New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-16
SUNDAY AT ST.. LOUIS FAIR
Exposition To Be Closed, but Md
scay" May Be Open.
TFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU. /

tFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU
Washington Oct B.-Some question as to the
efficacy of the regulation designed to enforce the
observance of the American Sunday at the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. at St Louis next
year has been raised in Washington. and 1t Is IKE
ly that Congress at its session. at the instance
of many jealous advocates of a weekly rest day,
will undertake to a contingency which had
not arisen when ii voted appropriation of S5oo-
600 OF government money for that enterprise w men
the subject under discussion the exposition
authorities accepted a Sunday closing PROVISION
which tackled at the end of the bill just De
fore fits passage. but they have worn broad sar-
castle smile whenever the subject has since oeeh
preached. The provision appears in the act OF
March ;. 1901. Section %. which reads
That a condition precedent to the payment or
this appropriation the directors shall contract TO
close the gates TO visitors on Sundays uurihs 'ie
whole duration OF the fair.
After the organization of the exposition COM
pany and the appointment by President Roosevelt
Of the non-partisan commission authorized by Con-
gress to supervise the expenditure of the govern
ment's money, the problem OF the Sunday closing
contract presented itself to the Treasury Depart
ment, and delay occurred. II is said that the
directors of the exposition company, well as the
government commissioners. met on several occa-
sions and adopted resolutions TO authorize the onl-
GERS of the company to enter into contract with
the Treasury Department for Sunday closing. The
various resolutions received careful consideration
by the legal advisers of Secretary Shaw. but each
successfully rejected possessing insufficient
binding quality In the mean time the pay OF Inc
governments commission was withheld and &C
cumulated for several months
Finally the exposition company, deciding to COM
ply with the suggestion of the Solicitor or the
Treasury. July s. 1902. resolved to have a ma
jority of its directors sign contract on the sub
feet of Sunday closing terms which were salts
factory the Treasury. This contract in its bind
ing clause, provides:
Now, therefore, in consideration of the payment
and disbursement in the manner provided Tor by
q
said in aid of said exposition, 1t Is hereby coy
position Company and by the directors of the said
company. that the gates Of the exposition grounds
shall be closed TO visitors Sundays during the
whole time and duration of said fair or exposition
This contract. signed individually by a majority
OF the directors. while it has been criticised In
some quarters loose. is regarded as In strict
compliance with the terms OF the section under
which it drawn. and is declared to be a COM
plete prohibition against opening the gates or the
exposition grounds Sunday.
Since its execution. however, and since the dedi-
catory exercises last April, the exposition com
pany has acquired control OF the adjoining Catlin
property with the intention of establishing thereon
the Ivelest kind OF n midway. of subleasing
ii for that purpose In this manner II is said 70 be
Sundays. ''The Pike" the sideshow enterprise
gress restriction the Treasury contract, espe-
cially as the exposition company, If directly in
terested in It. would not have 1t ready ior 9unoay
Sc OgIe5 bsd aIreaSI bean recejved from the Treas
ing do with II.
Many persons hold that The Pike ought TO he
closed Sunday the clear intent or Con
gress, but under strict construction, from me
purely legal point of view, it IS said that there IS
nothing in the law requiring the enforcement OF
Sunday closing at the demand OF the treasury
Department, except condition precedent TO
the payment of the governments share OF the cost
5 5ee is O be- nsad R he Pike the
government has interest in or authority over
that enterprise.
Sunday opening at the Worlds Fair in Chicago,
under the numerous eXpedients tried TO make II a
success. a dismal failure. The exhibitors. ex-
cept those Of Latin countries. demanded day OF
rest from their watchful labOrs, and the public
refused to patronize the fair, even under a re-
duced admission fee. In sufficient numbers TO pay
for policing the grounds. With the legitimate ex-
hibits closed and with the rougher character OF
Sunday crowds especially those attracted by the
Midway. the record Of thievery and damage to
other six days together. IT, now seems to be
the understandings THE Pike is. to be wholly
without the exposition grounds. the problem OF
partial Sunday closing St Louis may be more
easily solved than Chicago. II is certain that
the gates of the exposition grounds must be closed
on sundays. but whether The Pike shall be
wide open for days in the week is a question
that only Congress answer by further legis-
lation as the Treasury Department officials have
exhausted their jurisdiction in eXacting the con-
tract quoted above.