Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-28
The SUNDAY REST LAW
Rev. Dr.. Elliott Replies to tho Correspond
ents Opposed to It
He Docs Not Believe 1t is UncOnstifu.
ti0nal-Practice Of Opening
Stores Would Grow.

To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
I have read with great interest the COM
ments Of correspondents on the proposed
Sunday law, which have appeared in The
Star. I have read them with the more in
terest because there are so many points Of
agreement between these correspondents
and the present writer.
Mr.. Allen Moore and G. S. G. express ad-
mlratton for the Federal Constitution, and
desire to conform to Its principles. Here
l heartily agree with them. But they seem
to have overlooked a recognition Of Sunday
as day of rest in the text of the Constitu-
ton itself. In article ], section Z, subsection
2 are the words: "If any bill shall not be re-
turned by the President within ten days
tSundays excepted), after it shall have been
etc.
Here is a clear recognition Of Sunday as
day OF rest in the Constitution of the United
states. 1t has stood there for more than a
the amendments was adopted, declaring:
congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment Of religion or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof That article was
sion. in 17S9-in part by the trainers of the
CONSTITUTIONAL time when the elaborate
discussions attending its adoption were
fresh in memory. The principles embodied
IN II were we'll understood. 1t appeared to
those fathers of the Constitution that there
was no Inconsistency between article 1 of
the amendments and the recognition of Sun
day as day of rest Indeed, the convention
OF 1871, that framed the Federal Constitu-
ton, by habitually adjourning from Satur-
of rest.
Now, If the Constitution recognizes Sun
day as day Of rest for the President of
the United States, how can it be inconsist-
ept with that Constitution that the laws
made under it recognize Sunday as a rest
day for the laborer and for citizens gem
Sllrp1V int
special presidential privilege. 1t was not
intended as class legislation. Here. in a
letter sent me on this subject the writer
pieads that the opening of stores on Sun
day should be stopped to give employees
rest. A clerk tells me that he has to be at
the store half day OH Sunday" Would
that be unconstitutional for this toiling
clerk-these jaded efnployes-which is con.
stitutional for the President?
But 1t Is clear that every form of govern
Dent prevailing in the District for the last
thirty years has regarded Sunday laws as
constitutional There are now of force four
or hve laws enacted by the corporation of
Washington-one by the legislative assem-
ply, three by Congress and one regulation
toy the Commissioners. Do your correspond
ents maintain that every one of these au-
thoritfes has violated the principles of the
Constitution In enacting these laws? Has
all this repeated violation remained I'M
noticed by the people and the courts? Did
Congress so late as 1S93-the date of its last
pass "sectarian law"
agree with your correspondents in wish
Ing to avoid class legislation. There is
cE SO legislation as the laws in the District
EOw stand. This condition is brought about
partly by the dropping out of the corpora
tion act Of 1864, which Congress is asked to
make valid. 1t declares 'it shall not be
lawful for any person to keep OPEN" etc.
1t leg1slates for the merchant prince and
the modest shop alike The fears of strin-
gency can be set at rest simply by ecalling
the manner and degree in which the law
vas enforced during the twenty years of
Its supposed validity. The first half of the
law was a guide to the police as late as
1856 Recollection Of the Sunday of that
day will allay many groundless apprehen-
sio1s. and the new restrictions as to games
and sports apply only when these disturb
the peace and quiet of the day
I must differ from one of your cores
pondents as to what will probably happen
If the District remains without law to close
will not be opened. Universal experience
in other cities is against him. Experience
In this city is against him. 1 have before
me letter signed by a highly respected
citizen. He writes: Here is the result of
an hours observation on Sunday, March
Y, 1886, by four persons" They saw fifty
six places Of business open for the sale Of
articles of profit, including cigars and to-
bacco. meat and provisions, oysters flow
ers. fruit. confectioners. furnishing goods
Without law the practice will grow. Its
growth will vftiate public sentiment, and
Washington will decline from her present
high estate as an observer of Sunday rest
; e JOHN H. ELLIOTT.