Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-12
at the Newport News, Va.
Postoffice as second class matter.
THURSDAY, JANUARY -, 1905.
The EARLY CLOSING MEASURE

THE EARLY CLOSING MEASURE.
Tuesday night after Il good deal of
discussion, the Board OF Aldermen
passed all ordinance for the better reg
nlation OF the saloon traffic in the city
,of Newport News. 1t is. with few
minor changes, the same as the ordi-
nance passed by the Common Council
Il short time ago. The amendments
probably will he accepted by the lower
branch. and, with the mayors sigma
tre, tho measure will become law.
The passage Of such an ordinance
indicates that there has been a mark
ed change in sentiment in Newport
News in recent years. Few persons
who came here in the early ninetes, or
even about the time the city was in.
T0r1JUt.atert:. when Bar Harbor' and
Rockets were wide Open" would
have predicted that within ten years
the saloons then running an average
OF about 1GS hours per week would be
closed on Sundays and six hours dur
III the week days. The prospect of
such a change would have been desiS-
mated as an ''irdescent dream" OF the
rctormers."
Those persons who are back OF the
movement TO regulate the saloons have
no reason for lsconrag cement Twelve
months ago such measure as that
which was passed would have been
treated rs joke. II the ordinance is
fairly enforced, and we have no doubt
but that il will be, it can soon be seen
whether regulation" furnishes the
real solution OF the problem. and Just
here we would suggest that it is to the
interest Of the liquor dealers them
selves to voluntarily abide by the pro.
visions OF the new law, if they really
wish yto disarm one OF the strongest
criticisms brought against the traffic
in Which they are engaged, and which
many persons OF undoubted intell-
Sence and patriotism are seeking to
OUTLAW II all the saloons OF Newport
News would voluntarily obey the pro-
visions of the State law n ohibiting
Sunday selling and sale TO minors,
there would today be less objection to
the traffic
One feature of the ordinance orlgi.
Dally passed By the Board or Alder
men and stricken out OF the measure
passntt Tuesday night, should have re.
NAMED. That was the provision max.
ing 1t lawful for q police officer to en-.
ter a saloon when, in his judgment, the
eXigencfes of the case demanded such
action. OF course, it is argued that
some. policemen are addicted to the
habit OF drinking and that such law
would give them an excuse to 20 into
q saloon for drink The records Of
the police department will show that
under the present system policemen
have been suspended and dismissed
from the force for being drunk while
ON duty, and no one is so unsophisti
Gated as 10 believe that the policemen
who really wish to get drink are pre-
vented from entering saloon because
Of the existence of rule prohibiting
such action
Besides it is hardly logical PROPOSE.
ton that the police force should con
tain men who cannot be trusted to 20
anywhere that duty calls them to 60.
While we have no idea that the City
Z Fathers intended it that way, it is in
evitab!e that those who are IMMERSED
in the intricacies OF tbr law will have
a suspicion that the provision was
stricken from the ordinance In order
70 handicap policemen in securing evi.
dence Of crooked work going on behind
4 tn& screens We can see no reason
why an orderly saloon should object