Evening star., 1943-05-25
Parental Laxity
Held Cause. Of
Conditions

Il SO'''SISSS IIOPOSe
& Three Changes in
! Existing Lows
Responsibility for conditions which
allow young innocents" rather thar
hardened prostitutes to be the
chief venereal disease offenders
was laid directly in the laps of par.
ents and churches yesterday by sew
eral District officials during a specia
meeting called to combat the vice
evil here.
Attended by II court, police, well
fare and health officials, the meeting
was called by Wilbur La Roe, jr.
member of the District Parole Board
and chairman of the Committee on
Civic Affairs of the Washington
Federation of Churches.
Although the session was 'off the
record" the group, through Mr.
La Roe, released list of observa-
tions and recommendations on the
vice situation in the District.
NAdAy 46hVk dhS VI AhACCklOH
"A fragrant cause of venereal dis
ease, especially among young peo-
pie, is the laxity of parents" Mr.
La Roe's report said.
In this sense the evil may be
laid at the door of the churches
Most of the offenders, numerically
are not the hardened prostitutes
but are young girls, many of whom
do not even know that they have
venereal disease"
1T was unanimously agreed" the
report continued, that there can be
no adequate solution to this problem
without return to real family life,
accompanied by recognition of the
Importance of the spiritual side OF
life. This only the church can
supply"
The report pointed out. however.
that while most offenders are of
the innocent type" the prostitutes
constitute the dangerous reservoir
from which the disease spills over
and infects the community"
Three "Inadequacies" Hit.
Recommending new legislation,
the report listed three made
Quacies" of existing laws:
l. The Public Health Officer and
his staff do not have police power
and must be given power to arrest
and examine persons on reasonable
suspicion.
2. 1t must be made unlawful to
solicit prostitution not only on the
streets, but in all other places. To-
day a I-stitute may solicit with
impunity in restaurants. beer par
lors, hotels and by telephone.
g. There is no law applicable to
so-called call houses
The officials criticized recent re-
ports of extremely bad" enforce
ment in the District as unfair and
unsupported"
Police Termed "Diligent."
The report said that figures sub
mitted the meeting by police off,
cials showed police were "diligent
in their warfare on offenders"
The figures showed that from July
I, 1912, through April, 1943, there
were 55 arrests for prostitution, l54
for fornication. 10 for solicitation, II
for pandering. Is for operation Of
disorderly houses. 48 for violation of
the White Slave Traffic Act.
In these cases, the report said,
there was a record of IS per cent
convictions
While admitting that in some
instances sentences imposed on pros
titutes have been too short" the
report stated that "co-operation
from the courts may be expected
Explaining that a new law ex-
panding the police powers of the
Health Department is now in proc
ess, the report said that law would
be rude shock to young offenders
who have considered themselves i'm
mune from prosecution under pres
ent laws"
May Be Segregated.
"A veritable host of young juve-
niles" the report said. may be
picked up and segregated upon rea-
sonable suspicion that they have
Nenereal disease. In this sense the
new law will be a potent instrument
for dealing with the largest class of
offenders
Mr. La Roe said the report would
be submitted to the Washington
Federation of Churches for appro-
pirate action.
The report concluded by saying
that what are needed are church
and other programs of health
nature that will get the soldiers an
the young girls off the streets and
into more healthful environment
The Army is undertaking to do this
by furnishing entertainment in the
camps, but the Army program is
inadequate without the help OF
churches and other civilian agencies.
Present at the meeting, which was
held at the Hotel Statler. were Will
liam E. Richardson. chief judge of
the Municipal Court of Appeals;
George E. Barse, chief judge of the
Municipal Court; Edward M. Curran
United States attorney; Police Supt
Edward j. Kelly Assistant Police
Supt. Harvey G.. Callahan, Ray H
Everett, executive secretary of the
Social Hygiene Society; Maj. H. ]
Gordon. Army Surgeon Generals
Office; DR.. George c. Rutland Dis
trict health officer: James A. Nolan
Of the Washington Criminal Justice
Association, Capt. F. G. Gillick of
the District Health Department and
Richmond B. Keech, corporation
counsel.