Evening star., 1914-02-09
District Attorney Talks With
Officials on Red Light
Measure.
AUTHORITY TO ARREST
NOT AT ALL ABRIDGED
Tells Of Two Ways for Filing Pro-
ceedings Against the Owners
of Suspected Property.

That the Kenyon red light injunction
ana abatement law the enactment of
which has closed all the resorts in wash
ihstohs segregated districts. does not re-
peal or render ineffective previous laws.
but oroadens and renders them more eff
iectlve, was the statement of United
states Attorney Clarence r. Wilson. eX-
pressed in a talk to inspectors captains
and ifeutenants of police of th. various
precincts at the office of Mai sylvester
today.
In his explanation OF the Kenyon iam.
Mr. Wilson informed the police officers
tnat the new law gives the Attorney Gen
eral of the United States through his rep
resentative. the United States attorney
for the District of Columbia, the power
to proceed against owners of houses oc-
cupied as illegal resorts, without in any
way disturbing or abridging the authority
OF the police to arrest proprietors or oc-
cupants of such resorts.
"Ail laws relating to disorderly
houses, said Mr.. Wilson, ARE still in
force. and are not repealed by any sec
tlon OF the Kenyon law, and the police
stiil have the power and authority TO
proceed against occupants of such re-
sorts exactly as they have done in the
past. Under the Kenyon law, however.
the procedure for closing any and all
houses used for immoral purposes is by
civil proceedings rather than by crim-
nal procedure
The new law he continued. puts IN
me the duty of filing a bill in equity
against the actual owners of the prop
erty which Is used for illegal or immoral
purposes. There are two ways under the
new law by which such proceedings in
equity may be instituted. One is by the
filing by private citizen OF a bill for
injunction against the owners of property
SO used, while the other method is by the
filing of such bill by the United States
a attorney-in this case myself-personally.
on complaint made by the police. from
knowledge of the character of thee house
sought TO be closed"
All complaints made to the police or
houses suspected to be occupied as i'm
moral resorts. said Mr.. Wilson, are TO
be referred to him, and on receipt OF
such complaints a rigid investigation
will be made of the allegation as re-
CARDS houses or apartments no at
tention, he said, will be paid to anony-
nous communications or complaints by
telephone.
Warning as to Questionable Places.
Ir. Wilson stated that motion picture
theaters. Chinese restaurants and ether
restaurants of questionable character
are favorite hunting grounds OF men
who prey upon young girls. and asked
that a strict watch be kept by the
police upon all such places.
Experience in other cities. he said.
has shown that motion picture the
aters obscurely lighted. have become
dangerous places for girls and young
women not accompanied by male es-
corts or older women; while. at GER
tain hours of the evening, and in the
afternoons a class of restaurants pur-
veytng drinks. as well as the chop suey
houses. are filled with questionable
characters. many of whom are seeking
the downfall Of young and unprotected
girls who may visit the places.
The success or failure of this law
said Mr.. Wilson depends entirely upon
the activity of the police" He said
that the police know the women Who
have been inmates of the houses in
they know or have suspicion against
some houses. apartments or other
places. and that such matters Should
be communicated to him.
First Law of Its Kind Here
This is the first law We have had" he
said. that holds property owners respon-
sible for the conduct OF their tenants.
and | think that after We have filed sey-
eral bills in equity against property own
ers the other owners OF resort property
will be more careful. and viii instruct
their agents 10 be more careful as 10
whom they let the property. 1t IS self
interest with the property owners. and
believe the real estate dealers OF this
city will give US aid.
Mr. Wilson declared that lac intends
to enforce the law vigorously. III CON
clusion he instructed the officers to be
sure that they have the evidence that
the property against which tney are 70
proceed is maintained for immoral pur-
poses He said that the fact that ey.
dence had been secured by the police
that immoral offenses had been commit
ted in a house, apartment or some other
place did not constitute proof that such
a place Is maintained for that purpose
On tbs. other hand he said, If place
is habitually used for such purposes. al
though for no special length Of time, il
comes under the provisions of the new
law and the properly owners can be
proceeded against.
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