The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-23
Thompson Picks Commission
to Have Charge Of Report
ed Sunday Lid Law
Violations.
MAY BE SCHEME TO HOLD
sALoONISTS IN LINE
Second Ward Crowd, Led BY
Negro Alderman, Getting
Many Privileges; It's Mem
beers Are Not Worried BY
Newest Administration Plan.

Chicago. ILL.,, Aug. 22.--Mayor
Thompson has selected an official
goat commission. Its painful duty
will be to take upon itself the hand
ling Of violations Of the Sunday clos
ing law without stepping on the toes
of tho administration friends and
without getting Thompson still FUR
Their 'in bad" with the reform ele-
ment-
The commission will consist OF
Charley Fitzmorris, the mayors sec
rotary; Sergeant John Naughton, one
of Chief Healey's right-hand men.
and an assistant corporation counsel
to be selected by Sam Ettelson. The
latter intimated that James w. Breen
would be his choice.
The present plan Of the mayor Is
to shift the entire responsibility OF
the Sunday closing upon the shoul-
ders of this commission. This plan
was put in operation at conference
between the mayor. Sam Ettelson
and Chief Healey.
Fair to These, Fair to Those.
1T want to be firm in the Sunday
closing law" said the mayor, but l
also want to be fair with the saloon
keepers. Out of the so violations re-
ported Sunday / found that about
40 were technical violations that did
not warrant the revocation Of IL
censes. But I can't investigate every
thing. so l have decided to name a
commission and leave everything en-
tirely in the members hands They
will investigate all complaints and
decide which licenses should be re-
voked. In cases of technical viola
tons the law will be explained to the
offenders"
The mayor seems genuinely wor.
ried over the Sunday saloon question
and has complained to Fred Lundin
of the activity OF Thompson-Lund
ward bosses in granting too many
privileges to saloonkeepers. He has
been warned of the combine of the
vets and drys and tho Herald and
saloon violations during the coming
| winter. and is busy planning to out
trick the combination.
The vets claim the commission
plan is merely another effort to whip
the saloonkeepers in line. They say
that when a saloon Is caught sneak
ing on Sunday II will be necessary
for the saloonkeeper to obligate
himself to the Thompson committee
men In his ward to save his license.
They say the commission will only
| ECt II CTdIh at Isdi duliioiitJ III inc
cases Of few foreign saloonkeepers
who have no political influence and
take a chance on making expenses
by selling little beer on Sunday
| The second ward crowd, led by Os-
car De Priest negro alderman: Sem
ator George Harding and Alderman
Hugh Norris. who have been getting
lot of PRIVILEGES from Thompson
| in the way OF favors TO the BLACK
and tan" sallonkeepers. are not wor-
! ried over the new commission. They
say It's made up OF mice boys" and
they're going to keep on "walkin'
| the dog"
The mayor In his announcement of
/ the commission intimated to report
ers that he was through worrying
over the Sunday closing law and that
in the future they should see the
members of the commission when
the reformers start their drive on the
administration. Charley F1tzmorris
was asked about the plans OF the
commission and said he didn't know
how they would work.
The mayor said he had not re.
ceived any report on the saloon OF
Alderman w. J. Lynch being open
Sunday. The police said they found
IA men In the place. some of whom
were hiding in the lavatory Alder
man Lynch says they were plumbers al
work in his place. The mayor seems
TO agree with him. Lynch voted with
the administration all during the last
-