Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09

LAWS AND fOOLISH COMPLAINTS WHICH ARE
MADE AGAINST THE SMALL BoY-BENEFIrs Oh
THE PATROL SYSTEM.
1.-THE larger the city grows the more frequent
are the cases of disorder" said policeman to q
STAR reporter, "and consequently the number
of arrests is larger. Each year the number in.
creases, but that does not necessarily show that
there is more crime in the city. Arrests are
due to many causes which cannot possibly be
construed as coming within the meaning OF
crime. There are in Washington many laws
which other large cities do not enjoy the bene-
fit OF. There are laws that probably are moi
known in single other city. There are sew.
eral hundred cases made each year against per.
sons who fail to place collar and tag on their
dog, or who fail to clean the snow from their
sidewalks. Then there are numbers Of cases
when small boys are arrested for some trivial
offense, such as congregating on some reserva.
ton and indulging in a game Of marbles, for
playing some other game in the streets, or for
standing on street corner. The boys, might
say,
ARE NOT GIVEN HALF CHANCE
now to enjoy themselves. They cannot play
games in the street as in days gone by. If they
want to play game of base ball, or shindy,
they have to 60 into the country or to some
vacant lot on the outskirts Of the city, where
there are no windows to break, and no pedes-
TRANS to strike in the eye. Some officers will
base, or hide-and-seek, on their beat. II they
learn Of any such inoffensive game being
played they will look after the boys and keep
them moving. This is probably done," con-
tinued the officer, because there are SO many
grumblers, or 'kickers', as we call them. Con-
Il will hot <hav
cause officers more trouble than any other class
Of persons, either directly or indirectly. II
they. are not breaking gaslamps or window
panes, or engaging in stone battles on the
streets, they are on
THE BACK FENCES AND wooDsHRps,
trying to get lick at some persons Tom cat
or some other boys pigeons. Then come in
the complaints, and might say that the boys
are frequently unjustly complained of. The
complaints, of course, are read before the men
go on duty, and If there have been several of Q
particular class in one week, the lieutenant
reads the riot act. He impresses upon the off,
GERS the necessity Of keeping the small boy
under control, And run him in, II necessary
the lieutenant will add. Well, we 20 out and
investigate the complaints; and, to say that
many Of them are foolish, would not half en-
press the real facts. In many instances Il g
found that those who make the complaints are
O. bad, il not worse, than the boys complained
against. remember in one instance where :
citizen complained Of some boys who gathered
In front of his house and
ENGAGED IN SPINNING Tors
and other innocent games. OF course the mat
ter had to be investigated. When the officer
arrived in front Of the house where the boys
had been in the habit Of congregating, the
usual number was there and 30 was the man
who made the complaint. He was in the
midst Of the group. He held in one hand .
Scent top, while q cents worth Of twine was
being wound about 1t with the other. One
throw and the top went across the street. The
boys had the laugh on him. Again he made
an attempt, but with no better success. Then
the policeman tapped him ON the shoulder, re-
quested him for information concerning his
complaint It IL not necessary to tell what
followed. The man no doubt felt guilty and
would have erased his name from the COM
plant had he been given an opportunity 70
have done 90. Those boys
Had TEE BULGE on TIE x1oxrs
and you can rest assured that they could for
ever spin tops in 'front.' Of that house without
fearing any further complaint. In the same
neishborhood lady complained Of some boys
who had been throwing stones in tho back
alley and breaking her windows. she was
anxious 70 have the guilty ones spprshsuded
Several times she made such complaint until
one DAY an oficer went "a the alley and spent
large part OF his time there. The boyu en-
peared one b. one end threw stonss Is soGss