The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-24
A Strong Movement to Force
Them and the Saloons to
Close on Sunday.
ACTON OF THE POLICE CONMSSOsERS
Chief Donovan Directed to Procure
Evidence and Present 1t to
the Grand Jury.

Board last night resolution was adopted
detailing Chief Of Police Donovan TO pro
coed to secure evidence against Sunday
theatrical exhibitions. and to present the
evidence TO the Grand Jury. By the reso-
luton the question Of Sunday theatricals
is placed entirely out Of the hands Of the
Police Board. and at present is in the
hands Of Chief Donovan, who says he win
| act.
Never before at any other meeting Of
the Police Board Of Hoboken was their
such an attendance as there was last
night. In the front seats were several
gentlemen whose clerical garb betokened
their calling. Seated alongside Of them
were several prominent laymen.
The members OF the Board were ather
tardy in getting into the meeting room,
and when they did arrive they came in
one by one. Mayor Grassman was the
first TO push his way to the Chairman's
desk His face wore q troubled express
| sion and he appeared 70 wish it was all
| quietly in and was followed by the other
members of the Board.
After some routine business had been
disposed of. Commissioner Coyle arose
and said that during his absence there
| had been considerable agitation against
the Sunday theatres. and as he saw sev-
eral ministers present, he thought it
proper to give them an opportunity to be
/ heard.
Mr. JESvY's DRAMATIC SPEECH.
There was considerable commofiou
among those in the front seats, and
! finally the Rev. DR.. Jenny of St. Paufs
/ Church stepped within the railing. Mr.
| Jenny is a small man with a powerful
voice. He made most impassioned ap-
peal. He said that in bis experiences as
minister he found that all Of his copgre-
cation were opposed 10 Sunday the
atres- The tact that the the
/ atres were open on Sunday prevented
the better classes of people from locating
in the city and the demoraiizing infiu-
ences on youth were very great. In con-
clusion he said ia a most dramatic tome
"Gentlemen, / beg of you to see that the
| theatres are closed There is a law pro-
| hibiting Sunday performances aud i'm
/ piore you 10 see that il - enforced"
When Mr.. Jenny finished there was q
| loud stamping Of feet and clapping Of
hands. Mayor Grassnan said he would
clear the room II there was repetition OF
the applause.
After J. Shauly Davis and Prof. Woods
Of Stevens Institute had spoken. the
Church addressed the Board. He
said that Sunday the&tricals should
not be tolerated ''Aiy good friend, ths
Mayor" said Mr.. Finch. Says thai II the
| theatres are closed 1t viii drive a great
| deal OF revenue from our city. Ny reply
! is that if Hoboken has to depend upon the
support given BY people who visit the
/ theatres on Sunday, then we had better
| emigrate. Some people have circulated
reports that we are trying to deprive the
workingmen Of their enjoyment on Sum
/ day That is a base lie All we want il
| To see the law enforced ~
/ APPLAUSE FOR FATHER CoRRIGAE.
The appearance OF the Rev. Father Cor
rigan, who appeared as soon as Mr. Finch
| finished, was the signal for applause.
/ Father Corrigan stepped within the rail<
ing and made a speech in which he bit
terly attacked the saloons and did not
/ speak so strongly against the theatre
/ He said:-'sThe law by which the theatres
can be closed is an old one on the statute
book ana is nothing else than the
blue law which prohibits traffic of
ali kind on Sunday. This law
has become 50 obsolete and imperative
| that special law regulating the liquor
traffic has been passed by Republican
Legislation, and sanctioned by our last
| Legislature. Now, what We want Is TO
have the saloons closed on Sunday. /
| know this would be almost impossible 10
accomplish unless we were thoroughly
organized. and ! believe that we can do it
in time. The Board of Police Commls-
sloners, Dentte, arc eno4o1snA5 a"atS
that the liquor law Is most
flagrantly violated, and / need NOT
remind Them of that fact All that
! / desire is to have the saloons closed as
tight as a drum on Sunday. OF course
there are people VINO claim that The
majority of folks would like TO have the
saloons wide open on Sunday. This is no
| argument at all. If a mob or rabble
want anything that the respectable ele-
ment do not, it does not follow that
their wishes should be gratified-
! srhe Legislature of this state has seen
fit to enact this liquor law and if a mob
in Hoboken wants 10 violate the law they
\ should be punished. II it is bad law,
| then say repeal It. But as long as il Is
the law the members Of the Police Board
are bound by oath 10 see that It is en-
| forced. Our police are receiving unjust
criticism in tue agitation They are not
to blame. II is their superior S"
SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITY.
| There was considerable applause when
Father Corrigan finished, and the Board
took recess. All the elergmen and sneir
| followers got in the back OF the hall and
appeared very jubilant. After recess.
Commissioner Daab offered the follow
ing n.,,.
and is hereby directed to notify the man
| ayers of the different places OF amuse-
ment in this city 10 close on sunday.
~ move as an amendment." said Com
missioner Coyle, s.that the Chief OF Police
be directed to securr evidence against the
theatres and present it to the 0rand
Jury"
The amendment prevailed. Commits
sioners Utz and DaaD voting against IL
| Chief Donovan said to me after the meet
ing that there seemed to be a disposition
10 shift the affair on his shoulders. but
| that he would get the evidence and 20
before the Grand Jury.
I