Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-29
Mr.. John W. Douglass Reports
Favorably After Inquiries.
WOULD! BE BENEFICIAL
FOR AND AGAINST
SUCH A MEASURE QUOTED.
Would Act as Deterrent in Same Way
That Anticipating Regula-
ton Operates.


rected by the board of children's guard
ians to make inquiries regarding curfew
laws in different parts of this country,
with recommendation by the board of the
passage of such law for the District of
Columbia in view. has made his report Mr..
Douglass says:
'In my Judgment, the city of Washington
would be benefited as community by
such an ordinance. I think there would
have to be very few arrests The mere
presence of the law on the statute books
would act as a deterrent in the same way
that the anti-spitting regulation operates.
Il find that a curfew law in some form
or other is in force in about 1900 cities and
towns of the United States. It is quite
general throughout the extreme and middle
west, but comparatN ely few cities in the
eastern section of our country have such
law. Some of the reasons for a curfew or
dinance are as follows:
Favorable Arguments.
"Ffrst-It has a tendency to benefit the
morals of children and to reduce juvenile
delinquency.
"Second-It is claimed for it that 1t stimu-
rates an interest in the schools. both secu-
lar and religious, and reduces truancy.
Late hours in the street are ALWAYS in
furious to the health of young children.
Fourth-It helps the intellectual life of
children Those who run the streets at night
cannot keep up with their school work
The school board of Springfield Mass in
its annual report four years ago. recom-
mend the curfew as a benefit to school
children. and the city authorities have since
enacted erans I enrfeW ordinance. One. writing
school teachers bless the curfew. because
the children are kept from the streets and
have time to make better preparation for
school,"
''F'ifth-It keeps good children from learn
ing the vile language and viler practices
common to education on the street.
Prevents Hoodlumism and Disorder.
''Sixth-A curfew law will bring quiet and
order where now is more or less of hood
lumism and disorder
"Seventh-A curfew is helpful to the par
ei,ts who cannot control their children and
Keep them at home at night.
'Eighth-A curfew is helpful to the police
department The chief Of police of Wal
than. Mass. says: In answer to yours
regarding the curfew ordinance in this city,
Will say that it has been a success Before
the passage of this ordinance we were trou-
bied considerably by children on the streets
late at night. We would order them home,
and if they refused we could not compel
them to do SO. Now it Is different Thare
nave been no prosecutions under the ordi-
nance as there has been no occasion for
any. Children leave for their homes when
the curfew rings. 1t requires no more police
officers. 1t simply gives authority to COM
pei children to keep off the street at night,
which authority We did not have until its
passage The chief of police of Elmira,
n. Y, says:
No Additional Policemen Needed.
wi
which is a great benefit and requires no
additional policemen to enforce it.
''Ninth-A curfew law would prevent
small children from selling newspapers late
at night or to attend theaters and other
parents or guardians.
''Tenth-A cIrfew ordinance has a power
fun influence toward robbing the saloon CT
its recruits.
Some of the arguments used against the
adoption of the curfew law are as follows:
Il. 1t interferes with parental rights. 1t
is the duty of parents to keep their children
off the streets, if they want them off, and
the state has no right to interfere. This
same argument could be used with reference
t. any laws enacted for the protection of
community.
Might Curtail Personal Liberty.
''2 1t IS curtailmenr of personal liberty
and savors of paternalism.
%. A revival of the curfew savors of the
return of mediaevalism. The ancient cur
few law applied to old and young alike
The modern curfew has only the poetic
semblance of the evening bell AS well OBJ
ject to the modern words of 'chivalry' and
crusade, because these words In mediaevel
times meant war.
r. 1t forces many children into Door and
insanitary homes"
Letters From Other Sources.
Others who have written favorably of the
curfew law in their cities to Mr.. Douglass
are the mayors of Hot Springs, Ark; Sum-
merville, Mass; Lincoln, Neb.; Springfield
Mass. and the city clerk of Elmira, NJ Y
The mayor of Des Moines, Iowa, writes in a
facetious vein, saying that about all the
benefit resulting from such law is that the
people whose timepieces are not accurate
have an opportunity to set them by the cur
few clock
DEMANnED pRnTECTTON