Evening star., 1960-10-26
Lettering Law OKd
In District Heights
Gunes Turget
Of Under-l8
Youth Curb

District Heights town COM
missioners last night Inani-
mously passed an anti-loitering
law for juveniles with enforce
ment powers against parents
and businessmen.
This town of 5000 people
is being given a black eye by
18 or 20 little stinkers," Com
missioner Howard E. Williams,
jr.. told so persons who crowded
into the town Offices for a hear
ing on the ordinance.
"Ninety-nine and A one
hundredths per cent of Dis3
trict Heights parents raise their
children to be good citizens"
he said. This ordinance is
not aimed at them"
The ordinance prohibits loi-
tering in public places between
10 pm. and 5 am. by persons
under 18. Parents and business
men judged responsible for such
lettering are subject to a fine
of up to $50 and a jail term of
up to 80 days.
Gangs Are Targets
Named as primary objects Of
the ordinance were members of
gangs called -"the Apollos" and
"the Little Apollos, which have
been involved in recent Incl
dents, including the kicking of
a 13-year-old boy who was hos
pitalized for a week.
Mayor E. Michael Roll, who
called for a similar countrywide
law, said the town has had no
complaints of vandalism since
the ordinance came under dis
cusSion on September 18.
In answer to objections by
one of a half dozen Suitland
High School students at the
meeting, Mr.. williams said the
ordinance would not be used
to curfew or harass young peo-
pie going about normal activi-
ties. The commissioners said it
would allow questioning of
juveniles activities by police Of
ficerS, whose hands they said
often are tied by State laws on
the handling of juveniles.
Almost all of the half dozen
speakers from the floor favored
an anti-loitering ordinance of
some kind. They included a
citizens association president, a
Suitland High School vice prin-
cipal and a PTA president.
The lone dissenter was Ray
mond Mcdaniel, sergeant-at-
arms of the high school student
council. who said, II feel that
this ordinance is directed at
Everybody"
l.. Root Of Problem
The commissioners denied his
assertion that the ordinance
would tend to drive away from
town such late-night activities
as a school basketball victory
celebration.
Charles Hudson, the high
school vice principal, congratu-
lated the commission "on get
ting to the root of the problem,
not the delinquent juvenile, but
the delinquent adult"
He objected to unfavorable
publicity he said some youths
bring to the majority. "Over
270 of our $50 graduates last
year enrolled in higher educa-
tiop," he said. "You wouldn't
find one word of copy in any
newspaper about this achieve
ment."
Commissioner Woodrow E.
Wilson called juvenile delin-
quents a group for which their
fellow young people are re-
sponsible. why do you stand
back and let this per cent
walk over you?" he asked. "It's
time for you to assert yourself.
If you had, we wouldn't have
this ordinance before us to-
night"
William Mannix, president of
the District Heights Citizens
Association. voiced his groups
support of an anti-loitering
law. He also personally sug-
gested a town recreation de-
partment with a full time
professional director and an
adult-superviSed hot rod club.
The ordinance goes into ef-
feet November 4.