The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-07
NO ADMISSION AT.
SUNDAY MOVIES is
MAYORS SOLUTION
Suggests That Collection Be
Taken Up Instead. of
Charging at Door.

Following a number of conferences
between Mayor Wilson and the law
and order committee of the Bridgeport
Pastors association, the mayor last
night outlined a policy that will per-
NIT the opening of all moving picture
theatres in the city after o'clock on
Sunday evening and directs the per-
manents closing of all hoases of pros
titution.
The mayor has written letters to
Preside nt George S. Hill of the police
board and to Prosecuting Attorney.
Alex L. Delaney in which he states
that he believes these officials know
the location of all such houses in
Tulip and Thomas and other streets
and that he expects that all. such
houses will be closed within two
weeks and that the inmates will leave
the city.
Following the announcement that
the mayor intends to allow the picture
theatres to open Sunday evenings
President Rev. John P. Wagner of the
Summerfield Methodist church, presi-
dent of the Pastors association; Rev.
P. E., Matthias of the Kings Highway
Congregational church, chairman of
the Pastors association committee on
law and order. Rev. George M. Brown
Rev. Frank G. Rideos1t, pastor of the
SECOND BAPTIST church, waited on the
mayor yesterday. Other members Of
the co1nnittee on law and order who
were absent are Rev H D. Gallaudet,
pastor of the North Congregational
church, and Rev. H A. Davenport,
pastor of the PEOPLES. Presbyterian
church,
After the meeting it was rum ored
that the mayor and the committee had
reached an agreement that if he would
close the places that are reputed to be
houses of prostitution. the pastors
would not oppose the opening of the
picture theatres on Sunday evenings.
Neither the mayer or the members Of
the committee would affirm or deny
this story. today. President Wagner
and Rev. Mr.. Matthias, however, both
admitted that the closing of the
houses of prostitution and the opening
OF the picture theatres on Sunday
nights had been discussed at the meet
ing held yesterday morning
Neither President Wagner or the
Rev. Mr.. Matthias would affirm or deny
the story that a special. meeting of the
Pastors association4will be called this
week and the matter of the rumored
agreement placed before that body
with a recommendation for its ap-
prevail from. the four members of the
1t is known that the committee on
social conditions from the pastors
which consists of Rev. Gerald H.
Beard of the Park Street Congrega-
tienal church; Leet B. Myers of the
Charity organization; w. S. Lacey,
general. secretary of the Y. M. c. A;
Rev. C. w. Simpson, probation officer,
and Rev. Hammond >Litoran, pastor of
the Swedish Baptist church, have held
several conferences with the mayor
regarding the social and housing con-
dftions in Bridgeport. Rev. Mr.. Beard
and Leet B. Myers have opposed the
opening of moving picture theatres on
Sunday. The mayor then intimated
to President Wagner of the Pastors
association that he would like to have
a conference.
Mayor Wilson would not say last
night chat his order to close the
houses of prostitution had followed a
recommendation along that line from
the vice committee he appointed some
time ago.
Alderman Cole favored the adoption.
of the mayors message saying that a
short time ago he had passed a church
on Sunday evening and saw a sign adj
vertiSing an illustrated lecture on Pam
anna. He said he thought the theatres
have the same right to show pictures
as the ministers had. Alderman Stieg-
Ter also moved the adoption of the
resolution. The mayor said no rrfbtion
was necessary as he had already sent
instructions to President Hill. of the
police board and Prosecutor DELANEY.
The mayor in giving the picture
theatres the right to open, stipuIates
that no admission be charged but that
a collection may be taken. Rev. Mr..
Wagner has given a statement in
which he favors this plan and in which
he says this will be a test as to
whether or not the people want these
theatres open on Sunday evenings.