The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-14
CIGARETTES IN THE SCHOOLS.
SUPT. AsHMOnE CALLS FOR EN-
FORCEMENT OF STATE LAW.

FOHCEMENT OF STATE LAW.
He Has the Names of over Forty
Dealers, Principally Greek and
Italian Fruit Sellers who Sell
Cigarettes to school ChiIdren-The
Board of Education Referred TO
the Matter TO the Solicitor Gen.
/ eraI aud 1t VIII BE Taken Before
the Grand Jury-The superinten-
dents Report a Startling One.
The feature Of the March meeting Of the
| Board Of Education last night was the
| discussion of the cigarette evil in the
schools, which was presented in vivid
words in supt. Ashmores monthly report.
Doubtless what the superintendent stat
ed VIII De news to many parents. 1t is
apparently a danger to the health and
| happiness of the future citizens of Sa-
vannah. which will receive at once the
attention of the officers of the law. The
board decided to refer the matter to the
solicitor general
There was nearly full board present,
Col Mercer. president, and Messrs. saus-
sy, Herman Myers. EstilI, Blum. OByrne,
Lee Roy Myers and stovan.
Mayor Myers, who is ex-officio a men,
Der OF the board. was in attendance. He
was a very active member during his
previous term as Mayor.
In his monthly report, supt.
Ashmore dealt with the cigarette
evil, as follows: There is a
matter affecting the welfare of our
attention. and concerning which 1 wish
to receive your advice. 1 refer. to the
| wholesale violation of our state law pro-
hibting the sale of cigarettes to minors.
| This public evil has been growing in our
| city for some time, until there seems to
| be no respect paid 10 the law by a large
number of dealers in Gig arettes-chiehy
the Greek and Italian fruit dealers, who
| do not hesitate to sell cigarettes indis-
crminately 10 children of very tender
years. The opportunities which I have
for observing the pernicious effects of
cigarette smoking upon the youthful mind
reveal some sad cases among the boys of
our schools, which have prompted this
report
Il take 81 for granted that no argument
| is necessary to convince any intelligent
| furious to the young. Whatever may be its
| its effects upon a mature man, all agree
| that the use of tobacco by the young tends
to duh the intellect, dwarf the body and
| blunt the moral sensibifties. These re-
| suits have been observed and abundantly
verified. not only in our own schools, but
| in all the schools in our county. The med
| ical profession has pronounced strongly
| against the use of tobacco by children, and
| the law-making power of our state has
| long ago set its condemnation upon It.
| by legislative enactment.
The public schools are public
| institutions for making good cit
| liens and their legitimate juris-
diction wisely includes such cues
tons as affects the welfare of the innocent
| children of the state and the quality of
| her future citizenship. 1t is certainly the
| duty of every good citizen to guard with
| Jealous care the innocent young people of
| our county against vice of every kind and
l believe it to be especially appropriate for
| the school authorities to see TO il that so
| widespread an evil as the sale of cigar
| cites TO children in our city be punished
as the law directs.
I'm a partial inquiry recently made in
our schools I have obtained by the volun-
| tary testimony of large number of boys
| the names of some forty or more dealers
| who sell cigarettes to children. In my
| judgment these names should be presented
| TO the grand jury at once for prosecution
! The law is very plain upon the subject and
| it should be enforced. Every father and
| mother in our city is deeply interested in
| the matter. -Many of them have spoken
| feelingly to me upon the subject Some
| of them have boys already ruined by ci-
| garette smoking. and others are realizing
| to their sorrow the effects of the wide
| spread violation OF the law upon this sub
| ject ! earnestly commend the matter to
| your serious consideration, and hope that
! you will advise me of the proper steps to
| be taken"
| The president read a copy of his letter
| to the Board of County Commissioners.
and on motion the letter was approved
| and made the action OF the board
Four boys, who were guilty of indecent
! conduct in the Henry Street School. were
| expelled
An application TO extend the time for
keeping open the Riverside School. a col
| ored school about seven miles from the
| city on the Ogeeohee road. was refused on
the ground that it was against the rules
| of the board
petition was received from the peonie
| of White Bluff asking that a school bouse
be erected at that place. AS there is no
| appropriation for school buildings this
year the application was laid over for
the present.
MIR. MANUCY's MONUMENT.