Litchfield enquirer., 1878-03-14
Legislative Items.

In the Senate, last week, Mr. Huntington spoke in favor of a modification of the Sum- day law so as not to forbid driving for inno- cent recreation on that day. There seems an unaccountable objection to recognize the spir- it of the constitution of 1918 in this matter. The laws in question were made under the . old charter, before the adoption of the present constitution. which makes the following pro- visions regarding freedom religious faith and practice
 The exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimina- ton, shall be forever free to all persons in this state, provided that the right hereby de- clared and established, shall not be SO con- strued as to excuse acts of lice ntiousness, or to justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the State.
 NOpreference shall be given by law to any Christian sect or mode of worship.
 The point at issue is this: Continental Chris tians-Germans (both Protestant and Catho- lic), French or Italians, observe Sunday in part as a day of recreation. Has not any chris tlan with what we may call Continental views on this question, right under our constitution to travel on Sunday as a recreation |? Would it not be giving an unconstitutional preference towhat we may in contradistinction call the Puritanical sects or modes of worship to hold otherwise Would Catholics under our con- stitution have right to forbid Protestants la boring or even travelling for recreation, on any of their numerous saints days? In other words do not our ancient Sunday laws impose special New England religious observances up- on people who are entitled under the later pro- visions of our constitution to follow the dic- tates of their own consciences It seems to us that Senator Huntington has the right of this matter
 The legislature has decided to adjourn on Friday of this week over to Tuesday, the 26th instant. They will then meet in the new Cap itol and act only on executive yetoes or in the correction of errors that thorough exami- nation of the text of the bills before passed may disclose. This adjournment is made ip accordance with the suggestion of the Cover nor who declines to act in hurry on the nu- merous bills usually sent to him during the last few days of the session.
 The Temperance Committee have prepared their reports and one of the bills was consider ably discussed in the House on Friday last. They reject the plan of the Hon. Truman Smith for special board of non-partisan l- censers, and leave the matter. as before, in the hands of the selectmen and county com. missioners. They raise the license fee, how ever, to $15O with privilege of further in- crease as high as $500, at the discretion of the Commissioners. The license money is to go into the State treasury. In towns voting no license, the selectmen are authorized to is- sue licenses for the sale of liquor for medicinal and mechanical purposes
 We are inclined to favor the increase of the price of license, but doubt the expediency of paying the license money into the stste treas nry. The proposed restricted license in 'sne H. cense" towns, allowing sales for medical and mechanical purposes, is greatly needed ina-