The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-01-14
RESTRICTIVE IMPROVEMENTS.

| ing of customs here with a special view
to the Sunday closngs. There is no
doubt but the matter presents a good
deal of difficulty by reason OF usages
| that have grown up from the very first
| in this region. For great many years
| there had been little attention paid TO
Sunday observance with regard to busi.
ness or sales. even of liquors. So late
as the compiled ordinances Of 1875 there
was no mention of Sunday in connec-
| tion with saloons. and saloons kept
open OH that day right along, just as on
any other day.
Gradually. however, there has been
construction on many points, and espe-
| ciallv on the liqnor traffic and on gen
eraI traffic. so that now there arc few
places that habitnally keep open on
| SUNDAY save those that are necessary TO
minister to the daily needs of the peo-
pie The bakeries, restaurants, drug
stores, anil cigar stores, have usually
kept opcu right along, and do so yet,
1t is now proposed, however, to close
the cigar stores as well as the saloons,
aud the bars at clubs. II Is not known
how far tho commission intends TO 60
in pushing the law for Sunday obeerv-
ance: but 1t seems TO be clear case
that if it proceeds on the lines lndi-
Gated. there will be little support for
the movement from the general public
of this city The custom here has been
TO have candy stores. soda-water foun-
tains and various small businesses open
on SUNDAY for the pleasure aud refresh
mont of the public There is no harm
in it. and there is no apparent reason
why there should he any drastic efforts
at this time to make SO radical
change in the community life. change
for which there can be little call and
small need, but which would involve
much ANNOYANCE.
With regard 10 cigar stands, it can
be fairly argued that cigar stand In
front of or in connection with saloon
must stand its chances with the saloon
same rules. For, il is claimed with
much reason that in some cases the
cigar stand is merely cloak for the
sale of liquor, either by the drink or by
the bottle. And so there would not nee
essarily be any injustice IN compelling
the cigar business of saloon TO take
the chances and be governed by the
samc regulations as the saloon itself,
The fact that the cigar business is open
TO any, and that any saloon keeper who
wishes TO keep cigar stand can open
il elsewhere and thus be rid of the en-
tanglcmcnt Of the saloon regulations,
deprivcs the argument in favor of
cigar stand m the saloons to run on
Sunday, Of its chief force. Smokers are
used TO buyng cigars on Sunday. The
cigar business is quiet business, there
is 90 obnoxius feature connected with
il such as is commonly associated with
the running of saloons, and We 10 not
believe that the effort to close the
cigar stands that are disconnected from
snloons is one that will be approved by
the public.
nouncei would work revolution in the
community life here, it would be inter
csting TO inquire how much further the
commission would be inclined to press
its point Will it close all places OF
amusement; the picture shows and the
like. and the theaters, that afford
amusement for the laboring people, who
have no opportunity at other times to
take their families for little enjoy
meut! Would 1T 90 to the length OF
stopping the running of street cars on
Sunday7 Would it close the livery
stables7 Would it restrict railroad
traffic within the city limits9 Would 1t
suppress Sunday newspapers!
These questions are important be
cause. if it is replied, as the commission
might reply. that the law obliged them
10 do these things, the answer is that,
strictly construed, ii might Justify
them in going good deal further AMI
seriously hampering the individual lib
erty of the people in this community.
If il is said that the laws are meant to
be enforced. the reply evidently IS that
many of the laws are traditional. and,
in fact, are not meant TO be enforced
with the rieor and strictness that Sc
we're constructionists would enJoin. Let
Us have a fair measure OF liberty and
community enjoyment AMI pleasure. Let
us not all become ascetics so suddenly,
and especially let us not have ascot
icism forced upon us without any par
ticular reason for it, and without any
benefit 10 anybody or advantage in any
wav.
There are certain large evils that
were complained of in the past in this
city. There is no doubt but that the
election Of the commission was effected
in large measure in the hope of reliey-
ing the community from the odium, the
evil. and the contagion Of those large
evils II was not expected by the com
munity that the commission would