The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-03
WORKS WELL IN
new YORK TOWNS
cuRFEw LAW AS 1T IS APPLIED
IN A NUMBER OF COMMUNITIES.
JUDGE FEAelN's EFFORTS HERE

Judge F'eagin has received clip
ping from the Ithaca Journal IN
regard to the effects the curfew
law is having on fifteen cities and
towns in New York state. He is advocat-
ing the passage of a eurfew ordinance
through the mayor and board of alder
men, and he says that the, article shows
conclusively that such an ordinance would
be beneficial to the boys of Birmingham.
1t is as follows:
There have recently been received here
from fifteen cities and villages in the state
where a curfew ordinance has been adopt
ed answers to questions as to how the
plan works in these communities. 1t 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 en-
forced the results are invariably good.
The city clerk of olean, for instance, a.
city of 11.OOO inhabitants, writes: 1T is
noticeable that there are fewer children
on the streets. which in our city are
considered the very hotbeds of crime
Addison, in Steuben county. with 1000
population, adopted the ordinance ten
years ago. Two months ago the board of
trustees voted to do away with it. Ap-
parently the law was not enforced, be-
came a dead letter. and of course was
worse than useless. Canisteo, another vii
lage of 1000 people in Stenben county, has
had the law for four years. but it, too is
letting it go by default Leroy. with $500
people, found great trouble in enforcing
the law, but the city clerk thinks 1T
would be good thing if enforced
But in those places like Hornellsville,
where the first curfew ordinance in the
state went into effect, Wellsville. Dun
dee Salamanca, Geneva, Corning and
Elmira, where the law is enforced, the
results are all that advocates of the law
claim. Dundee finds it easy to enforce
the law" and 1.-The results are entirely
beneficial" The results are: Streets
cleared of boys and youngsters; less
noise. mischief and disturbance; the
making of better citizens; raising the
standard in school,"
The village clerk of Wellsvlle says:
would advise the adoption Immediately
of a curfew ordinance" Geneva finds
nothing to object to in the law, and re-
ports that it accomplishes the desired re-
suits. Corning makes a like report. In
Salamanca, where the ordinance has been
in force, 1t is several years
since there has been amy serious offense
committed by youngsters. There is no
disposition to abolish the system
Wayland tried the law for three years,
then became careless. There was little
or no objection to it so long as 1t was
enforced. It was recognized as a good
was, very properly, discontinued. But
now the village clerk writes II believe
that 1t is only a matter of a compara-
lively short time when the curfew ordi-
nance will be restored here. The people
in general l believe, are not satisfied
with conditions as they are and will be
glad to return to the old curfew ordf-
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 keen
their children off the public streets and
away from public places cat night a cur
few law will be almost a necessity"
The gist of all this testimony is that
the curfew law is a good thing if enforced.
1t does accomplish what it is intended to
accomplish so long as the authorities do
their duty.