The morning times., 1896-02-23
Facts Which Make the Term a
Popular MiSH0m9r.
CONGRESS HAS NO POWER
Few OF Our So-called National Holi-
days Are Generally Observed, and
Almost None Are Established ny
General Enact fment-Intereeting
Enumeration OF Holidays.

schools.
Is ii, then, matter of wonder that the
popular faIlacy prevails, thai the general
delusion obtains, that there is such an
institution as national holiday?
Neither is there holiday THAT rs made
so in all the States by statutory enactment,
aside from the glorious Fourth ana Christ
mas, not one.
Ii is the pleasure of The Times 10 give
fun and complete information upon any
subject il treats. but it is matter numbered
in the voluu. y as list of the impossible 10
tell why the term national holiday ever
came into existence, or the reason ii is
yet commonly used.
Truly. there never was substantial basis
for lis coinage, neither is il a serious mat
ter, although the information that such
an institution as national nolldag has
its being oniy toy wide range OF The miag-
ination may be OF service 10 those whose
desire il as 10 be always right about what
they talk.
II is Il mooted question whether or not
Congress can designate any day as a
holiday and have such enactment made
effective in all the States. II is a nice
question OF law Ihat has never been de
cided and positive opinions on lhat poIut
are yalueleSs.
Certain IL Is having or not having the
power, Congress has never made a law of
that kind. Its holiday statutes nave bearing
only upon the District or Columbia and the
Territories.
LABOR DAY LAWS.
In July, lS94, Congress made i Labor
Day law. fixing The first Monday in scptenl-
ber as holiday for the observance. of
Labor Day. and al the time the claim was
made that II was intended 10 embrace the
nation, hut This view was nullirieG by the
courts, ana an examination OF the biil, as
passed shows that II Is applicable only tC
the District OF Columbia.
All tie States do not observe Labor Day
on the same day. They would were ii q
national holiday. Some States do not Oh
serve January as a holiday. If New YeaI
were national holiday the reCalcitran
Commonwealth would quickly fan int
line
IN the legislatures Of some States they
seem TO be thankful enough all the time
10 make no special provision for a Thanks
giving Day. Washington's birthday is no
celebrated in every State in the Union by
act of legislatures, and some OF the eXCcp
lions are where patriotism and devotion e
country are emotions as deep and sin GER
as any place.
The national holiday mistake, then. /
general Not one out Of a hundred people
though, without giving the matter thought
would know better. IT is rot tire people
rauit that they speak Of national holidays
Their parents did if. their teachers, thei
conrpanionsin in youth aud maturity did il. /
would be interesting to discover a NOR
popular misapprehension.
Here in this peculiarly governed ten mile
square OF District we have many holiday
made so by the nationally famous aldel
board.
IL THE DISTRICT.
The list OF District of Columbia holiday
begins with January l, commonly known a
New Years Day. 1t, as well as the other.
s established 10y Congressional statute {
legal holiday. The others which are leg;
holidays are February %, March 4 ever
fourth year. the next of which VIII de
rear hence: May 80 Memorial Day., an
any day appointed and recommended D
The President OF the United States al a da
sf public fasting and thanksgiving shall 1
holidays within the District and so far I
business or legal papers or other public ma
ters are concerned are the same as Sunday
Then, in 1894, this list was added to |
making Labor Day a holiday, which is TO
on the first Monday in September. and Ia
Of all is Christmas. There's no lroub
about remembering The date thereof.
Congress has at various times appointt
Bpecial holidays. and has recognized the c
istence of certain days as holidays, f
commercial purposes. in such legislation
the bankruptcy act, but even on this law
grace on notes and the like, there is
general statute on the subject.
The proclamation of the President d'
ignating a day of thanksgiving, only max
il d holiday in those States which provi
by law for it. In some of the States,
mentioned above. Thanks giving is not
holiday according TO law, but in all, pre-
ably without a single exception, it is c
served.
January / is a legal holiday in q
States except Massachusetts, New Ham
shire and Rhode Island. By some peculi
ain OF omission three of the New EnglaI
heighbors stay out in the cold on Ne
Years Day, so far as legal holiday
concerned at any rate.
January :. the anniversary OF the bat
of New Orleans, is holiday in Louisiar
February u, Lincoln's birthday, W
probably soon be made a legal holiday
several States, but now it is so only in 1
nois.
In February, near the middle, the Ma
Gras is a movable holiday in AlabaI
ana Louisiana.
February %, washington's birthday,
been declared by statutory enactment d h
day in every State except Arkansas, 10
ana Mississippi.
March ., The anniversary OF the Stat
independence, is legal holiday in Tex
Good Friday is n legal holiday in a
bama. Louisiana, Pennsylvania and 7
nessee.
May 30. Decoration Day, is becoming
more general holiday each year (
years ago il was a legal holiday in but (
States There is said to be some disp
as to whether Wisconsin,, Kansas or Pc
sylvania made the first act declaring i
legal holiday. At any rate if is so now
the three States named, and in AriZo
California. Colorado, Connecticut. Hin
Iowa. Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, \
nesola, Michigan. Montana. Nebraska,
vada. New Hampshire, New jersey, n
York. North Dakota, Ohio, oklahoma,
gOn, Rhode Island, Tennessee. Utah, \
mont, Washington and Wyoming.
THESE ARE WELL OBSERVED.
I,Ir & ss n h..Iiaar a., tL.n rr..i,nd 81.