PROSTITUTION A FELONY.
Mr. CAUTHORNE, of the Judiciary Committee, submitted a majority report on the bill [H. R. 399] in relation to keepers of houses of ill-fame, recommending its passage after striking out Section 5--[Any woman or girl being an habitual drunkard shall be imprisoned for three years.]
Mr. GIBSON submitted a minority report on the bill, recommending its indefinite postponement. He said he saw fit to present a minority report for the reason that the bill was entirely too strong, making the punishment for such offense imprisonment for two years in the Penitentiary.
Mr. FLOYD thought the bill was in the interest of society; that it would regulate a great evil that exists. He was in favor of making prostitution a felony, as this bill provides.
Mr. BUSKIRK was opposed to this bill, and in favor of the minority report, for the reason that it discriminates against woman. He thought there ought to be a little more sympathy on the part of members of this body to ladies, than would be exhibited by the passage of this bill, and that the law, as recommended by the Revision Committee, was fully sufficient to meet all cases of prostitution.
Mr. FALL said he remembered reading in the Divine Writ the words, "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."
On motion by Mr. McINTOSCH the bill with the reports were laid on the table.
