The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-07-28

ING, WEST VA, !; y 2
CRIMES o LONDON.
CRIMINAL AMEspMEsr BILL.
Asynopsis Of the Measures Of that Imper.
tant statuts-whsn the Lsgillation was
Begun, and What Brought IL About.
The "Csrtiasd Homssp Clause.
orapoaSeaos ofiAs hi.1tsaor.
SARATOGA, N. Y, July 25.-"What are
they going TO do abontit?" That is, what
Is the British Government going to do
by way Of seeking TO cure, or, at least, to
mitigate the social leprosy of the city Of
London2 What Christian Philanthropy
Is doing was described In a former letter.
It is not much, alas, butt is something,
and the recent revelations will no eoubt
incite to larger efforts. But what is it
proposed to do by the strong hand Of law?
The GaEstte, in yenturing its exposures,
called attention to a bill which was hang
ing lire in the House OF Commons, and
justified its course by the fear tbatif pub
lie Indignation were not aroused, the bill
would not pass. Since then, after what
was described in the dispatches as q
IfeTcs conflict, this bill, called me
Criminal Law Amendment Bill,
was allowed to go to sits sec.
ond reading in that body, and We may
nov be assured that after little further
delay, and the formality OF q third reading,
II will be finally enacted into law. Fortu.
nateiy I have q copy Of this bill, procured
two years ago, at the time OF its passage
by the House OF Lords. Il was introduced
into that chamber by Lord Roseberry,
then a member OF the Government, as part
OF the ministerial programme for that
season. Subsequently, owing 10 the pres
sure ofwhat he deemed more important
matters, Mr.. Gladstone threw it aside, for
consideration in the Commons at more
convenient time, along with other half
fedged laws which had to be abandoned,
since when, until 80 rndely shaken by the
storm which the Gasetts raised, it reposed
peacefully on the table there, being in
danger, as that paper claims, OF sleeling
the sleep from which there Is no awalxing,
FIRST srEps TOWARD LEGISLATION.
The first steps toward the legislation
contemplated by this bill were taken
really about four years ago, and consisted
in the appointment by the House of Lords
ola Committee of 1nqairy into certain Of
the more obtrusiye and deplorable phases
ofths social evil. Rather on the pfinci-
pie, this, OF setting thief 10 catch a'thief,
| Il the insinuations Of the GGEetts against
the British aristocracy, are to be relied
luponl But II the peersge OF that country
contains, as most people believe, many OF
the vilest specimens OF humanity, 1T is
known to the world that It also contains
some Of the purest and nobiest, and judg.
ing them by their fruits as seen in the
amendments they proposed TO the Grim
inal code, those composing this committee
were NEST assuredly OF the latter
class. Among the discoveries an-
nouuced by their lordships' committee
was one which could scarcely be called q
revelation, since yirtuous people there had
long been familiar with the fact, as they
had also most bitterly deplored It. The
evil, 1t was found, flaunted itselfin most
outrageous and unblushing manner before
the gaze Of the public. That horrid
traffic which usually courts privacy, and
whose deyotees might be expected to
sink from the light as naturally as dark
ness ttes before the sun, was there plying
It's. vocation openly with no apparent Fe[
gard for either decency or law. Soisaid
these titled Investigators, and every OBJ.
servant visitor, equally with the annoyed
residents, could bear testimony to the
truth OF this verdict.
WHAT ANAMERicAN WILL NOTICE.
Thisis, intact, the particular phase oi
English vice which the Americans notices
int, last and all the time. He Is
compelled to observe it, and only the nj.
most discretion can save him from being
often personally humiliated by it. Incur
own country the evil is largely confined
withindoors. There it exhibitsitself in the
most shameless manner on the streets,
and the work Of unholy solicitation goes
on in broad daylight. In some OF the
busiest thorouehfares OF London, agen.
tleman who walks along leisurely at
almost any hour OF day Is liable to be &C
costed half dozen tmes before he has
proceeded as many squares, and in some
instances It is with the greatest d ihi-
Guilty that the impoEtunate leech can be
shaken of. Alter night, as q matter OF
course, these pests otthe sidewalk, who
have not hesitated to hunt their prey In
the most public places during the houra
which honest folks devote to Legitimate
business, take on q still holder front, and
push their trade with an audacity this is
simply shocking.
In seeking the causes oil this disgraceful
condition OF street morals, serious defect
was found in the law relating thereto,
and remedy proposed, There was q
statute making II al offence to loiter and
iimportune pedestrians, butts force was
invalidated by . clause stipulating that
these acts mutt Be committed ITO the
annoyance" Of Nose subjected 10 them,
the difficulty having heen 10 get men 70
go into court aud swear they had bean
annoyed. This difficulty the Criminal
Law Amendment removes. The qualify
| ing clause Is now1eft out, and when the
measure shall become law conviction can
be occurred by merely proving the loiter.
ing aud impoftuning. This, it will be
seen, leaves the Hattss almost entirely in
the hands Of The police, for the magis:
trates are sure to do their duty, and the
average English jury can be equally relied
upon In such cases.
ANOTHER PHAsR OF THE cpEsk, y
Another phase Of the social curse spec.
ialy dealt With In the bill formulated by
this committee, and which Is Just on the
point OF final enactment. Is the one upon
which special stress has been laid BIZ tha
PAD Agl Gasst.s y
1t was iaan9 by their lordShips that the
| r,,hI,ntsr was Gathering ,rikhint tita danII,,-