Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-24

engage the serious attention Of the Legis-
lature, especially as there is now upon
the statute-books a law designed to ac-
eomplish, and, so far as he knew. ac-
complishing, the ends aimed at by the
bill Of Senator McCune.
SENATOR MCUNE's BILL
Following is the text of the bill:
a Bill for the Protection of Boarding
Schools and Colleges for Females. ana
the Principals and Inmates Thereof.
/. BE II enacted 10y the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia, That hereafter 1t shall De
unlawful for any person or persons TO VIII
fully and unnecessarily interfere WITH
disturb. or in any way disqUiet the pupils
OF any school or college for females IN
this state. or the principal or teachers IN
charge of them while on any pubic ROAD
or street. or i'm any building or structure
or on the school premises. Nor shall any
communication be had for such purposes
with such pupils, or any one OF them,
either orally or in writing, or by signs OF
otherwise And II shall also be unlaWtul
for any person to enter upon any such
school or college premises, except on
business, without first having obtained
permission OF the principal I'm charge OF
the same; and every person guilty OF
either of said offences shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanOr. and upon con-
viction thereof shall pay a fine Of not less
than s. nor more than $50 for each OF
fence on the first conviction, ana upon
the second and each subsequent convic-
zion Of a like offence. shall pay flne OF
not less than $40 nor more than $50. ana
be imprisoned at the discretion or the
court not less than ten nor more IMAM
thirty days.
2. Be il further enacted. That IT shah
be unlawful for any person or persons 10
loiter. wander stand or sit upon the
public roads, streets, alleys, Sidewalks,
~ nj nr a fTpNnentlN
cessarily pass along the same In such
manner and with intent 10 annoy, VeN,
or disturb the owners, lessees or occu-
pants of any premises In the state useu
for the purpose Of a school or college Tor
the education of females, or with intent
TO disturb. annoy. and harass the teach
ers. principals. or pupils, or any one OF
| them, as they pass along the public hlsh-
| State. And any person or persons Vlo-
lating this section Of this act shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, ana on
conviction shall be fined and punished IN
the same way and 10 tho same extent as
If convicted under the first section OF TINS
act
2. Re it further enacted. That this act
take effect Immediately after its passage.
WHY 1T WAS INTRODUCED.
Senator McCune says that his observa-
ton of the conduct of young men in
towns i'm his district where female schools
are located led him TO introduce the bill.
He has. besides received numerous COM
munications from principals and 'oihcers
of female schools in the Valley OF Nir-
ginia, urging him TO press the measure.
He says he has been assured of sufficient
support in the Senate to pass the Dill.
He does not know as to the sentiment
in the House regarding II.
Newspapers outside the State have pub
lished a great deal regarding the bill,
and it has furnished the subject Tor
humorous paragraphs galore There
seems TO prevail an impression that DR..
James Nelson, the president of the Wo-
mans College, Of this city, is urging the
passage of the bill. but such is incor-
rect. Several years ago DR.. Nelson had
three arrests made for annoyance of
young ladies at his institution, which at
tracted great attention. Soon after this
there was passed, chiefly through DR..
Nelson's influence, a city ordinance
framed to prevent annoyance of the
pupils attending female schools, and girls
employed i'm factories and workshops.
This proved so effective that the Ordi-
nance was enacted almost verbatim INTO
a State law by the Legislature of 1891 80.
There Is also an ordinance OF this KIM
I'm Danville and one or two other cities.
The State law does not however, apply
in small towns and in rural districts
Senator McCunes bill is drafted for the
purpose of securing to the schools located
| i'm such localities the benefits now en-
loved by the larger cities Of the State.
.DR. HATCHER'S VIEWS.
DIR. William f. Hatcher. pastor Of the
Grace-Street. Baptist church. and mem
her of the Board of Trustees of the No-
mans College, was asked by Dispatch
| renorter Yesterday 81 he had had his at
| tention called TO Senator McCune's bill.
| The Doctor replied that he had Deeh
| forced to notice it, owing TO papers out
side the State having created or soush'
| IN create. the Impression that the OH
Gals of the Womans College were ie-
sponsible for the introduction OF the Dill.
DIR. Hatcher admitted that several
wears ago. when Dr. Nelson frst assumed
| the presidency Of the Woman's college,
! there were some cases or dlsluIpaice
! from without which threatened the quiet
and order of the school These the presi-
| dent. by a prompt appeal TO the proper
| authorities. speedily suppressed. ana since
that time there has absolutely been no
cause for complaint
eft will be readily understood SAID
the Doctor, "by all thoughtful CITIZENS
that IL is of the utmost importance thaI
i,stitutions of this kind should be pre-
served safe from every species OF ex-
| ternaI ANNOYANCE, and nothing Is more
unworthy than for such efforts TO be
made the topics Of public ridlcule. III Is
quite lust to say that the complete Sc
| curity and good order which has marked
| tho management of this institution was
| largely promoted by legislation first
adopted by this city, and afterwards IN
corporated into our State statutes. 30
far as | know, that is all the legislation
that the Womans College could possibly
desire"
College authorities were in any way con-
nected with the present movement to Sc
cure additional legislation on this sub
iect. DR.. Hatcher said, with the utmost
emphasis. thai he knew perfectly well
that they had had nothing to do with It,
and that all statements TO the contrary
were without foundation. He said they
did not suggest this movement were IN
no sense patrons of It, and In reality
cared nothing about IT,
GOOD ORDER IN CITIES.
When asked whether or not he thought
such annoyances were restricted tc
schools i'm the city, DR.. Hatcher said that
all Intelligent people knew, or course
that any school for girls was Liable To
annovance. unless surrounded by proper
safeguards. but that 1t had long ago been
shown that the perils are greater In the
small towns, or in the rural districts
than in a city where the order Is pre-
served by skilled and experienced onicerS
always on hand.
.Dr Nelson" he added, sis furnishing