Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-15
FULL OF UNIQUE INTEREST.

The public will most decidedly feel an
interest in the programme which is init
mated by our esteemed cotemporary, the
Telegraph, though not officially an
nounced, for the local Law and Order So
ciety, of securing literal enforcement of
what is known as the Pennsylvania Blue
Law of 1894 Under the letter OF this law
every species of work saving what may
be held of necessity or charity is prohib-
tied for Sunday. Similar laws exist in
many States; but under changed condi-
tions since their enactment various forms
of labor have sprung up on Sundays as on
other days, including notably the printing
and distribution of newspapers, as well as
the collection of news for the same, the
operation of telegraph lines, of telephones,
of electric light, of railroad trains, of street
cars, iron mills, and messenger and mail
service. Nowhere hitherto has there been
any attempt to interfere with these opera
tionS The common understanding is that
they are of great convenience, and have
become, measurably at least, necessity
to the public.
1t can well be conceived that such an
experiment as is suggested for Plttsburg,
with its ultimate extension to the other
cities of the State, is of wide interest No
matter for the present what may he
thought of the feasibility of the idea-and
we think only very small minority in
deed have the slightest idea that it will
be practicable-itis is but fair to admit that
the right belongs to any individual to test
the application of the law to the fullest
This is not new right, but has existed
ever since the law was passed 1t has at
all times inhered in anyone disposed to
try the issue, Just as it does to-day the Law
and Order Society.
The newspapers of the State being di-
rectly party in interest might be sup
posed to discourage such suits, particular
ly since it is intimated proceedings may be
taken against them in the first instance.
This, however, neither is nor has been the
attitude of THE DISPATCH or of most of
its contemporaries. When the rigid and
literal enforcement of the old law was
formerly agitated The DISPATCH took the
proper ground that in place of much vap-
orous discussion it was clearly the better
plan for those who do not want things as
Iuty art W DIlllS luC JSouC OlOC 1Ol oh bO-
fore the only tribunal competent to settle
it, viz, the courts. Let the courts decide
what is and what is not prohibited by the
statute; and then if the people are not sat-
isfied with the decision they will have the
power to secure such new law from the
Legislature as may meet their wants and
wishes.
The desirability of the condition of
things which would ensue from strict in
depreciation of the law of 1894 can be con-
sidered later on. 1t is enough to say that
if Agent Wishart succeeds in establishing
here community without telegraph or
telephone service, street cars, carriages for
hire, railroad trains or mill fires on Sum-
day or newspapers either Sunday or Mon
day-the work for Mondays papers being
done on Sundays-he will be justly en-
titled to consideration as having achieved
the most remarkable success of the age for
strict Sabbatarianism and of investing
PittSburg with a decidedly new and
unique interest among the cities of the
land We should also, perhaps, extend
our fluctuations in advance to our
esteemed neighbor, the Chronicle TeIe-
graph, as it would be the only paper in the
city whose publication would not be sus-
pended for one or more issues each week
under the new regime. We etrust, however.
this does not account for the extra luridity
of the programme which it marks out for
the society.