Evening star., 1931-12-13
dc. VAGRANCYL
AIMED At RESORTS,
DRAFTED BY BRIDE
Drastic Provisions Urged to
Rid Capital Area of
UndesirabIes.
GAMBLERS, B0OTLEGGERs
AND OILERS INCLUDED
Sweeping Changes Would Place
Burden of Proof on Suspects
Caught in Police Cleanup.

Bootleggers, gamblers and habitues
OF speakeasies, gambling houses and
other places Of Ill repute would be
classified as vagrants under q proposed
new vagrancy law written by Corpora
ton Counsel william w. Bride and
submitted yesterday to the District
Commissioners.
Drastic in its provisions, Brides bill
Is designed to give the police depart
ment new weapon with which to deal
with persons it now finds difficult to
reach because of elasticity in the exist
ing vagrancy law. 1t classes as vagrants
large number of persons who at COM
mon law and under most statutes could
not be described as vagrants-regularly
employed persons who make their living
in violation of the law.
Mr.. Bride defends the far-reaching
effect Of the new bill with an explana-
ton that 1t is now difficult for police
to prove that gambling goes on or that
liquor is sold in any specific house, and
that the proposed law would establish
very useful means" to lend the
establishment itself"
Cites Present Rulings.
In his accompanying report Bride
admits that the present vagrancy act
has been construed by the Court of
Appeals ''as limiting to too great ex-
tent the personal liberties of residents
OF the District of Columbia
The full text of the draft follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives of the United
States OF American in Congress as
sembled, that the following classes of
persons shall be deemed vagrants In
the District Of Columbia:
First. All persons classed as vagrants
at common law
Second: All persons known to be
beggars, bootleggers, burglars, drunk
ards, gamblers, pickpockets, thieves,
commence operators or prostitutes,
whether by their own confession or by
conviction in this or another jurisdic-
tion, unable to give good account
of themselves, found lettering In or
around any place of public resort or
assembly, or upon any highway, or in
any place Of business or entrance
thereto
Third: All persons in whose posses
sion or under whose control or dominion
shall be found any instrument or tool
usually employed, or that reasonably
may be employed, for the commission
OF crime, who shall fail to account sat
1sfactorily for the possession of the
same.
Idlers Also Included.
Fourth: All persons over the age of
1T years who do not have sufficient
means to maintain themselves or their
families, who live idly and without en-
ployment and who are able to work and
refuse to work.
Fifth: All persons found lettering
who do not follow any lawful trade,
occupation or business and can give no
reasonable account of themselves.
Sixth: ALI persons who have no
lawful occupation, nor sufficient prop
erty lawfully acquired from which to
obtain support, who wander in or about
or lodge in market houses, market
places, wharves, docks, watercraft, de-
pots, public buildings, vacant houses,
out-nouses, barracks, barns, garages,
Sheds, cars, automobiles, or other
Venlcies or IN any public park OF open
place
Seventh: Any person who loafs,
loiters or idles in or around or Is the
owner, occupant or employe of any
mouse which Is, or is reputed to be. q
house Of Ill fame, gambling house, or
place where intoxicating liquor is sold.
Section 2. That all persons con-
vlcted of vagrancy shall be imprisoned
Tor period OF not more than 80 days;
provided, that the court may, in It's dis
cretion permit such person SO con-
Vlcted to give bond in the amount of
not less than 800 and not more than
$500, conditioned upon his future in
dustry and good conduct for period of
one year, and the punishment shall not
De imposed during his faithful observ-
ance OF this condition, but his own
recosnizance shall not be accepted.
Burden on Defendant.
Section 3-whenever it shall be es-
tablished by the evidence in any prose-
cution under paragraph of section |
OF this act that the defendant has been
guilty OF wandering or strolling about
In idleness, or living in idleness, or that
such defendant is leading an idle. i'm
moral, or profiigate life, and that such
defendant Is able to work; or under
paragraph 6 OF section l of this act
that defendant loafs, loiters, idles. wan
oers IN or about or lodges in the places
named in said paragraph then, or In
either OF such events, q prima facie case
OF guilt Is hereby declared to be estab-
i1shed, and the burden of proof shall
De upon the defendant to show that he
HAS lawful occupation, or Is unable
to work, or has sufficient property law
fully acquired from which to obtain
support.
Section 4.-That If for any reason
any section, paragraph, provision, clause
or part Of this act shall be held un-
constitutional CT invalid that fact shall
not affect or destroy any other section,
paragraph, provision, clause or part
OF this act not in and of itself invalid.
but the remaining parts Of the act shall
be enforced without regard to that so
invalidated.
Replaces Other Acts.
Section 5.-ProSecutions for viola
tions of the provisions of this act shall
be in the Police Court of the District
OF Columbia, in the name Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia by the corporation
counsel or by one of his assistants,
Section 6.-AH laws and ordinances.
or parts of laws and ordinances, now
In force in the District of Columbia IN
consistent with the provisions of this
act, or any part thereof, are hereby re-
pealed."
HEADS EDUCATION H HkR