Evening star., 1943-05-15
Vice eWitnesses
Asked 10 Help
Situation Here
Committee to Act on
Recommendations
Next Week

SAdllIIldI - AlcSdllQIO Oh Tile Spcs
cial House subcommittee Investigate
ing vice conditions here today
awaited recommendation from wit
nesses who told of Shocking" con-
ditions in the District during the
committees sessions which closed
yesterday.
District and Federal officials who
testified before the committee have
been asked to submit their sugges-
tlons and recommendations by next
Thursday. The committee then will
hold an executive meeting to con-
slider the reports and will draw up
legislation needed to strengthen ex-
isting laws. q
Several witnesses yesterday testi-
ned that the apathy" of the courts
mere to the menace of prostitution
is the main obstacle to a successful
enforcement program.
Ray H. Everett, executive secre-
tary of the District Social Hygiene
Society, said short sentences and
low fines in courts here present
vicious circles in efforts to stamp
OuI pTOSLlCuClOn.
Police Complimented.
THE courts here" he said, don't
seem to have sympathetic under
standing of the problem of prosti-
tuition. The girls are given light
sentences or small fines and then
immediately go out and work harder
to make extra money to make up
for the fine. It's vicious circle"
Declaring that police here are
doing a good" job in controlling
commercial vice, Mr.. Everett said,
however, that nearly two-thirds of
the prostitutes are amateur pick
ups"
! Regarding the apathy" of the
courts, Mr.. Everett cited the recent
arrest of II bellhops on vice charges,
IA of whom were put on probation
by the courts.
What kind of enforcement can
you have with cooperation like
that?" he asked.
Special Clinic Urged.
DR.. Fred Gillick, head Of the
venereal disease division of the Dis
trict Health Department, agreed that
the weak link" in enforcement is
the "follow-through" by the courts.
Stating that all women picked up
for prostitution should be examined,
DR.. Gillick recommended establish
ment of a clinic near police head
quarters where women could be ex-
amined and detained until results
of venereal tests are known.
Detective Sergt. Roy Blick of the
vice squad said that under the pres
ent system women who have been
examined and found to have vene-
real diseases cannot be confined for
the length of time necessary for
treatment.
80 Per Cent Found Diseased.
He said that of TOO persons arrest
ed in the last six months, most of
whom were women, about 30 per cent
were found to have venereal disease.
He said all the Police Department
could do was to have the women ex-
amined and then release them.
when we took some of the women
before the courts to request confine-
ment for treatment we were told No
SOAP"
Police Supt. Edward j. Kelly tes-
titled that the Police Department
has had under consideration the
establishment of a clinic near police
headquarters for the examination of
prostitutes and said that such a
clinic should be available soon.
He requested an amendment to
the District prostitution law which
would authorize police to enter night
clubs and restaurants to pick up
prostitute suspects.
Army Officers Testify.
Regarding previous testimony by
James S. Owens of the Federal Sc
curity Agency, who had inferred
that there was not complete CO.
operation within the Police Depart
ment itself, Maj. Kelly said:
I'VE have too many people who
are trying to be unpaid chiefs of
police around this place and trying
to run the Police Department when
actually we only have one chief OF
police who is responsible"
Following last-minute word from
the Office of the Chief of Staff OF
the Army, reporters and the public
were barred from the COMMITTEES
room during the testimony OF two
military officials. They were 1t.
Col. J. A. Casteel of the provost
marshal's Office, who has worked
very closely with police in planning
and conducting vice raids, and Mai.
Harold j. Gordon of the War De-
partment.