Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-10
BASED UPON IOWA LAW
Would Clear Up Underworld Sections
of Washington.
HUMANE SOCIETY
Punishment for Cruelty to Animals
Not to Be Reduced as Commis-
sioners Asked.

The movement to wipe out the "red
light districts in the National Capital
received big impetus today, when the
Senate District committee decided to rec
ommend the passage by Congress of the
Kenyon bill declaring houses of the un-
derworld nuisances and providing for
closing them by court injunction. Sen
ator Curtis. chairman of subcommittee
of a full committee directed to investl-
gate the need for such legislation. will
make the committees report to the Sen
ate tomorrow and ask for the passage of
the bill within the near future.
The bill is based on a law which has
been In effect in Iowa for several Years
and which is said to have cleaned up
the cities of that state. successfully. II
declares that whoever shall erect,
establish. continue. maintain. use. own.
occupy or release any building for the
use of the underworld is guilty OF
nuisance. The Attorney General of the
United States, the United states at
torney for The District of Columbia or
ity to maintain suit in equity to per-
I'etualiy enjoin such a nuisance.
Duties of the Court.
In such action the bill specifies,
the court or a judge in vacation shall,
upon the presentation of petition
therefor alleging that the nuisance COM
p,ained of exists. allow temporary writ
of injunction, without bond. if it shall
he made to appear to the satisfaction OF
the court or judge by evidence in the
form of affidavits. depositions. oral tes-
timOny or otherwise. as the complainant
may elect. unless the court or judge by
previous order shall have directed the
form and manner in which 1T shall be
presented. Three days notice, in writing,
shall be given the defendant of the hear
ing of the application, and If then con-
tinued at his instance the writ as prayed
shall. be granted as a matter of course.
When an injunction has been granted it
shall be binding on the defendant
throughout the District of Columbia"
Punishment Provided.
Violations of any injunction granted
under the proposed law are to be pun
ished as contempt of court. it having
authority to "summarily try and punish
the offender" The punishment is to be
a fine of from 500 to $1,000 or imprison-
ment for from three to six months in the
District Jail or by both fine and imprison-
ment.
Provision is made in the bill for the
sale OF the property used In connection
with the nuisance. But the committee
amended the bill by striking out pro-
vision for fees for selling the property.
The owner of the property is given
power to keep il by furnishing a proper
bond that he will Immediately abate the
nuisance and keep it so.
Immunity Clause.
The committee adopted recommended
ton made by Senator Pomerene for an
amendment allowing immunity to inmates
OF the house involved. it specifying that
'the United States district attorney. or
other attorney representing the prosecu-
ton for violations of this statute. with
the approval of the court, may grant i'm
nunity to any witnesses called to testify
on behalf of the prosecution.
The Senate District committee also de-
cided to report adversely the bill. recon-
inenGed by the Commissioners. reducing
the penalty for cruelty TO animals in the
District. The bill was aimed to reduce
the penalty so that jury trials could not
he demanded by defendants.
Fhe Washington Humane Society made
a strenuous protest against the legisla-
lion, and the committee took the position
that there should be no lessenins of the
punishment for mstreating dumb ami
mails.