The Washington times., 1909-12-10
Almost Unbelievable Dis
closures Made in Special
Report to Congress.
AGENTS UNABLE
TO END BUSINESS
Members Of House and Senate. on
Board, Want New Laws
Made.
By JOHN SNURE.

H gO---A D-AAAAl
I A sweeping arraignment OF TIE white
slave traffic. astounding in the scope
and nature Of its revelations. was pre-
sented to Congress today in a report
from the immigration commission
This commission for the most part IS
composed OF members Of senate and
House and IS headed by Senator Will
lam P. Dillingham; Of Vermont. .ssna-
tors Lodge OF Massachusetts ana Nc
Laurin OF Mississippi and ReDresents-
tives Bennett Of New York. Burnett Of
Alabama, and Howell OF New JERSEY are
the other Congressional members. In
addition. Prof J. W. jerks. OF O. nell
University Commissioner OF Iabor
Charles P. Neil. and william p
Wheeler. former Assistant Secretarv OF
the Department OF Commerce and
Labor. are members OF the commission
The report OF the commission on the
white slave traffic has been made only
after months Of careful and patient in
vestigation. in which It has had access
to court records and to the facts which
have been gained by the immigration
officials, as well as to such Information
as the police IN various largo ci+IsS
possess Special agents employed by the
commission have gathered In this ooun-
try and abroad vast mass OF data on
the traffic in question.
Deep indignation.
So astounding are the revelations
made and SO revolving that they have
excited the deepest Indignation OF fba
members OF the commission who are
bent on securing whatever legislation
possible to check the eviI. Moreover
they have produced such a sentiment ~
aohorrence in House and Senate that
there IS good reason to believe lezisla-
ton VIII be forthcoming.
In the Introduction or rs rsns-t a..
immigration commission pronounoes tb..
white slave traffic the most pfttful and
the most revolving phase OF the fr,7,t-
grafton question" It adds:
1t Is IN violation OF the ir,m,7ra-
ton law and OF the treaty uada 7yf.,
leading European powers. This b,,,
ness has assumed large proportions and
Il has been exerting 50 evil an influence
upon our country that the inmirration
commission felt compelled TO N "a e.
ne subject OF thorough investira IN
II was not without great dffac,lt,,
-naI One mass OF facts presented nv
me commission was obtained. A sne-
-laI committee OF the commission tool-
'harge OF II, and the work was done
1y a special agent in charge vyItb -,,,r,-
arous assistants. Some OF the are1ts
-lsked their lives in gathering the facts.
Agent Beaten.
one woman agent" says the report
was attacked and beaten, escaDinr sa-i-
1us injury, II not murder, only win
ne greatest difficulty, and yet the next
lay she went cheerfully back 10 her
work. although. of course. in another
ocality where she was not known"
The investigation covered especially
he cities Of New York. CHICAGO. san
Francisco. Seattle. Portland salt I.ska
,tty. Ogden. Butte. Denver. Bunaio.
5oslon. and New Orleans. The work
las been supplemented at times bv
lrrests and prosecution In the courts
Some Of the facts gained by the agents
# the commission were laid before the
Prosecuting officers On this. the corr
mission says:
In the city OF New York one OF the
most INSCRIPTIONS and successful i'm
'orters and harbOrers, as the result Of
ntormation supplied by the commission
Headed guilty and Wes sentenced. TO
'rlsOn. while several other cases were
Prosecuted by the district attorney
which resulted IN the breaking I'D OF
he houses and the disContinuance. Of
he business, even though IN two or
hree instances. In spite Of favorable
harges by the presiding judge. con-
iction was not obtained on account Of
isagreement OF the jury. In Seattle.
score or more OF arrests were made.
nd prosecutions instituted with which
he commissions agents had a more
r less close connection. while IN Chi
ago the United States District Attor-
ey goes so far as to give credit 10 the
gents OF the commission for the re-
larlSable success Of numerous .prosecu-
IONS instituted by him on their inror-
nation"
Fines Heavy.
In one case alone the district attor-
ey collected in forfeited bail and fines
nough money 20 pay twice over the
0st Of the commissions entire inves-
cation Of the subject.
The reasons back OF this whole white
ave traffic. this business OF importing
I'D harbOrinE alien women and girls for
nmoral purposes, are discussed BY the
,mmission. The report declares ths
afttc IL upheld by the motive OF bust
ass profit For reasons Of gain these
omen and girls are exploited body and
'ul, according TO the commission IT
-ys:
The. work Is. strictly foreign com
erce for profit"
1t was found the extent os shs Ez7ms