The Washington times., 1906-11-18
INET0 per cent of Wa a.
ington'S inhabitants are
laWbreakers.
If fines were impos-


ed for all the violations
of the laws in Washington as speci-
he'd in the municipal code the city
government would reap a rich har-
vest-at least S4O0, 0,OGO, 900 it has
been estimated.
And if the city authorities decid-
I'd to enforce all the laws they
would have to provide themselves
with police force of 10000 men.
Some one has said that laws are
made to break and after careful
Investigation into the situation in
Washington it appears that this
epigram is borne out by the facts
IF the case. Not that the citizens
of Washington break the laws
'iciously-that is, not all of them
but they are like the inhabitants
# nearly all the large cities of the
country in wading through the re-
Strietions which are supposed to
govern their everyday movements.
In fact, the Capital of the nation
has been called one of the best
governed and most law abiding
communities in America. And il is.
The great difficulty is that most Of
the people who break the laws, and
that means nearly all Of the people
OF the city, do not know they are
infringing the rules which govern
the city. 1t isn't on record, how
ever. that they would reform if
they did know this fact.
# the police should take it into
their heads-which heaven fore
fend-to arrest all the lawbreakers
Of single day in Washington they
would have to use all the big hotels
and public buildings In the city as
additional jails, and it is doubtful
whether even then there would be
found room for all the offenders.
and the courtrooms the next dav
would be thTOnged with "a motley
crowd which would run the whole
rHmut of types and classes. rang
ing from the street urchin who
was arrested for playing ball i'm an
alley TO the eminent divine who
had been prime mover in IA
church fair where goods were sold
without the yestige Of a license.
it would cause many persons
considerable surprise if, when they
stood talking on the street, a blue
coated policeman told them grufiy
To move on, and il would jar them
stil more if the same guardian of
The peace insisted upon their ac-
Cumpanyiug him To the station
Louise, or later To the police coHrt,
where the Judge would insist upon
'heir paying ii fine varying any
where from one dollar to forty.
Yet this is one of the laws of the
city which is most frequently vio-
.ated. Take F street on a bright
morning in the fall This street
seems 10 be the particular favorite
IF the society girls of the city dur
ing the morning hours-not neces-
Surily early hours. however. They
make engagements with each other
days before hand 10 go down
town" Invariably one pair meets
another and they stop to chat,
blocking the way and crowding
other walkers from the sidewalk.
They might not be so quick to do
this if they knew il would cost
them some forty dollars. Take the
same street in the afternoon. The
Government departments have dis
Porged their thousands of workers
and many of them hurry to the
shopping district They too. meet
friends and stop to pass the time
OF day, breaking the same law.
This is one Of the laws which is
most commonly broken.
Nearly everyone who rides in
cabs and other public vehicles in
the city-barring the street cars
helps violate the city ordinances.
And the strange part of this is that
il costs all the lawbreakers real
money 10 break the laws governing
the charge which ha6kmeu shall
make.
The Government, with "a kindly
feeling for the young man who.
Ike the Hall Room Boys" is
throwing a large bluff on 50 per.
and who has fondness for taking
a girl to the theater in a hack. has
lordered that the drivers shall
charge SO much trip and no more.
Here are the rates. and it's hun
dred-to-one shot that if YOU ever
took a lady TO the theater in a
mack YOU have not only broken the