The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-04
BLUE LAWS" REVIVED.

EXCITEMENT IN CONNECTICUT OVER A THREAT
BOATS FORBIDDEN TO PLY ON SUNDAY
LEGAL BATTLE IMMINENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.1
NORWICH Conn.,, August 3. 1879.
Connecticut. 'the land OF wooden nutmegs and
of steady habits" is again threatened with some
thing that bids fair to good deal of excite
ment. Indeed, it is far enough advanced already to
be the town talk in both the cities the Thames.
That the tyrannca laws of 1902 should still remain
valid as statutes of to-day is fact which. without
doubt. will surprise many. The custom for years.
well known in this State. has been to permit the
running of horse cars trains. steamboats, and car
riages Oh the Sabbath day. No one has questioned
the right of the propretors to do this. although
really it was a direct violation of the law.
few days ago some OF the more enthusiastic re-
formers in this city. and among the foremost may
be mentioned the names OF Rev. DIR. Bakern. pastor
of Park Church: Rev. Hugh Montgomery and Dr.
Chamberlain, have circulated petition requesting
the authorities to stop the Sunday boats from run
ming. Accordingly the following notice was served
on the largest company
10 THE PRESIDENT DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
NORWICH NEW LONDON AND WATCH HILL STEAM
BOAT COMPANY
GENrLEMEN The Sunday excursions of your
boats violation of law. Complaint has
formally been made to Inc, and if the offence Is re-
peated it will be my duty to proceed against the
proprietors and managers, well as against the
passengers OF the boat. There may be difereces or
opinion to the observance OF the Sabbath but as
there be none to the law or as to my duty IN
the matter when formal complaint has been made,
allow express the hope that Sunday excursions
will be discontinued Yours respectfully
GEORGE c. RIPLEY, City Attorney.
WHAT THE OWNERS SAY.
HERALD reporter visited the managers OF the line
last night and informed that the Sunday excur-
sion would be made usual on next Sabbath. What
had provoked the above was not known to the
officers. All the excursionists this year had been
quiet and orderly, no liquor is sold on board the
boats aud great number Of their patrons are church
members themselves. One thing which prompted
the petition it is thought, is that Nh. Montgomery,
one of the foremost leaders of prohibition.
received advertisement OF excursion
weeks ago with the word 'lager" written
across the back This aroused him and he i'm medi-
atey advised all church men TO put stop to this
Sunday business. A season pass had been presented
to himself and family by the managers and he told
his congregation that he should it more for
ever. The advertisement was sent to him by some
wag, probably as the boat officers knew nothing
about it, nor about the 'lager which was mentioned
the back of it.
l.. A. Bill manager of the Fishers Island line has
not received any legal nStce of this enforcement of
the law yet, and will continue to run his boats
before if the public patronage warrants him in doing
He intends to run them next Sunday.
The boat companies, ii pushed, promise to make
legal work lively in this city and i'll New London in
testing the law to its fullest extent Horse car COM
panes livery stables. railroads and bus' lines will
be required to come up to the "blue law standard
If prosecutions begun. HERALD reporter
visited of the railroad and found that it
their opinion that such attempt to Interfere
with public and private travel would not be regarded
The public sentiment of to-day would not approve
maintain such action. The manager of Adams
Express Company considered the law ms obsolete.
H. said he. "the temperance people carry out or
attempt to carry out such measures they will lose
the sympathy and votes of the laboriIg classes"
SUNDAY A MONOPOLY FOR THE CHURCHES
The president of the Reform Club asked his
opinion i'll the matter. He thought something
should be done. the country fast going to the
devil rything should be stopped and everything
shut up, excepting the churches. on the Sabbath.
Several attempts have been made to repeal the
"bluc laws. and in the State Senate two years ago
Preston gentleman cast the deciding vote in Of
continuing them Under the Sunday clause every
passenger liable to fine of "a any boat in the
State but to witness the result of the threatened
forcement. many doubt will go out of curiosity.
person has no right to walk out on Sunday other
than to church, right to drive team, and three
persons assembled the street in secular
ton liable to arrest.