Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-13
WILL ENFORCE THE
CURFEW ORDINANCE
Old Law Has the Mould and Moss
Scraped Off and Is Polished
Up for Use.


Scraped Off and Is Polished
Up for Use.
Mayor Sleeves today issued orders
to Chief of Police Shedeck to enforce
the curfew ordinance, and tomorrow
night at exactly fifteen minutes before
nine o'clock, the fire whistle will blow
and thus warn every person under the
age of IS years to be off the streets Of
Salem unless accompanied by either
parents or guardians.
This is an ordinance passed by the
city council years ago and is covered
with the proverbial anti-enforcement
spider-web and mould A valiant at
tempt was made by former chiefs Of
the city police department to carry out
the privisions of the curfew ordinance
but due to seventeen and near-eighteen
year-old young men and women of
prominent paren.s in the city objecting
to being shooed home every time they
emerged from a picture show or the
atre without their parents by their
sides, the job was given up as a bad
one.
Parents Equally Responsible.
Under the ordinance in question, the
parents of children under the age of
Is years are made responsible for the
actions Of their offspring, and any ar
rest made of persons violating the cur
few law will not only affect the minor
but necessitate a prosecution of the
parents as WELL
According to Mayor Sleeves argu-
ment in behalf Of the curfew law, the
city police officers are supposed to ex-
ercise an unusual amount of Judgment
while enforcing the ordinance. He
states that well known local citizens
in company with minor children
should be exempt from question and
the police should take such circum-
stances into consideration before act
ing after the curfew signal is sound
ed"
1t is the general opinion of those
who have had occasion to observe the
efforts of former police administra-
tions, that the ordinary policeman is
not familiar with the faces of every
man, woman and child in Salem, and
to compel him to say who are minors
and parents, who are responsible
friends and guardians is nothing short
of the impossible.
However, Chief Shedeck has been di-
rected to enforce the ordinance to the
letter and steps will be taken to do so
tomorrow night. Until April first, the
curfew alarm will be sounded fifteen
minutes before 8 o'clock and during
the summer months, the time for mi
nors to be home unless properly ac-
companied on the streets, will be at 10
O'Clock
EX-Chiefs Gibson and Hamilton at
tempted to enforce the ordinance, but
found that the number Of boys and
girls coming under the provisions of
the law was so great, that it would re-
quire extra men to enforce it. These
chiefs and former councilmen did not
approve of the age limit placed by the
ordinance and consequently rigid en-
forcement was not brought about.
Chief Of Police Shedeck stated today
that he was not entirely in favor OF
the age limit provided by the law, but
inasmuch as he has been directed to
enforce that section of it, he intends
to do so to the letter.
No Juvenile Officer Serving.
At present this city is without a ju-
venile officer, The duties of Police
Matron Lynch are supposed to cover
the juvenile question, but according to
Mayor Sleeves today, she has never
been officially appointed to that posi-
tion. The curfew ordinance provides
that the mayor shall appoint a juvenile
officer to act in conjunction with the
police department. This has not been
done as yet and Mrs, Lynch has no
authority under the ordinance Great
ing the office Of police matron, to act
as an arresting officer, and her duties
are confined to having the custody of
female charges in the city bastile
Whether or not she has been accord.
ed the privilege of exercising authority |
Of being the custodian of the
women prisoners in the city Jail, is a
mixed question, Notwithstanding the
ordinance creating her office places
the salary at $50 per month and regu-
larly appoints her to a position which |
is usually governed by the head Of tho |
police department, but over which the
Salem chief has no control.
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