Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-05
CONNEDBy SECTIONS
SECT0NS|RESEN1EDBYM MACON
Proposed Curfew Law Ex- Reporters Story Denounced
haustiveN Discussed. by the Arkansas Member.
MEASURE is ENDORSED EMPL OYS HARSH EPiTHETS
Considered Writer Attempts Assault Ian
the Curfew Civic Committee guage Used.
of Hundred
BITTER WORDS IN HOUSE
. a. oa ~ M nnto h Trouble Begins Objects
Proposed CurfeW Law Ex-
haustively Discussed.
MEASURE is ENDORSED
Suggested Changes Considered by
the Curfew Civic Committee
of One Hundred.

| Curfew will ring at 8 o'clock in winter
and at o'clock in summer throughout
| the District and woe be unto the young
ster under sixteen years Of age who is
| caught upon the street or in any other
public place afterward that is, Of course
if the curfew bill as approved by the
curfew civic committee Of one hun
| dred at it's meeting at 21O7 8 street
| northwest last evening. Is passed by
| Congress.
Discussed by Sections.
The draft of the bill. as published in
The Star Friday, was debated section by
section, and, at times. word by word
Rev. Zed II. Copp. the probation officer
commended for striking out the provision
OF the first section, making exceptions
operation of the bill by the child labor
| law. He was unsuccessful. He also con-
tended for having violations of the pro
posed law. SO far as they affected adults
| tried in the Police Court, but with like
success. In the latter contention he was
supported by C. ". Skinner, who also
urged that the Juvenile Court be not
burdened with adult cases.
Various objections were made to words
in the proposed law. Mr.. Copp contend
selling newspapers left the streets, or
quit business, usually at o'clock. He
said the District Commissioners favored
a modification of the child labor law
chanRing the hour at which children
having permits might remain out from
10 until $50 o'clock at night. The
adoption of the section Of the proposed
law was made after the legislation COM
mittee had been directed to endeayor 70
have the child labor law amended to
meet the requirements Of the curfew
law as proposed.
Points Raised by Mrs. Robinson.
Mrs. Robinson called attention to sec
ton Of the proposed curfew law,
which put a blight upon the child with
out directing that he be first notified OF
his dereliction. Mrs. Ellis Of the leg1s-
lative committee, however, read letter
from the chief of police at jamestown to
show that while objection had been made
to such a provision at first, in the end 1t
worked out all right.
Later Mrs. Robinson raised the point
that in the case of disobedient children
boys particularly, thirteen. fourteen and
fifteen years of age, the parent would
suffer with fine when powerless to con-
troll the child. 1t was agreed, however,
after discussion that the bill was as HUI
name as possible under the circum-
stances.
Mr.. Nicholson wanted the penalty for a
second offense to be more severe than the
penalty for the first offense; but it was
agreed the court would exercise discre-
ton in that respect.
There was much discussion about the
provision requiring the District Com
missioners to provide for the ringing OF
the curfew bells, and a motion to that ef-
1ect, strongly urged by Mr. Nicholson and
supported by Mr.. ]. w. Cathorn, was at
first defeated by rising vote. 1t was
subsequently adopted, however.
After the text Of the proposed bill
had been adopted, upon motion of Mrs.
G. T. Smallwood, the executive COM
mittee was empowered to make
| emergency changes" in 1t to suit the
purposes Of legislation, IL found neces-
sary.
There were about two score members
of the committee present. and the meet
| ing was presided over by o. E. Darnan.
Reports of subcommittee.
| Reports were submitted by the seven
| subcommittee showing what had been
| done by each toward the success of the
measure. It was stated that approval
1 Of the idea of a curfew law had been
secured from the Observation-Disclosures
| Union, Rev. Father Mackin of st. Paul's
Catholic Church. who favored keeping
the children off the streets at night; the
Home and School Society of Normal
School No ., the ". c. T. U. Mothers
the Churchman'S League composed OF
Episcopal ministers and laymen: the W.
c. T. u, No. 2, and other organizations.
Mrs. Ellis said a copy of the bill as
proposed originally and a leaflet upon the
subject had been sent to every pastor in
the city, and the committee had also ad-
| dressed the Pastors Federation. Mr..
Skinner said 16S Sunday school superin-
tendents had been communicated with
upon the subject. Rev. Mr.. Copp said a
symposium upon the subject had been
planned for the pastors Of Washington,
and perhaps all of them would address
their congregations upon the subject.
Upon the recommendation OF the execu-
tive committee the name of the organiza.
ton adopted was "Curfew Civic Commit.
tee Of One Hundred
Mrs. Ellis of the legislative committee
| said that the police authorities had been
| written to in nineteen cities upon the
| subject, and that from fourteen cities
replies had been received, the majority OF
which say the curfew law works we'll