Evening star., 1896-12-31
CRYING NEWSPAPERS
Ministers Who Object to It Sunday
Mornings.
HEARING BEFORE THE COMMISSIONERS
incidentally Church Bells are
Brought Under Discussion.
A NEW RULE PROPOSED

A very lively debate on the subject of the
crying of newspapers on the streets of the
city Sunday mornings took place before the
District Commissioners today. All sides of
the question were aired in the hearing
which lasted for an hour and a half.
Commissioners Ross and Truesdell were
not present, having been detained in an
examination of proposed site for the Wes-
tern High School. SO that it was nearly II
O'Clock before the hearing was opened, al
though it was announced to be begun an
hour sooner. committee representing the
Protestant churches of the city was pres
ent in the persons of Rev. DIR. J. G. Butler
and Rev. Howard Wilbur Ennis Rev.
William E. Parson was also present and
during the discussion spoke in advocacy
Of the proposed measure.
On the opposite side there were present
Gen. William A. Birney, William a Crof-
futt, William p Wood, Perry Carson. D.
Webster Groh, Samuel NJ Baldwin, H. NJ
Taylor and j. W. Adams.
The discussion was opened by Rev. How
ard Wilbur Ennis, who said that together
with Drs. Butler and Parson they were be-
Iore the Commissioners to represent the
Protestant denominations of the CITY to
seek law prohibiting the crying of news
papers on the streets Sunday mornings
Ihey mad not come there to ask that any
on Sunday morning be made They pro-
tested simply against the crying of news
papers on Sunday mornings. He could not,
ne said, see any difference between the cry-
ing OF fish on Sunday mornings and the
crying of newspapers.
Our chief objection he said, ito the
calling Of Sunday newspapers on the
streets Of the city is the fact that II dis
turbs public worship Church people are
only human. as are other people, and when
they are in church they are disturbed by
boy calling his newspapers near the en-
trance of the church. Our movement is
not regarded as ethical, nor even as broad
ly moral, In Its standpoint. We do not seek
to abridge any ones privilege. and it might
be that we would propose allowing the boys
to have stands along the streets so that
they can sell their papers there. We do
not come before the Commissioners either
to approve or disapprove the Sunday news
paper, but merely to insist upon one single
point. and that is that the calling of news
papers on the streets be prohibited
Upon the conclusion of Mr. Ennis re-
marks. Gen. Birney asked If those who
were opposed to the proposed measure
could be heard. Col William P. Wood
advocated that each side to the contro-
versy be given the same amount of time
IN which to state their arguments and an
nounced that the movement represented by
the ministers present was simply form of
religious persecution.
Commissioner Ross replied that both sides
OF the question would be given an equal
opportunity to be heard.
Gen. Birney's Reply.
General Birney then spoke at some
length on the subject. He said that he
wished to speak In behalf of little news
boy OF his acquaintance who, by the sale
OF newspapers, was supporting dacrepid
old mother and father. General Birney
proceeded to argue that the present law
accomplishes everything that the ministers
wish n
pie protection, he thought, to the churches
Continuing. General Birney said: 'The
reverend gentlemen present have coilec-
tions taken up in their churches on Sunday
and prosecute their business on Sunday.
They are paid fer the labor they do on
Sunday. The newsboys do a part of their
work on Sunday. and it seems to me that
they have as much right to do so as have
the churches. I have never seen a news
boy bawl his paper In the door OF Il church.
1t strikes me that that must be rather a
rare occurrence"
Gen. Birney went on to say that he did
not think that the ministers present had
much standing, or should have much stand
ing before the Commissioners, as they paid
no taxes.
Col. Wood here interrupted to remark
that the churches owned millions of dollars
OF property, on which they pay not single
cent in the way of tax.
Mr. Birney continued that he did not
know whether any syndicate of news stands
in the hotels was back of this movement,
as he thought it would result naturally in
the sale OF more papers at the news stands
instead of by the boys.
Gen. Birney continued to say that the
church bells should not be allowed to ring
on Sunday mornings If the boys were not
allowed to cry their papers.
Rev. Mr.. Ennis said he had nothing to
say against the selling of newspapers on
Sunday mornings. So far as the church
bells were concerned, he thought he was
willing to meet Mr.. Birney on that point
and to agree with him.
He asked that the arguments of the gem
tlemen opposed to the proposition urged
by him be confined strictly to the subject
of calling newspapers.
At Dr. Parsons request the police regu-
lation regarding the calling of papers on
the streets was read Its prohibition is
time than between am. and pm. on
week days and and 1890 o'clock on Sun
day mornings.
Newsboys and Church Bells.
Mr. Croffut urged that the newsboys
should have the same right to cry their
wares as the churches had to ring their
bells. He said that later on the Secular
League would ask to be heard by the Com
missioners in favor of a regulation pro-
h.biting the ringing of church bells in the
morning, as 1t was great disturbance to
working people who wanted to rest until
later hour.
He said he hoped everybody would re-
member that this is the nineteenth century
and the twentieth century Is almost here.
and tnat efforts to frame legislation would
be directed accordingly.
Rev. J. G. Butler advocated the measure
proposed. He said that under all govern
ments church property is exempted from
taxation, but he said that church people
pay their taxes to as great degree as any
one else, and that he thought that the
larger part of the taxes collected were
taken from that class. He thought If all
the people were in the churches the Com
missioners would be able to decrease their
estimates 70: the police force instead of
increasing them.
Col. William P. Wood gave the churches
a scoring in general way. He said that if
the Commissioners saw fit they could treat
the churches they did the saloons. They
need not have newspaper cried within 300
yards of q church.
Mr.. Ennis said that he was in full SYM
pathy with the newsboys, as he had ped
died newspapers in order to get through
College, and was reporter afterward. The
legislation they asked did not interfere
with anybody's rights.
d. Webster Groh said that the ringing of
church bells and Salvation Army drums
were an annoyance to many people. but
they were not there to complain of them
He said that while the Christian Endeavor-
ers were In this city, 1t was common to
find them singing on the street cars. and
mn king ron si0era hle noise in that uvay hl,t