The Washington times., 1935-05-01
Penalty Too Lou

made reference to the INSULT
cheney of the present penalty
of $25 for the offense of solici.
tation for immoral purposes.
In fact, all witnesses comment
ing on this subject were unani-
nous in the conclusion that the
present penalty was entirely in
adequate, and was of no effect
and force, either as a deterrent
or as punishment.
On January 9, 1885, the Hon.
Mary T. Norton introduced a
bill III. R. 1866 to prevent en-.
ticement for lewd purposes in
the District of Columbia, which
amends the existing law to the
extent Of increasing the PEN
atty and making provision for
added possible penalty for re.
peat offenSes.
The subcommittee is in com.
plete accord with respect to in
creased penalties for the Of
tense Of enticement for lewd
purposes, but suggests that the
law should be made sufficiently
broad in scope to include in
creased penalties for any and
all persons who may be in any
way profiting from or connect
ed with the practice or encour-
agem ent Of commercialiZed
~ vice.
The subcommittee also wishes
to direct attention to the acts
OF. March 3, 1901, June 30, 1902,
(Which may be found on p.
SO, title 6, sec. 351, Of the Code
of the District Of Columbia,
complete to March 4, 1929.
which reads as follows:
Conduct of prosecutions-ThO Gttor-
ney for the District Of Columbia shall
be known as the corporation counsel.
Prosecutions for violations Of all
police or municipal ordinances or reg
ulations and for violations of all
penal statutes in the nature Of police
or municipal regulations. where the
maximum punishment is fine only,
or imprisonment not exceeding /
year, shall be conducted in the name
Of the District Of Columbia and by
the corporation counsel or his as
sistants. All other criminal prosecu-
tions shall be conducted in the name
of the United states and by the
attorney Of the United States for the
District Of Columbia or his assistants.
Prosecutions for soliciting are
now conducted by the Corpora
ton Counsel in the name Of the
District of Columbia. This is so
because the punishment is a
fine only. The resolution above
referred to makes the penalty
a fine and Imprisonment, which,
under the section above quoted,
would automatically transfer
the Jurisdiction Of prosecutions
for this type Of offenSe to the
office Of the United States Dis
trict Attorney.
It is, therefore, recommended
that H. r. 3466 be redrafted
so as to provide Cd increased
penalties not only for those who
might be found guilty Of solicit
ing and/or engaging in prostltu.
ton, but also for any and all
persons guilty Of in any way
profiting from or being con-
nected with the offense, and:
(2) the pending resolution
should carry a clause speclfl'
cally stating that the conduct
of prosecutions for this oftenSe
should be by the Corporation
Counsel in the name Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, as at present.
Minor OffenSeS-The primary
purpose Of the subcommittee
has been to find a means OF
checking the alarming growth
of major crime and to provide
a means of reducing gambling
and vice. AS a consequence,
the first three subdivisions OF
crime. namely felonieS, gam
bling and vice, have been given
the subcommittee concentrated
attention. There are, however,
additional phases of the crime
problem which need continued
study and analysis. OF chief
Importance among these are the
types Of cases handled in the
So-called slower courts" in the
District Of Columbia. These In
clude miSdemeanors, juvenile
cases, violations Of the munich
pal regulations, and violations
of traffic regulations.
During the fiscal year Of 1894,
1888 such violations Of the
lam VyarAa no,aaYoikkAI D. H. N;a