Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-28
Do tMoGEN b. OAKLEY


streets of Philadelphia ought to be
n laws are all that are necessary
\. make them So
q an ordinance of Councils approved
p9.,ober g. 1879. 1t is forbidden:
,ost or throw on the sidewalks or
\ ~. ~ ,ootwoys any fruit or the peelings
.,,r' ~" under penalty of fine of -.
-, ordinance of Councils approved
r.,rb /. 1852, 1t is forbidden:
=, cas-, or place in the streets of the
ON the footways thereof. any
", V"dvertisements, handblls, circulars
= waste paper. ,,..- A.
- raner nuisance continued so serious
u, On March 3, 1900 an amendment was
.sasd according to which II is forbidden:
sro cast into the vcstibule. or yard, or
IAN the porches of any dwellings or
4. .ssr buildings within the limits OF the
Esty any paper advertisements, handnilIs'
/a.s,lsrs or waste paper" and 1t Is pro-
kus.S that. ANY person, or persons
.e,s,,or any provision of this ordinance
,ssll forfeit and pay the sum of $50 for
I,s,h and every offence"
IGNORANCE OF LAW.
I ,rhough the ordinance forbidding fruit
X,tsns ON the pavcments was passed 81
- ago and the one forbidding waste
1 .soer on the streets. ~ years ago, 1t Is
I ss,y evident that a large majority of our
,aaens have never heard of either. No
sssstlon is more frequently heard in this
,ty than "Why cannot there be law
| .fsInst ittering the streets?"
! ghy Is there not some method of
|s.lming the fact to the public when an
4 |rdlnance is passed that effects every
| nan, woman and child in the city?
WY cannot all the people be Informed
/ hat after a given date 1t will be against
| ne law to do such and such thing, and
nose who persist in doing 1t VIII be sub
Itc to fine, or possibly Imprisonment?
Would It not be n good plan to post the
/ Eext OF new ordinances conspiCuously in
4 me court yard of Cit Hall that all who
Iua through may read, mark, learn and
|hwardly digest?
Would 1t not be n still better plan to
|hye municipal billboards in the different
s,ctons OF the city on which, for the edi-
tztlon and instruction of all citizens, the
Hbstance Of new laws could be posted?
PITTSBURGH'S PLAN.
So far as the laws against expectoration
and refuse are concerned. Pittsburgh has
|lsi a good example which we might fol-
low with profit. To every lamp post in
|he city is fixed a neat metallic sign
which announces:
Splitting upon sidewalks or throwing
raste matter thereupon, prohibited by
Nv Penalty, 81 to $50 or l to 80 days i'm
,tsonment. Policemen will arrest all
VlOlators"
The citizens of Pittsburgh have learned
from these lamp post signs that streets
must be kept free from refuse.
Why cc-not we have just such signs
txed to all our lamp posts? And Is II
Too late to put up some official posters
itylslng people how to dispose of their
waste papers?
BUT LITTLE Is DONE
Women's clubs and college settlements
are active in spreading information on
how to keep the city clean. but with all
hat has been done, and is doing. only
! small proportion of our great popula-
uon has been reached
VI course, we must infer that the
police are kept informed of such new
laws as subject citizens who do not obey
mem to arrest and punishment; and we
ii believe II would aid greatly to keep
ne city clean If policemen would stop
ehenders and warn them that IL is against
NE law to eXpectorate upon the streets,
" litter them with waste.