“This is a phase,” said Mr. Goff, “and a revolting phase, of a custom that exists in New York. I suppose it is the lowest form of oppression and corruption that possibly could be conceived by the human mind; and that is, a tax upon these unfortunate women in the streets at night; for they will not be allowed to walk the streets at night unless they pay so much to the officer, and this has been the custom in many districts of this city for years.”--Vol. iv., p. 3,617. The tariff varied.[1] On some profitable beats, the licence fee was fifty cents per night. But as a general rule the rate for “cruising” was a dollar a week. So long as she paid she was all right--always with the understanding that the policeman was to be free to arrest her if she was complained of by any whom she molested. Irregulars--occasional clandestine unfortunates--were, of course, regarded as interlopers and hunted down remorselessly. The zeal of the policeman, which was not stirred in the least by the breach of the law, rose to white heat when a woman who had not paid her fees attempted to pick up customers. [1] The following table of some of the rates enforced by the police may be found convenient for reference:-- Pool-rooms from £10 to £60 per month. Policy shops from £4 per month. Liquor dealers, 8s. per month. Prostitutes, outside, from 4s. a week to 2s. per night. Prostitutes, inside, 4s. per week. Houses of ill-fame from £2 to £10 per month. Ditto. Initiation fee on opening, from £100 to £400. Price of Police appointment, £60. " of a Sergeant’s post, £300. " of Captaincy, £3,000. In theory, in New York--and, alas, in many other great cities--the right of a woman to freedom from arbitrary arrest without process of trial, and to redress for wrongful arrest, is absolute. In practice it does not exist. Every poor woman who is out after dark is liable to be arrested by a policeman, and to a woman friendless and forlorn there is written over the portals of every police-station, “All hope abandon ye who enter here.” Before the Police Justice, the policeman’s word goes. No corroborative evidence seems to have been demanded in New York. As one worthy testified before the Committee, he made arrests on general principles, and swore that his victim was loitering for purposes of prostitution. It was not necessary that she should commit any overt act, that she should molest any one, or that any citizen should complain of her molestation. It was enough that she should be loitering in the street. The oath of the policeman as to her intent settled her fate. A hurried gabble of words in a crowded court, and she was packed off to gaol.