Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-10
THE CURFEW ORDINANCE
Recommended to Council by the Com
mittee, Last Evening.

mittee, Last Evening.
Children Under Sixteen Years of
Age Must Not Be on the Streets
After Ten O clock in Summer Nor
Nine O'clock in Winter, or Their
Parents Must Pay a Fine. or if
They Do Not, the Children Must
Be Imprisoned-Union Labels
Recommended for City Printing.
Tho Ordinances Fort ding
Women Entering or Lettering in
Saloons and Relating to Vendors
of Medicines.
The Council Committee on Ordinan-
ces met last evening and considered and
passed upon a number of proposed
measures, all of which were sent for
ward to Council
That possessing the greatest public
interest was the ''curfew ordinance"
ty which is is proposed to make it
years of age to be upon the streets az
ter ten o'clock in summer and nine
o'clock in winter A delegation from
the Humane Society was before the
Committee, and it is entirely fair to
say that the ordinance was recon-
mended as the easiest way Of getting
rid of the pressure for its passage Tor
the time being.
AS originally presented, the measure
set forth that it should be unlawful for
children under the age of sixteen to be
upon tue streets, alleys or public places
of the city after nine o'clock .. m. from
Marc.a 1sL to September 30th, and after
eight p. m. from October LIST to the last
day Of February, uHless accompa 1ied
by parents or guardians, upon erranCs,
or when such presence on the streets IS
made necessary by some employment,
the penalty being fine not exceeding
$40. Sec. provided that it shall be
unlawful for parents or guardians to
allow their children to be out after the
specified hours, unless upon some "rea-
sonable excuse" under the penalty of
fine not exceeding s25. Sec. 3 provided
that no child found guilty under the
law shall be imprisoned until after the
parent or guardian shall have been noti-
fed and shall have neglected or refused
to take cognizance of the fact of arrest
or to be responsible.
DR.. Harriet Jones, speaking for the
delegation, said the ordinance had been
submitted to see what objections were
urged or changes were desired, but she
warned the Committee that if the ordi-
nance failed those interested proposed
to keep on trying until the object
sought was attained. She said she
wished to know the objections, if any,
and they would endeavor to meet them.
Mr.. List, of the Committee, suggested
that the measure be referred to Coun
Gil, and that the ladies be allowed to
address that body, but the point was
not pushed and after some discussion,
some notifications were made in the
measure. In Sec. l the hours were
changed from nine O'Clock to ten, in
summer, and from eight to nine in win
$40 to ST. Mr. Watson called forcible
objection to the hardship of sending
people to Jail for such an offense as re-
naming out on the streets, and the
ladies, in return, urged the necessity
for such law, and said they had noted
cases where such a measure would save
children. In Sec. 2, the fine upon par
ents and guardians was cut down from
a maximum of $25 to So.
Capt. Rawlings then read an address
to the Committee, in which 1t was al
legged that the measure worked we'll in
Omaha, Kansas City, and other cities
and towns, and set up numerous argyll
ments against the proposed law which
were demolished as quickly as advanc-
ed by the writer Capt. Rawlings was
asked as to the system of electing police
Chiefs in the cities he had named, and
he frankly acknowledged that he was
not informed upon the point.
After a general discussion the meas
ure was recommended, as stated, and
the delegation withdrew, while major
ity of the members of the Committee
smiled a significant smile, and several
made significant side remarks.
1t will be observed that If the parent
or guardian refuses to interfere IN the
matter of the arrest of his child or
fails or cannot pay the fine imposed
the child goes to Jail, which will be
good thing (sic) for the aforesaid child;
and it will be further observed thai
there is a proviso for reasonable ex
cuse," which will be subject to different
interpretations by as many men as are
called to pass upon the matter. An adj
ditionai point for observation is the fact
that if child is bad, it can be as bad as
it pleases up to ten o'clock in the even
ing, but after that hour good behavior
will be insisted upon or the law VIII be
invoked.