The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-03-05
BENEFITS OF THE
..CURFEW LAW
From the Ithaca Journal:

From the Ithaca Journal:
There have recently been received
here from fifteen cities and villages in
the state, where curfew ordinances
nave been adopted, answers to Dues
tions as to how the plan works in
these communities. It is noticeable
that in the few places where the plan
has not%worked well the result is due
to the failure Of the authorities to
enforce the law Where it has been
enforced$#thes results are invariably
good. S The city <clers of Olean, for in
stance Is city lstof II 900 inhabitants,
writes - tbs: noticeable that there ade
fewer. hildrens on the streets, which in
our city reIconsid ered the very hotbed
of crime. !, lfsS:5 Il :, ~. ~
Addison ste..ui,ben. county, with
1000 population, "a adopt ed the ordinance
ten years 90: TWO months ago the
/ board.Ip trust eesssYQ st ed away
wit Apparsn vi ne law q was Il st
enforced. became 8 dead letter, and
Canisteo, another village: OF 1900 peo-
pie In Steuben county, has had the
law for four: years, but it, too, is let
ting it go by: default. LIE Roy, with
$1,000 people, found great trouble" in
enforcing the law but the city clerk
thinks it would: be good thing if
enforced. =
out Ill tlOSe .RAdCCS like t1OTHc1lS-
Vile, where, the first curfew ordinance
in the state went into effect; Wells
vile, Dundee, Salamanca, Geneva,
Corning and Elmira, where the law is
enforced, the results are all that ad-
vocatesa of the law claim. Dundee
finds it .'easy to enforce the law" and
'the results are entirely beneficial
The results are:' streets claered of
boys and youngsters; Ass noise, mis-
ri nd icf, rl1o th@ IT. oE
better citizens; raising the standard
in school," l..
The village clerk of Wellsville says:
would advise the adoption immedi-
ately of curfew ordinance" Geneva
finds nothing to object to in the law.
and reports that it accomplishes the
desired results. Corning makes a like
report. In Salamanca, where the or
dinance has been in Ofrce, it is several
years since there has been ANY serious
offense committed by youngsters. There
is no disposition to abolish the sys-
tenn"
Wayland tried the law for three
years, then became careless. There
was little or no objection to it so long
as it was enforced. 1t was recognized
as a good thing, but when 1t was not
enforced it was very properly dis
continued. But now the village clerk
writes: Il believe that it is only a mat
ter of a comparatively short time
when the curfew ordinance will be
restored here. The people in general,
I believe, are not satisfied with condi-
tons as they are, and will be glad to
return to the old curfew ordinance,
provided the authorities will rigidly
enforce it. A curfew ordinance would
not be necessary here or anywhere
else If parents and guardians would
do their duty, but until parents learn
that the welfare Of their children, as
well as the good Of society," requires
| them to keep their children off the
public streets and away from public
places TAT mighty, a curfew law will
be almost necessity"
The gist of all this testimony is that
the curfew law is a good thing If en-
forced. It does accomplish what it is
intended to accomplish so long as the
authorities do their duty.