The times., 1898-02-04
SUCCESS OF THE cCRFEw LAW.
The Satisfactory Results Reported
From Towns whereI 1t Is in Force.

(From the Sprinfeld Republican,
The curfew laws enacted by the va
rious Western towns and cities during
the past two years have not been TAX
en- very seriously in the East. :ct the
results being reported after a trial of
the laws are such as TO command our
most respectful attention.
The curfew is an ordinance compel
ling all children and youths under fif-
teen years of age, unless accompanied
by parents or absent with leave zap
prentices and those unemployed eX-
cepted), to be at their homes at the
hour of o'clock at night, in summer.
and in winter. This ordinance was
one of a number recommended in 1894 to
town and city governments and State
legislatures, by the convention of the
Boys and Girls National Home AMI
Employment Association. whose eighth
annual gathering. it may be added, VIII
be held in indianapolis December IA
and Is. This association was organ
lied to study the appalling problem of
crime among youth, and its labOrs do
not seem to have been in vain.
The first city to try the curfew ordi-
nance was Lincoln. Neb., which adopt
ed it year ago last January. and since
then it has been adopted and enforced
in some 800 towns and cities. among
them being Omaha. Neb.; Denver, Col;
Pueblo, Col; Kansas City. Mo: Des
Moines, Iowa: Topeka, Kan: Leayen-
wotrh, Kan: st. Joseph. Mo-; Quincy,
ILL.,. and Evanston, Ind. City author
tiles and parents everywhere have
reason to be interested in the testimo-
ny offered as TO the success of the cur
few in these communities. Mayor
Graham. Lincoln. writes:
The results of the enforcement of
the ordinance in reducing crime were
a complete surprise both in the police
and city officials! There was de-
crease of 10 per cent in arrests of youth
for the first months enforcement of
the ordinance This result has requir-
ed no increase in our police force.
There has been a decided Improvement.
socially and morally. of the youth. and
a pecuniary saving from the falling OFF
in the number of arrests. This seems
to be the strictly proper way OF re-
ducing crime among youths OF the
cities of the country
There has been decrease in COM
mitment of delinquents TO the reform
school where the ordinance has been
enforced writes superintendent NAL
laIieu, of the Nebraska Reform School
Samuel e. MeIick. chief of police, Lin
coln says: Teachers in public schools
say that since curfew went into force
boys who formerly kept late hours on
the streets at night and were behind
in their studies, under curfew come
regularly are punctual and mentally
refreshed up with their studies
The testimony from other cities is
equally emphatic. Chief OF Police
Broder. of st. Joseph, Mo. writes:
After seven months of enforcement
of the curfew ordinance, / beg leave
to inform you that it has proved an
success. and at the present
time l am safe in saying that at least
seyen-eighths of the people of this
city give 1t their sincere and cordial
support. 1t has been instrumental in
keeping hundreds of children off the
streets away from public places at /
night, who previous to the passage and /
of the curfeW@were aecuS- /
toned 10 run at will at all hours of I
the night There has been a reduction /
of fully 80 per cent in commitments to /
the reform school from ST. Joseph since .
the enforcement of the curfew ordi- /
nance"
The mayor of North Platte, Neb., !
writes: For two years before passing
the ordinance we sent fourteen boys !
and girls to the reform school, and for I
the two years we have enforced it we
have not sent any"
Says the chief of police of Omaha:
We have had no occasion to make any
arrests under it's provisions since lit
has been in force. When 8 o'clock
comes the children make it point to
20 home 1t is now an easy matter
for parents to enforce home rules"
And the chief of police of Denver
agrees with the chief at Omaha May
1r MacVicar, of Des Moines, adds to
The general chorus of approval by
writing:
II beg to say that we consider the
.urfew ordinance a very wise law, and
wonder how We ever got along with
,ut such regulating ordinance. There
lave been few arrests made under the
aw. but the effect is all that could be
lesired. The signal is respected by all
lasses.'
The curfew was first tried in Evans
on, suburb of Chicago. only a few
weeks ago. and the Chicago papers re-
,ort that from the first the ordinance
las practically enforced itself.
The enthusiastic popular approval of
his law regulating the habits of youth
wherever it is tried and the weighty
testimony upon its effects upon COM