Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-28
THREE ARRESTS ARE MADE
But No Evidence Found of White
Slave Trade.
We POST HERE TO FURTHER PLAN
Bureau of immigration of Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor
Intends Eradicating Evil.


must not exist in Washington, and that
women from foreign countries shall not
come to this city to lead lives Of vice, the
Department of Commerce and Labor has
termination to eradicate the evil.
AS the result of the work Of Inspector
Baldwin of the bureau of immigration,
three women have already been arrested.
II the charge against them Is proven to
the satisfaction of the department the
prisoners will be deported. The investi-
cations will be continued several days
longer and it is not unlikely that other
arrests will follow.
For some time Investigations of the
white slave traffic in the large cities of
the country have been directed by the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor in New
York, Chicago. st. Louis and Baltimore.
Many arrests have been made and many
women deported. But nothing along this
line was done In Washington until re-
Gently. The work in all parts Of the
country was given a special stimulus sew
eral weeks ago by a proclamation by
President Roosevelt announcing treaty
agreement between the United States and
several other powers for 1.-The repression
Of the trade in white women"
Cleaning Out the City.
Some time ago officials of the bureau Of
immigration here decided that conditions
in Washington should properly be investi-
gated in conjunction with the efforts OF
the District officials and the police de-
partment to clean out the disreputable
part of the city. Inspector Baldwin was
detailed from Baltimore to undertake the
work here. In the Monumental city he
was successful In discovering many vio-
lations Of the law and in convicting some
Of those responsible for the traffic there.
Inspector Baldwin has been doing
gum shoe work around the section Of the
city south of Pennsylvania avenue be-
tween 18th and 18th streets for several
days. He reported the results Of his
work to the bureau OF immigration yes
terday, and 1t issued departmental war
rants for the arrest of several women.
In company with Policeman Mcpherson
OF the first precinct Inspector Baldwin
visited the houses where these women
live and took them to the first precinct
station house, where they will be de-
tanned until today. They gave their
names as Anna Gorelick Of Spain, Georgia
Lorrigoi Of Canada and Irene Stiglitz
Of Hungary.
May Be Sent Over Seas.
The prisoners are entitled to hearing
before inspectors Of the bureau of immi-
grafton and can be represented by coun-
sci. II the department officials decide.
after full inquiry into the cases. that
the women under arrest come under the
act governing aliens Of this class they
will be deported.
The hearings in the case Of two Of the
women under arrest Is in progress this
afternoon and the department is expected
to take action on these cases tomorrow.
The hearing in the third case will be de-
ferred for a few days.
The law under which the department is
acting in its crusade against vice in the
District Is section 2 OF the immigration
act of February 20. 1907, which prohibits
the admission Of women who lead lives of
vice and provides that such persons may
be deported within three years after their
coming to this country. The expense of
deportation is to be borne by the steam
ship company bringing them here. IL 1t
can be learned; otherwise by the federal
government.
Assistant Secretary Wheeler, who is
acting head Of the Department Of Com
merce and Labor, explained this morning
to q Star reporter that disorderly houses
in Washington are being Investigated,
and that the work would be done thor
oughly.
Where we find persons who under the
laws should be deported. we will deport
them," he stated. But we are princi-
white slave traffic in Washington, and
we will prosecute them chiefly" The in
spector Is at work trying to find cases of
this sort in Washington.
Conditions Not Bad Here.
Judged by the investigations SO far.
however, conditions in Washington are
not as bad as those in other cities. The
report Of Inspector Baldwin to his chief
is that no white slave traffc has as yet
been discovered In this city. The women
arrested are aliens, 1t Is stated, but did
not como to this country as result of
that traffic.
For more than two years systematic
Investigations have been going on to
reach the persons responsible for the
white slave trafiic. The department ON
Gals here maintain that startling results
have followed their discoveries, and that
many prison cells are now housing men
tracked by their inspectors.
POLICE IN THE TENDERLoIN.