New-York tribune., 1909-04-03
FAVOR SUNDAY BILL
TITO ORGANIZATIONS 4CT.
Harlem Ciuic Club and 18th n. ID.
Club MdOrse Open Saloons.

Among the latest organizations 10 come out in
support Of the excise bin recommended by the
Committee of Fourteen. hearing on which will be
held Wednesday by the Senate Committee on
TRxation anI Retrenchment. are the Harlem Civic
club Of which the Rev Lee y. Beattie is presi-
dent and the 18th Assembly District Club Of which
Amos II. stephens is president. Both have passed
resolutions unanimously inGorsing the proposed leg
islaIion
The Hebrew civic club. one of the organizations
fostered by the Young Mems Hebrew Association.
viii consider the bill tonight. and on Sunday the
measure viii be discussed at the West Side Young
Mems Christian Association by the Rev. DR.. John
2. Peters. chairman Of the Cormittee Of Fourteen
and Canon Chase. who is opposed to the measure
The bin viii be discussed Oh Tuesday night oy the
Association Of Neighborhood Workers
The bill. particularly the provision permitting
saloons 10 be open from ! 70 II p. m. on Sundays
will be discussed at mass meeting 10 De heid
within the next two weeks in Cooper Union, under
the auspices of the Liberal Sunday League, at
which ex-Mayor Low is expected To speak Canon
Chase slnd others opposing the so-called open
Sunday have been invited 10 set forth their
views. Phases Of the question other than the open
ing Of the saloons. such the advisahiity ana me
desire of the people for open air sports. Will be
discussed
Herman J. Rubenstein q lawyer. who l. secre-
tary and treasurer OF the Liberal Sunday League
has prepared tiI relating 10 Sunday amusement
which will be thrown on a screen by a stereoptcon
section by section, discussion 10 follow the reading
Of each section Later the bill il approved by the
people viii be introduced at Albany The league
has commissioned man familiar with the taking
Of moving pictures TO Europe to photograph
Sunday scenes in the principal cities where there
Is open SUNDAY. These moving pictures will be
shown al a meeting OF the league to be held this
The bill Is most worthy one. and a step in
aevance toward the enforcement Of the Law, SAID
General John T. Cutting. president of the Odsmo-
of he
day. 1t notorious that the sale Of liquor goes
in this city every Sunday. and this open disre-
gard of the law cannot do aught but bring it into
disreprte Il cannot be anything but demoralizing
for the public the observance OF any One'law
become merely a thing of personal convenience.
ANY effort that VIII tend wipe out the Iiaines
law hotel worthy of support by those who have
the interest of the city heart The provisions
Of the bill introduced by Senator Brough sane
and sensible. and il could not help but improve
the moral and social conditions OF the city
Edward Lauterbach, the lawyer. is also a strong
supporter of She bill, which. he believes. viii do
away with much OF the hypocrisy in connection
with the present Sunday law and eliminate police
blackmai. In speaking OF the benefit which such
a law would accomplish, he said yesterday:
1t is the general tendency of human nature 10
resent too nucI restriction in sumptuary laws
Tlis tendency Lakes them impossible Of enforce
mont and brings all laws into disrepute- The
present Sunday law gives weapon To the police
10 use and an opportunity 10 discriminate in favor
Of those they wish TO favor. Even the patrOlman
on post may exercise this weapon The saloon
keeper with whom he is on friendly terms finds
no obstacle in the way of the infringement IF the
law. while the against whom he has grudge
OF some finds his path strewn with obstacles.
Under present conditions all the discrimination is
against the law-abidng saloonkeeper, while the
Iawbreaker resps all The advantages.
i firmly believe that less restriction would be
for the public good. To-day all enc see is
oppression on one hand and favoritisn on the
other in dealing with saloons. In other countries
the rights of the churchgong people are carefully
safeguaried but the others have a right have
their own pleasures in ..Ier way. l believe
that the provisions of the bill proposed by the
Committee Of Fourteen vould improve conditions
in this city. and while giving greater amount
liberty those who desire. SAFEGUARD tie rights
Of those who wish to spend the day in worship
I believe that the proposition Of the open saloon
on Sunday should be submitted 70" the
cities Of the first and second classes said John
J. Freschi. the Italian lawyer, who has taken
leading part in The fight suppress the Black
Hand Not only should the question Of the open
saloon be submitted for vote. hut The allied ques-
tions which come up in regard 10 the observance
OF Sunday as well cities like New York 1 think
that the open Sunday is desired, and would be %
benefit 10 The people. II is the moral question
OF whether a glass Of beer liquor should be
sold on that day which is the real issue but
whether the law is 10 be observed A bad
law enforced is Of tar less danger the
rnunity thar good one violated without penalty.
The Liberal Sunday League going
NIT itself TO this any other phase OF the ques
ton in particular until il has thoroughly sounded
the desire OF the people. although stand gen
orally for more liberal Sunday laws