Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-10-15
CURFEW ORDINANCE
HELD FOR AMUSEMENT
BY THE CITY COUNCIL
Remedy Sought For Great Evil
But Ordinance Enforcement
May Result Seriously
WATER COMPANY
DEPOSITS DISCUSSED
Counselor Brady Suggests Com
mittee "On Complaints" Rus
sell And Beavins Appointed


The City Council, in regular ses-
sion last evening. considered num-
ber of matters of importance. inelud-
ing the Curfew ordinance. the divis-
ion of the deposits of the Annapolis
Water Company and the establish
ment of a special committee on COM
plants. All the members were pres
ent
The matter of the Curfew ordinance
was presented by Frank A. Munroe, at
the reques. of those who had sug-
gested it. With the proposed ordi-
nance were the Endorsements af many
of the civic organizations and clubs
of the city. while there were also on
file with the Council a number of
strong petitions and letters in its
favor. Mr.. Munroe said that he would
not undertake TO advise the Council
what to do in the matter but he
pointed out the evils actually existing
in the city as the result. of children
running the streets at night, and said
that he would not hesitate to vote for
the ordinance, If he were a member of
the Council, upon the support OF so
many people who had the matter at
heart
The ordinance came up in the reg
ular order later and was referred to
the committee on bylaws and ordi-
nances, for report at a meeting to be
held next Monday night. From the
Z N....,R sa,-fxe E.r .1,.a...
clear that the general principle OF ths
ordinance is unanimously approved.
but that it is felt that every detail
of it should be seriously considered
by those who must bear the respon-
sibility of its enactment and enforce
men. ! was pointed out that the ar
rests under this ordinance and the
imposition of penalties should be un-
der a different method that is used
for old offenders, or the purposes OF
the ordinance might be defeated in
important particulars.
1t was the general sense of the
members OF the Council that there
should be some means of warning
children who had offended against
the provisions of the ordinance, and
that in no case should they be arrest
ed in the ordinary way and taken to
the police station, and then tried by
a regular magistrate. The feeling ap-
peared to be that some special method
should be provided in these cases;
that the penalty for the first offense
should be a reprimand instead of a
fine, and that il would be better to
have these cases tried by some other
official than police justice, one sug-
gestion being that the Mayor should
act.
The Council is undoubtedly inclined
to give due weigh. to the unusually
strong support which this ordinance
has, and appreciated the great evil
1 it seeks TO remedy. There is little
doubt that the ordinance will be pass
ed, but ii is felt that every side of
the matter should be considered, and
an ordinance passed that is capable
of enforcement, and which will not
result in serious harm in cases where
the opposite is intended.
/ Among the organizations which
went on record as favorable to the
/ Curfew ordinance, and so expressed
themselves in writing are: The
Ministerial Union, the Womdn's Civ
! ic League, the Mothers Circle, the
Daughters of Isabella, Girls Patriotic
League, Executive Council of the War
Community Camp, knights of Co
I lumbus, the local section Of the Mary
land Council of Defense, the Women's
! Section OF the Maryland Council of
/ Defense. The knights of Columbus
and the Daughters of Isabella ex-
pressed a wish that the ages of boys
/ and girls under the ordinance be
made the same.
The ordinance, in its present form,
provides that girls under sixteen and
boys under fourteen must be off the
streets and public places of the city
after half past nine during the sum-
J mer months and after nine during the
other months, unless accompanied
by adults. A penalty Of from 81 to
SO is provided for offenders and also
for parents and guardians who con-
nive at the violation of the ordinance.
Provision is made by which permits
to be out later can be permitted in
exceptional cases.
A discussion Of interest was aroused
when Counselor Brady moved the ap-
pointment Of a special committe ION
complaints" He said that there were
numerous matters which affected indi-
vidual citizens which they did not
care to push themselves or were not
in position to do so, but that should
be handled by the City officials He
mentioned the the poor quality of gas
which had been furnished consumers
at different times recently and also
Continued on page four)