Evening star., 1942-09-26
Problems Of Vice,
Disease Discussed al
Round-7abIe Talk
Program Sought for
Curling Prostitution,
VenereuI Ailments

A dozen social case and group
workers discussed problems of pros
titution and venereal disease in a
round-table meeting today OF the
washington Institute of Social Pro-
lection, a two-day conference spon-
sored by the Council of Social
Agencies.
Today's session follows a platform
program yesterday that included
among its speakers Senator La Fol-
lette, Progressive, of Wisconsin,, au-
thor of the enabling legislation un-
der which functioned the first
venereal disease program Of the
United States Public Health Service.
Program Being Formed.
Out Of the discussion of social
workers is expected to come some
definite recommendation for fight
ing prostitution and its diseases.
The institute, under the chairman
ship of Mrs. Frank Linzel, has at
tempted TO answer three questions:
i. What are the facts concerning
prostitution and venereal disease
in the Washington Metropolitan
Area?
2. What is the extent of these
problems and their nature?
8. What are the policies and prac-
tice of the laW-enforcement agen-
cies, the health agencies and the
social agencies where these prob
lens are involved?
Vice Racket Growing.
At the meeting yesterday, DR.. j.
A. Nolan of the Washington Grim
inal Justice Association. reporting
on a survey made especially for the
institute, warned that prostitution
in Washington rapidly is becoming
a racket and may grow into an
extremely serious problem unless
curbed
Social workers, in their discussion
today, stressed the seriousness of
the situation. This they did in
describing specific cases as passed
along from one social agency to
another.
Their discussion leader, the Rev.
Thomas E. Mitchell, dean of the
School of Social Work at Catholic
University, called attention to the
fact that these cases, while con-
sidered primarily from the angle of
danger to visiting soldiers, also con-
stituted menace to the community.
Institutional Training Urged.
g. The cases cited were girls in their
lower teens. Most of the workers
were in agreement that the principal
remedy for such individuals should
be adequate institutional training
early in their delinquency career.
Those who took part in the dis
cussion were Miss Chastina Kendall,
public health nurse of the District
Health Department.; Mrs. Eileen
Brooks, case worker of the Bureau
of Public Welfare; Miss Genevieve
Gabower, director of social work of
Juvenile Court: Miss Blanche La
Due, director of the Women's Divi-
sion of Occoquan Reformatory for
Women; Miss Florence Murray,
supervisor of Catholic charities;
Mrs. Marguerite Mayer, supervisor of
the Jewish Social Service Agency;
Wayne Sommer, secretary of the
recreation division of the Council
of Social Agencies; Miss Dorothy
Thomas, supervisor of the Family
Service Association; Capt Rhoda
Milliken, director of the Police De-
partment Women's Bureau; Miss
Lucia Murchison, medical and So
cial worker of the District Health
Department.; Miss Anne Rogers,
superintendent of the Florence Crit
tenton Home, and Mrs. Morris
Zelditch, special project worker.
One of the major suggestions at
yesterdays session was a call from
Senator La Toilette for a 100-bed
detention unit for venereal disease
patients at Gallinger Hospital. He
cited the need for such an addition
shortly after he had warned that
the growing shortage of manpoWel
is becoming a serious matter and
must be dealt with by the Federal
Government in order to protect the
health program and the industrial
field.
Personnel Problem Cited.
although the tremendous amount
of venereal disease in the Dlstrlc
indicates a need for constantly in
creasing funds to provide for tht
normal growth of the program" hi
said, difficulties in obtaining per
sonnel are becoming more and more
pressing"
He reported that the creates
shortage at present is in physician
and clerks. Admitting that th
Army and Navy rightfully shoult
have the first call on personnel ant
equipment, he warned that "the con
troi of venereal disease among tn
civilian population is essential to tn
conduct of the war"
AS one solution to the prostitution
problem, he proposed that fines b
done away with and that, whereve
the evidence warranted, conviction
and maximum sentences be OBJ
tanned.
Only through the cooperation Q
the police, district attorneys Office
the courts, welfare agencies and tn
general public can we hope to &c
the Nations Capital out Of Group
in the Army's list of cities wher
yenereal disease is contracted.
Ness Among Speakers.
Speakers at yesterday afternoon
meeting of the institute include
Eliot Ness of the social protectio
section of the Office of Detens
Health and Welfare Services, WI
spoke on Rehabilitation in Socl
Protection Program; A. Madora
Donahue, chief of protective ser'
ices for children Of the Dls.rl
Board of Public Welfare, who dl
cussed relations of the social wol
program to the emergency needs
the present, and Francis McPee
director of the social welfare depar
ment of the Washington Federatlt
of Churches.