The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-30
Made to Apply in a Way the Author
Did Not Anticipate,
THE LAW TO BE AMENDED,
To Bc Modified IN the Clausc Pertain
inc 90 the Sidcwalks-Thc City
Cleaners and Janitors Endorse
the cOrdinancc-ThcT Tobacco
Chewcrs stand Together
Against ~.

The cvDcct0ratin- ordinance is the sub
jcct that now aEtates large part oil
Rlehmoud's popuiau9n. WnercVer men
conrrcgatc and spit the new law is tie
burden Of the conversation.
Tobacco chewcrs as a rule are opposed
10 The ordinance and c1udoie with one
another over the takne away of the
lnalienable right Of an American citizen
90 spit wherever and whenever ne
picases
A number OF tho veteran tobacco users
consulted Webster dictionary and found
that spittirg and oxpcctOrating were not
exactly Synonymous terms and threaten
cd 10 contest 50 on that ground If the>
were reported for splitting on the side
walk
Further research into later cncyclopc-
6ias. make The meaning INTERCHANGEABLE
and that ground had 20 DE abandoned.
There is talk also of contcsting on the
Plea Of IT'S being an infringement ON per
sonal rights.
Police Justice Crutchncld thinks 10
bad law and on the ground that the best
way 20 get rid OF o. bad law is TO enforce
it. and he is hning every person brought
before him. no matter how unonenslNe
The violation of the ordinance.
IRONCLAD
Tie claims however that il is am iron-
clad ordinance and that Doe has nO dis
Cretl0n. This coupled with the fact that
the police are strictly carrying out the
letter as we'll as the spirit of the law has
caused it to De enforced in The most
drastic manner and bc presented 90 the
public in fits most unpopular place while
yct fresh from the Council Chamber
That the ordinance has been effective
is shown in tho greater cleanliness of
the sidewalks and public places and
though thc p0iice have been alert 10
enforce 90 only four or five people have
60 far been fined.
JANlTOES THANKFUL.
The ianitors of the City Hall note n
marked Improvement in chat building and
highly commended The law. Policemen
as "a rule are advocates OF the ordinance
and hope it will bee allowed to- stand.
A councilman discussing the matter
Yesterday said "the ordinance has
reached an 30 was expected to reach and
by am ovcr-zealous enforcement has
touched those 80 was not intended TO
hurt"
Everybody nearly. declares it a GOOD
ordinance. and that while 70 has created
hardships ON a few who unwittineiy vio-
lated 10 in am inoGcnsive way it has
broken mp what was "a nuisance in many
places where chewcrs and sptters COM
gregate.
WILL FIGHT FOR IT.
The ordinance however has many
friends and advocates. and it viii not he
given up without fight The tobacco
chewers claim that they have ma-
ior.ty in the Council. and take il for
granted that AN tobacco chewcrs will
vote for its repeal
The ordinance is not likely TO he re-
pealed. but 30 will probably be modified
IN ar.ff an
the sidewalks.
Mr. Morgan r.. Mills. the author OF the
ordinance said last night that 30 was
never intended to apply 10 persons who
accidentally cXpect0rattd ON the walk
WAYS Of fhe city. hut tO hc used under
ordinary discretion 90 prevent nuisances
such as ore wcil-known to exist where
men 600 this city congrogUe ON street
corners and in other public places
a GOOD MEASURE
Mr. Mills Says the ordinance was recog-
nized by The Council as am excellent
sanitary measure and was passed with
ont a dissenting vote. and the fact that
a. has been made unpopular has not in
any sense destroyed its usefulness.
Mir Mills says hc himself viii prepare
and present an amendment TO the ordi-
nance at the next meeting of the council
modifying the clause referring TO splitting |
ON the sidewalks. but that the clauses |
referring 90 public halls. street cars and
elevators Will not be changed.
THE JOKERS CHANCE.
A good many people have made joke |
of the ordinance and a sharp eye has |
been kept ON c0uncilmen I'm hopes of get ;
tins them as 70 were hoistcd on their own |
pctards.
member Of the Council has been |
summoned 10 appear before the Police |
Court this morning 10 answer TO the |
.choree of splitting on the sidewalk, and |
the iokers and the opponents of the ordi-
nance have been shaking hands over the |
capture.