The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-14
Enforcement of Sunday Law Is
 Source of Worry
PUBLIC HEARING IS GIVEN
Amusements Will Be Barred Again Sunday, But Law May Be Modified By Aldermen During the
 Coming Week.

New York, December 13.-Whether New Workers are to have more liberal Sum day than is permitted under the present law as recently interpreted by Supreme Court Justice OGorman was debated at a public hearing before an aldermanic com mttee today. To this committee has been referred by the board of aldermen a resolution designed to qualify the present legal restrictions so far as they may be modified without bringing city ordi- nances into conflict with the penal code. The suggested changes which may be in- corporated in the new city charter would allow such entertainments of a musical and intellectual order as would not violate the traditional significance of the day. They provide for the opening of the thea tres, opera houses and other places where concerts have long been held on the Sabbath.
 Proponents and opponents of the reso- lution were heard by the committee (which will report to the full board next Tues day. What this report will be, If al- ready determined, is not known. Next Sunday will necessarily be blue" as was last, although the Eden museum and some of the penny arcades have secured injunctions through which they will be able to do business as usual. The theatrical men generally will not force the issue, but await the action of the board.
 Protestant, Catholic, German and Jew ish societies and labor organizations were represented today.
 Cannon William $. Chase of the Episco- pal church proposed a substitute ordinance permitting concerts after p. m. on Sun day, which would not affect all theatres and to be under the direction of a com mission to be appointed for that pur- pose.
 Dr. F. c. Iglehart, representing some Methodist churches. declared that money was the object of the advocates of the open theatres and that they wanted a. Sunday which might be called a debauch
 David J. Blaustein declared that the Yidish theatres of the lower East Side took the place of divine service for many Jewish people. The stage was d moral necessity for them
 For the United German societies Theo- dore Sutro said that there should be d clear distinction between the church and the government and that the government II.
 Keep all clean amusements open," he added.
 Walter Damrosch declared that his musicians did not regard their Sunday concerts as work, and that the financial end was of little consequence. We claim the right of American citizens," he said We do not want Scotch Sunday in America"
 The Rev. Dr. Madison c. Peters advo- cated a sane Sunday and favored the re- opening of the theatres.
 Representatives of the Actors National Brotherhood and the White Rats, the vaudeville organization, pleaded for re- opening.
 A speaker for the Federation of Catholic societies of New York said that organ fzation favored modest, decorous enter tainments on Sunday and that the Cath ollie sentiment was not purtanlal, but for a Christian Sunday.
 Joseph Bronondess. for the federation of Jewish organizations. asked that the theatres be opened.
 Speakers for the Central Union of 25O, 900 workingmen also asked that the theatres he oDened