Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-10

hc'ty. dnd which will in no appreciable
degree contribute to the solution of
Inc real problem that in the nearest
concern or all-thc bntOlnont or less
chinB OF the commcrcialiZed vice evil.
The Vice Commission. according to
those who hold this belief, has given
abundant proof that 1t would prefer
That the matter DO permitted to rest
where II Is. a similar disinclination
to force an investigation is imputed
with more or less reason to the Mayor,
20 the city Council and to the citizen
ship in general. II this summing up of
the situation is correct, the movement
for an Investigation OF the police adj
ministration may already be regarded
as moribund.
MAYOR GIVES VIEWS
ON VICE SITUATION
Mayor Ainslic Yesterday made the
following statement.
AS i view the situation in conncc-
ton with the reports OF tho Vice Com
mission, II is this The commission
was appointed to investigate CONNER
cialized vice In this city, and to make
such recommendations in regard there
10 as they deemed most likely to i'm
prove our conditions In this regard
Tho policy OF federation and regulated
permission had always heretofore OH
tanned in Richmond. ms IL had In prac-
ticany every other American city. and
The whole community. Mayors. Police
5oards. citizens and all acauiesced
in il.
II is matter of record that the
question was discussed just three years
ago by 70 committee from tho Police
| BOARD and special committee of the
Ministerial Union. and that no change
in the policy was insisted upon or
recommended by the ministerial com
mittee. Not single newspaper in tho
city protested against it prior TO the
appointment OF the commission. al
though so much OF ii as was in the
segregated district had been there for
nine Year,. and all OF them but one
approved tho appointment OF the com
mission. which latter paper. always
heretofore completely silent on the
subject. then, and for the first time.
called for the closing of the district
and the enforcement of Law against Il;
COMMISSIONS ADVICE.
WAS PROMPTLY FOLLOWED
The commission reported that 1t
found that the vice here was not con-
ii'tt W WE ulstTlCt. as has been found
to be the case In every other CITY in
the world. although the extent to
| which they found IL scattered had
never heretofore been indicated BIZ
private complaints. or other informa-
ton coming to police Headquarters.
Five days after the receipt OF tho first
report of the commission I took steps
to carry out Its recommendations. not
only In substance hut In the time set
by the, report Itself. which used the
! words at once twice in the space of
| three lines.
Il am assured by the Chief OF Po-
lice that the order OF the Mayor is
being carried out by special details
of police, and that the police force
! understands that the former policy of
liberation has ended. Richmond has
been divorced from its former attitude
with regard to vice. and the law is
being enforced over the whole city for
the first time in the memory OF man.
Report No. . specifically stated that
the Investigation disclosed no indica
tons whatsoever of graft. which should
! be not only a source of some gratifica-
ton to the people OF Richmond, but n
final answer to previously expressed
! opinions TO the contrary. Neither re-
port of the Vice Commission charges
any person connected with the police
! department with official misconduct:
neither report names any person