The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-20
CURFEW ORDINANCE ID BE INTRODUCED JudgeF Feagin Prepares Measure for City Council. SAFEGUARDING THE YOUTH Ordinance Prohibits All Persons Under IS Years of Age From Being on
 the Streets After Ger
 tain Hours.
SAFEGUARDING THE YOUTH

Judge Feagin has prepared an ordi- nance to be introduced at the meeting of the board of aldermen tonight provid- ing for a curfew law. The object of the ordinance Is to aid the movement being made to save the young boys of the city, and it is thought there will be no trou- ble in passing 1t. The ordinance is as folows:
 An ordinance prohibiting persons under
 fifteen years of age on the streets, al-
 leys or public grounds in the city of Birmingham, Ala, after the hour of
 o'clock, D. m, from March 1 to Septem-
 Der 3O both inclusive, of each year.
 and from. October 1 to the last day of
 February both inclusive of each year,
 after the hour of 8 o'clock, p. ni, and
 prescribing penalties for the violation
 thereof. 9
 Secticn l. Be It ordained by the mayor and aldermen of the city of Birmingham Ala. that 1t is hereby made unlawful for any person under fifteen years of age to be or remain in or upon any Of the streets, alleys GOT public grounds of the city of Birmingham, Ala, at night be- tween the hours of o'clock, D. m., ana 4 O clock, a. m, from March l to Septem- Der 3O both inclusive of each year. and between the hours of o'clock, D. m, and
 
 the last day of February, both inclusive, of each year, unless such person is &C., companied by parent, guardian or other person or such minor person is In the performance of an er- rand or duty directed by such parent, guardian or other person having the care and custody of such minor person, or whose employment makes 1t necessary to be on such streets alleys or public grounds during the night time after such specified hours.
 Sec 2 It is hereby made unlawful for any person. guardian or other person hay- ing the legal care and custody of any person under fifteen years of age to knowingly allow or permit any child ward or any person under such age while in his legal custody to go or be in or upon any of the streets, alleys or public grounds of said city within the time pro- hibited in section 1 of this ordinance, un- | less there exists reasonable necessity therefor.
 | Sec. 8. Any person violating any of the | provisions of this ordinance shall upon | conviction, be fined not exceeding five | (s5. .OO) dollars.
 1 Sec 4. This ordinance shall be in force l from and after It's passage. Important Step. | Tn speaking of the matter yesterday af- ternoon, Judge Feagin said:
 This curfew law, if the council will en- act it, will be step in the direction of child-saving in Birmingham. We have here, unfortunately. a large number of boys, white and colored who are not kept within the wholesome restraint of | the home at night. Many of them are to be seen in the peanut galleries of our the 1 atres, on the streets and in the allies about questionable resorts until late hours and afterwards sleep in stairways and halls all night.
 This law Is to keep them under the parental roof and out of temptation. The city is asked to lend a helping hand in caring for the little boys who break loose from or refuse to submit to parental au- l thority.
 l NO interest is greater to the city than the care and culture of her youth. The character of every city Is the average character of her citizenship. The laws of a city bespeak the character of her l w-makers-what they think should be done in the way of legislation to restrain l vice and immortality and to hold those with wayward tendencies within judicious limits.
 "To subserve the public good it Is wise | to enact all adequate measures to keep the youth, full of the exhuberance of life, from 1 forming idle. dissolute and vicious habits
 "We should realize that, as city. we are largely responsible for the welfare of our youth.
 "The morale or want of morale of each ! citizen in the city may be lixened to a | leaven-his influence disseminates itself through the social organism. It is for | good or for evil.
 Helpful Laws. "The more we hedge about with help ful laws our boys, the more we check l their wayward tendencies, and decrease the necessities for and expenses of the police and jail The adult. criminal i' rarely reformed He is only repressed i The surest way to decrease crime is tt save the young from crime. As we null l tiply the agencies that lead upward ant add restrictions to those that pull down ward we will gradually grow into a bet i ter and a higher life"
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