El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-27
ENFoRcE TEE Ltw.


feel you sho1ld be COMMENDED
upon your editorial IN Tuesdays is
sue on Law Enforcement" which
correctly diagnosed the city's case
have read several columns re-
Gently on the subject OF Why the city
authorities differ from the military
in regard to a proposed rocmins
house ordinance. calculated 70 elimi-
nate their use as houses OF prostitu-
tion.
The military point TO an alarming
Increase in the number Of cases Of
social diseases among army men as
a need for the more drastic ordinance,
while the city authorities maintain
Granting this TO be the case. The facts
then are these.
Prostitution IS being practIced IN
e Pas0 rooming houses daily.
Taxes are being expended for law
enforcement
me law. being a,iequate. Is not en-
forced 70 al extent which is correct
ing the evil
Il an The saerEy expended in
making charles and counter
charges. deuials and dlscussiona
calculated TO divert public ntten-
ton from the real issue. was d.
rected toward correcting the
conditions which lead the military
TO seek relief, FL PnsO would be
better and cleaner city 10 live In
There may be some excuse for the
resentment OF the city authorities
toward the military's preferred plans
excuse for the city IN permitting the
condition &C exist
We should not wait until things
reach a stage where the military -
prompted TO offer solutions 70 civil
problems 20 protect the army
What the people want is coordina-
ton and cooperation amozg these en-
trusted 70 the keeping OF law and
order II the problem can Be better
handled By the combined efforts q
the county, city and military authori-
ties. then that is what the people
want
Instead OF the military's proffered
help being met with a cooperative
spirit resentment and public de-
nuuciation follow based upon the
fancied eucroachment upon -the bin
% rights OF the state constitution
We need not necessarily adopt ordi-
nances drafted by the military. but
we can cooperate with them 70 the
extent OF enforcing adequate ordi-
nances already in effect. but not
being enforced properly
An adequate ordnance inadequatelv
enforced is little better than absence
Of any code applying If that part
OF the taxpayers money. which was
spent IN the prosecution OF a hene-
factor TO mankind (Dr- Byron Black
because OF violation In fact OF the Lett
ter Of the law written and passed
before the sciences OF chiropracty
was born) was expended IN enforcing
the present adequate roomlnE house
ordinance IL would not have been
necessary for some more Of it TO be
spent searching the Texas cuustitu-
ton in order to show the military
their proposed ordnance was uncon-
stitutionzL
Laws are made 70 protect society.
Their enforcement sometimes works
hardships upon those who are in
nocenr- but who would object to a I
little inconvenience knoWinE u
necessary for the correction o. erill
Possibly a few narrow minded and
selfish individuals might protest
claiming restriction OF their indie ,
viduai rights. but the result to ~
gained Is far more important
The payment Of taxes il a form
OF Insurance premium. which the tax
payer, as the insured expects 10 Be
wisely expended
When prostitution and boctleEEing
Is permitted in the rooming houses o. :,
FL Paso the taxpayer naturally wants J
70 know why his Insurance don't
protect inasmuch as the policy IS con-
sidered adequate
Homer Hiu Chaddock-