People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1893 — COMMISSIONERS ACT. [ARTICLE]

COMMISSIONERS ACT.

Tbey Fall to Modify the Bate Adopted by the World’* Fair Directory la Favor of Sunday Opening and Thu Pave the Way for a Seven-Day Fair—Court* May Be Appealed To. Chicago, May 24.—Sunday opening of the world’s fair won a victory Tuesday before/ the national commission, and unless legal process restraining the directors from acting otherwise is resorted to the gates of the fair will be thrown open next Sunday to visitors. After the action of the commission Tuesday it was generally understood that so far as its authority is concerned it had interposed no obstacle to prevent the directors from carrying out their Sundayopening role, and world’s fair directors do not hesitate to let it be known that their Sunday-opening policy will be pursued according to their action of last week. By a vote of 31 to 27 the commission adopted the minority report of its judiciary committee. This minority report was submitted by Commissioners J. W. St. Clair and J. R. Burton and favored the rule adopted by the local directory which provided for the opening of the gates every day in the week on and after May 21. The majority report was against such adoption and was supported by Commissioners Massey, Garvin and Hundley.b At the conclusion of Col. St. Clair’s argument the minority report, approving of the rule of the directors to open the gates Sunday on and after May 21 was adopted by a vote of 31 to 27 as follows^ Yeas—Commissioner* De Young, California: Goodell, Colorado: Steam., Idaho; Ewing, Illinois; Eiboeck, Iowa; Burton, Kansas; Myers, Kentucky; Lane, Michigan; Barbour, Michigan: Sanders, Mississippi; Bullene, Missouri; Haines, Nebraska; Smith, New Jersey; Ryan, North Dakota; Groner, Virginia; Butt, West Virginia; St Clair, West Virginia; Coburn, Wisconsin; Coats, Arizona; White, New Mexico; Beeson, Oklahoma; Kiesel, Utah. Alternates—Werth, Alabama; Funk, Illinois; Le Due, Louisiana; Kurtz, Minnesota; Fish, New Jersey; Breslin, New York; Bullard, South Dakota; Cummin, W ashing ton—3l. Nays—Commissioners McDonald, California; Allen, New York; Hundley, Alabama; Clendennlng, Arkansas; Massey, Delaware; Garvin, Indiana; W. F. King, Iowa; Holliday, Kansas; Bixby, Maine; Tousley, Minnesota; Bynum, Mississippi; Hershlleld,Montana;Mitchell,Montana; Scott, Nebraska;Russell, Nevada; Rucker, North Dakota; Ritchie, Ohio; Woodside, Pennsylvania; Gutierres, New Mexico; Gammon, Oklahoma; Lunnan, Utah. Alternates—lngalls, Maine; Bernard, Florida; Sanders, Georgia; McMahon, Louisiana; Edwards, Maine; Hurt, Tennessee—27.

Then after the modification of the report had been approved it in its entirety received 29 votes for its adoption as against 28 opposing it. Then came this announcement from Acting President De Young: “Inasmuch as It requires a majority of fiftyfive members of the commission to modify a rule submitted by the local directory the chair decides that the Sunday openiug rule of the local board, not having received sufficient votes to modify it, remains operative and unchanged.’’ Commissioner Lannan at once said: “I object to this statement from the chairman. Does he mean to say that the directors can make a rule which will go in effect without the approval of the national commission? If so, I appeal from his statement.” “I desire to state again,” said the chairman, “that in accordance with the act of congress which says that the directory may make rules and the commission modify them this rule has not been modified and must stand.” After more objections from other members President De Young eliminated his remarks as to the effect of the vote and the commission adjourned. To make clear just how the Sunday opening question stands this statement is made: Last week the Chicago directory adopted a rule providing for the opening of the £ates on Sunday. This it submitted to the national commission. According to the original act of congress creating both bodies it was provided that all the rules and regulations should originate with the Chicago directory, “subject, however, to such modification, if any, as may be imposed by a majority of said commissioners.” A majority of the commission consists of fifty-five members. There were fifty-eight members in attendance Tuesday. Thirty-one voted for a slight modification of some features of the Sunday opening rule, while twenty-seven voted against the entire proposition. Inasmuch as the necessary majority of fifty-five did not vote either for or against the modification of the rule of the directory, it stands operative until sis ty-five members can be induced either to vote for it or against it. Consequently until such majority is obtained the Sunday opening rule will be in force and effect, unless the courts shall be successfully invoked to close the gates.