The sun., 1895-03-14
THE BLUE LAW WIPED OUT.
CONNECTICUT LEGISLATURE RE-
PEfLS FAMOUS STATUTE.
Tho ola Enactment Regarding sabbath Day
Breaking and Pusiahment Done Away
with, and Only One Voice In the sem
ate Heard In PrOtest-New Legislation.

Tho old Enactment Regarding sabbath Day
breaking and Pu.iahment Done Away
with, and Only One Voice In the Sen.
ate Heard In PrOtest-New Legislation.
HARTFORD. March i3.--The present Con-
nccticut Legislature has repeated the old Sum
day" blue law" under which, at various times,
prosecutions have been made for the most
trivial offences. Tho bill repeating the old law
was drawn by Representative Southworth Of
SOuthington. II so happens that Southington
last fall prosecutions were made under this law.
barber was pouncsd upon for keeping his
shop open on Sundays, livery stables we're shut
up. candy kitchens were closed. and the sale
of Sunday newspapers was prohibited. This
state OF affairs continued for several Sundays,
the back bone of the Sunday boycott being a
determined clergyman. Southington's expert
ence was duplicated in Hartford for a time last
summer. when tho drug and tobacco stores
were prevented from selling tobacco and cigars
until after sunset. There was also an aggressive
fight for puritanical Sunday in several other
places.
This troublesome law. which alleged reform
ers have found SO convenient. occupies only six
lines in the statute book. 1t is section ESQ. and
reads:
When any Justice OF the Peace shall have personal
knowledge that any person Is guilty OF drunkenness,
swearing, CufsluE, breaking, suCn
knowledge shnll I've su1icIent evidence for such
Justice OF the Peace to render judgment against him.
without previous complaint and warrant, having first
caused such person to be brought before him.
The obsequies over this old law were brief.
There was only one mourner in the Senate who
raised his voice in opposition to the repeal.
Judge Roraback OF Canaan spoke at some
length in favor OF repeating the law Mr.. New
ton of Now Haven opposed the repeal of the
law, saying that this was the last of the old blue
laws and it's good had been tested by long
use. Judge Roraback said that 1t was
unjust and unfair that any man could
be convicted of crimo merely on per-
sonal knowledge. A fair trial should be
guaranteed to every man. Mr.. Southworth of
Southington. the father OF the bill. also advo-
Gated the passage of the bill. lie objected to
any one being amenable to the whim of a cour-
try Justice as to what constituted Sabbath
breaking. No one man should be allowed to
constitute himself an expounder Of the law. Mr..
Judson Of Stratford urged the passage of the
bill. Power of this sort was too autocratic.
The Rev. Otis Range OF Guilford moved the
previous question, and the bill was passed.
This constituted the funeral service. and It
turns out that the tears shed by Representative
wipng the old law oil the slate were, Of the croc.
odile variety. lie went to Mr.. Southworth after
the vote and apologized, saying that it seemed
statute books as long as 200 years ought to
have at least a decent funeral sermon preached
over it."
The name blue laws" is a misnomer. There
are no such laws or code of laws. There are
on the statute books OF all the States which
composed the original colonies laws which in
terfered more or less with the private life. re-
llgious conduct, and even The dress OF citizens,
but they were more vigorous or inquisitorial
in Connecticut than in other States. The blue"
laws of the New Haven colony had Boswell in
Samuel Peters. who satirized numerically the
primitive laws of his native State. The worst
of these inquisitoral laws has now become,
by the action OF the General Assembly. dead
letter.
This Legislature has had some peculiar bills
to consider. and has enacted some into law.
Hereafter the penalty for docking a horses tail
will be year in jail or a fine of $500
The inevitable Theatre Hat bill came under
an act entitled :" The proper safety and comfort
of audiences in places Of public entertainments" E"
The bill provided that the theatre attendant
who found big hat in front OF him obstructing
his view OF the stage could get his money
back from the theatre manager. There
was a penalty OF S25 where the manager
refused to refund the money. This bill
was knocked out. Representative George NJ.
Clark introduced bill compelling the naming
OF infants by the third day after their birth;
But the chief hill of this kind has actually been
passed. preventing the taking of trout from
brooks less than six inches long. and providing
that tho possession of any such in q basket shall
be sufficient evidence to convict" Those who
question the sagacity OF the Legislators OF POO
years ago. II is said might find promising ma
terial for criticism in this Legislature,