South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-18
MARCH 10. 1920.
NDULGENcEs TO VIOLATE THE LAW.

Perhaps It is all right We are probably old
fashioned and rilIy. in these OF loud talk
about characterization, and such like: about
spee4 for the law. the crushing Of anarchy. and
Requiring OF all citizens obedience 70 the govern
under which they live. which, in the Ameri-
instance appears To be a government by law
r.sssr than the vyhnnS OF presidents governors or
Mayors. Accordingly when the mayor have
harmed. recently called in the managers of the
nsOyte houses. told them reduce their rates.
Witch they had Just raised. this, would close
them Sundaysr-we would ask ~ what au-
Ehor4ey he proposes to leave them open Sundays.
ct any price?
Tho Sunday theater violation Of Indiana
law. So are a number OF other things that we do
sundxys. The enforcement of that law would he
aarte calamttous for while; until the peo-
pie could get it. Popular opinion has of
shunted itself into disregard the letter
OF the statute, interpreting IL in the spirit Of
attempt maintain public decency. forbidding
gross disresrect for the day. admitting Of doing
things dOvetaii and recrea-
ton. History has proven that days of public idle
days OF likely peril hence the inclination
20 minimize the idleness Of the Sabbath by per
m3tting me to go some~,here. for rest
pleasure, and the consumption Of their time.-and
mind
We not coming out. therefore. anything
like what religonists would call strict Sabbatar-
ians." only opposition the mayor violating
both the sense Of public opinion and the letter of
the law In the manner that he did with the movie
managers. Neither are we speaking encourag ngly
the attempt CT the movie houses 10 boost their
rates. The objection is Mayor Carson is in no
sense authorized by virtue Of his office to grant
indulgences violate the law; literally licensing
(which is what he did. OF course there is some
consolation in the fact that the license fees
manded. through the keeping down of the price
admissions goes to the public-the movie fans
who need not ray the proposed increase That Is
mach better than having it go to street bench
administration, coiLect in
dulEanoss - protection granted bawdy- houses
Blfnd-tiee-s and gambling-helIs. bat seu
hardly Justihes the means.
lust 3. OF the Carson administra-
ton, VA suppose. The law seems sort of foot
s~n It traded of most any sort of
assumed emergency The idea apparently never
sUaBehed him. that proper way hold the movie
nsauaEsrs in check would be TO promise them the
sSrernacsve a nice handsome increase Of taxa
tOn in way of license fees. The incident sort of
hsEes znAmory back 20 the last days of the
Keller administration when the common council
Sorsztsned the Interstate with the collection
- ssch tax il free tickets for the city officials
vezs forthcoming.
To be sure not going to suggest 70 Mayor
csssson that ne force a reduction OF bawdy- house
-%as@. the wares OF boot-Ieggers. or gambling
wsraa to accrue the patrons of such resorts
in osssr % cut Off graft" collectors; either for
th&A or Just to be consistent. However if he is
scks<-p ocIsHrtty-of a kind-this would help some.
an.a rvvouAd be OF much the same cslber.