The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-24

Il s$GW hVhh DAG bA w
There are few OF the older States OF the
Union that have not on their statute
books some remnant or suggestion of the
kind OF legislation that has, In more
liberal age, come to be known as "blue
laws" New York State has her share. al
though the attention that they are now
attracting is not due to the laws OF an
| cient origin so much as TO laws OF b.us
nature which were passed as a means of
political inquisition. We refer to the ex-
else laws, which, like the gambling law
and number OF others on New York's
statute books, are models i'm the way OF
legislation which could be made success
fully repressive but which were not framed
with any such idea. Instead, they were
devised that, because of their extreme
stringency and the powers and punish
ments provided for their violation, they
might be used as a terrible weapon to
control the evils aimed at i'm the interests
of New York city's corrupt Democratic po-
litical system rather than for the good
health OF the community. As commits
sioner ROOSEVELT has demonstrated,
when put into operation these laws are
most efficacious and sure. They are
plpHala In, THAR a.I .f,,I 10
cure their ostensible object. We believe
Rhode Islands gambling law is based on
the New York act, Mayor oLNEY, the
chief of police and our city officials hav-
ing imported il as about the best OF the
kind on any statute book in the land.
According to recent court decision,
the excise law was evidently built TO
impose political hlacknail, not only on
saloon keepers, but on druggists, restau-
rants, hotels, street stands and the like.
Saloons must be closed, and strong drink
and beer must not be sold on Sunday,
and not only is the sale of "soft drinks"
in saloons unlawful, but 1t is made Grim
inal to sell any kind OF beverages
water, mineral water, lemonade, or even
milk ty the glass-in any drug store or
at any street stand or other place. The
sale OF ice cream, except in the morning
before 10 O'Clock or with meals, is mis-
demeanor, unless you can call 1t con-
fectionery." II is a crime for florist to
sell bunch OF flowers or a newsdealer a
book or magazine. The sale of every
thing is declared criminal, except articles
OF food before 10 o'clock In the morning,
meals to be eaten on the premises,
tobacco and cigars In places other than
liquor saloons, and fruit, confectionery,
newspapers, drugs, medicines and sur.
gical instruments Sin quiet and orderly
manner" Taking photographs is
misdemeanor, and fishing a crime. 1t is a
question whether bicycle riding is not a
violation Of the law. "Sabbath breaking''
is punishable by a fine or imprisonment,
or both, and in the case of prohibited
selling by the confiscation OF all the
articles exposed for sale. a.
This is judicial Interpretation Of the
Sabbath breaking sections of the penal |
code. To be sure, we need not look back |
ward many years to recall that such laws
were enforced in Rhode Island and may
be In our statutes or ordinances today for |
all we know. The city druggist of not
more than 20 years ago did not sell any
hing but drugs or surgical appliances on
Sunday In Providence, II he kept his shop
open at all on Sunday, and few of them
aid keep open except for two or three
hours in the day. The small boy could
not, however, exchange his missionary
penny for candy, the man his dime for
,igar, the maiden, her nickel for "sody"
on Sunday, in Providence; and
I was more than a Sabbath days journey
o.find a meal Of victuals in a public
house.
IL New York's blue laws are obnoxious
o the public sense their enforcement is
he quickest way TO secure their repeal.
\nd il is better that they should be re-
,ealed than that they should be dead
etter, or remain In the Code as club all
eady to be picked up and used as they
lave been used in Tammany politics.
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