Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-28
ANTI TING LAW
Us Promoters WIN Push it to
competltlon.
Tho Pab'ie : Has nssn wnrnca-v,cw.
Of Tho nIen,ser. OF tho Splitting
Frsternity -ast.ks Run by tho
Punster-A a.ofieeman caughi.

N
The proposed "antl-spittlng law" is
Still on the horizon. Its promoters
have given warning through the press
that the law was to be a reality. but
the pedestrians are prone to regard it
as q joke, or rather they prefer not to
regard 1t at all. They certainly have
not profited by the forewarning, and
have made no. effort to check the spit-
ting habit.
a casual glance along the sidewalks
OF Main street Is evidence of that fact.
me splitting fraternity-and it in
siu S IN ITS membership all classes
ana unknown members-is already pro-
soking fun att the proposed law-that
is all except those who are disposed to
wax indignant and raise the cry Of
tyranny 'idiocy." ETC. The frater-
NIFTY announces that as soon as the dig
nfied city fathers assembled in Council
enact the ordinance into law they will
Immediately, through counsel, demand
that another law be enacted providing
that the city be made to furnish GUS
four feet.
It's either the city do this" said a
We'll Known fraternity man, "or see
some other New Jersey chartered con-
Germ get a mononopoly of u new slot
'naS'itHe puslneSs-'Drop penny in the
slot. and take a Spit"
another fraternity man said:
Yes; we will compel the city to fur
inish cuspidorS-or spittoons as / call
them We want gold mounted porce-
lain ones, too-no cheap tin concern.
The American Tobacco Company is
powerful trust; and we are counting
on3it's aid in this fight. Something else
I'd like to say, too"
The punster of the fraternity has
come very near getting killed several.
shines, He has formed the habit Of
slapping everybody on the back and
calmly informing them that they cant
expect-to-rate as decent and law abd-
ing citizens" on and after u certain
date. M
Sanitary Commission, or rather by the
direction Of this commission. 1t was
drawn up by the City Attorney. Mr..
Walter II. Taylor, who has already Civ
en- his opinion that 1t is legal and just.
1t provides that no person shall spit
upon the sidewalks. or upon the floors
of the street cars or other public con-
veyances, or upon the floors of any pub
lie building. Any violation of this or
dinance shall be punished by fine of
not less than IS, nor more than $40"
1t is contended by many that the
price of spit on the streets is extor-
tionate and unreasonable.
st costs more than n plain drunk"
said member of the fraternity. land
il carried out literally the citys cof-
fers won't hold the revenue accruing
from this act alone. The law is out of
all reason, anyway" he contended.
They say the expectoration breeds
germs. Well, now. chew tobacco.
---Nea Ely. NIL hahitiial. spitters chew to-
bacco. and tobacco juice Is recognized
by all leading medical men as fatal to
germs. Then, If that's so, I'm John
Drowned If see why were to be made
Gulprits of and yanked off to the police
station when we are fulfilling a duty to
humanity in the determination of
germs and tuberculosis"
The defenders of the law say that 1t
is not to be enforced literally. It's the
spirit Of the law and not the letter. in
other words. that is to be carried out.
IF you get hair in your throat and
spit it out unconsciously you wont be
run in. But If you stand on the corner
and create swimming pool you Will.
How will 1t work as to strangers? is
a question often asked. Ignorance of
the law excuses none" But the fol-
, lowing from q city where the law has
already gone into force gives some H.
lustration of how 1t may be carried
out here:
"A stranger REMARKED last night.
Gee! but your laws are something
fierce in this town. Time I get off the
train spit on the sidewalk and Il po-
liceman naboed me. / laughed at him
thought he was Joking, never had heard
OF the splitting law in my life. But
he said:
81 e".'I1l have to arrest YOU.
"I reasoned with him. Why, man.
said /, I've Just hit the town. I knew
nothing OF such a silly law
3 - Well said he. softening, I'll let
you off this time-but don't spit on the
sidewalk anymore.
..The next day T was passing the
shack called a depot, when saw the
policeman. He laughed.
"As he turned away he spat on the
sidewalk. walked up to him and said.
smiling: ael
You are my prisoner. you have vio-
lated the law
.'He laughed and said he forgot him
self
Now, that shows that your splitting
lev is so idiotic-makes so little i'm
preston even upon the policemen
that they forget about the foolish ordi-
nance and actually violate dt them
selves.'