The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-07-02
BEDDING

Bedding, July 1.-The lid is still on as regards Sunday ball playing in 'Georgetown and thus victory so far remains with the clerical suppression ists, but the other side looks to a speedy reversal in their favor and the issue therefore remains alive and the outcome in doubt. At the hearing be- fore the selectmen last Saturday rel ative to the application which had been made to them for permit Ie- known that the board possessed no
 authority in the matter. A reading of the new statute, a copy of which was laid before the board by SeIectman Read made this point very clear and furthermore made it apparent that no where in the state could permits be issued except for games in public
 parks. This town has no public park except Putnam Park which is under control of the state and besides is un- available for the purpose sought on account Of being located several miles from Georgetown.
 The element in favor of Sunday playing. were aware of these facts and consequently no one representing them showed up at the hearing. The only
 one to appear was Rev. MT. Wise, the
 Methodist minister who has been the
 leader in the campaign against Sun
 day games. He told of correspond
 ence he had with Attorney General Light on the subject and also to a. tel ephone conversation he had the prevt-
 ous evening in which Mir. Light had
 declared that the seleetmen were not empowered to grant a permit and that
 Sunday playing would be violation of the law. This really added noth- ing to the knowledge of the selectnaen as they had already looked over the
 statute. MT. Wise talked over the situation in a general way and while F<, 1 interfered with church services, as- serted that the noise was objectionable to some of those residing near the l ball grounds. Having said his say, the minister left the board in appar- entity a seff-satisfied mood due to his
 belief that Sunday ball playing in his l village had been effectually squelehed. The selectrnen made no disclosures l disturbing to his comp1acency in this | respect, although they could have done
 so by placing before him a legal opin- | ion obtained from a Norwa1k lawyer | by Michael Connery, department store 1 proprietor and former representative,
 whose son is on the ball team. MT.
 Read brought to the meeting copy
 of this opinion which told how the
 way might be opened for the legalizing l of Sunday games. The essential part
 of the opinion is as follows:
 ssYou will need to call a town meet | ing for the purpose of appointing park | commissioners or a park committee.
 The town meeting fixes the number l and names the park commissioners or
 park committee. The music and sports
 provided for must be given in one or
 more of the public parks belonging to l the town. If the town has no such 1 park and desires to lease premises for | park purposes such matter should be I ont in the call for the town meeting and seIectnen should be authorized to 1 lease premises as a public park
 By this it appears that there is an
 easy method of overcoming the obsta- cles now presented by the Georgetown situation. The use of the ball field | there has been donated by the Gilbert & Bennett Go and Selectman Read said he was informed that the com
 pany stood ready to lease these
 grounds to the town for park pur- poses in accordance with the plan
 suggested by the Norwa1k attorney. He had not been authorized to lay I before the board a f9azaa1 proposition
 to this effect, but understood 1t would soon be submitted by the element fla voring Sunday games. When this is