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91
DISORDERLY HOUSES AND CONDITION OF
THE STREETS.
The attention of the Vestry having been called to the
desirability of taking some concerted action in conjunction
with the Vestries of the neighbouring Parishes, with a
view to lessening the annoyance and complaints from time
to time received respecting the number of disorderly houses
in the neighbourhood, and the condition of the principal
streets in this part of London, it was decided to convene a
conference of delegates from the Vestries of Westminster,
St. George, Hanover Square, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, St.
Anne, St. Mary-le-Strand, St. Paul, Covent Garden, and St.
Clement Danes, to discuss the question and to see whether
any steps could be taken to remedy the evil. All the Parishes
named appointed delegates, with the exception of St.
Margaret and St. John, Westminster, who decided to take
no action in the matter. The delegates met at the Vestry
Hall, Piccadilly, on the 10th November, when, after having
had submitted to them the method of procedure adopted
by certain other Vestries in the metropolis, for the suppression
of disorderly houses, the delegates passed the following
resolutions:—
1. That, in the opinion of this Conference, it is desirable that
fines paid in connection with prosecutions under the
Criminal Law Amendment Act should go to the Treasury
instead of to the Police Fund, in order that the costs
incurred by Overseers may be defrayed therefrom, in the
same manner as under 25 Geo. II., Cap. 36.
2. That this Conference is of opinion that the fines now imposed
in convictions of disorderly house keepers are insufficient,
and that the maximum limit of the fines should be materially
increased.
3. That the Home Secretary be asked to give instructions to the
Metropolitan Magistrates to inflict heavier penalties than
they now do in cases of conviction of disorderly house
keepers.