The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-16
WHAT! BAR OUT THE CIRCUS?
HackensacE Perturbed Over Recent Action
Taken by Its Hoard or Rulers.

II Hackensack passes the summer without a
popular uprising in defence of q timc-honored
and universally recognized right, it will be bc
cause the people are long-sufferinR as becomes
meek and lowly natures held in subsection by
despotic rule. This statement is based upon
action taken recently by the Hackensack I'm
proycmcnt Commission. a municipal body con-
sisting of five citizens who sway the destinies of
the taxpayers. 1t was long ago recorded how
these Commissioners set apart oneIpOrtion of tho
main street of the town for horse-racing pur-
poses. while enforcing "A fine against wheelmen
who dared TO scorch or race over the same high
way; how they expended $5, 900 OF public money
to build n onc'mile speedway on the edge of the
town; and how they have done other things Of
the same character with impunity.
This week the Commissioners performed the
browning act Of despotism in an effort TO bar
circuscs from Hackcnsack. The proceeding was
based upon n communication from John II. Cole,
John II. Mabic, Isaac Van Blarcom. and several
other citizens, who declared that 1.-THE circus Is
detrimental to tho morals of ourselves and our
children and a public nuisancc;' wherefore they
requested that no more licenses be granted for
such shows on the lot OF James Green at the in
Commissioners William +. Taylor was especial.
ly DESTROYS OF keeping, tho corrupting circus out
license fec OF $3.50 III is now 500.
Commissioning c. +. Eckerson would not go so
far as TINS. lie said II would he wrong To rob
children of peanuts and the elephant the beau
tiful snake Charner and pink lemonade. the
graceful bareback rider and the funny clown,
the trick mule and soul-stirring calliope.
Il enjoy a circus my self, y said Mr.. Eckerson,
and ! think II would he q great wrong to place
n prohibitOry license upon them. 4 circus Ii ono
of the lemcnts OF civilization, and Hackensack
cannot afford to rctrograde from the position II
has assumed In the procession of progress"
Mr. Taylor. who Is II real estate auctioneer.
came TO the charge again. reducing his license
figure to 800; but the plea OF Mr.. EckcrsOn
made so deep an impression upon the other mem
beers that there was no second to the motion, and
II was believed the people would triumph. This
was n mistake. The Commissioners would not
increase the license fec, but they thought they
must do something TO protect tho morals of the
petitioners and their children from the baneful
Influence Of the circus, and they decided TO com.
ply with the request to Issue no more licenses
for Mr.. Green's lot. which Is practically the only
spot in the town properly available for a circus.
II wes then unanimously agreed that no circus
or similar exhibition be permitted In HackensaCk
east OF the New Jersey and New York Railroad
tracks. This Is looked upon as practically pro
hibitive, and the people are consequently muir
muring. Mr.. Green, owner of the lot, at first set
about securing another site for the accommoda.
ton OF the .aggregations Of. world.wonders, fall
ing In which he Is now circulating a petition
asking the Commissioners TO reconsider their
hasty and ill-ad yiBed action In robbinR the people
OF their constitutional right to SEQ the circus.