RECOMMENDATIONS TO PHILANTHROPIC AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. I. An intensive study should be made of the working conditions and wages paid by those establishments in Chicago which depend upon the labor of girls and women. This investigation should also ascertain living conditions, cost of living of different groups, and decide on what constitutes a "living wage" for each group. II. Greater publicity should be given the conditions which exist on lake steamers so that parents will warn their sons and daughters of the moral dangers surrounding them while on such excursions. III. Immigrant homes for foreign girls should be established and supported by different nationalities. IV. Immigrant girls should be warned not to go to employment agents who advertise in the press, especially in foreign languages, until the agents have been investigated. V. More hotels and homes should be established for working women and girls. VI. Provision for the rescue and reform of prostitutes should include some plan for the hospital care of drug users. GENERAL RECOMMENDATION. I. We recommend that the daily press publish an appeal or protest to parents that their children be not given too much liberty; that parents and guardians accompany children of all ages upon their amusement excursions. CHAPTER I. EXISTING CONDITIONS IN CHICAGO. The Commission, in beginning its labors, decided that, in order to work intelligently, local conditions must be thoroughly known. Much time and thought were given to the matter of selection of methods and the character of the field investigation. To make a complete census of all houses of ill-fame, flats and assignation houses, with the names of owners, keepers and inmates, would mean months of work on the part of a large corps of investigators, and an expenditure of money beyond the resources of the Commission. It was, therefore, decided to accept such a list as the Police could supply as the basis of investigation, adding to it such other places as might come to the knowledge of the Commission, directly or indirectly. The General Superintendent of Police ordered a special census to be taken, showing the disorderly resorts in the precincts of the city. Such a list was submitted in August, 1910, and the Commission began its investigation. It was soon found that the list was incomplete, as shown in another place in the Commission's report.1 A second census was taken and the list submitted to the Commission in October, 1910. This also proved incomplete, as is shown elsewhere. However, it was decided by the Commission that, whether a complete census was, or could be obtained, sufficient information was forthcoming to give a clear knowledge of the character and extent of the conditions in Chicago. Seven expert and trained investigators were put in the field. In order to eliminate as many errors as possible, each investigator's work was verified and checked up, unbeknown to him, by other investigators. In some instances this was done three times. We have every reason to believe, therefore, that the statements contained in this report are as correct and reliable as could possibly be obtained. In addition to the field investigators, the conferences with representatives of various organizations and citizens, referred to in the preface of the report, were prolific of much valuable and reliable information. School census reports, issued by the Compulsory Department of 1See Chapter III, page 148. |