The herald., 1896-08-09
Clerks still Pleading

Editor Herald: I desire to say rev
words regarding the proposed ouHody
rest ordinance now under the ADVISE
ment of the committee on morals.
In 1891 few Los Aneeies cieins VI
ganized a. union for the purpose or as
sitsing each other morally and socially;
also fo shorten the hours of labor and
ITO secure Sunday as day OF rest.
They have persuaded some of the mer-
chants to close at p. IN. instead or
Q and 10, as was the custom previous.
Some stores keep open yet till during
the week; nearly all until 10 Saturday.
and q good many part of Sunday, and
some all day Sunday
Three years ago the Clerks union
proposed asking public sympathy and
assistance to secure Sunday as a rest
day, but the timid said, I'VE are not
strong enough yet" A year ago the
subject came up with the same reply.
This year the association decided that,
as nearly all other lines of labor had
been given eight hours a day, or forty
eight hours week. the clerks who work
from ten to twelve hours day and
fourteen hours Saturday, making from
sixty-five to seventy-four hours week,
they ought to have Sunday to rest on.
AS result they now have a petition
of 1870 names "a large majority of the
voters of the city, before the council.
The clerks tried to get every name
voter or taxpayer and resident of Los
Angeles. The petition asks only that
an ordinance be passed closing the mer-
camille businesses on Sundays On the
petition are merchants mechanics, law
yers. judges, laborers. theologians Pro-
testants. Catholics. infidels, etc. When
some ministers happen to favor us the
objection is made. 1T is a ministerial
move to make people go to church," but
an advent minister champions Satur-
day as the day to close-"that's all
right"
We find in the American Law Re-
view, 1878 p. 226-7, that in 1851 Connec-
ticut had a compulsory Sunday law. In
1871 Massachusetts followed. Later
GO Carolina III, CT, sec. u we find the
first restriction upon labor on the first
day Of the week. Up to this time the
basis OF Sunday law seems "six days
shalt thou labor" Later Virginia says:
ANY free person found laboring at any
calling or trade Sunday was liable to a
fine" Again. Texas fines those who COM
pei apprentices, slaves or children to
labor Sunday. Also Florida says: mo
merchant shall keep open his shop on
Sunday" Elk parte Andrews. 1S Cal,
679, 1.-The provision prohibiting all per-
sons opening their places Of business on
Sunday held not unconstitutional" This
was affirmed eX parte Bird. 19 Cal, 130
(under the old state constitution). The
present state constitution, Art. II, Sec.
township may make and enforce such
local police. sanitary or other regula-
tions as are not in conflict with laws. "
Garoutte, with Mcfarland, Harrison
Van Fleet and Temple concurring. In
108 Cal, 1923. ex parte Lacey: This court
said In ex parte Shrader, 81 Cal, 2S4
Legislature can to the mala in Sc of the
common law the mala prohibita of its
own behest. The power to regulate ol
prohibit conferred upon the board OF
supervisors not only includes the NUS
ances but extends to everything ex-
pedient for the preservation of public
health and the prevention OF disease.
nf France Rrnmaire .an fQctOher-2 q
of suspension of labor was substituted
for the week, is also cited. After twelv,
years the old division of time was re
stored by Napoleon-one day in ten hav
ing been found to give insufficient rest
The Hebrew sabbath means REST.
The North American Review vol 16t
page All. says: THE supreme court o
New York and court of appeals, defining
the civil Sabbath as civil institution
says 1t Is older than the government. The
trainers of the first constitution found i,
in existence. They recognized it in theil
acts. The stability of the government
the welfare of the subject and the in
terest of society have made it necessary
that the day Of rest observed by the peo-
observance should be, to some extent
compulsory-not by way Of enforcine
the conscience of those upon whom tn.
law operates, but by way of protectins
those who desire and are entitled to the
day."
Justice Mclean of the United States
supreme court says: Where there is
no Christian Sabbath there is no Chris
tian morality, and without this, free
government cannot long exist"
Australia, Scotland and England have
strict laws now. In many states, viz. {:
Maine, Massachusetts,, Vermont, Con-
necticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Deleware. Maryland, Virginia, Ken
lucky. Mississippi, Arkansas, Michigan
and Wisconsin, it is evident, from the
terms Of the statute. that it was the in
tention of the legislature to compel q
general suspension of business and la :
Dor on Sunday. Cam. Law Review, 1868.
page 2S0.) A majority of the voters in
this city have asked that Los Angeles
also Joins in proclaiming that this is a
really free country and that liberty and
Justice prevail. Our petition for a uni
form rest day should be granted.
Il. r. HOLMAN.
7. s. Van Dyke an . Bronco
Editor Herald: Mr.. r. S. Van Dyke.
In the 81 To