Evening star., 1943-05-25
Parental Laxitv
Held Cause Of
Conditions
Conferees Propose
Three Changes in
Existing Lows

Responsibility for conditions which
allow young innocents" rather than
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 special
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.
Many Ignorant of Infection.
"a fragrant cause of venereal dis
ease, especially among young peo-
pile, is the laxity of parents Mr..
La Roe's report said.
I'm 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
70 m
without return to real family life,
accompanied by a 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 Evstitute may solicit with
impunity in restaurants. beer par
lors, hotels and by telephone
5~ 1oy Ill -
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 Sc arrests for prostitution. 154
for fornication, 10 for solicitation, II
| for pandering. 25 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
venereal disease. In this sense the
new law will be 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 a health
nature that will get the soldiers AMI
the young girls off the streets and
into a 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. j.
Gordon, Army Surgeon Generals
Office; DR.. George c. Ruhland, 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.