The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-26
SUNDAY SALOONS.
Y. Nj. G. A. Committee Reports Pro-
gFess

gress.
The meeting held last evening at
the Y. M. G. A. building for the pur-
pose Of considering the Sunday saloon
and gambling houses, promises to be
the beginning Of a movement that will
nave more results than any similar
agitation ever started in this city
The committee appointed at the meet
ing held Jan. IL, through Rev. M. Falk
GJertsen, rendered a report.
Mr.. Gjertsen scored the temperance
people for the laxity they showed for
the enforcement of the laws governing
the liquor traffic. The statutes on the
ment will not comply with the law I'M
less they are forced to do So The au-
thorities will not enforce when there
ere no demands made. The admin
stratlon does not seem to have SYM
pathy for the class of people who suffer
from the results of the liquor traffic
On the other hand there seems to be
strong tendency to favor the saloons.
Mr.. GJertsen then called the attention
or the audience to matters Of fact. Nov
70 the licenses of three South Mime
apol1s saloonkeepers had been revoked
Dec. II, licenses were again issued for
these places. AT one place the barten-
der had taken out the license, and at
another the wife OF the Saloonkeeper
III this latter instance the law had
been violated. The ordinance states
that in the case Of revocation where the
saloOnkeeper is also the owner of the
premises, that a saloon shall not be
opened at that place within one year
after the revocation. When the licenses
are revoked money Is always refunded,
This can only be done in the case where
action is taken by the local authori-
ties. If the revocation is made through
court money shall not be refunded. Mr..
Gjertsen remarked upon the matter
of dealing with the violaters. In one
case they would be punished by city
ordinance, and in another, given the
benefit Of the laws Of the state. This
was eXemplified when fines were i'm
pcsesd for violation Of the liquor ordi-
nance. The state fine is $40, while the
city is $25. They were nearly always
arraigned in this instance under the
laws of the state. The state closing
law is set for the hour Of II, while the
city says II. Here they are given the
benefit Of the city ordinance.
Mr.. Gjertsen touched upon the mat
ter Of bonds required by a saloon
keeper. He had made an investigation
and found that of the 600 bondsmen
required for 200 saloons he had looked
up, 200 were not to be found in the
directory, while over half Of the others
were directed to as laborers, bartend-
erS. etc, men whom it was quite evil
dent that were not able to stand secur-
ity for the $4,000 required. 1t was the
contention Of the speaker that the peo-
pie should rise up and demand an
enforcement Of the laws. If the mayor
failed to make corrections where it
could plainly be shown that wrongs eX-
listed, he could be impeached for NAL
feasance in Office.
Mr.. Gjertsen had copy Of the state
statutes at the meeting and from
which he verified his statements as to
the law touching the different points
mentioned.
This report was followed by a dis
cussion, which terminated in the adop-
ton Of the following resolution:
Resolved. That the sub committee
recommend that the pastors Of the
various city churches Of the city be re-
QueSted to present in their own way
to their congregations on Sunday
morning, Feb. A. the question of the
saloon and gambling evil, operated in
open violation of the law, and that a
public meeting be called for the con-
sideration of these matters, to be held
at o'clock Sunday afternoon, Feb. IA,
at which meeting a committee shall
secure representative men to present
these questions to the public, and APP
peal to those in authority for an i'm
partial enforcement of laws relating to
these evils.
It was decided that the chair appoint
a committee of three to secure facts,
which will be given to the pastors on
which to base their Sur day. Feb. H. SER
mon. This committee will be appoint
ed at the discretion of the chair
The following committee was ap-
pointed to make arrangements for the
mass meeting: P. A. Cone D. c.
Bell, Rev. NJ Falk Gjertsen, E. R.
Waite, John Day Smith.
The meeting was presided over by
Rev. William Fielder.