The San Francisco call., 1898-03-15
INTERPRETATION
 WAS AT FAULT
Judge Lows Idea of Law and Order Receives
 Criticism.
Attorneys Agree That Children Should Receive the Protection of
 the Courts.

Judge Lows interpretation of the law in regard to the admission of minor chil- dren into saloons and the fine imposed upon a saloon-keeper who had been con- victed of allowing children to visit his saloon has aroused considerable comment, and without an excepuon the legal fra ternity who have been questioned on the matter agree that the Judge is very much in error in lle matter
 Peter Bokoriska had been convicted of allowing minor children to visit his re- sort on Mission street and was fined the small sum of $5. T4-e fact that the pro- prietor of the rather questionable resort has been in court on many previous occa- sions and that the Police Commissioners agreed to cancel his license when he again appeared for its renewal did not seem 10 bother the interpreter of the law and the prisoner at the bar was allowed to escape with fine of $5.
 There is a State law which covers both the sale of liquors to minor children and the prohibition of their visiting saloons and public resorts, as well as places open to public view, and again a municipal or der has been passed which prohibits the children from visiting all public places where any game of chance is in progress. The State law imposes a fine of from S100 to s500, whereas the municipal law allows the Judge to .e even more severe and a fine for the conviction of such an offenS0 may be fine from the minimum limit placed by the State law to 5000 in the dls- cretion of the Judge before whom the case may be tried.
 All attorneys agree that although the fine is increaS~- above the State law in the municipal order 1t is not in order that the fine which may be imposed upon a convicted individual shall be placed at a lower figure than that nxed upon by the State statute.
 It has been clearly shown by many well-known attorneys and members of the bench that the Ju4ge either misinter- preted the meaning of the law or was not conVerSant with IL. The reading of the two statutes is plain to all, and 1t is thought to be a remarkable decision which has allowed a man convicted or allowing a minor to visit his place Of business and then after conviction to eS- cape the clutches of justice by depos1hng in the city treasury a mere plttance.
 The ordinances follow:
 The State law, which was approved March Il. 1891, states under section that every person who sells or gives or causes to be delivered to any minor child, male or 1elnale, uhoer tne age of IS years, any intoxicating drink in any quantity whatsoever, or who, as proprietor or manager of any saloon or pubic house where intoxicating liquors sold, permits any such minor child under the age of IS years to visit such saloon or public house where intoxicating liquors are sold. for the purpose of gambling, playing cards billiards, pool. or any game of chance shall be deemed guilty of a nisde- meanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof be punished by a fine of not less than S100 nor more than $500, and in default of payment of said fine shall be imprisoned in the County Jail for period of not less than 100 days.
 Order Board of Supervisors No 2624 section lit shall be unlawful within the city and county of San Francisco for any proprietor, Keeper. bartender clerk or any other person having the charge control of any saloon. barroom, billiard-room poolroom. or of any other public place or place open to public view, to permit any person under the age of IS years to play or engage in be present at any game of billiards, pool or cards, and it shall likewise be unlawful Tor any person der the age of IS years to play engage in or be present at any game Of billiards, pool or of cards in any public place or place open to public view within the city and county of San Francisco.
 Penalty: Section 2-Any person who shall violate any Of the provisions of this order shall be deemed guilty of a msdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than 5000 by imprison- ment in the County Jail for not more than six months, or by both