The Washington herald., 1911-09-28


Juvenile Court, who has been criticised
severely for his attempt to prohibit roller
skating at night, says his recent man.
date was issued solely for the benefit
of the innocent skaters of the city.
Judge De Lacy said> last night that his
order was aimed at hoodlums, so that
they might be prosecuted, and the inno-
cent children saved from suffering with
the guilty.
WILL STOP ROwDYISM.
II am not opposed to the children roller
skating" said Judge De Lacy last night.
I deem 1t a very proper pastime. 1t is
the disorderly conduct of skaters at night
that 1 am determined to stop. When
children congregate on the streets at
night there is usually disorder. I have
received many complaints from persons
who are annoyed by the boisterous con-
duct of skaters at night. or course, the
police will use their discretion in select
ing the innocent from the guilty. But
there is some doubt in my mind as to
whether children who frequent the streets
after $50 o'clock are innocent
IF the disorderly conduct among some
of the skaters is not broken up immedi-
ately, a regulation may be adopted by
the Commissioners prohibiting the praC-
uce of roller skates all together. I fore
saw this and decided to save the inno-
cent by taking steps to obviate such
regulation. II the courts mandate is
enforced. no regulation will be needed.
Il have instructed the police to take
home any children found roller skating
after dark. and to warn their parents of
the danger OF permitting the children on
the streets at night. = have told the
police to bring the children into court
in case the warnings are repeatedly un-
observed.
Says Plan Is Not New.
THE plan is similar TO our method OF
handling children who frequent the thea
ter districts after dark. except that po-
licemen, instead OF probation officers, are
employed to carry the plan into effect.
The court probation officers make fire.
Quent tours of the theater districts and
they take all children found alone to
their parents, warning the parents
against permitting the children to fire.
Quent the places. If the warnings are
repeatedly unheeded, the young Offend
ers are hailed into court. The enforce
ment OF the roller skating mandate is
nothing more than this.
Children are not like adults. They
are in the custody of their parents. The
parents should be consulted in matters
the welfare of their children.
The parents ought to be informed when
they are failing to take the proper pre-
YhnE-
that it is unsafe for children to roam |
the streets after $50 o'clock in the even
ing"
Judge De Lacy would say nothing in |
regard TO the action taken by the South |
east Washington Citizens Association in |
1enounCing him for issuing the prohibit |
tory order. When asked what he thought |
Of the opinion of Allan Davis, principal |
Of Business High School, that children |
should be permitted to skate until at
least 9 o'clock, Judge De Lacy replied: |
Well, I guess he knows more about II
-han any one else
Sylvester Has No Order.
Maj. Sylvester said yesterday after
noon that no orders had been issued re-
yarding roller skating. He said that
o attempt to restrain children from u.s.
ng the streets, whether on skates or
lOl, "Ouiu Dc ptAllOuS NdhlLB
Maj. Sylvester said that skaters guilty of
lisorderly conduct, however, would be
aiken to their parents, and II they per-
listed in their ruffianism, would be prose-
uted.
Roger Lansdale, seventeen years of age,
Who. with lie Roy Linkins, of 21OS 1 street
orthwest, and James Parrett, of 1014 Twen-
y-second street northwest, was arrested
Tuesday night for unlawful assembly"
While skating near Washington Circle, for
cited 50 for non-appearance in the Police
yourt yesterday morning in answer to
he charge. The other two boys, who are
,ounger than Lansdale, will probably be
.rraigned in the Juvenile Court~this af-
ernoon.
It is not thought that the Commission
RS will pass any regulation prohibiting
oIler skating in the city. Two years ago
he question was before the District Off
ials, but was finally dropped because of
oubt as to whether the Commissioners
ad the power to frame such legislation.
he question arose after an elderly
yoman was injured on the granolithic
avement on the south side of East Capt.
ol street between First and Second
treets, where large crowds Of skaters [
sed to congregate.
Washington seems to be thoroughly
reused over the recent mandate. Many
of the attempt Of the Juvenile 4
ourt to suppress the wholesome pastime
fter dark have been made