caminetti argued decided january joseph bailey marshall woodworth robert devlin petitioners nos harry glasser petitioner assistant attorney general wallace justice day delivered opinion three cases argued together may disposed single opinion cases conviction sentence violation white slave traffic act june stat chap comp stat judgments affirmed circuit courts appeals writs certiorari bring cases caminetti case petitioner indicted district northern district california upon day may alleged violations act indictment four counts first charged transporting causing transported aiding assisting obtaining transportation certain woman sacramento california reno nevada interstate commerce purpose debauchery immoral purpose wit aforesaid woman become mistress concubine verdict guilty returned three counts indictment first count defendant found guilty sentenced imprisonment eighteen months pay fine upon writ error circuit appeals ninth circuit judgment affirmed fed diggs indicted time caminetti upon six counts four concerned inasmuch verdict upon last two first count charged defendant transporting causing transported aiding assisting obtaining transportation certain woman sacramento california reno nevada purpose debauchery immoral purpose wit aforesaid woman become concubine mistress second count charged like offense another woman companion caminetti transportation sacramento reno might become mistress concubine caminetti third count charged diggs procuring ticket woman sacramento reno interstate commerce intent become concubine mistress fourth count made like charge girl companion caminetti upon trial verdict guilty four counts sentenced imprisonment two years pay fine caminetti case judgment affirmed circuit appeals fed hays case upon june indictment returned district western district oklahoma hays another charging violations act first count charged said defendants march persuaded induced enticed coerced certain woman unmarried age eighteen years oklahoma city oklahoma city wichita kansas interstate commerce travel purpose intent induce coerce said woman intending induced coerced engage prostitution debauchery immoral practices furtherance purposes procure furnish railway ticket entitling passage line railway wit atchison topeka santa fe railway thereby knowingly entice cause said woman go carried transported passenger interstate commerce upon said line railway second count charged date defendants persuaded induced enticed coerced woman transported oklahoma city wichita kansas purpose intent induce coerce engage prostitution debauchery immoral practices within state kansas enticed caused go carried transported passenger interstate commerce oklahoma city oklahoma wichita kansas upon line route common carrier wit atchison topeka santa fe railway defendants found guilty jury upon counts hays sentenced imprisonment eighteen months upon writ error circuit appeals eighth circuit judgment affirmed fed contended act congress intended reach vice traffic women gain conduct several petitioners indicted convicted however reprehensible morals within purview statute properly construed light history purposes intended accomplished enactment none cases charged proved transportation gain purpose furnishing women prostitution hire insisted case acts charged proved upon conviction come within statute elementary meaning statute must first instance sought language act framed plain law within constitutional authority lawmaking body passed sole function courts enforce according terms lake county rollins ed sup bate refrigerating sulzberger ed sup lexington mill elevator ed sup first nat bank ed sup language plain admits one meaning duty interpretation arise rules aid doubtful meanings need discussion hamilton rathbone ed sup ambiguity terms act specifically made offense knowingly transport cause transported interstate commerce woman girl purpose prostitution debauchery immoral purpose intent purpose induce woman girl become prostitute give debauchery engage immoral practice statutory words uniformly presumed unless contrary appears used ordinary usual sense meaning commonly attributed cause woman girl transported purposes debauchery immoral purpose wit becoming concubine mistress caminetti diggs convicted transport unmarried woman eighteen years age intent induce engage prostitution debauchery immoral practices hays convicted seem statement facts embrace transportation purposes denounced act therefore fairly within meaning immoral purpose culpable morals attributed baser motives accompanied expectation pecuniary gain considerations prevent lesser offense morals furnishing transportation order woman may debauched become mistress concubine execution purposes within meaning law say contrary shock common understanding constitutes immoral purpose terms applied sexual relations bitty ed sup held act congress importation alien women girls purpose prostitution immoral purpose included importation alien woman live concubinage person importing case said admit full effect must given intention congress gathered words statute doubt class aimed clause forbidding importation alien women purposes refers women hire without hire offer bodies indiscriminate intercourse men lives example persons hostility idea family consisting springing union life one man one woman holy estate matrimony sure foundation stable noble civilization best guaranty reverent morality source beneficent progress social political improvement murphy ramsey ed sup addition last statute words immoral purpose word must made practical object added words show beyond question congress view protection society another class alien women might brought merely purposes forbidding importation alien women immoral purpose congress evidently thought purposes connection importations alien women case importations prostitution deemed immoral may admitted accordance familiar rule ejusdem generis immoral purpose referred words immoral purpose must one general class kind particular purpose specified clause statute lewis sutherland stat constr authorities cited rule avail accused case immoral purpose charged indictment general class kind one controls importation alien woman purpose strictly prostitution prostitute may popular sense degraded character concubine latter none less must held lead immoral life regard whatever views almost universally held country relations may rightfully standpoint morality exist man woman matter sexual intercourse definition immoral purpose given prior enactment act consideration must presumed known congress enacted law involved see sections set forth margin contended though words plain misapprehended given usual ordinary interpretation although sections appear terms limit offense defined punished acts vice furnishing procuring transportation women debauchery prostitution immoral practices hire limited purpose attributed congress engrafted upon act view language report accompanied law upon introduction subsequent passage house representatives connection may observed title act overcome meaning plain unambiguous words used body fisher cranch ed goodlett louisville ed sup patterson eudora ed sup cornell coyne ed sup lapina williams ed sup title act embraces regulation interstate commerce prohibiting transportation therein immoral purposes women girls purposes true act provides shall known referred slave traffic act report accompanying introduction house representatives set forth fact material portion legislation suggested meet conditions arisen past years legislation needed put stop villainous interstate international traffic women girls still name given act way designation description report accompanies change plain import words words plain give meaning act neither duty privilege courts enter speculative fields search different meaning reports congress accompanying introduction proposed laws may aid courts reaching true meaning legislature cases doubtful interpretation blake national city bank wall ed bate refrigerating sulzberger ed sup chesapeake teleph manning ed sup binns ed sup already said often affirmed become recognized rule words free doubt must taken final expression legislative intent added subtracted considerations drawn titles designating names reports accompanying introduction extraneous source words language plain leading absurd wholly impracticable consequences sole evidence ultimate legislative intent see mackenzie hare ed sup fact act written opens door blackmailing operations upon large scale reason courts refuse enforce according terms within constitutional authority congress considerations appropriately addressed legislative branch government alone authority enact may sees fit amend law lake county rollins ed sup insisted different construction act gathered reading necessary order save constitutional objections fatal validity act constitutional sanction power congress interstate commerce broad character authority declared judgment pronounced speaking chief justice marshall gibbons ogden wheat ed since steadily adhered applied variety new conditions arisen may conceded purpose argument congress power punish one travels interstate commerce merely intention committing illegal immoral act conclusion journey act concerned instances seeks reach punish movement interstate commerce women girls view accomplishment unlawful purposes prohibited transportation passengers interstate commerce long settled within regulatory power congress commerce clause constitution authority congress keep channels interstate commerce free immoral injurious uses frequently sustained longer open question moreover act sustained objections affecting constitutionality character urged hoke ed sup ann cas athanasaw ed sup ann cas wilson ed sup hoke case constitutional objections given consideration denied upon grounds fully stated opinion pages et true particular case arose prosecution one charged transporting woman purposes prostitution violation act holding purposes practices transportation cases procured equally within denunciation act said hoke case power congress subject applicable reviewing lottery case champion ames ed sup crim cases decided since decision case said hoke case page principle established cases simple one rid confusing distracting considerations congress power transportation several power complete congress incident may adopt means necessary convenient exercise means may quality police regulations gloucester ferry pennsylvania ed inters com sup cooley const lim ed hesitation therefore pronouncing act june legal exercise power congress notwithstanding disposition questions concerning construction constitutionality act certain questions made sufficient gravity require consideration diggs case referring fact defendant taken stand behalf testimony differed somewhat girls testified case instructing jury province ascertain truth matter said testifying relations caminetti girls sunday night evidence government tends show trip reno taken stops short given none details incidents trip direct statement intent purpose trip taken contenting merely referring taken testifying state mind days previous taking trip defendant privilege defendant required say desire matters covered direct testimony passing upon evidence case purpose finding facts right take omission defendant consideration defendant required law take witness stand compelled testify fails inference unfavorable may drawn fact prosecution permitted case comment unfavorably upon defendant silence defendant elects go upon witness stand testify subjects rule applying witness failed deny explain acts incriminating nature evidence prosecution tends establish failure may commented upon may considered jury circumstances reaching conclusion guilt innocence since legitimate inference truthfully denied explained incriminating evidence done instruction contended error permitted jury draw inferences accused failure explain incriminating circumstances within power thus operated prejudice virtually made witness derogation rights secured amendment federal constitution difference opinion expressed cases upon subject circuit appeals eighth circuit holding contrary view also circuit appeals first circuit see balliet fed myrick fed think better reasoning supports view sustained appeals case accused takes stand behalf voluntarily testifies act march stat chap comp stat may stop short testimony omitting failing explain incriminating circumstances events already evidence participated concerning fully informed without subjecting silence inferences naturally drawn accused persons within power meet account facts incriminating testimony girls took witness stand behalf voluntarily relinquished privilege silence heard speak alone things deemed interest silent counsel regarded interest remain without fair inference naturally spring speaking things exculpate refraining speak upon matters within knowledge might incriminate instruction jury concerning failure accused explain acts incriminating nature evidence prosecution tended establish inference drawn silence must read connection statement made part charge clearly shows speaking reference defendant silence trip reno girls named indictment facts circumstances intent trip taken jury told right take consideration omission put upon defendant burden explaining every inculpatory fact shown claimed established prosecution inference drawn failure accused meet evidence matters within knowledge events active participant fully able speak voluntarily took stand behalf agree circuit appeals privilege trial call attention jury manner omission accused took stand behalf see connection brown walker ed inters com sup sawyer ed sup ann cas powers ed sup urged ground reversal judgments trial instruct jury testimony two girls accomplices received great caution believed corroborated testimony adduced case agree circuit appeals requests form made given holmgren ed sup ann cas refused reverse judgment failure give instruction general character saying better practice courts caution juries much reliance upon testimony accomplices require corroborating testimony giving credence evidence absolute rule law preventing convictions testimony accomplices juries believe bishop crim proc ed cases cited note much said character testimony adduced certain facts tending establish guilt innocence accused weigh evidence proceeding character enough say substantial testimony tending support verdicts rendered trial courts objections urged upon attention find none sufficient reason reversing judgments circuit courts appeals cases judgment cases affirmed justice mcreynolds took part consideration decision cases justice mckenna dissenting undoubtedly investigation meaning statute resort first words clear decisive principle attractive seemingly disposing simplicity easy application least encounters principles many cases demonstrate words statute may uncertain signification application words ambiguous problem present resolved definition subject matter lexicons become guides even exempt putting place legislators words clear meaning objects addressed uncertain problem determine uncertainty realization conditions provoked statute must inform judgment let us apply observations present case transportation made unlawful woman girl become prostitute give debauchery engage immoral practice present concern words immoral practice asserted special office words clear enough general descriptions fail particular designation class words specifications controlled precede broader generalization include precede making unnecessary confusing conclusion lead us comprehensive word means dereliction morals sense covers every form vice every form conduct contrary good order hardly contended sweeping sense used statute used sense limited limited admitted limited ends imperative effect assigned opinion insisting quite ask limited context necessarily purpose statute context must refer statute purpose statute congress given us illumination devotes section declaration shall known referred slave traffic act prominence gives prevalence construction statute pushed aside subordinated indefinite words sentences limited even context peremptory rule construction parts statute must taken account ascertaining meaning said object even gives title act especial weight union ed gives title makes distinctive purpose statute designation slave traffic sufficiency axiom apprehended uncertainty conduct describes commercialized vice immoralities mercenary purpose confirmed circumstances author bill mann reporting house committee interstate foreign commerce declared committee purpose bill interfere usurp way police power intention bill regulate prostitution places prostitution immorality practised said matters wholly within power federal government jurisdiction explaining bill said sections act drawn limited cases act transportation interstate commerce women purposes prostitution white slave material portion legislation suggested proposed necessary meet conditions arisen within past years legislation needed put stop villainous interstate international traffic women girls legislation needed intended aid exercise police powers suppression regulation immorality general attempt regulate practice voluntary prostitution aims solely prevent panderers procurers compelling thousands women girls desire enter continue life prostitution cong rec vol pp words vice business law directed using interstate commerce facility procure distribute victims sense department justice taken act case woman years went illinois lived minnesota solicitation expense man met engaged immoral practices like petitioners convicted assistant district attorney forwarded statement attorney general comment element traffic absent transaction therefore opinion spirit intent mann act replying attorney general expressed concurrence view subordinate course neither declarations report committee interstate commerce house opinion attorney general conclusive meaning law highly persuasive opinion one skilled rules methods employed interpretation construction laws informed besides conditions act addressed report committee charged duty investigating necessity act inform house results investigation evil remedy report committee therefore higher quality debates floor house representations latter may indeed ascribed exaggerations advocacy opposition report committee execution duty sanction duty presumption therefore measure recommends purpose teclares accomplish declared purpose words statute construed execute may construed even literal meaning otherwise church holy trinity ed sup came construction act congress made unlawful anyone prepay transportation way assist encourage importation migration alien aliens foreigner foreigners contract agreement perform labor service kind italics mine territories district columbia trinity church made contract one warren resident england remove city new york enter service rector pastor church proceeded act circuit held applied rendered judgment accordingly fed observed language statute comprehensive much language act review limitation whatever context circuit submission considered imperative quality rendered judgment church reversed judgment elaborate opinion justice brewer declared familiar rule thing may within letter statute yet within statute within spirit within intention makers learned justice said often asserted reports full cases illustrating application hardly necessary say application rule depend upon objects legislation applied applied may exclude include good things bad things principle simple one words statute extended restricted execute purpose another pertinent illustration rule reiche smythe wall ed declared times duty regard words statute times also duty disregard limit extend order execute purpose statute applying principle decided tariff act provision duty imposed horses live animals imported foreign countries include canary birds ignoring classification nature silver ladd wall ed benefit oregon donation act extended making words man used statute mean unmarried woman disregarding difference genders clearly expressed law rule cases illustrate valuable one varying degrees daily practice rescues legislation absurdity far opinion admits application often rescues invalidity useful result dual form governments conflicting jurisdictions dictate common sense language even masterfully used may miss sufficiency give room dispute wonder therefore used haste legislation view conditions perhaps partly seen seen consequences may beyond present foresight often becomes necessary apply rule rule prudence highest sense rescues crudities excesses deficiencies making legislation adequate special purpose rendering unnecessary repeated qualifications leaving simple best exposition law mischief intended redress judicial legislation seeking enforcing true sense law notwithstanding imperfection generality expression much present case tempt violation rule measure protects purity women assault enticement degradation finds instant advocate best emotions judicial function yield must poise mind consider decide shut eyes facts world assume know everybody else knows everybody knows difference occasional immoralities men women syatematized mercenary immorality epitomized statute graphic phrase slave traffic immorality legislative mind occasional habitual offensively obtrude upon public notice interstate commerce instrument prostitution object end may indeed instances find convenience crossing state lines accident aid danger extending statute beyond purpose even justified strict adherence words purpose studied effects measured left random evil practice prevented opportunity given another present case warns ascribing improvidence statute review blackmailers sexes arisen using terrors construction sanctioned brigandage result grave give us pause certainly denied legal authority justifies rejection construction leads mischievous consequences statute susceptible another construction bitty ed sup opposition statute passed upon prohibition importation alien women girls statute therefore broader purpose one review besides statute finally passed upon amendment prior statute words construed addition prior statute necessarily therefore added effect first statute prohibited importation alien woman girl purpose prostitution italics mine second statute repeated words added immoral purpose necessarily enlargement purpose besides act directed importation foreign corruption construed accordingly case therefore contradict rule example reasons dissent opinion judgment expressing opinion propositions cases authorized say chief justice justice clarke concur dissent footnotes sections act follows person shall knowingly transport cause transported aid assist obtaining transportation transporting interstate foreign commerce territory district columbia woman girl purpose prostitution debauchery immoral purpose intent purpose induce entice compel woman girl become prostitute give debauchery engage immoral practice shall knowingly procure obtain cause procured obtained aid assist procuring obtaining ticket tickets form transportation evidence right thereto used woman girl interstate foreign commerce territory district columbia going place purpose prostitution debauchery immoral purpose intent purpose part person induce entice compel give practice prostitution give debauchery immoral practice whereby woman girl shall transported interstate foreign commerce territory district columbia shall deemed guilty felony upon conviction thereof shall punished fine exceeding five thousand dollars imprisonment five years fine imprisonment discretion person shall knowingly persuade induce entice coerce cause persuaded induced enticed coerced aid assist persuading inducing enticing coercing woman girl go one place another interstate foreign commerce territory district columbia purpose prostitution debauchery immoral purpose intent purpose part person woman girl shall engage practice prostitution debauchery immoral practice whether without consent shall thereby knowingly cause aid assist causing woman girl go carried transported passenger upon line route common carrier carriers interstate foreign commerce territory district columbia shall deemed guilty felony conviction thereof shall punished fine five thousand dollars imprisonment term exceeding five years fine imprisonment discretion person shall knowingly persuade induce entice coerce woman girl age eighteen years state territory district columbia state territory district columbia purpose intent induce coerce shall induced coerced engage prostitution debauchery immoral practice shall furtherance purpose knowingly induce cause go carried transported passenger interstate commerce upon line route common carrier carriers shall deemed guilty felony conviction thereof shall punished fine ten thousand dollars imprisonment term exceeding ten years fine imprisonment discretion consideration facts circumstances related miss cox fails convince case came within spirit intent mann act element traffic entirely absent transaction case prostitution debauchery general words immoral practice qualified particular preceding words read light rule ejusdem generis view statute reasonable considered connection congress employs terms indicative purpose suppress certain forms abominable practice connected degradation women gain agree conclusion facts circumstances set forth letter inclosure bring matter within true intent white slave traffic act prosecution edwards instituted federal courts unless different facts presented