nl_e17

Finch, White Slave Traffic, 1912
Government. It is believed that under the circumstances a most rigid
law should be enacted under this clause of the Constitution.
There are a number of other matters which it might also be well to
cover in order to fully provide for the suppression of the white slave
traffic.
1. There should be an act of Congress authorizing a woman to
testify in such case against her husband. This is particularly essential
for the reason that, as has already been stated, it is a common
practice for procurers to marry their intended victims, and it is
frequently impossible to secure a conviction without the use of the
testimony of the woman or girl involved.
2. Provision should be made by law for the issuance of search
warrants by any United States court or United States commissioner or
justice of the peace or other similar official on behalf of the United
States, such warrants to authorize United States marshals and deputy
marshals, and agents of the Department of Justice specially
designated by the Attorney General for the purpose, to search any
place where there is probable cause to believe that any person is
detained or held in violation of law.
3. The law should also authorize the arrest, without warrant, by
the persons heretofore mentioned, of any one detected in the act of
violating any such statute.
4. In order to assure prompt trials and substantial, swift and
certain punishment in such cases, the law should also provide for the
advancement of such cases, and their trial without delay, upon request
of the Attorney General. It should also fix, with exactness the minimum
penalty in such cases and require judges to promptly impose and
cause the execution of sentences and prohibit the suspension of
sentences by the courts.
While it was believed that steps should be taken for the absolute
suppression of the white slave traffic, in so far as it was possible to do
so under existing law, and while it was felt that the circumstances
justified the appropriation of a very substantial sum for the purpose, in
order to avoid the appearance of extravagance, and since it was
thought that a comparatively small sum might be quickly secured,
whereas there might be considerable delay if a large appropriation
were requested, the Attorney General called upon Congress for an
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