The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-12-14
A PrOhlbitory Law.

49, - AOAA0AoSAJ Aee W.
The Prohbltory law, which went into effect
in New York on the 1st of December, seems
to be the concentrated essence of the Blue
Laws of Connecticut, of the olden time. A
dispatch dated the Sd, furnishes few striking
illustrations of the law and its operation. 1t
says:
2 The new penal code went into effect to-day
While the police were unquestionably very
active during the day, their efforts were not
directed in such manner as to elicit praise
from such persons as heartily support the pro-
visions of the new CODE Many arrests were
made but neither liquor selling nor drunken
ness appeared to decrease to any extent. Cigar
stores were generally closed, and many pro-
prietors hung out placards ridiculing the new
law. Much of their business went to the drug
stores. The business of BARRIERS was limited
to hotels, where customers uniformly declared
they were guests. Eighteen out of the nine
teen drivers sent out by the Adams express
during the morning were arrested. 1t has
been enforced in such a way as to make it
odlous, with the view of securing its early re-
peal. About 500 arrests lave been made on
the charge of desecrating the Sabbath. Com
paratlvely few liquor dealers were secured,
mllkmen, butchers, bakers, grocers, newspaper
'oSANt cSAbiAuSo
keepers making up the number. A laborer
employed by steam heating company was
the first person arrested. A sacred concert
was stopped in the evening and the promoters
arrested. Harry Hill was among the number.
u A New York correspondent describes the
law as follows. BAD s...... ~.
~ The code says no work shall be performed
on the Sabbath except it be of necessity or
charity. All servlle labor, public sports and
shows, trades, manufactures, mechanical en-
Payments and public traffic are forbidden
This applies, in short, to street cars, the ele-
waited railroads, ferries and cabs, and only the
Jews can open their doors to sell products
Grocers can keep open until 9 q. IN. but after
that hour al must close. There will be an
end to all hip-hip-hurrah labor meetings and
trades union demonstrations,an and the socialists,
communists and nihilists will be forced to keep
quiet. Even the newspapers are in danger.
The publication of a newspaper, comes uIfder
the prescribed head, and the publishers, edi-
tors, reporters and printers are liable to arrest
The law is especially severe upon theatres, and
will check all Sunday performances and al
legged sacred concerts. ,t lrsr.--
Under this head, section 277 says: 1.-THE per-
Torrance of any tragedy, comedy, opera, bal
let, farce, negro Ministries, negro or other
dancing, or any other entertainment OF the
stage, OF any part or parts therein, circus,
equestrian or dramatic performance, or any
performance of jugglers, acrobats or rope dan
GERS on the first day of the week, is forbidden,
and every person aiding in such exhibition, by
advertisement or otherwise, and every owner
or lessee OF any garden, building or other
room or place, who leases or lets the same for
the purpose of any such exhibition or per-
Torrance, or who assents TO the use OF the
same for any such purpose, II 1t be used, IS
guilty of misdemeanor. In addition to the
punishment therefor provided by statute, eV-
cry person violating this section is subject TO
penalty of $500; which penalty the Society
for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents
in the city of New York, fol the use of that
society, and the overseer OF the poor III any
other city or town, for the u,e Of the poor ARE
authorized in the name of the people OF the
state, to recover Besides this penalty, every
such exhibition or performance, OF Itself, an
nuls any license which may have been pre-
viously obtained by the manager, owner or
lessee using or letting such building, garden'
room or place, or conserving to such exhiotion
or performance"
Judge r.. W. Hughes has furnished the
Richmond Dispatch the decision OF the gu
preme Court of the United States In the case
of Ee payte Sie6osd defining the duties OF
election officers in ma tional elections anu
that paper issued it in supplement on the lotn'
Elsewhere we give brief synopsis OF the
decision and to it we ask the attention Vi ou'
readers. Judge Hughes in asking the pool'-
cation of the paper impresses the necessity OF
it by saying, ait is very dangerous, 1t is su-
peratively unwise to play politician WIN
penitentiary offences"