Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-29
FOR A CURFEW LAW
Official Opinions Favor One in
the District.
QUESTION OF AUTHORITY
Corporation Counsel Considering Po.
lice Power in the Matter.
MAY REQUIRE CONGRESS ACT
Maj. Sylvester, Probation Officer
on Control of Children.


If straws show which way the wind is
blowing, then the possibility that there
will be ''curfew law in the District OF
Columbia is entirely within the bounds or
reason
Following the recent suggestion in The
Star that the army of children the
streets by night indicated looseness and
laxity in the upbringing of the young and
that a .curfew law is urgently needed
Commissioner Macfarland asked for the
opinions of Judge De Lacy Of the Juvenile
Court, Maj. Sylvester, Charles G. Estes,
probation officer. and d. Pickham Mann.
president Of the board of children's guar
dians. Judge De Lacy'c opinion has not
been presented to Commissioner Macfar-
land in formal manner, but any one who
has attended the sessions of the Juvenile
Court knows that the Judge has more
than once characterized the lack Of a
curfew law as most unfortunate state
of affairs"
The three other gentlemen are in favor
of making such regulations as will pre-
vent the dangerous rowing of the streets
at night by young boys and girls. No age
has been mentioned-that would be
detail for the lawmakers to discuss-but
in speaking off-hand this morning Com
missioner Macfarland mentioned that he
had asked for certain approximate figures
as to how many boys and girls of four
teen and under were known to be night
owls.
Question of Feasibility.
The question seems to be one of the
feasibility Of such law. Corporation
Counsel Thomas says that the Commits
sioners cannot ring curfew bell through
the instrumentality OF the police regula-
tion, but that Congress might pass a law,
and that there might be drafted a statute
to keep the youngsters in the house after
certain hours of the night. nat opinion
is not absolutely final. Mr.. Thomas is
studying the question OF the constitution
ality of such measure. and Will give his
final opinion later
If the lawmakers decide that "curfew
shall ring" tonight and every other
night Washington will be the biggest
town in the country having such Law.
and the problems presented to the police.
to the school officials. to the board OF
childrens guardians and to the other Of
ficials interested will be novel. and per-
haps difficult. OF solution at the begin.
ming. Maj. Sylvester told the Commits
dark" in a very thorough manner. and
is convinced that there ought to be a
parental influence IN the statutes that
would regulate the hour at which chill
dren ought to be in bed.
He made a report on the subject nine
years ago. before there were any laws en-
forcing schoo! attendance and limiting
child labor. His sentiments at that time
were strongly in favor of a curfew law,
and they have not changed. He says.
however. that 1t would be an easier mat
ter to enforce such law now that there
are the laws to which he referred.
Earlier Hour in Winter.
His suggestions come nearer to specific
regulations than any Of the others yet
received. He takes into consideration
that children who unfortunately have to
be crowded into tenements of small alley
houses should not be denied the pleasant
advantages of cool evenings during the
hot spell, and throws out as a suggestion
that boys and girls ought to be in the
house by o'clock from November to
May, and by o'clock during the rest Of
the year. Maj. Sylvester is very strong
on the subject Of keeping children away
from theaters, five-cent shows, cheap en-
tertainments dance halls and the like,
but is equally sure that with proper sur
yeiIlance the breath Of clean air In the
parks and open spaces at night does
great deal TO relloFe SICKNESS anu ulStrcSS.
AT this time" he said, 'many young
children may be observed on the streets
Of Washington In the night time, NOV
ing about by themselves without guard
ianship and this should be stopped 1t
stands to reason that If there were pro-
visions in the law to extend some lati-
tude through the heated season. which
IL would be necessary to enforce by police
action. 1t would be necessary to increase
the force. OF course, the present police
force would do all in its power looking
to the enforcement of any law. but to
have such a law properly carried into
effect the force should be added to IN
numbers. 1 believe there should be a
law to keep children off the streets In
the night time at this season after the
hour Of 8 o'clock. and in the heated
season after the hour OF o'clock. with
such exceptions as might be deemed
proper such as would give q proper
supervision over the young during the
earlier hours of the night.
Favored by Mr.. Mann.
D. Pickman Mann gave his opinion in
favor of a curfew law, but wants to see
the regulations before he expresses any
further opinion
Charles Estes. probation officer, with
nineteen years experience with regula-
tions looking to the care of children,
gave the Commissioner two or three re-
cent and specific examples OF boys and
girls going to the bad through compan-
ionships picked up at night. He cites
the instance Of boy, type OF many
another seen hanging ABOUT the doors of
theaters and saloons. peddling shoe laces
with a hard-luck tale about sic { mother
and six small brothers and sisters. The
facts are that the boy liked to see the
white lights as they glowed during the
hours when the grown-ups are accustomed
to take their nighttime pleasures. and ac-
tually ran away from home. slept In
wagons and became young hobo.
Had there been a curfew law this boy
would have been perhaps saved the SEN
tence he got as a Juvenile vaSrant.
MIR. Estes has little good to say for the
youngsters who loiter I'm the vicinity of
moving picture houses He says his ex-
nerienCe shows the danger OF young
aves seeing some of the titles to the
nictures, as we'll as the pictures them
selves, and also throws q hot shot into
TO- Conditions which exist in certain
theater galleries.
speaking of girls. Mr.. Estes says:
not fnr