The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-05
SUNDAY BASEBALL ACT
CITY COUNCIL MAY DEBATE IT
 TONIGHT.
If Sullivan Ordinance is Reported to Special Meeting the Alder men Will Have a Lively
 Discussion.

Interest in the special meeting of the Montgomery City Council tonight may be increased by a report from the Ju- dietary Committee on the Sullivan Sunday baseball ordinance. If an effort is made to pass the ordinance at to- nights meeting, it Is expected that there will be a lively debate.
 The ordinance, 1t will be recalled. was introduced Monday night by AL derman J. J. Sullivan. who said 1t was presented by request and that 1t was drawn by a gentleman whose name he declined to divulge Under the guise of making the State law prohibiting Sun day baseball games more stringent, the ordinance really reduces the minimum fine for violating the law from $25. as imposed by the statute, to s1.
 The purpose of the ordinance Is not entirely clear since there Is not base ball park within the corporate limits of Montgomery. It is admitted that the ordinance was drawn by persons who hope to see Sunday baseball games i> Montgomery, and 1t is said to have been prepared by a lawyer, who de. clared that if 1t passed the Council. baseball games would be played in Montgomery on Sunday without inter- ference.
 The ordinance will be passed Thurs day night with votes to spare" said one Alderman, and a game of baseball will be played in Montgomery next Sum day"
 When it was suggested the Oak Park grounds, as we'll as the grounds at Athletic Park. were outside of the city limits and that Sheriff Waller had de- clared with emphasis that baseball should not be played anywhere in Mont gomery county on Sunday, the Alder man smiled and repeated his statement that if the ordinance was passed Thursday night game would be play ed next Sunday.
 Litigation for the ejectment of the Montgomery Street Railway from the Oak Park grounds by the Highland Park Land and Improvement Company, the owners, is pending and may result in new baseball park within the city limits. It was said yesterday that a new baseball park was contemplated by those who are interested in the pas- sage of the Sullivan ordinance.
 It Is current gossip that the High land Park company desires to divide the Oak Park baseball grounds into city lots. and if the company is not successful in ejecting the street rail- way rom the property, 1t may propose to equip baseball park for the Street Railway on Highland avenue and within the city limits. Should this be done, 1t Is suggested that with a State law and city ordinance prohibitins baseball games on Sunday conflict might arise between the city and coun- ty authorities, and Sunday baseball could be played until the settlement or the controversy by the courts. This might not be until the baseball season had enSed.
 Men who are earnestly interested in defeating the enforcement of the law prohibiting Sunday baseball games are manifesting much interest in the pas. sage Of the Sullivan ordinance by the council. Some of them declare they dr not know how the ordinance is to on. crate Tor the success of Sunday base. pail games. but they aver that if 1t i. passed by the Council. a way will he found to oveScome the State law.
 At any rate the ordinance, if 1t ia TO. ported to the Council tonight, will bring about considerable discussion ana 1t Is believed the vote on its mas sage will be close. P