Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-11
WHITE SLAVERY
CRIMES BROBED
BY COMMISSION
tcortinnea from eare one,


partment of commerce and labor, par
ticularly by the bureau Of immigration,
and amendments of the immigration
act itself are submitted by the COM
mission.
Among other recommendations is one
that the transportation of persons from
one state, territory or district to anoth-
er for the purpose of prostitution be
forbidden under heavy penalties.
The commission also expressed the
opinion that legislatures of the states
should consider the advisability of en-
acting more stringent laVN regarding
prostitution.
1t is suggested that the Illinois stat
ute regarding pandering be carefully
considered.
Increased immortality
The commission says that the effect
of the importation of immoral women
into this country is one Of increased
degradation and death of the women
and of contamination by disease for
those with whom they come in contact.
The commission says the immoral
traffic Is not confined exclusively to
women, but it is clear there is be-
ginning, at any rate, of a traffic in men
and boys for immoral purposes.
The vilest practices" the report
continental Europe, and, beyond doubt,
there has come from imported women
and their men the most bestial refine
ments of depravity."
The commission, In describing the
manner of its investigations, recounts
the experiences of many of its agents.
In some cases they were attacked and
beaten, and actual murder was mar
rowly averted.
In a
though the extent of the "white slave"
traffic is characterized as country
wide Most of the women, it is said,
come by way of New York, San Fran
cisco and Seattle, although many are
coming lately by way of Canada.
Frequently they are brought into the
United States as the wives or sisters
of their procurers in order to pass
the immigration officials.
Shameless Traffic
The exploitation Of these women
after their arrival in the United States
is characterized in the report as most
pitiful for the women and most brutal
on the part of the men,"
Not only the innocent and betrayed
young girls, but also the more expe-
rienced women are made the victims or
virtual slavery.
The importations come from all
countries, France leading, and the Chi
nese and japanese making up the ma
jority of those coming in by way or
TIE Pacific coast.
Most of the procurers are OF foreign
birth The market" price varies from
$500 to $1,000 each for alien women,
Sometimes they are sold outright, but
their procurers continue to live from
their earnings after their arrival here.
The commission recommends that
efforts be made through government
agents abroad and on board steamships
to prevent the Importation of women
to this country; that more assiduous
efforts be made in the United states
to arrest women known to be engaged
in immoral practices, and to deport all
possible: that the limit of three years
after landing in which such persons
may be successfully prosecuted be re-
moved: that any deported persons re-
turnin~ to this country be imprisoned:
that the keepers of immoral houses in
which alien women are found be sub
ject to deportation. and that the state
and municipal governments be urge1
to cooperate in stamping out the eV !,