Evening journal., 1920-01-16
FERRIS School
NOW CONDEMNED
Councilman MearnS Would
Prefer Death for His Boy
to Commitment There
ATTACK COMES WHEN
CURFEW is DISCUSSED

Ferris Industrial school refor-
nation OF boys, was condemned on The
floor Of City Council, last night
by City Councilmen Mearns and Z. s
Long, locomotive engineer. The crit
icism came during a discussion Of the
merits Of the proposed curfew law adj
Nocated by AlerL Branch Of the sun
shine Society.
The resolution, however, had de-
fender in J. A. Oliver. Of the 5 p. C. c.,
who upheld the Ferris school after Mr.
Long had said the sending Of a boy 10
the institution left stigma on him
forever.
After hearing Mr.. divers statement
tJat the school was a great moral help
In reforming boys, Councilman Mearns
arose and said: ~, as one member OF
this council, inspected that school, and
while l have never expressed myself
on the subject before. / want 10 say
now that / would rather see my chill
dren dead and buried than in the Fer
ris Industrial School.
From what ! saw OF conditions al
the school, the attendants and Ire way
1t IS conducted, l wondered where the
reform is in the reform school,"
Mr.. Oliver made no reply 10 these
remarks, although a woman who was
in the delegation from the Sunshine
Society, arose and said that one Of her
sons. who had been inclined TO BE- a
wanderc-, hsd been committed 10 tine
school for four years, and on his re-
lease had served lfteen years in the
army. Had It not been for the school,
the mother added, her son night have
been a bum"
The discussion over the proposed cur
Few law lasted nearly two hours, the
sunshine members presenting the pro-
posed ordinance through Mrs. ]. I'd
ward Wilson. The proposed ordinance
requires all children under i6 years to
be Off the street after Q O'Clock al nighl
between October 20 March 4. and after
10 o'clock at night from April 1 20 sep
teilDer 81 unless accompanied by par
ents or guardians. Messengers and
oLler working children are exempted.
inc plan calls for the Mayor or Police
commission to have Industrial plants
sound The zero signal on their Whistles
al 10 minutes prior 10 'hc hour for the
kiddies % go home. Al Q o'clock the
fire bells would sound two taps.
Ih0se present entered no objection,
TO The principle OF the proposed Isr
but 1t was admitted by a numbcp a
citizens that the advisability OF enact
ing laws to compel parents 10 exercis,
The love they should have for tben
children might prove worthless
Frank A. Greenhawk Boy Scout Ex
ecutive. said the proposed law might In
terfcre with the Scout movement a
meetings Of that organization were he,
at nigRls. He was informed by Mrs
Wilson that the proposed ordnance
would not affect Boy Scouts or CAM
Fire Girls.
Mrs. George w. Dorsey, state presl
dent Of the Sunshine Society. urged IN,
passage OF the ordinance as also di,
Miss Ella SamwOrth, a school teachc
who said a wall Of protection must bl
built about the children. She said tn
law was aimed AZ the careless parent
and not at the child.
Charles A. Hagner. OF the state Chill,
Labor Bureau, Said the srge should b.
set at ii, to g.llow children between
IA an 10 years who are employed al
opportunity to iget recreation. Mr. Lonl
was strongly opposed 20 the measure
uphodng theJ right Of parents 10 de
eide the problems OF their childrel
themselves.
City Solicitor Huxley said he had no
decided for tnOr against the measure
but advanced several objections whicl
he thought lShOuld be overcome befOr
such a mebsure is passed. They in
cluded the inability Of police TO leay
their beats to escort children home
the necessity for Boy and Girl Scout
and others to be out for legitimate pur
poses. and The inadvlsability Of bringin
delinquent children TO the police sta
tion atmosphere. there being no othe
place TO take them at present.
The proposed ordinance is as follows
Sec. I.
IL shall be unlawful for any chill
or minoT person under sixteen year
OF age 10 be on the streets. avenue.
alieys, lanes, commons or in the publ
parks or upon any depot grounds o
building for other public places of th
City OF Wilmington unattended by
parent, guardian or other person hayin
care anq custody Of such child or mino
person iafter nine o'clock D. m. froT
octoOe1 FIRST to March thirty-flrst In
clusivel land after ten o'clock p. m. froI
April first TO September thirtieth, in
clusvei provided that this does not az
ply TO messenger boys. nor 10 childre
whosei vOcatiOns warrant them bein
out after the hours named.
See. ..
ANY, parent or guardian who sha
suffer- or permit any child or minC
persotn under sixteen years Of age, {
which he or she may be the parent q
guard ian TO be upon the streets. av,
nues alleys lanes. commons or in IN
public parks, or upon any depC
grou7ds. or building or other publ
placcS OF the City Of Wilmington cor
traTyi TO the provisions Of Section on
OF tflls ordinance shall be guilty {
a ml1demeanor.
See. 3.
II lshall be the duty Of any polio
onlcdr in the City who shall find an
childl or minor person on the street
avenfles, alleys. lanes. commons or in tl
public parks, or upon any depot ground
or 5llilding or other public places in Y
olati,pn OF Section One Of this ord
nanc'e TO order such child or minC
pers on 10 Immediately return 10 the
HON es ard uron- failure TO comply wit
the order shall detain such child {
min or person for a reasonable tin
until a complaint can be. made and
wan rant issued and served.
See. Z.
III the child or minor person detainC
ha(s no home or guardian or refuses