Big Easy’s Curfew Earns Clinton Praise

President Clinton lavished praise Thursday on a youth curfew that officials here say has helped reduce crime, and he urged communities nationally to consider night curfews as a way to combat juvenile delinquency.

Clinton’s comments came during a week in which he and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole have battled over who has better credentials as a crime-fighter, both focusing special attention on gangs and teenage hooliganism.

Clinton’s comments amounted to more of a homily than a proposal. He spoke nostalgically of the rules in his own youth - “When the lights come on, be home, Bill” - but he didn’t recommend a national curfew policy.

Instead, he directed the attorney general to distribute to the nation’s mayors information about how different types of curfews have worked in various cities and about how to employ legally defensible curfews.

About 73 percent of the nation’s 200 largest cities already have youth curfews, according to a Justice Department survey.