New-York tribune., 1918-03-11
Vice Committee
Assails Mitchell
Administration
Report Emphasizes Condi-
tions in Cabarets; Blames
Former Mayor
Street Evils Reduced
Less immortality Found in
Tenement Houses; Training
Camp Conditions Good

The Committee of Fourteen, which
added last year the suppression of vice
in the vicinity Of military posts to its
other duties, made public yesterday its
annual report. 1t shows that while So
liciting on the street for immoral pur
poses and vice in tenement houses arc
decreasing in New York. the cabaret
girl is hourishing. For this, according
to the Committee of Fourteen, Mayor
Mitchell is largely responsible. Com
mercialized vice in training camp zones
the committee found to be rare.
Cabarcts, the committee decided after
investigation, constitute serious peril
to the morals Of the city. Proprietors
by obtaining control of the charters of
clubs incorporated prior to the enact
mcnt Of the present liquor tax law arc
able to sell liquor all night, the COM
mittec reported, despite the closing law
and the agreement with the Mayor.
Blot on Mitchell Administration
"The committee is of the opinion
says the report, "that the responsibility
for the extension of the very grave evils
manifested in the cabarets must rest
with Mayor Mitchell. 1t is the blot on
his police administrations. His tolcr-
ancc Of the pseudo club known TO all
connected with tho night life of the
city as a subterfuge, was responsible
for the development of new phase of
the social evil, the cabaret prostitute
a phase more mercenary and dehas-
ing tran anything known in New York
for years.
an the friendly atmosphere which,
exists in such places late at night"
the report continues. "it is not difficult
for the prostitute seeking customers to
meet men in comparatively innocent
way Indeed, this is one of the great
dangers of these resorts shat their
real character is not obvious.
GAS dancing is permitted in al these
places the customary way for the pros
titute to make arrangements with her
prospective custome" was while dane
ing with him: man beng permitted
t( dance with any woman whom he
might ask. While in the more care
fully conducted places man was not
permitted to return and seat him
self at the girls table, there was
always opportunity during the success
sivc dances for arrangements TO be
made so that The couple could leave
the resort at The same timc, joining at
the cntranoe.'
The report of the committees in
vestigator was brought to the atten-
ton of the authorities and an order
was issued that the | o'clock closing
rule must be adhered to. The committee
found that the result WAS a cons der
able increase in the number of women
soliciting on the streets after 1 O'Clock.
and that many of the newcomers were
cabaret girls.
Years Arrests Show Reduction
During the last twelve months, how
ever. the committee reports. the num-
ber Of women arrested on the streets
for soliciting. lettering and vagrancy
was only PAP. as compared with l BAT
in 1916. There was a reduction of so
Icr cent in soliciting cases and an iu-
crease of almost 100 per cent in the
vagrancy cases.
Prostitution in tenement houses. as
disclosed by court records. decreased
81 per cent from the preceding year,
the committee reports, 824 women be
ing arrested charged with the offence
Attention is directed to penalties i'm
posed upon the owners Of property
proved knowingly to have permitted
thc premises to be used for the pur-
pose of prostitution The first penalty
was imposed upon the Equitable Realty
Company, owners Of building at 319
West Seventeenth Street. A dozen
ether realty owners during the year
paid the minimum penalty Of $50 rather
than defend action started against
Them