Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-10-22
CURFEW ORDINANCE
WILL ESTABLISH A
JUVENILE COURT
Amendments Drawn To Meet
Objections AS To Arrest And
Punishment Of Children
MAYOR TO TRY CASES
OF DELINQUENT YOUTHS
Officers Will Send Offenders
Home And Warn To Appear
Before City's Head

A juvenile court for the trial of Of
/ tenders against the proposed Curfew
4 ordinance. with the Mayor as the
/ Judge. will be established if that pro-
posed municipal legislation, with pro-
/ posed amendments is passed In view
| of the tremendous bacNing which the
movement has, the passage of the or
dinance is expected within short
! time.
/ The amendments which have been
/ drawn by Hugh r. Riley to meet the
/ objections TO the original proposed or
dinance, practically constitute the new
court, which is an innovation in the
1 local judiciary. Under the Charter
members of the Council have judicial
powers to try offences against City or
dinances. so there is no legal difficulty
/ in the way Also, the Council has wide
general powers TO pass ordinances for
\ the general we'll being of the city, and
/ to promote its good order. These pro-
visions give ample authority for the
passage of the ordinance.
1 1t will be remembered that the pro-
posed ordinance provided that boys be-
low IA, and girls below 16, should not
remain on the streets or other public
places of the city after $3.50 during the
summer months, or during the other
months. The fair criticism was offer
ed, that IL would be inadvisable TO ar
rest and try children of tender years
as if they were criminals, and the
amendment has been drawn to meet
this objection II was also suggested
that the ordinance should not be eff
fective merely for the period of the
war. 1t was argued that there is no
reason why IL should not continue in
force if it was found efiicacious. The
amendments also provide that punish
ment may be a reprimand only in GER
tain cases.
The text of the proposed amendment
follows:
Amendments proposed to proposed
ordinance entitled AN ordinance
providing Curfew regulation for the
City of Annapolis"
Strike out all after Section L. and in
sert the following:
Section 2. NAny child violating the
provisions of this ordinance, or any
parent or other adult person having
the control or direction Of any child
subject to the provisions of this ordi-
nance. shall be punished by a fine not
to exceed ten dollars for any offense,
but it shall be within the power of the
III faI
nance to punish offenders against il by
a reprimand, in lieu of fine, If he
shall deem it proper"
Section 3. Persons apprehended
for violating this ordinance shall not
be placed under arrest, unless offering
resistance to an officer in the dis
charge of his duty, or unless their con-
duct is vicious or disorderly. but chill
dren violating this ordinance shall be
compelled to proceed directly to their
homes, and notified TO appear before
Mayor of the City of Annapolis at such
4 time and place as that official shall
direct; the Mayor shall inquire into
/ the charge or charges against persons
so brought before him, and shall have
+ power TO summon witnesses, admins
/ ter oaths and do such other things as
are necessary 10 determine the facts in
/ the matters before him, and shall inn
pose fines or take such other correct
+ i've means as are set out in this ordi-
nance, and fines imposed by him under
/ the provisions of this ordinance shall
be collected as other fines and penal
/ ties are now recovered in the City of
Annapolis"
Section a. And be it further es-
I tablished and ordained that this ordi-
nance shall take effect from the date
/ of its passage"
7 Copies of these porposed amend
ments have been given to Mayor
Strange and Councillor Brady. and
meeting of the Committee on Ordi-
nances and Bylaws. to consider them,
will be held this week.