Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-06-03
NFoRc OR REPEAL.

upon the ordnance DOOh vi bc"io
town are a number of laws which need
enforcement, but which seem to have
been quite forgotten of late.
Large offenders are usually pun
ished, but those who commit petty Of
lenses are quite overlooked in Lew
istown's onward rush and 1t were well
il the officials were to dust of the
book and spend an hour or so daily
in its perusal.
Somewhere there is an ordinance
against chickens being allowed to run
at large and work the undoing of many
a housewife who has spent some mon
ey and many hours in an attempt to
provide a pretty bed of flowers for
the adornment of the front yard. A
walk about Lewistown would quite
convince one that chickens are priv
ileged and much to be preferred to
lawns and flowers.
Then there Is an ordinance requir-
ing the ringing of curfew each even.
ing and providing that young chill
dren shall not be on the streets, unless
accompanied by their parents, after
the curfew is sounded. The bell is
regularly rung, but what of the chill
dren? After eight o'clock; yes, after
nine and ten o'clock young boys and
girls can be seen most anywhere in
groups or crowds. Ii would be better
to repeal the law if enforcement is
not desirable; now, a curfew Is ridic-
ulous.
Several times within the past few
weeks young men. minors by several
years, have been seen Keeling down
the streets. Such a sight is disgrace
full and the liquor dealer who sells
minors intoxicants should be made
an example. One boy who lives not
far from Lewistown is rarely seen
here except In an intoxicated condi-
ton.
About a year since the council pass.
ed an ordinance prohibiting the sell.
ing or firing of what are known as
giant crackers" within certain pre-.
scribed limits, the city limits We be.
lieve, and also the discharge of any
fire works within the fire limits. The
following Fourth of July a consider
able quantity Of candles, rockets
crackers. etc., were discharged on
Main street and many inflamable
buildings were exposed, while giant
crackers seemed to be as popular as
ever. Another Fourth Is shortly al
hand and the council might decide
whether the offenses of last year are
to be repeated.
An honest effort appears to have
been made to keep DRINKS off the side
walk and to put a stop to the use o.
foul language, but still there is mucf
~offense. Last Saturday afternoon sew
eral ladies standing on Main stree
watching the Memorial day parade
were annoyed by two drunken mel
and within ear shot from two direc
tons came a flow of filthy Language
from ~debauched degenerates. In thii
connection it might be well for tn
council to attempt to maintain a pass
age for pedestrians along Main stree
between Third and Fourth avenues
Possibly twelve foot sidewalks woul,
solve the problem, or perhaps tn
marshal might be able to OCCASIONAL.
drive a few dozen loafers within tn
saloons or into the street, so tina
ladies could pass down without goin
into the gutter. A few months sine
the easterly side of the street wa
comparatively clear. but during tn
VAIN days of the past week the loa
ers are quite evenly distributed alon
the square.
And how about the ordinance n
sarding the standing Of vehicles o
the streets? 1t has been enforce
systematically. Isn't another spas y
about due?
These are only a few Of the ord
nances, violations of which come da
ly to the notice of everyone in tn
city.
Marshal Bebb and NightwatChma
Sherman have succeeded admirabl
la suppressing marauders, the qua
relsome and the man with the gu
Why not give a little time to the pc