Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-27
...%..%e.e%4...%ss

That there Is no state law specifi-
cally prohibiting the sale Of liquor
on the Sabbath dag and no city or
dinancc on the subject beyond that
which requires screens and curtains
20 be removed on Sunday. was tho
statement made by Mayor Doatrlght
yesterday through Francis T. Wood
IN reply 20 the demand of Il mass
meeting OF citizens held Tuesday
night that the saloons be compelled
TO close ON sunday.
The committee appointed By the
mass mecting, consisting ot Mir.
! Wood, 4. W. Hayden and ]. T.. Good
ell, called upon Mayor Boatright yes
terday morning and had an informal
talk with him. during which the
mayor expressed his views on the
subject Of sunday closing Later the
TOR Il statement OF his position, and
we're referred by him TO Mr.. Wood
who, the mayor said. would prepare
q written statement for the press.
May Open Front Doors.
The statement prepared for the
mayor by Mr.. Wood takes the posi-
ton that there IL 1T present no law,
either state or city, specifically pro-
hibiting the sale OF liquor on Sunday,
and that the only law under which
sunday closing can be enforced Is
what Is known az the blue law"
which prohibits the doing Of any kind
81 work on sunday. and which IL
generally dlsresarded. According 90
Mayor Boatright speaking through
Mr. Wood, there Is just as much law
to prevent the sale OF a newspaper or
4 cigar on sunday as there h to pre-
vent the sale OF liquor ON that day.
This expression Of the mayor
speaking through Mr. Wood. has Civ +
On rise e some speculation as 70 {
whether the saloons may not throw f..
their front doors wide open on sun /
day IN future. until a law 10 prevent /
II has been passed. lust as they arc /
open on other DAYS Off the wreck At /
present the citizen with a sunday |
thirst is put ia considerable incon-
veniencc in threading his way around
alleys and passing through other
htuldings IN order Ia find the appruV-
ed sunday entrance. The opinion
has been expressed that il Mayor +
boatrightS and Mr.. Woods opinion
Is correct there is no use for a man 4
10 take all that trouble 10 get his
nose paint, but that he may 30 right
up 10 the front door like gentle
man unafrald.
The Opinion. !,
Mayor noatrghta opinion, as an
nounecd ny Mr.. Wood. is AZ follows.
"'rhc committee appointed by the
mass meeting last night 20 present 20 !
the mayer its resolutions demanding I
sunday closing al saloons. called up
on him this morning at the city hall I
The mayor talked freely with the
committee statins his position in SUBJ
stance as follows. as 4 Journals re-
porter later procured II from the !
committees chairman Z
"in the first place" said the may. I
or, the duty 10 see that an laws and
the police department OF the city The :
mayor Is not police officer, though |
he has general supervision over the {
entire matter. he Is only supposed 10 7
take a hand IN directing the police !
department when that department r
Rails 60 do It's plain duty Ia enforcing
the laws and ordinances :
However. so far as any response
iihty IN the matter in question rests
apon the mayor. h. has no desire 20
shirk or shift H. and is willing square
~ Ia meet the issue presented.
No State law. i
Now upon the question OF Sunday .
CLOSING II IS an unfortunate fact, !
hough little understood. that there is /
~ state law IN New Mexico which \
singles out the saloon or liquor husi- a
aess and commands It's being closed
"a SUNDAY. nor is there any ordi- |
aance of the city Ot Albuquerque that /
.equius sunday closing The only y
state law on the subject is the gem /
rial one some times called Blue h
law, which requires that every and h
III kinds OF servile occupations aud il
businesses SHALL be closed on SUNDAY +
L o. true that the supreme court has L
ruled that this law covers the husi- n
arSs II selling liQuors. hat Il likewise
Includes selling newspa ners. backing
boots and repairing broken chair
n the kitchen. Even this law rs an
sled 60 the closins II saloons on sun |
saN = practically incapable Of en-
.afcemeHt The mayor before the
e stan of the legislature last spring
zTt-l aired the arrest 90 q certain par 4,
e charged with keeping his saloon !.
apeu on sunday. II was proved that :
he saloon was open and the proprie-
ef behind the bar with his apron on
md customers present The district
curt however ruled that this Was
BOT violation of the law as il now c
zands that unless an actual sale ~
ianor WAS proven. there was 40 vic
alton committed In keepine the pias'e
pea 0n SuadaN
The attention oi the last state leg q
stature was then called les this sstt- =
9fsen And en effort made 10 procure
law fsauiFinN saloons to close en-
sunday. such blil Was drawn. aud
A@sSco thr stale senate. but despite \
~ the efforts % the frieuds ~ the
measure. Including the MAYOR. they
we're Hna tle "a set any actian 0pon IL
q the house ~ repre Sentttlvcs where
/ accordingly died.
New az 70 the city ordinance. II
merely provides that curtains. screen G