The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-02
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IN LOCO PARENTS.

The mayor Is not 10 be blamed for sign
ing the ordinanse imposing a penalty OF
s. on ANY person under u years OF age
who shall get on or catch hold OF or race
alongside OF or in front OF. etc. etc, any
street car" The ordinance was passed,
and 1T will probably do no harm: the only
defect about It is that II does not go far
enough. Perhaps the fear OF an arrest
and fine may do more to impress
parents with a sense OF responsibility
than the fea= OF broken limb or a
mangled body. Nevertheless, we expect
that howl will go up when the FIRST boy
Is caught. that the conductor is actuated
by malice. The boy will be let off with
reprlmand and the conductor admonished
TO exercise more discretion In carrying
out the new law. Conductors and grip
men are empowered 10 make arrests for
violation of the ordinance. but IL is not
explained whether the boy is to be car
ried on the car. kicking and bowling. till
a policeman is met, or whether The car is
TO be tied up while the conductor and
gripman search for an officer The proba-
bility IS that IT. any event the parents
viii beg that the boy be allowed to go
free. on their assurance that eft shalt not
occur again"
But why stop at II years Of age? why
not II: why not extend IL 10 adults?
Any man WHO has shuddered at sight OF
a woman getting of backwards while
car was In motion must have wished
there was either a school OF physics for
teaching women the laws of Wis inertiae
or an ordinance 20 punish their violation.
We have-or had, for Il seems 10 be OBJ
solete-an ordinance forbiddlng any per-
son throwing fruit on the sidewalk. That
was a good law: but II the paternai sys-
TEN IS to be introduced. why not fine any
person for riskiag his neck by recklessly
planting his heel on an innocent-looking
banana skim
This might be followed up with q fine
on young ladies who light fires with kero-
ssnc. and on small boys who eat green
fruit. The theater hat, which has been
describSi as having the power TO teach
she best OF men had language and as
Haunting the wings or Bcelzebuh. might
receive the attention of the city fathers
who by their paternal vigilance deserve
the name. Young men who risk their
noses in their efforts TO catch on to
the deadly football or teopardire their
limbs IN catching on 20 or racing along
side % or In front Of or attempting 10
set on 70 or catch hold or the elusive
baseball migh, also be fined. II the rule is
/ 20 apQiy that people must be prevented
/ doing reckless thiugS.
Several accidents have happened along
+ the water front through people attempt
INK 20 walk their chalks on tresties or TO
/ keep step with lodging ties. Why not
! Impose a fine upon any such person. who,
I in consequence. has to he trolled out from
/ beneath wharYese or. better stu, why
not order fence pa; around the sea
| that nobody can fan iuG
I Regulations 20 prevent people doing
/ that wht<'h viii eadanger the life or limb
I % others who are no; party % and are un-
/ cons sous % danger are very necessary. bu,
/ common sense - the best dictator when
/ 81 comes 80 sSlf-avo4lsncs OF evident haz-
( ard. II Is as much the duty 81 parents %
teach thesr chiltren the danger OF jump
I inE on or OK moving carr as Il - 10 warn
them e the danger 81 playing VITA
matches. drinking cat OF pickea-,p bot
ties ar experimenting With abandoned
cartridges. There IS no reason why
I the daty should Re imposed upon
s;reot car men Who are already sun
/ cl.n;ly occupied II they 10 their duty 10