Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-23
HOW THE LAW WORKS
EFFECT OF ANTI-SPITTING oRDI-
.NANCE IN PHILADELPHIA.
misrepresentation j. r. Young Tells
What It is Expected to Accomplish
Washington Ways Criticised.

with regard to the new anticipating law
which went into effect in Philadelphia
week ago, 1t is, of course, experimental"
said former Representative James Rankin
Young of Pennsylvania to a reporter of
The Star today. THE feeling Is that 1t is
sure to do some good. and, at the same
time, 1t certainly cannot do any harm. 1t
is in and about the buildings Of a public
nature and on the thoroughfares mostly
travelled that the reform is expected to be
made effective. The argument was that
If the officials of the street railway COM
panies and those of the great steam rail-
road terminals could successfully carry out
an anticipating rule. why could not the
city officials do likewise? The police de-
partment has given notice that it Is the
intention to strictly enforce the law SO far
as within its power 1t Is feasible.
Enforcing the Law.
1T means dollar spit for every fellow
caught in the act. In addition he will have
to endure the modification Of being hus-
tied into patrol wagon in broad daylight
and taken before magistrate. But there
are not enough policemen to watch every
splitter says the doubter. The reply is that
that problem will work out itself just the
same as it is with all problems that con-
front the enforcement of police laws and
regulations.
"Where the habitual splitter will find
himself taken unawares is in those sec
tions of the city where, at certain PERIODS
of the day and night, the streets are most
congested by pedestrians-the shopping
districts, about the hotels, railway term1-
mails, theaters and market houses. In such
neighborhoods during the busy hours, are
always to be found innumerable detectives
and policemen in plain clothes. To these
special instructions have been given to
watch for the spitterS, and, when caught,
to run them in without ceremony.
Politicians the First Victims.
1.-The funny part of the enforcement OF
the law is that the early victims are found
mostly among the hordes Of people who,
in big city like Philadelphia, live either
directly or indirectly through policies The
men who make up what is known as the
under strata of the political machine of a
city; that is, the precinct workers and
.heelers, almost to man, chew tobacco,
and, of course man VINO cheWs the weed
must spit. In Philadelphia on any day
when the weather is pleasant men of this
class can be found loafing hour In and hour
out on the sidewalks of the streets in the
vicinity of the city hall, known as the
Rialto. There they stand Cabling, chew
Ing and splitting. The chances are that
they are not only chewing ne 'quid, but
also the rag The rag, however, has this
advantage over the quid while going
force expectoratio The only interval is
when a man., who is a candidate, or who
wants to be candidate, or the gentleman
who is known as a ward leader, happens
along and proposes visit to one OF the
neighboring saloons.
Criticism Of Washington Practices.
Yes, Washington is a beautiful city, but
only in spots as compared with Philadel-
phia. You have the advantage over us only
streets and your street car system. The
drawback to the last-named Is in allowing
the men who smoke to crowd the plat
forms 1t is question as to which is the
more disagreeabe. the tobacco chewing or
the tobacco smoking fiend. In Philadelphia
we are overcharged and have a service that
Is slow and inconvenient, but the spitters
and the individuals who indulge in the
smoking habit we have not.
Poorly Lighted Streets.
Our streets are better paved and are
kept cleaner. Your sidewalks, excepting
here and there, are simply abominable. 1
have often wondered when walking the
thoroughfares of Washington why the per-
son who rides was given such preference
over the individual who walks. But where
you are far and away back Of the times is
in the lighting of your streets. In Philadel-
phia the old-time gas lamp service, such as
Is uStu III washing III IuOSl VI IIle
streets, is utilized in the back alleys only
Electric lighting is not confined to few of
the principal streets, but is in use every
where. 1t comes high, but it is a luxury
against which the taxpayer never raises his
voice. When / turn into side street from
Pennsylvania avenue l always feel as If
l were leaving the clearing for the woods
Washington will never be an up-to-date
city until it has substituted the electric
light for the gas lamp.
Peace in Pennsylvania Politics.
'.As to politics, we are having an era Of
peace in Pennsylvania, the first we have
had since Senator Quay's second election to
the Senate ten years ago. We have reform
governor at Harrisburg who was made the
republican nominee last year by Mr. Quay
and a reform mayor will be installed in
Philadelphia early next month, who was
the candidate of Senator Penrose and the
organization behind him. Everybody seems
to be satisfied. For once there is let I'D
on what is known the republican ma
chine.
so far as national politics is concerned,
the state is Roosevelt to the core. No
thought is given to any other name.
Spooner. Fairbanks. Dolliver and Mander-
son are the names suggested when the vice
presidency is spoken of. AS to the demo-
Gratis, they are in a position similar to that
occupied by the republicans in the south
that is, the only show they have Is to send
delegates to the national convention Of their
party. 1t looks as If Arthur Pue German
will control the situation when the time
comes for action