People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-01-07
CURFEw ORDINANCE PASSED.
City Council Orders All Gamins Off the
Streets After $500 O'clock P.M.--The
Law to Be Rigidly Enforced--Other
Business Attended To.

City council Monday night passed a
curiew ordinance requiring all per-
sons under the age Of l6 years to keep
of the streets of the city after the
hours Of $50 pm. during the winter
months, aud after the hours OF $3.50
Pm. during the summer months.
Fifteen minutes before the time pre-
scTibed for all children to be at home,
the fire bell will sound an alarm of
six strokes in cOuplets, as follows:
- - -. All children found
lOating on the streets fifteen minutes
after the alarm is sounded will be ar
rested by the night marshal, whose
duty it shall be to Immediately notify
the parents of the children, and un-
less arrangements are made for the
child's appearance in police court the
following day the boys will be placed
in Jail. The penalty for violations of
this ordinance is fine of not less
than 81 nor more than $50. Parents
who knowingly permit their children
to violate this ordinance or any part
of it, will be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanOr and punished with a like
fine. The ordinance will be in effect
after tonight. The curfew will be
rung at $50 o'clock for the first time
tomorrow night. On the first day OF
April the hour will change to $3.50
O'Clock, and on the first day of next
October will be changed back to $3.50
! O'clock. The ordinance was intro
ductaa hv John SaylOr, councilman
from the First ward, and was pre-.
sented to the council for the first
time last night, when it was passed
by sections and in its entirety with
hardly dissenting voice. 1t is a
copy of the famous st. Joe ordinance,
which has been in vogue since May,
1896. The ST. Joe authorities state
that Only three arrests have been
made since its passage, and claim
that youthful crime has been greatly
lesSened by its strict enforcement
The Wellington ordinance does not
contemplate that when a child is on
the streets after the prescribed hour;
with good and sufficient excuse, OF
when going directly home from thea
tres and lecture entertainments, the
penalties of the ordinance shall ap-
ply. 1t was framed and passed fOr
the purpose Of keeping young people
off the streets at unusual hours, and
the night marshal will enforce il
rigidly without fear or favor.
The council took up the question Of
making formal complaint to the. gas
company Of the quality of gas furn-
i;hed the city. A gas bill against the
city for l,O3O was not approved and
not allowed. Some of the members
expressed themselves heartily in SYM
pathy with Mayor Savage's letter to
the council at the December meeting,
which in short stated that the city
should take decisive steps toward Sc
curing better quality Of gas or an
nul the gas cOmpany's franchise.
Mr.. Graf was also of the opinion that
something should be done toward Sc
curing better light, but cautioned the
council against undue haste in bring
ing suit, as he thought it would be
a very difficult matter for the
city to make a case against the gas
company owing to the councils ignor-
ance Of just what "l6-candle power
aud brilliancy" meant. The question
seemed to have many sides to it, and
it was flnally proposed to secure gas
tester to determine whether the gas
company were really complying with
the provisions Of theil franchise.
Perry Riner, sexton Of the cemetery,
presented bill to the council for $40
for December, with explanations
that il the amount was allowed he
would trim the hedge fence and make
other repairs about the cemetery,
Riner draws a stipend Of $40 monthly
from the city for wearing the ceme-
terial appellation Of sexton during the
winter months, and asked special pay
for repairing the fences. Mr.. Gelino,
who Is a member of the cemetery
committee, was asked what extra pay
he thought the sexton ought to have
for fixing the fences, ETC., and he
moved that he be paid $40 per month
for the next three months. Mr.. Graf
was more explicit and amended that
he be required 10 DO all that is neces-
sary to keep the cemetery and fences
in repair during tue winter months
for $40 per mouth. The amendment
and the motion was carried. The sex
ton was also ordered to make month
ly report to the council.
Councilman Hunter presented a
bill for $3.50 telephone rental at the
mill engine rooms, which was paid.
Graft moved that the city clerk be
instructed to ascertain just what the