The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1897-12-09

Cutfsw Laws
. laAI.gr fgu Der Of places IN tie Nrst
/ alttir the pss ia yeSr. cnrtrw ord
usoces have been adopted. requiring OIL
children undrr - yesrs 10 be at home II
/ 3 o'closk 10 the eyetiag 10 The Summer
aud 10 the ~lDtef uulets accompanied
[ by thetr parents OF guardians on have writ
/ tea permission itom them to be out after
tdst tim. Of night These ordinances
may seem to foms arbitrary and uncsll
ed for on frat thooght, Int 3 little re
lection, We thiok, will convince one tbst
they will work we'll Tor the good OF the
com uoiiy as veil as for the children
themselves All will sdmit that more
boys aud girls are ruined for lite by being
allowed to be out At night than 10 any
other way. The sntwer TO this is that
parents should keep them at home, But
this Is DO easy thing to DO. Were sll OF
the came mind aud all exercised their
authority 1t would be comparatively easy
Bat where some children are allowed TO
run at large others are likely TO claim the
same privilege, or else they will consider
It a hardship II they sre restrained, The
curtes ordinance comes 10 ST this point
aud all are treated alike and for their
best good | makes the work Of the well
disposed parent vastly essier. That the
law iss good one seems to have been
proved by the results they have attained.
We quote reports from some OF the places
where the law has been 10 operation.
The city OF Lincoln, Neb, first adopted
It. and Mayor, Graham OF that city,
writes:
The result OF tbs enforcement OF the
ordIusnGe 10 reducing crime were q oom
plete surprise, both to the police and city
officials There was decrease OF rs per
cent 10 arrests OF youth for the first
months enforcement OF the ordinance.
Ibis result has required no increase in
our police force There has been q decd
ed improvement, socially and morally OF
the youth, md a pecuniaty saving from
the falling Of in the number OF arrests.
This seems to be the strictly proper way
OF reducing crime among youths OF the
cities OF the country.
ln a., II
school says that the number of commit
ments to that institution has decreased
since the sdop ion and enforcement OF this
regulation.
The chief Of police OF st. Louis, Mo-,
also testi6es in favor Of it as follows:
After seven months OF the enforcement
OF the cnrfew ordinance, / beg leave to
inform you that 1t has proved al unquali
ted success, and at the present lime am
safe In saying that at least seven Fights OF
the people OF this city give it their sincere
and cordial pprOgal aud support. 1t has
been instrumental 10 keeping hundreds OF
children Ch the streets aud away from
public places at night who previous to the
passage and enforcement OF the curfew
we're accustomed TO run at will at all hours
OF the night. There has been q reduc ion
OF fully fifty per cent 10 commitments to
The reform school, from st. Joseph, since
the enactment of the curfew ordinance.
The mayor Of North Platte, Neb, says
that 10 the two years before passing the
ordinance there we're IA boys and girls
sent to the reform school from that city,
bot 10 the two years since it was passed
none have been sent there The chief OF |
police of Omshs, Neb., says that it has not
been necessary to make any arrests to en
Iorce the ordinance. The children go
bone when the law requ.r them TO. and |
{ Is thus made esti for parents to en-
IoToe home rules.
Mayor MscNicsr. OF DIS Moi.es, Ia.
also CON mends toe law, saying:
beg to say that We consider the curiew
ordinance very Si.o law, and wonder
los how W. ever got along without such
'ssulsr crjinsnce. There have been bit
es srrests made IN Ter tue law. but the
fleet ia all that could be desired The
isnsl is respectei by slI classes