Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-10
INADEQUACY OF LAWS
Business Has Assumed Great Pro-
portions in United States.
POLICE PROFIT BY TRAFFIC
Changes in Administrative Methods,
New Legislation and States
Cooperation Proposed.

phase Of the immigration question" and
pointing to "the inadequacy of the law
itself to protect our country against
the business, the immigration commits
sion, in a report filed In Congress today,
made numerous recommendations for
more stringent immigration laws and
for more thorough enforcement of
such laws. with a view to suppressing
the traffic.
The business has assumed such large
proportions in the United States, says the
immigration commission, and is exerting
such an evil influence upon the country.
that 1t has been made the subject Of
special investigation. The inquiry was
begun In November. 1907. and the work
was conducted by a special agent, with
numerous assistants. 1t covered an in
vestigation into conditions In the cities
of New York, Chicago, San Francisco,
Seattle, Portland, Salt Lake CITY, Ogden,
Butte. Denver. Buffalo, Boston and New
Orleans.
Thousands Involved. in Traffic.
Exact statistics, it is explained, cannot
be obtained to show the extent of the
traffic. In the judgment of every one
who has had an opportunity for careful
judgment, the report says, the numbers
involved in the traffic run well into the
thousands every year.
That the police in some big cities ac-
cept pay for protecting the white slave
traffic" is also indicated by the report.
1T is. Of course, difficult to prove by
specific cases the relation Of the po-
lice to this traffic and to establish by
specific evidence the fact, generally ac-
cepted, that the girls and disorderly
house keepers regularly, pay the police
for protection" says the report; but
high police officials. prosecuting off,
GERS and social workers in all quarters
assert that in many. If not all, Of our
large cities much corruption OF this
kind exists.
Most of the girls questioned by the
commissions agents on this point said
that payments were made to the police
to insure their protection from too fire.
quent arrests. 1t lis. of course, a viola
ton Of the law for the police to demand
or receive such money!
After explaining that little help in the
suppression Of the white slave traffic"
can be expected from foreign countries
and that the United States must rely
on it's own officials. the commission
makes recommendations in connection
with the administrative work Of the De-
Ipartment OF Commerce and Labor. eSpe-
cially the bureau Of immigration, and
in regard to new legislation.
How to Cope With Evil.
AS to administrative changes, the COM
mission recommends, first, that there
should be attached to the United States
embassies, in some of the more i'm
portant countries, a special agent, with
authority to employ assistants who work
In conjunction with foreign governments,
to collect information which might assist
in the deportation of criminals and those
engaged in the white slave traffic" and
to furnish Information which might lead
to the prosecution In foreign countries
iof aliens for crimes committed either
here or abroad
/. is further suggested that agents of
the Department of Commerce and Labor
should make special efforts to secure in
formation in advance to prevent the sail
ing or the landing in this country of
persons involved in the white slave traf-
f1c'' and that immigration inspectors at
ports of entry should make special ef-
forts to enforce the law and TO make the
fullest Investigations. If suspicion is d.
rected to an applicant for admission.
Numerous changes in the immigration
law are recommended. At present de-
portation of persons In the white slave
traffic cannot be accomplished unless
discovered within three years after they
land. and the commission recommends
the removal of that limit The law
should also provide it is recommended,
that persons who have been once de-
barred or deported should be held guilty
OF a misdemeanor il they attempt again
to enter the country. and punished by i'm
prisonment for two years and then de-
ported.
Punishment for Perjury.
1t Is further recommended that the
penalties for perjury should be inflicted
upoE those taking false oath regarding
the circumstances connected with these
crimes" The burden of proof regard
ing the date and place of landing, 1t is
further suggested, should be upon the
alien, not on the bureau of Immigration
as at present.
The immigration laws should require.
Ii Is urged, that steamship companies
take back whence they came all
debarred or deported passengers in the
same class Of passage in which they came
to this country.
Under present circumstances 1t will
often pay steamship company, finan-
cially. to take the risk of bringing a
criminal first or second class, takin g
the risk Of their deportation 1t is ex-
planned, since if they can be returned
to their own country at steerage rates a
profit is made"
The cooperation of the various states
for the prosecution of violators of the
slave traffic" is also urged by the COM
mission. 1t is suggested that a system
be established whereby the states will
notify the federal Department of Com
merce and Labor OF cases coming to their
attention. SO that deportation can he