The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-14
POLICE GIVEN THE7R ORDERS
To Look Out for violations of the
Sunday Closing Law.


Sunday Closing Law.
Instructions were given the police re-
lief which went out at Ii o'clock last
night to exercise special vigilance with
regard to the enforcement of the Sunday
closing laws. The same Instructions will
be given to the relief which goes out at
O'Clock this morning and the afternoon
relief which goes out at 8 o'clock.
The instructions are given by order of
Chairman Karow of the police commits
sion, and are the result of the statements
made in the city council last Wednesday
night to the effect that the Sunday clos
ing ordinance is being generally violated.
The saloon keepers understand that such
instructions are to be given and as a re-
suit in all probability it will be more diff
ficult to get a drink of liquor to-day than
for many Sundays past.
Whether the police can enforce the or
dinance to the letter is doubted, as they
have no right to enter places in search of
violations. Neither is there any disposi-
ton on the part of the police 70 do spy
work. At the same time there Is no
doubt that the police can enforce the law
there is will be so inconspicuous as not
to attract comment. The saloon keeper
who sells will know that he runs the risk
of being caught and that he is morally
certain 70 be caught sooner or later.
The police have now no excuse for not
enforcing the law. The commission and
the council are of opposing political senti-
ments and with such men az compose the
commission this will impel them to make
the work Of their department as far above
criticism as possible. In spite Of the re-
peated instructions, which were given the
police to enforce the law during the last
year or more there has been a very sus-
picious laxness, due IL was generally be-
lieved to the partisan feelings which per-
vaded the police force. Policeman, II was
charged, would not put saloon keepers OF
their own way of thinking, politically, on
the docket and where saloon keeper was
docketed by a policeman 1t was usually
charged to partisan malice by friends or
the saloon keeper Many policemen un-
doubleday shirked their duty on this line
because they knew they would not get the
credit for honestly enforcing the law, but
would be charged with being actuated by
a partisan spirit. There is a different
state Of affairs now. The new administra-
ton Is In charge and there is general de-
sire evident in all the departments 20 CO.
operate with 1t.
a saloon keeper, In speaking yesterday
Of the amendment TO the Sunday ordinance
offered by Alderman Hull to give saloons
with restaurants attached, the right TO
furnish liquors TO their guests with regu-
lar meals, said that he was uaalterably
opposed TO the amendment. IF that
amendment should be adopted" he said,
every saloon that could find the space
for H. would have a restaurant attached.
The restaurants would be Just a blind to
the Sunday business, and tL-9e would be
a hundred saloons in full blast every Sun
day. II other saloon-keepers keep open
on Sunday, have II 10 do so, too, or lose
some Of my customers. If the law Is
properly enforced ] had rather close my
place on Sunday and 50 would a good many
more. ! don't believe the police can en-
force the law simply by looking at the
front doors Of the saloons as they pass
along the streets ! know saloons that have
been open every Sunday for a year or
more. We will see whether this new order
Is bluff or not and govern ourselves ac-
cordlng.y"