CHAPTER VI

the business of prostitution ; ITS COST

The present chapter deals mainly with the business
of prostitution as conducted in parlor houses and brothels.
Our investigators were fortunate in being able to
mingle freely with promoters and their assistants dur¬
ing a period of many months, listening to their con¬
versations, consulting with them about business deals,
helping them " make up their books " after the day's busi¬
ness was over, and writing letters for them; they
were, in fact, treated as members of the inner circle and
thus obtained first-hand information. Copies of leases
for property are on our files; records of expenses
and receipts in the handwriting of the promoters were
secured; conversations carried on between promoters and
bearing on their business dealings, have been recorded.
It is commonly believed that men who live upon the
proceeds of prostitution are untruthful, that no depend¬
ence can be put upon their statements. This doubtless
holds as to their utterances on the witness stand or
before an investigating body. But among themselves
they talk about their business dealings with great free¬
dom, and probably with more or less general accuracy.
They eat and drink, buy and sell, plan and scheme like
other business men; and under such circumstances the

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