The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-01-19
THE cuRFEw ORDINANCE.

"The Curfew ordnance, says rS-
cent number of the Outlook, requiring
children under fifteen years, without
leave of absence, to be at home by
eight O'Clock in winter and nine IN
summer, is steadily working its way
eastward. Last week it was adopted
by the City Council of indianapolis,
by majority of twelve to seven. This
makes over three hundred cities and
towns, chiefly in the Middle West,
where the ordinance has been put in
force, during the last two years. 1t
was started by the Boys and Girls Nat
ional Home and Employment Associa-
tion in 1894, organized to study the
matter of hoodlumism and crime
among boys, and the revival OF the
Curfew was recommended. Among
the larger cities adopting it are Lin
coin and Omaha in Nebraska, Topeka
and Leavenworth in Kansas, Denver
and Pueblo in Colorado, Kansas City
and St. Joseph in Missouri; and Evan
stan and Quincy in Illinois.
The testimony Of the officials in
some of these cities published by the
supporters of the movement has been
almost incredibly favorable. At Lin
coin there was decrease Of seventy
five per cent. in arrests Of youth for
the first months enforcement OF the
ordinance. The Chief Of police at st.
Joseph writes; "After seven months OF
the enforcement of the Curfew Ordi-
nance beg leave to inform you that
it has proved an unqualified success
and at the present time l am safe in
saying that at least seven-eights OF the
people give it their sincere and cordial
approval and support. There has been
a reduction Of fully fifty per cent o
commitments to the Reform Schoo
Of st. Joseph. Similarly the Mayor Of
Des Moines and in fact all the public
officials whose letters are quoted. Al
old and efficient Topeka policeman
said: "It is good thing, a decided!
good thing; now we have some right
something to back US when we ordel
the boys of the streets and send then
home." A Peublo correspondent
writes thus: "There was much opposi
sition here when the ordinance wa
first adopted, now we hear Of nom
whatever. Police, parents and al
commend it. 1t used to be a common
thing to see young girls on the street
down town late at night. That and othe
abuses have been corrected" In Salen
Mass, the Curfew ordinance has re
mained in force since Puritan times
Saturday night stormy as it was, ant
when business houses were many o
them closed young boys under stor
awnings in Wellington, were engage'
in rough conduct and coarser language
confirming themselves in lawlessnes
and vulgarity. Not all the mischie
done to property or morals in tn
streets is accomplished after eigh
O'Clock in winter or nine in summer
But there is less public observatio
after that time, and more opportunit
for lessons in vice and crime. 1t
surprising how little watch-care b
parents is given to the moral as we
as physical risks Of their children i
letting them go their own ways out
school hours. Girls in their teens a
lowed to go out freely in the evenin
knowing that they will have no escol
home kept such as they may pick u
"Oh, am not afraidp seeming suff
cient, and quite proper, and to satisi
any scruples Of the over indulgeI
mother. The Curfew ordinance woul
be appropriate and useful in Wellinl
ton. M. H. II.
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