The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-22


gather additional data for Commits
sioner Gillespie. ~ ii
We will not be able 20 make pun
lie our completed report until next
October" said Or Wilson, but We
have lot OF available data that We
will turn over TO the police commits
sioner Immediately The committee
will be very glad 10 work with the
police commissioner and assist MN
IN every way possible We rrallIe
that Commissioner Gillespie has
gigantic probloDl on his hands. hut
We are confident that he has the back
bone TO go through with 10. When
the final report is transmitted No The
police commissioner. we will send a
list OF recommendation along with
It
Commissio ner Gillespie assured Dr
Wilson that Whatever policy was nm
ally decided upon in regard 10 the fu'
ture regulation OF abolition OF the vice
district. he was perfectly willing 10
shoulder all the responsibility and.
therefore. solicited the support OF
anti-vice agencies in purely advis-
DRY capacity.
Under orders from the police com
missioner central precinct detectives
are now at work gathering data IN the
vice district The commissioner
wants 10 know the location OF every
disorderly house In the city, whether
registered or not The officers are
also asked 20 learn the name OF the
keeper, how tong she has been en-
gagged In conducting a resort, number
OF inmates. as we'll as Il description
or the property, assessed valuation.
amount OF rent collected, together
brokers. Gillespie VIII make this in
formation public and viii not shiel
the owners OF houses occupied as re
sorts.
Some or these disorderiy houses
that would ordinarily not rent for
more than s25 a month. are now pay
Ing their owners revenue OF 500
and more a month, according 70 the
police commissioners information.
II realize that there will be an aw-
ful howl when we attempt To segre.
gate the vice district, and the loudest
howl Will come from the owners OF
the houses. said the police commits
sioner Il do not believe that any pro-
tests from them ought 70 be taken
into consideration.
When | select a location for the
vice district will try and select the
least Objectionable one, and the peo-
pie must stand for II. think IL will
take about six months 10 complete
the work OF segregation. | realize
MI os litsx. Ia t,,fn
but IL has TO be done and IL is up 10
me as police commissioner 10 do the
job the best | know how will get
every available particle OF data from
every possible source before definite
ly deciding on a police. Once | de-
eide on policy | will carry II through
no matter whom IL hurts.
There IS only one way 10 get rid
OF the vultures that live of these crea-
lures OF the underworld, and that is
TO abolish organized vice. or crowd
the houses into as small a district as
possible. 60 that II will be possible
10 send police officers through the dis
trict at all hours OF the day and night
Criminals flock 10 the vice district.
Vice breeds crime, and the elimination
OF organized vice would not only be
good for the morals OF the city, but
II would help the police department
to keep down crime.
Il am told that 95 per cent OF the
scarle. women in Detroit come from
other cities II this Is true my policy
will be TO drive them out OF Detroit.
In cutting the number OF disorderly
houses down 10 80. the police will
make use Of their arbitrary authority,
and ! viii face the protests. A public
morals squad. including possibly one
woman, will be able 10 handle the vice
situation in Detroit with an iron hand
when we get through with our correc-
lions"
Assistant United States District Al
torney j. Edward Bland. who has had
charge OF the prosecution OF many
white slave cases In the last year. Is
strongly opposed 10 the idea OF licens-
ing vice dens. I'm spite OF the fact. he
says, that Il would greatly facilitate
the enforcement OF the white slave
act.
The handling OF the social evil is a
big problem" he said TO The Times.
Thursday, Many ways are suggested
to cope with IT. The licensing OF I'm.
moral resorts is one frequently sug-
gested, That and the registration OF
the inmates, with strict supervision
by the police. certainly would make
IL much easier for the government TO
----------s.