The daily gazette., 1882-12-04
NEW YORK'S BLUELAWS
ooTHAM's SUNDAY TRAFFIC.
SUPPRESSED. a
A BUSY DAY FOR THE POLICE.
Business Generally Suspended, and Few
uGfOrrunafes scooped In by the Police
Harry Hills Concert stopped.

New YORK, Dec. San effort was made
by the authorities to-day to enforce rigor-
ously the provisions of the new penal code
affecting the observance of the Sabbath,
but like many other attempts OF the kind,
very little substantial beueht was accom-
plished. The effects Of the sudden spasm
were distinctly observable, however, all
through the city and occupations with
hardly an exception felt for the fjFst lime
within the memory of man, the power of u
branch Of the law which, though IN another
form, has been allowed TO euInber the sta
fute book for many years TO no purpose.
The police commissioners of the city decided
Yesterday tHat> newspapers and ire cream
we're necessities, and that their sale
should not he interlered with. II wns
likewise announced that the running Of sur
face aud elevated railroad cars and OF the
ferries, was not within thr prohibition OF the
aw. The selling of milk bread, ETC., up to
o'clock In the morning, aud of food to be
raten on the premises whtre bought, we're
about the only other exceptions permitted.
Against all other forms of tradng the law
was tO be executed. Notices were served on
saturday to BARRIERS, cigar dealers. Chatham
treet clothes vendors, and others who were
In the habit Of transacting busines on Sum
lay, stating that trading on that day would
be henceiorth prohibited. Liquor dealers
are also given the "tip" to be little more
tgiant than usual.
TAKING THE FIRST OPPORTUNITIES.
Shortly after midnight the enforcement
hogan. About the first man arrested was
one Of the workmen employed IN the exca-
sations now making for one of the steam
heating companies. IL was 1920
when he was captured. The police
ustice, before whom he was taken In
the morning, dismissed the case, saying he
would take it for granted that the work
| man watch was 20 minutes slow, and that
ie would not presume the man meant to
violate the law. similar disposition WAS
mad Of the case OF one OF the men employed
| ~ the street cleaning department, who was
working after midnight. The concert
| .aloohs, the dives ON Sixth avenue, the beer
.ardens and similar plac Of resort,
made a pretense of closing carly SAT-
lrday night, and 1t may be said to
| heir credit, as far as sagaciiy goes,
hat the proprietors OF the worst dens were
| the ones most zralous in shutting their
loors and dismissng their patrons before
saturday night merged into Sunday morn
bg. The harbers as rule felt the harsh
ness OF the law most, and next to them per-
Iaps came the cigars dealers. The artists
II the razor and scissors usually count
| much on their Sunday trade. They were,
lowever, ruthlesslv dealt with, aud although
n nearly all cases they kept open uutil mid
heavy loss. There were number OF nota-
ble exceptions, but these, in all instances,
we're the well-to-do BARRIERS suck as those in
the larger hotels. Boolblacks were driven
from the streets and betoOk themselves to
he bar-rooms. A few Of them vera
irrcsted but they were afterwards dis
charged.
MAKING A TEST CASE.
cerity of the Atlantic Garden folks, arrested
the proprietor, who was held to hail by a
police justice. The Intention is to make
est case # this for the purpose OF de-
ermining the right to give so-called sacred
concerts and sell beer on Sunday for an
illeged charitable object. The sales OF
| newspapers were somewhat iDterlered with
| many of the street stands not having pre-
pared for business at ALL Those that were
supplied, however, had no cause TO com
plain despite the few arrests that were made.
No interference WAS had as regards the
-eryiCe of papers by carriers ut resi.
ienccs to subscribers, and the publica-
ton and branch Offices Of the
.lailes were kept open as usual. Candy
stores were closed, and even peanut yenders
had TO bow to the majesty # the law.
There were not nearly as many arrests as
had been expected, and as to this point
great satisfaction is expressed, it being re-
garded as good sign of the law. abiding
character of the community that the statute
Was so well complied with, even though its
provisions are objectionable. Upto noon,
when the police courts closed, there had not
been over hundred arrests, all told, for.
abbath hi ieakng, and OF these not more
than dozen were held.
THE RESULT OF THE "GRAND SCOOP"
There were some odd fish brought up by
the ''grand SCOOP" as 1t is called. Among
the oddt st, perhaps, were some Chinamen,
who laboriug after the fashion thrir kind
and having no votes, were mcontinpntly
hauled up. They were discharged, the JUS
lice remarking, that "John did his worship
ing on some other day." Drivers OF cx-
press wagons were arrested aud discharged.
1t being held that they had committed no
ufitnse. The same was held as to bakers
and milkmen, who were behin1 time In
supply ing their customers. One bar.er
was arrested while shaving a customer,
but he finished his job before going
to court. Justice Power in discharging u
man arrested for selling bread told thu
officer making the arrest not to bring any
more bread pcddlers before h,m while leo
cream was permitted to be sold. Some
hack drivers were arrested, and their husi-
ness was seriously interiered with. Their
rights will, however, be brought to an issue.
Many Of tho arrests were instigated by
agents Of the Sunday Observance League
In one instance, however, such an agent,
who is blind and who was led by com
panion, was himself arrested for accident
ally breaking open the window of man
whose shop he WAS attempting to enter. As
rule the police justices permitted tho
widest latitude In favor OF those accused of
Sal abat hFna fnar No pafrI ia, nm