The Washington times., 1914-02-10
BY KATE WALLER BARRETT.

of Columbia, but a heated discus
sion was aroused as to whether it
would be enforced. Many States
had similar laws upon the statute
books, but in very few OF them was
any effort made for enforcement.
Reflect Public Sentiment.
The District OF Columbia followed
the example of these States and the
Edmonds law made no difference
with conditions in the District. By
common consent, such laws have
either been evaded or not enforced.
We cannot entirely blame public
officials FOR this non-enforcement-
they reflect public sentiment in their
attitude. This is one of the few
points where both the judiciary and
executive aspects are left to the
judgment OF the police authorities.
AS a rule, the decision upon what
circumstances. action shall be taken
against an individual accused OF
breaking the laws in such cases
rests in their hands.
But even the more ponderous ma
chinery Of criminal law has been
evoked in many cities and States TO
better conditions-their enforcement
being brought about by an aroused
public sentiment Possibly New
York city is taking the lead in this
particular. There is never a day
that the criminal courts are not
dealing with many such cases in a
thorough and effective manner.
Tenement House Law.
In spite Cf The supposed political
pull that many of the law breakers
have, in no courts have more
severe sentences been meted out
n L. y.
Ing not only the active partici-
pants, both men and women, but
those who have contributed TO
the delinquency" OF the inmates of
such resorts. In this way persons
who had felt themselves perfectly
safe. becaUsc they apparently had
n" part or interest in the estab-
h5nlhent, @erc brought to justice.
Ihc tenement house law IN New
ork city is rIgidly enforced. )
tenement house is defined as "a
building IN which as many as
three families live and do their
cooking II It is found that there
has been any infringement Of the
tenement house law by girl
using room in such i building
for imProrcr purposes, she is ccr.
tain 10 set long sentence in
prison, or. If she is young, n booe-
fUl case, d first offender, She. MAJ
W SChN ~ IJeaibTQ EefOTnltOrV
until she is twenty-one. She may
be released on parole, but if so. II
must be shown that she has friends
who viii be responsible for her.
and that she will not lack pro-
lection and employment.
People Must Answer.
After all, the final solution OF +he
enforcement OF law lies entirely i'm
the hands Of the people. II is per-
fectiy useless to blame public off
cials. The o.d saying like priest
like people, is true of the police aIj-
thorit!es, like Do ice, like people -
Water does not rise higher than lis
source unless by machinery and ali
artificial measure are but temporary
The law breakers are always on
hand with their pockets full OF
money and a phalanx OF astute legal
minds at their call TO assist them in
evading the law and to take advan-
tage of every loop-hole Good citi-
2ens are so busy carrying the entire
burdens OF the progress Of the COM
munity from an economic, educa-
tional and social standpoint, they
have but little time TO Give in cir
cumventing the Vaccinations Of the
fertile brain of the men and women
who live by their wits.
In view of these facts. and reaIiz-
ing that we have but poor, fraln
human nature to fashion our public