The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-09-25
Appalling Condition Of Affairs in
Astoria Demands Prompt and
Vigorous Action.
STATE OFFICIALS TO STEP IN
IfPolice Are Unable To Put Stop
TO Practice OF Juveniles Who
Roam Streets at All
Hours of Night.

II the officials OF the city Of Astoria
continue TO fall TO enforce the ordi.
nancea prohibiting children from roam.
( Ing the streets after certain hours. the
authorities OF the state VIII take hand
4 H. the matter. Should the state au-
thoritIes take up the problem. they VIII
do so most vigorously. for they are de-
,ermined that youthful indiscre,ion
shall be curtailed at once. and event
ualiy obliteratcd.
The final report OF the grand jury
was submitted last evening, and In II
the appalling conditions existing In As
toria are dealt with. The grand jury
condemns the practice wnlcn seems TO
be prevalent In the city OF permitting
children OF both sexes TO roam the
streets at almost any hour OF the day
or night, and attributes 10 this practice
the vice which has resulted In 30 many
Juvenile cases during the past two
years. The jury recommends that the
city authorities take steps to enforce
the ordinances which ought TO be made
to apply In such cases, and which pro-
vide that children shall not be on the
streets after certain hours.
The cIty's Bad Record.
During the past two years many ju-
venile cases have been reported to the
district attorneys office. and for a
time the attention OF state and county
officials was directed almost wholly
10 the cases OF children. AZ the last
term OF the circuit court two men
were sent to the peni,entiary for Grim
inal assault. and at the term OF court
Just closed another was sent TO prison
for similar offense The number OF
little girls involved at the time OF the
conviction OF Sipola and Adams was
surprising, and n condition OF affairs
was unearthed that was actually APP
paliing.
The grand jury attributes this to
the practice Of permitting children to
run the streets. Girls OF 10 to II may
be seen on the streets late at night,
Especially during the summer months.
and the only wonder Is that there have
not been more arrests and convictions,
The city ordinances fully cover the
matter, but It is difficult for the police
to enforce the regulations without the
assistance Of parents,
Laws Must BE Enforced.
However, the law must be rlgldly
enforced, and II the city officials are
unable to do so those OF the state and
county will take up the matter. The
grand jury plainly intimates that the
state authorities should step in II the
police fail to remedy the evll..
'The morals OF children are becom-
Ing lower every year, and prompt and
vigorous steps must be taken to curb
the general downward tendency" said
a prominent county official last evening.
"The report Of the grand jury Ia per-
haps in the nature of a warning to
the police, and II conditions do not i'm.
prove you may rest assured the state
officials will step In. Children must
be kept off the streets and removed
from the influence of evil associates,
Until this is done we may expectsto
have one or more cases for assaul, .ar
every term Of court"
Other Matters Reported Upor
The report includes statement
cerning the criminal cases bpougf..---
fore the grand jury for investi -
Five true bills and two not tr IA
were returned. The not true Nh
returned in the cases of the y
George Hansen and the state
Cook. True bills were retuIs
cases against Harry Hog .
Huber Henry Miller and e