, 1874-01-18
who go abroad would vie wit!, each other in send
ing it new casts. Once begun, it would grow
RAIDS ON PROSTITUTES,

The Police Commissioners have given notice
that hereafter there will be no midnight raids
upon houses inhabited By abandoned women,
coupled with the arrest Of all the inmates Gu
general charge of leading immora! lives. They
announce their purpose to treat these houseB
and their inmates like all other houses and
people. Until there is some actual disorder,
or violation Of law, or pubic improperly, the
police are to let them alone; but, when
any Of these: onenses take place, they
shall be subject to police visitation. For
many years, dating back to the time when Chi
caso had but one-si1th Of her present popula-
tion, the policy OF ra,ding these houses. and ex-
torting fines from the unfortunate inmates, WAS
in vogue, and has been continued with more or
less severity ever since. There have been times
when this practice has been resorted to in order
to raise revenue for the city, and as
much as $500 week has been c'l-
lected regularly from these wretchcd peo-
ple The whole practice has been illegal and
disgraceful, and should have been discontinued
| long ago. Il the proposition we're made to
| licepse these establishments there would be
very general remonstrance. Yet there lR no
| moral difference between licensing these un
fortunates at q stated sum each gear anu col
lecting the same sum from them in the shape Of
fines at the Police Court. In both cases it is
mere question of revenue, and, when arrests ZIG
mado extortion is committed under cir
cumstances OF g1eat suffering and public
| scandal, The sort Of life which these
| people lead is itself punishment enough for all
practical purposes. It is 3 runlshment "hich
has the merit aud advantage Of visiting all tho
guilty, and not part only, and Of awarding the
cup of bitterness in exact proportion to the Of
| fense.
The keeping Of a disorderly house is misde-
meanor that can be reachcd BY tho regular process
Of the criminal law. Wherever any premises
fall under this designation there can be no Diff
Guilty in bringing the guilty to such punishment
as the law may impose But there is no more
moral or legal right to invade the domlclle OF
these outeasts at midnight, without warrant OF
legal complaint, and drug the inmates
| through lQH btIGolS " 0u AoI0G0 ~ s"S-'~
or thirty-six hours, than there is to enter
any other house and treat those found
there in like manner. Tho discretion to enter
auy house and arrast the inmates is ono that the
Law with great propriety withholds from the otfl'
cors; il permitted, it would be an intolerable
despotism, and would never be submitted to
The great wonder is that it has not been resisted
long ago. The same INV which protects othel
people protects these wretched beings from lille
cal and barbarous arrest, aud the violation O
law in their cases il simply Disgrace
: ful. II the police will represa dis
order, and arrest all persons acting
indecently in public, they will perform al
that is expected OF them in the absence OF an,
: legal warrant authorizing them to do more
There is plenty Of work for tho police to d.
without engaging In illegal raids for the mer
r purpose Of swelling the revenues Of the Polie
, Court By fines upon unfortunate and degraded
class, whose steps, We are told, stake bold o1
. hell" and who accordingly get scorched frou
, day to day sufficiently to answer all the ends o
7 | Justice.