The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-12

Mayor w. u. Wood, whose Summing
trim below rhe dead line was caroniclesi
IN the Pest -Intelligencer. has prepared
a statement in which the reforms that
suggested themselves 10 him at the time
are set forth Mayor Weed states pos
itfvely that no more radical measures
are contemplated than these stated In
his announcement. He expects TO De
criticised for the stand he has taken, but
saws that ne Is impeiled to state his views
openly so that there may be no misunde--
standing as 10 his attitude toward ele-
ments In the social makeup Of the CON-
muu,ty II which he had Only the vaguess
ideas when he went into Office The
announcement which he has prepared Is as
follows:
al made a trip of observation through
portions OF the dead-line district last Sat-
urday night | have been studying police
this district few months ago with Off
Gers Of the department very thoroughly.
and on last saturday. under an arrange
make another trip. this time taking with
me a business friend. From these differ
ent Investigations and a careful study of
force the following rules during the pres
enf administration. l feel certain that
they can De enforced. Nothing will be at
tempted unless Il seems probable that it
Hereafter no house OF designation will
be tolerated in the city.
mo house of prostitution can be con-
Quoted in connection with a restaurant
who reside In residence portions of the city
and who continue to practice their voca-
items, will be required 10 move below the
dead line. which viii, from time to time.
include sufficient territory and buildings
10 secure reasonable rates of rent at the
same time being SO designated as 10 fa-
x>.4-
district; and prostitutes Within said dis
trfct, complying with the regulations of
the poIics department.. viii be treated
justly and humaneiy. system of prose-
purpose of accomplishing the following
principal results. among others:
'F1rst-A gsaeEal restraint and diminu-
ton In the ntnnbcr OF prostitutes In our
second More complete surveillance by
the police department.
''Third-The securing of sufficient rev.
enue 70 indemnify the city for the cost
of restraint and surveillance. but without
any attempt to derive revenue from this
source.
be free from the blackmailing Of vile
hangers-on. who often collect money
from them upon the pretensa that the
villains are protecting them by interven-
'sThe words hotel lodging house FUR
nished rooms house or other words in
dicating hotel or lodging house must DO
taken and kept from all public signs used
mo signs, whether they be names Of
proprietors or inmates. or OF other char
acter, indicating houses OF prostitution.
shall be publicly displayed thereon during
IAN music in houses OF prostitution
which can be heard from the street must
be discontinued from O'Clock a. m. until
daylight that men may not be enticed into
said houses when they have been shut out
by the closing OF the saloons.
Neither. houses Of designation nor
tolerated at places Of public resort on the
a.ss or sa slismnsr ss s. ne so Ss
1T Is not. and will not be- the policy OF
the administration 70 prosecute or annoy
any class OF people. nor to interfere with
nor curtail the profits OF any line OF BUSH
ness authorized by law while conducted
policy OF the administration 10 attempt
the enforcement OF laws where enforce
ment Is impossible and where any attempt
so 70 do would result in greater vice and
'1t is not proposed to adopt extreme
measures. but simply 10 give a reason
able enforcement Of the law upon COM
accomplished under present conditions
and existing public sentiment.
II shall at all times be just as glad 10
eeneT WIN Mbo snd sHasr VIII 81 o
by the rules above mentioned as from any
other citizens. liz Is my desire TO adminis-
ter the law according TO the welfare and
wishes OF all the people"
The Summing trip which brought out
the above statement was not the first that
Judge Wood has taken among the purEeus
of the city Several months ago, IN COM
pany with an officer, he visited the variety
theaters below the dead line. and instead
OF finding them the low dives that had
been pictured. he discovered that the per-
formances were made up of vaudeville
acts of more or less merit. There was an
absence of the intellectual quality that
would appeal TO the better class OF thea
ter-goers, but they appeared emiBently
fitted to the clientele OF the places visited.
Judge Wood at that time discovered no
reason why such performances should be
prohibited. The audiences were orderly
and the shows inofensive.
Since the first visit OF the mayor to the
territory Of the half-world. he has made
q Systematic study of the conditions and
has convinced himself that legisla ton for
the people who inhabit a different world
from that in which he has lived requires
an acquaintance and experience as much
as for other elements Of society that he Is
more familiar with. Mayor Wood IL very
set in his determination TO inaugurate a
system OF reforms. but the system will
contemplate a protection for the bencft
OF these for whom the measures have been
adopted. 1t viii do away with the leeches
who have demanded tribute from fallen
women for what has been alleged TO be
protection and intervention. The mayor
says that he VIII be glad 70 receive sug-
t.s.t.~ "a