The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-11
AGAINST WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC Immigration Commissioner Submits Report to Congress REvOL TING DISCLOSURES Report Shows That Women Are Brought Into United States For
 Immoral Purposes and Remedies
 Are Suggested.

credibly revolting are the disclosures of an international system of traffic in wont en. contained in the report on the so- called White Slave Trade" submitted to Congress today by the United States immigration commission.
 When the report was presented in the man Bonnet of New York. Champ Clark. the minority leader, objected to Its being printed as a House document, but Intsr withdrew his objection. Ii was promptly renewed by MT. sabath of Illinois. MT. Fitzgerald of New York wanted to know if the report contained sensational mat ter such as he implied was contained in the report of the Roosevelt homes com mission, upon which Mir. Bonnet evoked laughter by tho tart reply;
 "An matter calculated to appeal to your minds has been eliminated"
 The report begins with an introduction explaining the nature of the White Slave" traffic, and concludes with se ries of recommendations. mostly of an administrative character.
 The commission says that the effect of the importation of immoral women into this country is one of increas sd degrs- dation and death for the women and of contamination and in corruption by means of the spread of disease to others.
 Coming From All Countries.
 The importations come from all coun- tries, France leading. and the Chinese and Japanese making up the majority of those coming in by way of the Pacific coast Most of the procurers are of for eign birth. The market" price varies from ssoO to 5000 for each alien wom- an. Sometimes they are not sold outright, but their procurers continue to live from their earnings after their arrival here.
 The commission recommends that ef- forts be made through government agents abroad and on board steamships to pre- vent the importation of women to this country; that more assiduous efforts be made In the United States to arrest worn- en known to be engaged in immoral prac- tices, and to deport all possible. That the limit of three years after landing within which such persons may be successful ly prosecuted be removed: that deported persons returning to this country be im- prisoned; that the keepers of immoral houses in which alien women are found be subjected to deportation and that the state and municipal governments be asked to cooperate for the stamping out of the evil.
 Detail of Discoveries.
 In explanation of the act of laying bare t1 +ixo by it's agents the commission says that the white slave traffic is the most piti- full and the most reyoltinS phase of the Immigration question. This business has assumed large proportions. and it has been exerting so evil an influence upon that 1t felt compelled to make 1t the sub Ject of a thorough investigation. Since the subject is especially liable to sensa- tional exploitation, the report says, 1t is important the statement of the cornrnis- sion should deal with undeniabie facts which may form a basis of reasonable legislative and administrative action to lessen the evils. The inquiry covered the cities of New York, Chicago, San Fran cisco, Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake, Ogden, Butte, Denver. Buffalo, Boston and New Orleans. No attempt was made to in- yestigate conditions in every important city, but the commission believes that enough evidence with reference to women of different races and different nationali- ties and living under different conditions has been obtained from localities sum- ciently scattered to warrant the reports being used as a basis for legislative ad- ministrative action.
 Under the head of recommendations the commission says:
 Owing to the difference between Eu- ropean and American views regarding prostitution, cooperation for the sup pression of the white slave traffic can be expected from most of the European na- tions only along certain lines. Most Eu- ropean countries are rigid in their reg uiations regarding the procuring for pur- poses of prostitution of minor girls or of any women by means of fraud and de- ceit Women who are of age, however, and who enter the business of their own accord. are not interfered with.
 No Cooperation In Work.
 From continental countries where these conditions exist, practically no co-opera- ton could be expected to prevent profess sional prostitutes from sailing to the United States Such governments prob ably would cooperate to prevent the se- duction of minors or the fraudulent or forcible exportation of their women. In the main, however. the United States government must rely upon its own of- l ficials for prevention of this tranflc.'' A number of suggestions of administra- 1 tive changes and more rigid enforcement | of existing regulations by the department of commerce and labor, particularly by | the bureau of immigration, and amend- | nents of the immigration act itself are | submitted by the commission
 Among other recommendations is one | tnnt the transportation of persons from one state. territory or district to an- other for the purpose of prostitution be | forbidden under heavy penalties. The commission also expressed tho opin- | ion that the legislatures of the several states should consider the advisability of | enacting more stringent laws regarding prostitution. It Is suggested that the | Illinois statute regarding pandering be carefully considered.