The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-09-04
Kenosha JaiIs would be kept
Crowded if All Violat-
ors Were Arrested.
PAY NO HEED TO ORDINANCES
Score of Ordinances Seem to be Entire
ly Overlooked While State Laws of
Ancient Origin are Given just About
as Much Consideration Here

If every citizen in Kenosha was ar
rested each time he violates some state
law or municipal ordinance, Jail ac-
commodations would be exhausted with
in twenty-four hours and the present
police force would have to be enlarged
at least five fold to cope with condi-
tions
Through thoughtless deeds Of lawless-
ness the majority of Kenosha s citizens
constantly become liable to fine or jail
sentence, although this city cannot be
considered lawless one. Comparing it
with any of the other cities of the
country, and the number of arrests
made here within year, Kenosha is
really what the judges like to describe
as "a peaceful community There
are hardly ever any "erime waves,
and the auto bandit is unknown. Just
the same, the average man, woman and
child violates at least two laws every
day.
| 1t is not through disregard for the
law, or any innate depravity on the
part of the citizens to obey the law,
but is merely carelessness and the fact
that the statute books are filed with
restrictions it would be undesirable and
/ YNarhor1o &c ho,AaIaoo - 4pxx ri Trr
Probably one of the most frequently
violated city ordinances is that of spit
ting on the sidewalk. There is law
making this punishable by fine.
There was time when this law was
disregarded generally, but of recent
years the practice has been dying out,
due probably to the campaigns which
have been waged against the habit by
health officials and the police.
Another example of the disregard
for the law is the smoke nuisance,
and while Kenosha is not nearly as
bad in this respect as the majority Of
the industrial centers, yet the air is
often filed with SCOT belched from chin.
neys in almost every section.
There is also a law which makes it
an offense for a person to wear the en-
blem of society or order to which he
does not belong, yet there are some
who consider the practice smart.
Traffic regulations are disregarded
every day in the week, especially in the
downtown districts, during the rush
hours and the number of arrests made
are nil.
/ Then there are the speed maniacs.
Many are careless in turning corners
and others on keeping to the right
side of the road All this carelessness
is in direct violation of the rules of
the road.
:. 1t is unlawful to sell tobacco G.
liquor to minors, and the police are
supposed to try to keep close watch
on this sort Of thing, but young boys
manage to get what they are after
uoSPl6e dill Inc watching.
1t is violation Of the law to work
on Sunday, and this law is practically
violated by every citizen III the state.
The law does not include Homework.
i To play cards on Sunday is also an
offense, and to engage in any kind of
game of chance is felony. Even to
drop nickel into slot ma shine is an
offense, and the owner of the machine
is equally as guilty.
! Cruelty to horse is unlawful, either
in driving the animal too fast, or in
over-working, yet this law is habitual-
" violated every day in the week, and
but very few arrests are made.
/ Selling tickets to rattle is to run the
risk of being sent to the penitentiary,
and even children who sell chances in
church rafies are committing felony.
/ Thousands of men go hunting every
Sunday in Wisconsin, and therefore are
violating the law. IT the dog dies it
must be buried within twenty-four
hours, otherwise another crime has been
committed.
It is penitentiary offense for a man
to complain to the police that he has
been given worthless check, and then
attempt to hush the matter up upon
receiving the money back. This is
called compromising felony, yet it is
! law violated almost every day.
To steal a ride on railroad, to jump
aboard moving train, or to try and
persuade any railroad employee not to
wear his uniform, are all violations of
the law and punishable by heavy fines.
To neglect to provide properly for d
wife and children is criminal abandon
ment. and the nanaltv 10 two wears In