The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-13
HE POINTS
OUT EVILS.
Rev. Ira W. KimmeI Scores the
City Council.
HE SAID He WAS FORTIFIED WITH
PROOFS OF EVERY STATEMENT
HE WOULD MAKE AND HE
CALLED ON ALL GOOD CITIZENS
TO JOIN A MOVEMENT TO HAVE
THE LAWS ENFORCED-DR.
BRoUGHToN ALSO TALKS.

The Fourth Avenue Christian Church
was iilled TO overlooking Sunday night,
several councilmen, city officials and
policemen being present, having been at
tracted thither by the announcement
that Rev. Ira w. Kimmel would deliver
n special sermon on "Somc Things the
People of Roanoke Ought to Know"
The discourse WAS strong arraignmeut
of the city authorities for dereliction in
enforcing the laws of the State and
municipality. The speakers words were
mt no time what might be called sensa-
ttonal, but he impressed his hearers as
one who was deeply in earnest and hal
the lest interests of Roanoke at heart
After spirited singing of familiar hymns
by the congregation, led by creditable
choir,and II brief Invocation OF the Divine
approval upon the evenings exercises, the
pastor announced as his text, Isaiah
2G.5: For he bringeth down them that
dwell on high; the lofty city He laycth
in low, even to the ground; He bringc.h
it even to the dust;' and he then pro.
ceeded to speak as follows:
The prophet is singing of CITY that
will be destroyed because the laws of God
are not enforced. The punishment that
will follow Il disobcdience of Coils COM
mands is certain and swift. If the people
Of city do not obey Gods law It is
brought low, even to the very dust.
There must he n high and holy regard for
God not alone among the people, but
with those to whom is committed the en-
forcemert Of the laws. A godly city is II
strong city. An ungodly city is IL weak
city. Our city is full Of wickedness not
open but concealed. Over against our
nrge church Attendance, we have vice,
Righteousness. and the liquor traffic to
contend with. The question that con.
fronts every good citizen is, bow can we
make our city strong city? The first
requisite is law. Not any highly moral
or religious enactm ent, but simple,
plain, every. day law. We have that. Our
laws, especially those relating to Sun
day, are simple and explicit. They can
not easily be misunderstood. The next
ching is an enlightened and powerful pub-
lie opinion. Whenever preacher calls
attention I'd laws that are not enforced
or that are flagrantly violated, he is
called sensationalst. or is seeking
notoriety, or is taking advantage of his
pulpit to vent personal spite. This is not
the case, and it is unjust to the preacher:
he is only trying to arouse a public SEN
timenu that will secure an enforcement
of the laws.
If the citizens of Roanoke think that
the city and State Sunday laws are TOO
severe, Instead of villifying the preachers
and other good citizens who demand their
enforcement, why don't you petition the
City Council and State legislature to re-
peal them Here is bit of unanswera-
BILE logic-if the laws are not to be en-
forced, take them off the books. Public
evils, crimes and sin are smitten by
arousing public opinion. a law in itself
Is only weak thing. To be of any
atf ,,.,t 10,
Is good thing when n burglar is trying
to break into your house, but back of it
must be strong arm and sure eve.
Without that it would be of no avail So
with our laws: they are of no benefit to
the city of Roanoke unless backed by
strong public opinion, and enforced by
good, honest men. Citizens of Roanoke.
we have good laws, and in spite of mali
cious yillifiers who are easy in their
vices, saloon keepers whose business it
Is to violate any laws, as long as they are
on the statute books of the State, and
the ordinance book of the city-they must
and shall be enforced by the help of God
ana CHRISTIAN men and women
Now there are some things that the
people of our city ought to know The
llrst OF these Is the rela between our
City Council and the Streeu Car Com.
pany. n ordinance book, page 10, arti-
Gle ~, we have the following:
The city of Roanoke hereby expressly
reserves the right to impose n yearly
license tax not exceeding So upon each
ana every car in use by said Street Car
Company ETC.
why has this tax not been imposed?
1 have been informed, and will give the
source of my Information, that every
Councilman rides on the street cars free,
on book Of passes given them by the
Roanoke Street Railway Company. If
such is the case, then we can understand
why this 70 tax has not been imposed. If
this information is incorrect, then the
citizens OF Roanoke demand that their
councilmen deny publicly that they have
In their possession book of passes on
the Roanoke Street Railway Company.
Why should the Street Car Company not
pay this tax? Recently u widow woman
in the Northeast was compelled to pay
100 for taxes by reason of mistake in
the assessment, which would have made IA
her taxes ~. 90. Poor people are threat
ened with process of law when they do
not pay their taxes Why this discrimi-
nation in favor of the Street Car Com
pnny: Our City Council will please rise
and explain. The next fact the people of
Roanoke should be conversant is the re-
lation existing between the city govern
ment and the real estate agents of orr
city append "A part of an ordinance
passed June II, 1895:
ANY owner or agent of the owner,
having control of property rented within
the city limits. knowing that the same is
being used as house of i'll fame, or is
being resorted to for purposes OF prosti-
tuition, or after having been notified by
the mayor OF the city that such property
is being used for such purposes, Shall be