The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-25
TOPICS Of NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, April u, 10 one
NOT directly interested the spasmodic
and wholly abortive attempts to en-.
force the Sunday closing law in this
city are a source OF considerable
amusement The law has been on the
statute book for many years but 1t
is safe 70 say, il has never been en-
forced conscientiouSly and with sui
heieut energy. Most Of the saloons
In the downtown districts remain
closed on Sundays, for the SIMPLE rea-
son that they would not do any BUSH
ness on that day, even il kept open
The saloons in the Bowery district
in the Tenderloin district and in the
other deusely populated parts OF the
East and West sides, in Harlem and
in the Bronx have never seriously
contemplated suspension OF business
on Sundays
The question, whose fault il is tina.
the law is not enforced, has never
been satisfactorily decided. Com
missioner Bingham stated repeated"
that the police department was fully
competent and able to enforce the
law and District Attorney Jerome has
made similar statements in behalf Of
his own office. Notwithstanding the
alleged fact that the police as well as
the district attorneys Office we're able
10 enforce the law, II has practically
remained dead letter and some in
quisitive persons have expressed de
sire TO know why Mr. Bingham and
Mr.. Jerome are probably both right,
The probably could enforce the Sun
day closing law were Il not for some
big "IF".
Policemen do not like to maxi
arrests for violations Of the Sunday
law and they seem to have good cause
for their attitude. In nearly every
ease the cases against violators Of the
Sunday law are dismissed for various
valid or alleged reasons BY the mag
istrates and the policemen who made
the arrests gain nothing except the
III will of the aldermen and general
uupopularity in their precincts, I'm
der sue hconditions it is not surpris-
/ ing that the authorities have not
made better success Of Sunday clos,
ing,
A ventriloquist with a keen sense
Eof humor had barrel Of fun last Sun
day at the Bronx Zoo. The beauti'
| full park was visited by thousands and
the enclosures Of the meuagerie were
surrounded By big crowds all day.
THE ventriloquist referred to was
among the visitors and watched the
animals in the cages and enclosures
with as much interest as the human
beings outside of the bars. Nobod"
suspected the man of being a head
liner of the vaudeville circuit. After
The had seen his FILL it occurred TO him
that little joke would add spice to
the enjoyment Of the visit.
Hundreds of visitors surrounding
the enclosure of the aquatic birds
were watching the ungainly peliean'
making their Sunday afternoon toilet
Ipreening their feathers and carefully
Ioiling them. There were probably
not many naturalists in the crowd
but all of them had learned at some
time in their life that pelicans are
not song birds. Their surprise may
be imagined when the old pelican
popularly called "Hidalgo Pete
opened wide his capaeious bill and
burst into jubilant song. Every time
he opened his bill he gave forth an
other stanza of his spring song, while
the visitors and even the keepers
stared, undecided whether they
should believe their ears or consider
themselves victims Of some weird
acoustic delusion. Only one mar
knew what made "Hidalgo Pete" sing
and he never said a word nor cracked
a smile.
A woman in Williamsburg had her
husband arrested the other day on the
charge of having failed to provide for
Iher support When the case came ur
before the magistrate the prisoner
who acted as his own attorney, main
tanned that he should not be compel.
led to support his wife under the cir.
cumstances. In explanation of his
argument he submitted to the court
note which, he said, his wife had
written and left for him at their home
The note read: "Paul-Your supper
| is in the oven. have gone to a
show with the only man love.
| Charlotte" After the magistrate ha |
read that note he ordered the com
planning woman out Of court and dis
missed the complaint without further
ceremony.
The new "woman's suffrage stamp"
1 has arrived and all those who are in
favor Of woman's suffrage now have
an opportunity to give public testi'
mony Of their advocacy of it and, at
the same time, to contribute to the
support Of the movement in favor Of
the extension to women Of the right
Of suffrage. The stamps are sold in
/ sheets Of 100 each and cost one cent