New-York tribune., 1909-03-27
GROWS
PRESBYTERI4N SUPPORT.
Tenn perance Committee Of That
Church FaUOrS Open Bars.

Support from 3 + unexpected quarter has been re-
ceived for the amendments proposed by the COM
f1fttee Of Fourteen the excise law indiVlouaiiy
the PRESBYTERIAN ministers OF the city have opposed
-he proposed amendment, which would alIo" the
harroorns Of saloons 10 he open from to Il p. m
The New York Presbytery's committee on Iein-
rerance through its chairman. the Rev DT- James
NJ Fam pastor Of Christ Presbyterian Church. mas
sent letter asking al the PresoS terrain l-'i
listers TO support the bin.
The 1e-,er sets forth the advantages TO be gained
BY the passage Of The bill II tells how the present
,av has failed how il would reduce the number OF
saloons in the city, and how II would "lpe OUT l-le
notorious Rafnes law hotels 'divorcng prostitution
from the sale Of liquor. as Dr. Peters salG hlgh'
before last" Or Farr says that public sentiment IN
many parts OF the city demands beer on SUNDAY AS
rnuch as on any other day He says that me pro
poseG amendments face the situation frahhlE' rec
ognizing that Sunday closing is Impossible uhue'
The present law In his letter TO the Presbyterian
ministers DR.. Farr says:
These amendments have been drawn up Win Win
the sole purpose OF minimizing the eSlls Wh-Sn .Sn
experience has proved TO be connected VII ,aiag
operation Of the Iiaines law X Is 1oc ooTrented
that they will solve all the proolenS; ,bat
with the liquor traffic hut di.nse II and as long
3 step there ls any hope OF nahLIls a. ioTc II
is fact that probably ninetenths OF the saooi,s
Il the city open for business on aait Sulaueii
Even the strenuous administration OF RooSeN',il
as Police Commissioner did not avail permanentig
e close the saloons on sunday among people Of
So~eign birtb who have no more feeling regard
ing tie morality drinking beer than the average
American has about drinking milk ,z ,,a
The public sentiment In she nelgh oorilooG W -,
the saloons located demands peer on on-c
as well as on other days and accoT9ingly 60. CI..
which have been most unfortunate are ar GInE,e ,n
sn the rear rooms. which are open 10 both men
@nq 1nq s5 o. sIS a month TO the Retail Liquor
Dealers Association and Is not naelesleG -
made saloon graft has been the despair Of
TIE present Police CoraTnissioner $1,000
IT,. az defeating
1fes with Christian ministers, who simply sa[lIl
tne one oTor an6 tbeir voices in denunciation
But remember that there is SUNDAY opening to TO-
DAY: the town Is wide open. ara mas oeen ever
since the Raines law was enacted
,-,-,, women identified with the civic life and
h+teen4 Of the city are in favor of the proposed
amendments.
y an heartily in favor of the proposed amend
rlent allowing the barroonls Of saloons TO be open
between and Il y m" Mrs William H. Baldwin
~ said Yesterday That clause was very care
frllv considered by the committee. and believe
that il VIII do much TO do away with the oppor-
-l,nities Of the police 70 collect blackmail Ife
committee was a unit this question The whole
til r,rorosed l,v the committee should through
tt the mart relating the opening o. the saloons
IS most vital. With proper restrictions-and the
bin nrovides for heavy penalties for Violations
the illicit sale Of liquor would not only be reduced
but the opportunities police blachmai would be
mrimized.'
A report on the action Of the grand jury in liquor
rsses IS being prepared by Frederick H Whiten
and George Hayden Putnam Mr. Putnam is the
senior grand jury foreman Of this city. having
served in that capacity the greater part Of the last
thrty-fve years. Among the others in favor OF the
hill is the Rev Dr.. Alexander T Irvine. OF the
Church CT the Ascension
Dr. Hamilton. in charge of the University Settle
rlent said that a few -ears ago he had positive
ideas on this slbec; and that he believed then
such legislation would be OF benefit Not hav-
ing given particular attention 10 this subject for
some time ne admitted frankly that he was on the
fence. although leaning 10 freer Sunday
Canon Chase. Of Brooklyn. opposes the bill 1t
would SEEM" he said. "as though Dr- Peters had
become discouraged. I cannot see how the pro
posed amendments would better the situation in
any vay. Instead Of protecting the saloonkeeper
from hlacku1ail, l believe that he would pay the
usual blacknail as we'll the proposed fee 1t
would be a step backward instead Of forward
Il am entirely against any such legislation
said lanes Yereance. q we'll known Presbyterian
lay-rnan and president OF the American Sabbath
Union such legislation would work harm instead
Of good"
There will be a meeting in Cooper Union next
Tuesday night, at which there Will be a free dis
eussion Of the subject Of Sunday liquor sales. 1t
mas been stated that the OF the people are
against such legislation and the meeting has been
organized TO sound actual public opinion Before
the general discussion there viii be several ad-
dresses by well known speakers. among them being
Congressman William s. Bennett. the Rev. DR.. John
"A Holmes Of the Church Of the Messiah: Paul
Fuller and others