Evening star., 1925-05-11
DANCE HALL CURB
IS BEFORE COUNCIL
City Social Agencies to Pass
on Move to License
Public Places.

The Washington Council OF Soclai
Agencies will meet this afternoon at
4 o'clock at, the Releigh Hotel for
annual election of officers and to pass
on amendments to the police regula'
tions of the District which would i'm
pose license and drastic regulation
of public dance halls, dancing ciups
and schools, which are now without
any police supervision.
Arthur G.. Moses has been noml-
mated president of the council Jonn
Ihlder the present head of the councii,
nominated vice president NeWpoiu
Noyes nominated to succeed himsei1
as treasurer, and Mrs. w. A. Rooerts
to succeed herself as executive secre-
tary.
Dance Halls Called Menace.
The move to bring the public dance
halls under the supervision or ponce
was begun months ago when the
council discussed the need of redralt-
ing the police code to permit ponce
to,regulate them. Unsupervlsed dance
halls which stay open lat all hours
of the night, attended by boys and
girls of susceptible years, are
menace, social workers declare. Al
the present time, it is said. ponce
have no power to enter the dance
clubs" and thus have no power 10
force a moral atmosphere to be MAIN
tanned in them.
The proposed amendment was draft
bv ]. e. Jones of the United States
Press Association. who has been active
in social work here, and by Miss LYDIA
Burklin, chairman of the recreation
committee of the council OF social
agencies.
Miss Burklin is sponsoring the
amendment before the council and WIN
tell the needs of regulation or the
public dance halls here at this artef-
moons meeting. There is a strong
sentiment in the council for regulation,
it Is said, and approval of the amend
ment is expected.
The amendments We're drafted after
Mr.. Jones and Miss Burklin had heid
extensive consultations with the DIS
trict Commissioners. Corporation
Counsel Francis II. Stephens, his as
sistants at Police Court and others
Favorable action on the amendments
is thus expected from the city heads
if the matter is presented to them. A
public hearing, it is expected, Will De
called by the Commissioners before
final action is taken.
Changes Proposed.
The amendments, which would place
Investigation of dance halls applying
for license to operate in the hands of
the Women's Bureau, follow:
Dance hall licenses shall be re-
auired for the following: All public
dances held in halls; all dancing
classes or dancing clubs or dances
conducted in restaurants, cabarets,
hotels or other places, where a Zee
is charged, either directly or indirectly,
for the privilege of dancing. through
either admission, cover charges Tor
food, or club dues. Application Tor
such licenses shall be referred by the
Superintendent of Licenses to the Ma
jor and Superintendent OF Police, VINO
shall in turn refer the same to the
commanding officer of the precinct
and lieutenant in charge of the Wom-
ems Bureau for investigation and re-
port. Said dance LICENSES for dancing
must be conspiculotfsly posted in the
place where the dancing takes place.
ANY person who gives instructions
in dancing for a fee or remuneration
shall make application to the superin
tendent of licenses for a license as
dancing instructor under the same
conditions described above, which
license shall be issued without charge
therefor"
Favor Closing at 1880 AN.
A tnlrQ dmenuHenl 10 the ponce
regulations would require that any
theater or other place of amusement,
in addition to the dance halls and
clubs, would have to close at 1880
am. There is some sentiment in the
Council of Social Agencies. however,
that this hour is too early and too
drastic a regulation for places of
amusement during the week days, the
hour of closing on Sunday nights
being IL o'clock. This proposed clos
ing regulation would include moy
ing picture houses, operas, cifcuses,
gymnasium dance halls, theaters. etc.
The present executive committee of
the Council of Social Agencies is
composed of John Ihlder, president;
Mrs. Charles Goldsmith, vice presi-
dent; Newbold Noyes, treasurer; Miss
Hettie P. Anderson, Mrs. William j.
Baxter, Merritt o. Chance, William
knowles Cooper, Mrs. Whitman
Cross, j. Wilmer Latimer, Mrs. H. E.
Monroe. Mrs. ]. P. S. Neigh, DR..
John O'Grady, Walter S. Ufford and
the following chairmen of standing
committees: Mrs. Whitman Cross,
children's work; Mrs. Walter 8.
Ufford, family work; Miss Gertrude
Bowling, health; Miss Lydia Burklin,
recreation, and Mrs. w. A. Roberts,
executive secretary.