East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1905-08-10

There is a strong probability that
the Sunday closing ordinance will be
repealed at a special meeting Of the
council to be held Friday afternoon
at o'clock. Last night a score of
business men who are most directly
affected by the inlquitous ordinance,
gathered IN the council rooms with a
common purpose, which was to ask
for the repeal of the law at once.
This they did individually and col
lectlvely. and the manner of their
talk left no doubt of the fact that
they wanted the law repealed and
that they believed 1t would work their
business ruin II 1t was continued.
The council was called to order
with Mayor Matlock in the chair and
Councilmen Johnson, Murphy Sewell,
Swearingen and Ferguson in their
seats. 1t was the first time that the
mayor has been at the helm since
ne left for Alaska. tw"-G .''"o ego.
7. II. Dickson, who was chairman in
his absence, and whose genius was
responsible for much of the recent
legislation, was not present. and Is
said to have left the city.
Directly after reading OF the min
utes by Recorder Brown, routine mat
ters were disposed of as quickly as
possible. The mayor appointed Fl.
F. Johnson as a member of the street
committee to succeed W. S. Wells,
resigned. The recorder was directed
to transfer the liquor license of
George Froome to Burdette & Shuck,
who have purchased his business, and
a petition for grade from residents
of Jackson street, between Lincoln
and Coles addition was referred to
the street committee.
With the above matters disposed
of, the decks were cleared for action,
and members of the audience were
asked of they had anything to pre-
sent to the council. They had.
business Men Protest.
W. ID. Hansford was the first man
put forward by the petitioners, and
he stated that he ami the others had
come for the purpose of asking for
the repeat of the Sunday ordinance,
for all of II. and said that unless
such was done a great hardship
would be worked upon small dealers.
r. w. Henneman was OF the same
opinion, and further said that he had
talked with numerous prominent
business men and that the repeal of
the iaw was generally desired. In
answer to question from City At
torney Carter. the names Of these
men weer given.
M. J. Carney. who has had the
benefit of training before the coun-
ell while acting as marshal. next ad-
dressed the meeting. Among other
things he said he had always consld-
cred the livery business q legitimate
and a moral calling, and that he did
not think II right they should be
closed on Sunday Last Sunday he
had continued business as usual,
knowing that he would be fined.
That he had paid his fine, but did
not think the law n good one. Under
it's provisions he said he would be
compelled to cross-examine every
man who took a team from his barn
on Sunday to see if It was a matter
of mercy or necessity" This he
would not do, for IL was not his busi-
nebt W btttilobdNt NuSNuihNios
less possibly some one whom he
thought might not return a rig. He
wanted the ordinance repealed.
G. w. Irwin, proprietor of the Del
tn, next spoke In favor of repeating
the law and said It would simply
drive business from the town IL such
was not done.
Joseph Tallman said that the ordi-
nance was something new to him."
and that he was In favor of its repeal,
although it had not greatly affected
his business.
For Farmers Benefit.
H. II. Vessel favored the repeal,
not on account OF himself, but for the
sake of the farmers who wish to trade
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