River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-05-18
GATES TO BE OPEN.

~ - 49,
Sunday Opening. After May aI. Decided
Upon by Worlds Fair Directers-The
Main Buildings of the Exposition to Be
tIosed-Nisitors, However. Upon Pay
ment OF Twenty-Five Cents. May Per-
ambulafe Through the Park aud Find
Entrance to Midway Piaisance and Its
Attractions. Foreign Buildings aud Most
of the stats Buildings
CHICAGO. May l3.-Members of the
local worlds fair directory passed
resolution Friday that the worlds fair
should be open Sundays on and after
May 81. They took this action upon
the recommendation of Director Ed
win Walker, the leading legal adviser
of the board After many hours
of thought MIR. Walker, in con-
sultation with Lyman j. Gage.
Henry Il. Stone and others. came
to the conclusion that congress
had no authority over anything
other than the exhibits, and that the
directory was free to act in accordance
with the terms of the resolution which
Mr.. Walker presented. His resolution
does not propose To open the exhibit
buildings, the great structures in which
the products of all countries are
housed, but merely the grounds about
them-the Plaisance and the state and
foreign buildings providing those in
control of them 81 elect.
Inasmuch as the big exhibit buildings
may not be entered by the visitors the
directory proposes that charge of but
twenty five cents be made to enter the
grounds Sundays. The action of the
directory was taken in accordance with
what is believed to be public sentiment.
Members of the national worlds fair
commission are disposed to resent the
assumed right of the local board to
open the gates, even if the exhibit
buildings remain closed. Most of those
who were seen declared that the direc-
tory could not, without the sanction of
the commission. put such a resolution
into opera uCIi, and they have previous
ly threatened that legal proceedings
would be instituted if their concurrence
was not secured before Sunday open
ing in any form were attempted.
The resolution creates a new regula-
tion differing from the Sunday closing
one adopted by both bodies. The com
mission will be in session to-day and
some action may be taken by il. lnas-
much however. as there is no proba-
bility of "A quorum being present, it will
be unable either TO authoritatively APP
prove or reject the new rule. But there
is little reason TO doubt that, unless ex-
plantations accompany the resolutions,
there will be some bitter talk at to-
days session of the commission.
The meeting of the beard of directors
Friday afternoon was one of the largest
yet held. The only subject discussed
was that of Sunday opening, and the
session lasted several b.'urs. When the
final vote was reached it was found
that the sentiment fora an open Sunday at
Jackson park was really stronger than
at first supposed. The special commit
tee on legislation, composed of Edwin
Walker, Ferdinand w. Peck, +. )
Winston and Arthur Dixon. made il
report. and after a full discussion OF
the question Edwin Walker introduced
the resolutions, which were passed by
vote of u to = The resolutions are as
follows:
Resolved, That in accordance with the opin-
ion OF Edwin Walker chairman Of the commit.
tee on legislation of this corporation, submitted
herewith Inc pubic Dc dufllNttu 10 the GROUNDS
surrounding the exposition buildings, the build
ings containing exhibits remaining closed upon
Sundays ana that the price of admission on
such days be fxe1 at twenty i've cents
Resolved, That this resolution take effect
from and after May Il, 1893
AS a finale to the days work the
board, by a resolution, made Edwin
Walker solicitor general for the exposi-
ton.
The report of the committee on legis-
lation, by its chairman, Edwin Walker.
defines the powers of the exposition on
the Sunday closing question. Mr.. Walk
err holds that the acts of congI ess refer
to the exhibition which is inside
the buildings, and not to the fair
grounds, winch are not an exhibit
The grounds unoccupied by the build
ings have been beautified and orna-
mented for the use of the public, but
they have no special relation to the ex-
hibit, nor are they part of
the exposition Mr. Walker does
not believe that the prohibit
ton of congress can be extended
to the public park an! grounds. Again
the committee does not believe it was
the intention of congress to prohibit
the representatives of foreign nations
and the commissioners of states from Wis
iting their buildings and temporary
homes Sunday. Therefore the opinion
of the committee is that the act
of congress of August only requires
that all the main buildings containing
exhibits installed for exhibition shall
be closed to the public Sunday and that
the admission Of the public to the
grounds and the buildings not devoted
to exhibition purposes would not be in
violation of the letter or spirit of the
law. On this opinion the board Cf d.
rectors passed the resolution which
opens every part of the worlds fair
grounds 10 the puOlic Sundays with the
exception of those buildings wherein
arc placed exhibits.
This really1eaves but small part of
the fair still under the sunday closure
rule. The Midway Plaisance. with its
scores of attractions, all the foreign
buildings all the state buildings all the
concessions of different kinds and the
other beautiful buildings of the White
City where exhibits are not made will
be thrown open. Then there will be
the great structures, with an act of con
gress barring their doors. The same
act will not cover the buildings exter-
nally, SO there will be beautiful sights,
and all the show will be opened foI
twenty-five cents.
Forest Fires in New Jersey.
Tons RIVER. y j., May Is Forest
II