Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-04
WANTS CURFEW LAW
Or. Starr Parsons Will Urge
Its Enactment.
BILL HAS BEEN. DRAFTED
Time Limit Fixed for Children Re-
naming on Streets at
Night.

DR.. Starr Parsons, member of the exec
utive committee of the Northeast WASH
ington Citizens Association, has taken
up the question of having a curfew law
enacted for the District of Columbia, and
ne Will urge such law at the next meet
ing OF the association. Just what its
provisions should be he has not yet de-
,cided.
Mrs. Margaret Dye Ellis. superinten-
dent Of the Women's Christian Temper
ance Union, and an ardent advocate OF
curfew law for the District of Column
bia, has given DR.. Parsons information
she has received from the authorities OF
cities In which such law is being en-
forced
It is the opinion Of DR.. Parsons that
the provisions of a bill fixing the hours
at Which children are required to be Off
the streets, drafted by a number of per-
sons interested in the enactment of such
legislation. will meet mapy of the re-
Quirements.
Draft of Bill.
That bill provides:
Section 1. That no child under the
age of sixteen years shall be permitted
to be. loiter remain upon the streets,
avenues. alleys, parks other public
places within the District of Columbia
oAeCt Tic iO1E VI - y CiOCh Pill, ITOHl
April l to September 80. both inclusive,
and after the hour of o'clock pm. from
October 1 to March 81, both inclusive,
beyond the block between the streets
wherein such child resides unless &C
companied by parent or guardian, or
by some other adult person who shall
have precedent authority from such
'child's parent or guardian for that pur-
pose. Provided. however, that this act
shall not apply to any such child who
shall he SI1ch Of
alley, park or other public place on an
errand for. his parent or, guardian, hav-
ing authority therefor, or in accordance
with the provisions Of the child labor
law. - q
Section g It shall be unlawful for
any parent, guardian or other person
having the legal care and custody Of any
child under sixteen years of age to al
low or permit any such child under such
age to go, or be, or loiter, or remain,
in or upon any of the streets, avenues,
alleys. parks or other public places in
the District of Columbia within and be-
tween the hours named and prohibited in
section 1 Of this act, unless there ex-
lists reasonable necessity therefor.
Any one violating any provision of this
section shall be deemed guilty of q mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction therefor
shall be punished by a fine of not ex-
ceeding $40.
Section 8. That any child under the
age of sixteen who shall violate the pro-
visions of section 1 of this act, after the
parent or guardian of such child shall
have been twice notified Of such violation
by the metropolitan police, shall be
deemed a delinquent child and subject to
the provisions of the law relating to de-
linquent children.
Section 4. That the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia are hereby
authorized to cause bells to be rung In
different parts of the District to mark
the respective hours set forth in section
Of this act.
Section 8. That the Juvenile Court of
the District of Columbia shall have
Jurisdiction of all offenses arising under
this act
81 am heartily in favor Of the provi-
sions of the proposed BILL DR.. Parsons
stated to a reporter yesterday, and I
see no reason why Congress should not
take favorable action. The testimonials
from those who have had charge of the
enforcement of similar laws in other
Cities show that much good has been
accomplished and that 1t is an easy mat
ter, to enforce the law after the people
have become accustomed to IT."
1t is probable that the report Of DR..
Parsons will provoke much discussion at
the meeting of the association.