a while for a good time. She 
 wanted $2.00 and told me I could stay all night for $5.00. I asked 
 her if we could get any drinks and she said that there was none in 
 the house but wanted me to go across the street and get her a 
 couple of bottles of export. I went back to this room last Saturday 
 but the girl had gone. 
 
 (159) . I find that the rooming house conducted by , 
 
 avenue, is used by couples. I have followed three couples into this 
 place. Average length of stay was from twenty to thirty minutes. 
 One couple that went into this place and secured a room were both 
 under age. I followed this couple and from the rooming house they 
 Avent to a dance hall at . 
 
 (160) . From an investigation of rooming house at avenue, 
 
 I find that this place has three entrances on . This week I have 
 
 seen twenty-seven couples going up to rooms in this place. I find 
 that some of the women have rooms here where they bring men and 
 others, rent a room each fime they bring a man with them. They 
 do not register each time, on Friday evening out of three couples 
 I followed up only one registered. None of the couples had baggage 
 and the average length of stay in the rooming house was about 
 fifteen minutes. 
 
 (161) . On Thursday evening I noticed a street walker take a 
 
 man into the , avenue. I found that the girl goes by the 
 
 name of , that she has a room at this place where she brings 
 
 the men she picks up on the street. I had a talk with this girl and 
 she tells me that she is nineteen years of age, that she had been 
 married, was not living with her husband, that she was a former 
 inmate of a house on Bond avenue, that she has been in various 
 hotels and rooming houses since last winter, that she averages 
 $28.00 to $32.00 a week, that she was a waitress when she took her 
 first wrong step, that she was seventeen years of age, that the man 
 that wronged her married her but deserted her after eight months, 
 
 she has no idea where he now lives. His name . She tells me 
 
 that it is here intention to leave the city for Detroit as this is 
 regarded as a closed town. 
 
 (162) . On Saturday I visited a dance at , I found young 
 
 girls at this place without escorts, girls from sixteen years and up. 
 Several of the couples on the floor were dancing suggestive dances 
 and were not stopped, no drinking of liquors. 
 
 (163) . Saturday evening at about eleven o’clock while investi- 
 gating the I saw a girl about seventeen years of age, her dress 
 
 came to her ankles, go up to a man that stood in the entrance 
 
 —27— 
 
and after a conversation they entered the hotel and went up to a 
 room. They did not register. I have found that this hotel has 
 rented rooms to prostitutes, that some of these women are living 
 with and supporting the class of men known as “pimps,” that from 
 nine o’clock until eleven, three of these men stood in the entrance 
 of the hotel. That the man this young girl talked to and went into 
 
 the hotel with is now living with a prostitute in the hotel. 
 
 That these women have men come to their rooms, and that some 
 of the women go out on the street and come back with men. That 
 the average length of stay of these men is ten to fifteen minutes. 
 That the couples go right past the hotel clerk, that all couples do 
 not register. 
 
 - 28 - 
 
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 
 
 The following reports were made by the several committees 
 and after careful consideration by the entire commission were 
 adopted. They are herewith submitted as the findings and recom- 
 mendations of the commisssion. 
 
 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LABOR CONDITIONS. 
 
 * 
 
 Wage For Female Employee 
 
 This is an estimate of the committee, based upon investigation, 
 as to what wage constitutes the least a girl should receive to prop- 
 erly support herself. 
 
 Per Month 
 
 Board and room $20.00 
 
 Clothing 6.00 
 
 Carfare and other incidentals 1.50 
 
 Amusements 1.00 
 
 Expenses for doctor and dentist 1.00 
 
 Laundry 2.00 
 
 Total $31.50 
 
 This makes no provision for enforced idleness or a vacation nor 
 for any extended illness. It will be seen from the investigations 
 made that a large number of female employes receive less than this 
 amount, and though some are living at home where there board and 
 room may not be as high, or where they are only working to raise 
 the family income, there are a sufficient number of those dependent 
 upon their own efforts to make a readjustment of conditions essen- 
 tial. 
 
 Wage For a Family of Five. 
 
 After investigation the committee believes that an income suffi- 
 cient to provide for a family of five should be not less than the 
 following. 
 
 Per Month 
 
 Rent $12.00 
 
 Foodstuff 25.00 
 
 Clothing 12.50 
 
 Fuel and light, average 5.00 
 
 Insurance, life and fire 2.00 
 
 Reading and amusements 3.00 
 
 Carfare and other incidentals 3.00 
 
 Provision for sickness 2.00 
 
 Total 
 
 — 29 — 
 
 $64.50 
 
This does not provide for enforced idleness which may occur 
 through illness or lack of employment and for which we believe 
 some provision should be made. 
 
 It is astonishing how many families are striving to maintain 
 themselves on much less than this, but after investigation the reali- 
 zation is forced upon us that many are ill-fed and ill-clothed and 
 deprived of nearly every comfort of life. 
 
 Of course, in some homes the expense is much greater than in 
 others, caused by wastefulness and ignorance, but if the children 
 can be kept at home and in school much can be accomplished by 
 proper education to prevent this wastefulness in future generations. 
 
 Wages and the Social* Evil. 
 
 That low wages paid female workers are to some extent re- 
 sponsible for the downfall of those who have gone wrong is un- 
 questioned, as is borne out by the data gathered. In that portion 
 of the information gathered relative to the “kept woman,” occa- 
 sional transgressors and prostitutes, eight girls out of forty-seven 
 give low wages as the direct cause, and in that portion relative solely 
 to inmates of houses of prostitution, numbering thirty-three, nine 
 give this as the direct cause and two as the main contributory 
 cause, or nearly twenty-five per cent when combined. But, whether 
 the percentage be somewhat higher or lower, it is of sufficient im- 
 portance to merit the consideration of remedial action. 
 
 Taking the average wage of females employes at $6.00, which 
 is a fair deduction, it shows that , all too many girls are earning 
 insufficient to properly support themselves, and it is a source of 
 congratulation and speaks well for the strength of character of the 
 large number of working girls who are eking out an existence on a 
 wage which is much too inadequate, that the percentage of those 
 who fall is not higher. 
 
 There, are, however, deeper underlying causes for the social 
 evil than the wages of the girl herself, and one of these is the inade- 
 quate family income, which we believe has a considerable bearing. 
 
 The homes where the father receives insufficient income to 
 properly support and educate his family are numerous. 
 
 There the children are often compelled to assist in maintaining 
 the home and at a tender age are sent into the store or factory at a 
 time when their character is still in formation, and where they are 
 away from the watchful eye of the parent. It is not implied that 
 the places of employment in themselves are immoral, but it may 
 bring the opportunity for forming associations, which bring them 
 into contact with persons of loose morals. The family income is 
 not sufficient to supply proper amusement in the home, and they 
 soon learn of the attractions which can be found outside. The 
 parents through indifference, a feeling of irresponsibility, or lack 
 of control often allow the children too great liberty, and soon all 
 control is lost and they wander the streets at will. It can readily 
 be seen what effect this has upon the character of the child, which 
 
 —30— 
 
at this time is very susceptible to wrong influences, unless the home 
 influences for good are very strong. 
 
 The girl from the farm or small city who is compelled through 
 financial stress of the family to earn a livelihood is confronted by a 
 difficult problem. Being inexperienced, she is compelled to start 
 c)t a low wage, forcing her to exercise the strictest economy in food 
 and clothing, tends to lead her into the cheap rooming house with 
 the consequent intermingling of sexes, and too often bringing her 
 into contact with persons of immoral character. Craving compan- 
 ionship and amusement and in her innocence entirely unprepared 
 to analyze the motive of those ever ready to take advantage of her, 
 she succumbs to their wiles before realization of the consequences 
 comes to her, and from then on it is only a step to the “easiest way.” 
 
 By the time she is in a position to earn a sufficient wage to 
 support herself, in comfort, she has reached the stage where she 
 doesn’t care. This applies with equal force to the girl in the city 
 who may now receive an adequate wage, but who at the time she 
 was sent. out to assist in the support of the family was too young to 
 properly appreciate the dangers of the pitfalls placed for her. And 
 this reaches even to the girl who lives at home, for the daily con- 
 tact with one who has no home and who is not receiving sufficient 
 to support herself and has chosen the “easiest way” may be disas- 
 trous to one whose character may not be of the strongest through 
 lack of opportunity for proper training. 
 
 It is a sad commentary upon the responsibility which rests 
 upon the parent for the proper upbringing of their children, when 
 we see the large number of young men and women who spend their 
 evenings away from home, either upon the streets, at dances or 
 other places of amusement at a time when they should be under the 
 watchful eye of the father or mother. This can be seen from the 
 number of women who gave as the reason of their downfall bad 
 associations and attendance at dances and other places of amuse- 
 ment. 
 
 It will be seen from the data relative to those who had been 
 inmates of houses of prostitution that the average age at which they 
 left school w r as thirteen and one-half years. It can fairly be as- 
 sumed that the larger number of these entered upon some employ- 
 ment, as can be gathered from the report, only two stating they 
 had never worked. Is there anyone who believes that if these chil- 
 dren could have received a proper education and had been able to 
 remain under the influences of a home where the father was able 
 to support the family in comfort the result would not have been 
 different? 
 
 The ceaseless struggle for existence, the hopelessness and des- 
 pair of poverty has its influence on the character of the children. 
 Eminent authorities hold that home environment has a pre-natal 
 influence upon the character of the children, and that children of 
 parents who are constantly harassed by the fear of want and who 
 
 — 31 — 
 
have lost that interest in life which goes with peace and content- 
 ment are liable to be brought into the world handicapped by weak 
 minds and lack of power to resist evil influences. 
 
 The large number of prostitutes who give their occupation as 
 domestics, we believe is brought about by the fact that the larger 
 number come from the poorer homes. In many instances they lack 
 home surroundings in their employment, are looked down upon by 
 their employers and shunned by those who are working at other 
 occupations. They desire amusement and companionship and this 
 tends to bring them into contact with improper associates at dances 
 and other places where they go to satisfy this craving. 
 
 , One of the evils attendant upon the employment of girls 
 (which, while it may have no direct bearing upon the moral ques- 
 tion, is worthy of consideration) is the effect upon their physical 
 condition of constant employment in store or factory. The demands 
 of present industrial conditions upon their nervous systems and the 
 strain of modern life unfits them for the duties of the home and 
 motherhood. 
 
 One of the causes leading to immorality is that the age at 
 which marriage is contracted is gradually raising and which can 
 to a certain extent be laid at the door of the low wage. Young 
 men hesitate to assume the responsibilities of married life upon a 
 wage which is little more than sufficient to comfortably take care of 
 themselves. This leads them into seeking other ways of gratifying 
 their desires and all too often ends in the ruination of some girl. 
 
 Moral perversity, which has existed since the beginning of the 
 world and will probably exist to the end of time, is, of course, one 
 of the causes for the social evil which cannot be denied, but even 
 this might be minimized by proper education and home training. 
 
 It is not contended that the inadequate family income is the 
 sole cause of immorality for it is true that a large number of the 
 girls employed in stores and factories are not compelled to seek 
 employment to assist the family as the father is well able to support 
 them. In these cases the parents themselves are greatly to blame 
 for not insisting that they remain at home and in school. It can 
 be truthfully stated that this class makes it much more difficult 
 for the girl who must support herself. Seeking merely an oppor- 
 tunity to provide themselves with funds for dress above the ability 
 of the parents to provide, amusement and other things, they accept 
 positions at a wage upon which it would be impossible for a girl 
 to support herself, thereby becoming a menace to themselves 
 through opportunities for forming wrong associations, and to others 
 by glutting the labor market. This also creates in them habits of 
 extravagance which in later life will be hard to overcome, and if, 
 after marriage, they find themselves unable to longer gratify this 
 desire they become discontented and often are lead to worse things. 
 
 Thus it will be seen that while the wage of the girl herself 
 may not be the predominating factor in the cause of immorality the 
 
 — 32 — 
 
inadequate family income does have a direct bearing upon the 
 matter. 
 
 The obvious duty of society is, then, to seek a remedy for this 
 condition. Your committee believes that in the absence of the legis- 
 lation, either through lack of interest or through in ability to form 
 laws which will prove practical, we must turn to investigation and 
 proper publicity of existing conditions, to awaken the public con- 
 science to the necessity of conserving our girls in the home and in 
 the school, that they may receive the care and training which will 
 properly fit them for the responsibilities of life. 
 
 The Minimum Wage Law. 
 
 Whether a minimum wage law will prove the practical remedy 
 for existing conditions is still an open question. It is being tried 
 out in some states and one is now in force in Australia, but the 
 movement is still too young to allow of a positive opinion. There 
 are many considerations which enter into the making of such a law, 
 especially the cost of living which fluctuates from year to year, 
 which would necessitate a law open to adjustment from time to 
 time. So also the size of the family enters into it, as it is obvious 
 what would be a minimum wage for a family of five would be in- 
 sufficient for a family of eight, and to strike a fair balance would 
 prove a subject worthy of much thought. Again, locality would 
 have much to do with it, as the difference in the cost of living be- 
 tween a large city and a smaller one is quite frequently a large item. 
 Perhaps this can all be adjusted, but as the enactment of such a law 
 should not be attempted until a statewide investigation is made, 
 and as a commission has now been appointed to make this investi- 
 gation for the state, this matter may well be left until their findings 
 are made public. 
 
 In the meantime we would again urge thorough investigation 
 of industrial conditions and proper publicity as a means of providing 
 a remedy. 
 
 Report of the Committee on Public Amusements and Morals. 
 
 There is no question that is of greater interest to the citizens of 
 Grand Rapids, than the question of public amusements and morals. 
 The city has become large enough, so that it has most of the prob- 
 lems of the great centers of population, but not so large but that 
 our evils may be brought under control, and many of them exter- 
 minated. It is evident that the conditions in Grand Rapids are 
 better than the average conditions in the cities of its size, however, 
 this should not deter us from reaching toward a more ideal condi- 
 tion. 
 
 First, concerning public amusements. 
 
 The vaudettes over the country as a whole need to be placed 
 under the censorship of a municipal commission. They can be more 
 destructive to the morals of young people than the dime novel. 
 Concerning the vaudettes of Grand Rapids, we find that while all the 
 pictures cannot be approved, that there seems to be a willingness 
 
 — 33 — 
 
on the part of the management to co-operate with the commission, 
 if such an arrangement should be made. We find that boys and 
 girls often meet in these places and go away together. We recom- 
 mend that no person under eighteen years of age be admitted to 
 the vaudettes of Grand Rapids after 9 o’clock unless accompanied 
 by parents or guardian. That the pictures be censored by the public 
 welfare commission at any time. 
 
 One of the most destructive form of amusements are the public 
 dance halls. We will take as a type a public dance that was visited 
 by an investigator. Young girls were found in this place without 
 ■escort, girls from sixteen years and up, several couples on the floor 
 were dancing suggestive dances, and were not stopped. Every 
 public dance hall should be licensed by the city, and liable to be 
 visited at any time by a member of the Public Welfare Commission, 
 or an officer thereof. 
 
 The same provision of control, and supervision should apply to 
 every theater in the city. 
 
 All the pool rooms and billiard halls in the city should be 
 brought under this supervision. 
 
 Also all public skating rinks should be included under the 
 censorship of the Commission of Public Welfare. 
 
 We now consider the social evil. In the past the prevailing 
 way to deal with this evil has been by having a segregated district. 
 First of all this is the easiest way for officials to dispose of the 
 problem. In many cities it also has been the best source of revenue 
 for police officials. However, no trace of suspicion of such an 
 arrangement has been' found in all our investigations in Grand 
 Rapids. However, we desire to report against segregation as the 
 ideal way of dealing with the social evil, and we will not even admit 
 that it is the practical way. We cannot have a segregated district 
 without being in partnership with crime. It is said that prostitutes 
 will live all over the city unless we have the district. However, if 
 a permanent commission is created, these people cannot live in the 
 residence district without the neighborhood discovering their char- 
 acter and it has been our experience during the past year that the 
 neighbors will call upon the commission and make a protest, where- 
 upon the commisssion can investigate, and then take proper steps 
 to move parties. The best thought of the leading authorities of 
 these days is against segregation. 
 
 We find that the social evil is being carried on in several ways, 
 first by street solicitation. Men are at work on the streets of the 
 city, known as “pimps.” There are also women who solicit on the 
 street. For example, one walker, we saw pick up a man and take 
 him to a certain hotel, where she had a room to which she takes 
 the men she picks up on the street. Our investigator had a talk 
 with this woman, she said that she was nineteen years old, that 
 she had been married and was not living with her husband, that 
 she was a former inmate of a house at the corner of Bond and 
 
 — 3T- 
 
Fairbanks, that she averages from $28.00 to $32.00 per week. That 
 she was a waitress when she took her first wrong step. 
 
 In a certain rooming house, well known, our investigator during 
 one week saw twenty-seven couples going to rooms. Here some of 
 the women have rooms, where they bring the men they pick up on 
 the streets and others rent a rom each time they bring a man. On a 
 certain Friday, of three couples, only, one registered, none of the 
 couples had baggage, and the average length of stay in the rooming 
 house was from ten to fifteen minutes. 
 
 We find this concerning a well-known, but not one of the first 
 class hotels. While investigating this hotel the investigator saw a 
 girl about seventeen years of age, her dress came to her ankles, go 
 up to a man on the street in front of the hotel. After a conversation 
 they entered the hotel, and went up to a room. They did not 
 register. It has been found tfiat this hotel rents rooms to prosti- 
 tutes, that some of these are living with and supporting men known 
 as “pimps,” that from nine o’clock until eleven three of these men 
 stood in the entrance of the hotel, that the man this young girl 
 talked to and went into the hotel with, is now living with a prosti- 
 tute in this hotel, that these women have men come to their rooms, 
 and that some of the women in this hotel go out on the street and 
 pick up men and come back with them. The average length of stay 
 is about fifteen minutes. That the couples go right by the clerk 
 without registering. 
 
 Then this evil is being carried forward in the residence district, 
 as for example, the report of the investigator concerning one resi- 
 dence on Lafayette avenue which is a sporting house. Only those 
 the mistress is acquainted with or one vouched for by a friend can 
 be admitted. It is necessary to call on the phone and make an 
 appointment. There are three women in the house. I called there 
 once and was refused admittance, then I made an appointment over 
 the phone for Saturday evening at 6:30. I called and was admitted. 
 She charges one dollar. She told the investigator that she had to 
 be very careful as the public is unusually interested and that she 
 was waiting for things to quiet down. This is an illustration of 
 conditions that exist all over the city. 
 
 The conditions of morality that exist in some of the stores in 
 the city are the best and in others they are the worst. In one store 
 a phone is provided on the floor, where during the day the girls 
 make dates with men. In one store, where our lady investigator 
 worked for some time, some of the girls were immoral, and in fair- 
 ness it ought to be added that some of the men working in the same 
 place were immoral. 
 
 We find from our investigations that the causes of prostitution 
 are bad company at the time that character is being formed at about 
 the age of fifteen. A large number of girls acknowledge that the 
 first wrong step is taken at that early age. 
 
 The love of a life beyond the means of the ordinary girl, the 
 
 — 35 — 
 
passion for fine clothes, the lack of education and instruction along 
 the line of sexual hygiene and low wages, and the failure of a great 
 many men to regard the sanctity of the marriage vow. 
 
 What remedy shall be used? 
 
 First — That parents do their duty, that they do not expect the 
 city, the church, or the Sunday School teacher to raise their chil- 
 dren for them, that all parents know where their children are nights, 
 and that they know it for an absolute certainty. 
 
 Second — That instruction be provided in a wise way for both 
 boys and girls as to the awful results in a physical way of the trans- 
 gression of the laws of nature. 
 
 Third— That every woman be given a living wage, and that the 
 corporations and employers paying a wage to women, known to be 
 less than can be lived upon be brought under the ban of the public by 
 exposure. 
 
 Fourth — That women be everywhere urged to the use of ordi- 
 nary clothes, and that they wear plenty of them. Immodest dress 
 is a pitfall. 
 
 Fifth — That all property owners be held responsible for the 
 character of their tenants. That when the commission is satisfied 
 that any property is being used for immoral purposes, that a notice 
 be given to the owner of the property, giving said owner ten days 
 to issue a notice to the tenant to move, and that if the tenant has not 
 moved at the end of thirty days, that the exposure and prosecution 
 of the owner follow by placing all the evidence in the hands of the 
 proper authorities. 
 
 REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HOUSING. 
 
 The health of any city is in direct ratio with good or bad hous- 
 ing conditions. 
 
 The conditions of this city needing attention are, better toilet 
 facilities, power to enforce water and sewers into streets where 
 needed, the right to enforce sewer and water connections into homes 
 inside of three years after such improvements have been made, an 
 ordinance to prevent the overcrowding of houses and the collection 
 of general municipal waste. 
 
 We recommend: 
 
 First — A revision of the plumbing code, so as to provide an 
 indoor closet for each family. 
 
 Second — That sewer and water street improvement may be 
 made upon order of Board of Health. 
 
 Three — That private sewers be installed by the city when 
 necessary on the five-year plan. 
 
 Four — That houses or rooms shall be limited as to the number 
 of occupants. 
 
 Five — That a general collection of municipal waste be installed. 
 
 — 36 — 
 
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION. 
 
 Your commimttee recommends the.establishment of a board of 
 commission to be known as the Public Welfare Commission, whose 
 duties and powers should include the following, viz. : 
 
 (a) The investigation of the moral, social and industrial con- 
 ditions of the city and their inter relationship, maintaining a record 
 and reporting the same to the Commomn Council. 
 
 (b) The supervision and controlling of the housing conditions, 
 the supervision and controlling of a free legal aid bureau, the dance 
 halls, skating rinks, vaudettes, moving picture and other theaters, 
 etc. Its representatives to be in regular attendance at the courts of 
 the city and county and to co-operate with the police departments 
 and courts to prevent as far as possible immorality and delinquency 
 and to assist in reforming and restoring those who have fallen and 
 to aid in securing pardon and parole for the deserving ones. 
 
 (c) The investigators of this commission to be clothed with 
 police powers. 
 
 (d) The appointment of such clerical help and investigators 
 as may be required to> prosecute the work of this commission expe- 
 ditiously and thoroughly. 
 
 Your committee further recommends that this commission be 
 composed of five members to be appointed by the mayor subject to 
 approval of the Common Council. The term of office to be five 
 years. One commissioner to be appointed annually after first year. 
 Removal from office by mayor for cause, subject to appeal to the 
 Common Council. 
 
 The Council to annually provide a sufficient sum of money in 
 the budget to meet the expenses of the commission. 
 
 The commission to meet at least once a week. 
 
 The commission shall receive no salary except that a $5.00 per 
 diem per member may be charged whenever special exigencies re- 
 quire sessions during the daytime. The commission shall file a 
 monthly report with the Common Council. 
 
 We recommend the passage of an ordinance to supervise and 
 control public dancing and dance halls. This ordinance should con- 
 tain the following provisions. 
 
 (a) An adequate fee to be deposited with the Welfare Com- 
 mission together with the application for each public dance. 
 
 (b) The presence of a representative of the permanent Wel- 
 fare Commission to be established, clothed with police powers, at 
 
 every such public dance. 
 
 (c) A definition of what constitutes a public dance. 
 
 (d) No dance to be permitted after 11 :30 p. m. 
 
 (e) No person under 18 years of age shall be permitted to 
 attend without parent or guardian. 
 
 (f) The absolute prohibition of any dances, postures or atti- 
 
 — 37 — 
 
tudes of person of a suggestive nature or that would be indecent 
 if allowed any where else in public. 
 
 (g) The requiring of an adequate bond from the proprietors 
 or managers which shall be made payable to the city and forfeited 
 automatically when ever the proprietors or managers are found 
 guilty of violating the laws of the state or ordinances of the city in 
 a court of competent jurisdiction. Provided that where an occa- 
 sional public dance is given by a society or other organization the 
 commmission shall have power to grant such permit without filing 
 of bond. 
 
 Second — We recommend the passage of an ordinance to license, 
 supervise and control the exhibition of moving pictures, stereopti- 
 con views or other views and pictures, penny arcades, vaudeville, 
 opera houses, theaters and playhouses. This ordinance should con- 
 tain the following provisions. 
 
 (a) An adequate annual license fee. 
 
 (b) The Welfare Commission or its representative shall pass 
 upon every play, scene, or picture to be presented in the theaters 
 and playhouses of the city and none shall be permitted to exhibit 
 without their written approval. 
 
 (c) The absolute prohibition of any dress, dances, postures or 
 attitudes of person of suggestive nature or that would be indecent 
 it permitted elsewhere in public. 
 
 We recommend an amendment to the ordinance to suppress 
 immorality and prostitution. This amendment should contain the 
 following provisions: 
 
 (a) Publicity — The commission shall ascertain the location 
 and owners of every property within the city used for immoral pur- 
 poses and report this information to the Common Council once 
 every six months. 
 
 The following amendments are designed to prevent the illegal 
 sale of liquor in rooming houses: 
 
 (a) The possession of a Federal Government liquor tax re- 
 ceipt for the year, without a city license to be sufficient evidence of 
 the illegal sale of such liquors and conviction of the person or 
 persons. 
 
 (b) Your committee recommends the initiation of a movement 
 for the passage of an amendment to the Federal liquor tax law as 
 follows : 
 
 The United States Government not to receive any moneys for 
 the Federal liquor tax from any person, persons, company or cor- 
 porations until said persons or companies shall have deposited with 
 the department issuing said liquor tax a certificate of good moral 
 character for said person signed by the license granting body of 
 the municipality or township in which said applicant desires to con- 
 duct his liquor business. 
 
 (c) Your committee recommends the strictest possible en- 
 forcement of the law against mashers, hustlers, street walkers, im- 
 moral persons and prostitutes in the firm belief that constant repres- 
 sion and eternal vigilance is the price of a clean moral social state. 
 
 — 3 &— 
 
PUBLIC WELFARE COMMISSION. 
 
 Statement of Receipts and Expenditures. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Appropriated by the Common Council... $1,000.00 
 
 Expenditures. 
 
 February 17, 1913, stationery... $ 8.50 
 
 March 2, 1913, blanks 15.00 
 
 April 2, 1913, expenses F. A. Zierleyn to Lansing 7.16 
 
 April 23, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 81.89 
 
 May 5, 1913, Form letters... 1.50 
 
 May 5, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 73.45 
 
 May 14, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 36.40 
 
 May 21, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 37.25 
 
 May 28, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 35.80 
 
 June 4, 1913, salary and expenses of investigators 36.80 
 
 June 11, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 35.95 
 
 June 18, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 35.80 
 
 June 25, 1913, Salary and expenses of investigators 34.80 
 
 October 27, 1913, Investigations and compiling reports 97.23 
 
 November 6, 1913, Supplies and typewriting report 10.05 
 
 Total $ 547.58 
 
 Balance 452.42 
 
 $1,000.00 
 
 JAMES HOOGERHYDE, Secy 
 
 — 39 — 
 
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 3 0112 053617244