Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Spokane City Council was contemplating an ordinance aimed at curtailing juvenile delinquency.

The most controversial provision was one to exclude minors from dance halls. Mayor W.J. Hindley said he thought this was going too far. It might make it illegal for teens to go to high school dances. He said it might even make it illegal for parents to bring their kids to perfectly respectable events where there was dancing.

The other aspects of the ordinance were not as controversial.

It would make it illegal to sell tobacco, liquor or revolvers to children under 18.

Meanwhile, the city’s probation officer urged that theaters should be prosecuted for allowing children under 16 to attend any show after 8:30 p.m. Officer W.M.V. Winans said there was already a curfew ordinance on the city’s books forbidding children under 16 to be on the streets after 8:30 p.m. in the winter and 9 p.m. in the summer.

“A child technically becomes delinquent when it violates the law, and I believe that the theaters could be held criminally responsible for contributing to delinquency,” Winans said.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1883: The United States and Canada adopted a system of Standard Time zones.