Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-06
SUNDAY REST BILL
Friends Of the Measure Are Given
a Hearing.
Why THEY WANT IT TO PASS
Several Addresses by Representatives
Of Religious Bodies.
MIR. BADCOCK'S QUESTION
Why THEY WANT IT TO Pas
MR.. BADCOCK'S QUESTION

Another hearing on the Sunday rest bill
was given by tine House District commit
tee today. This time the friends of the
bill were heard and arguments in sup
port of the measure were eloquently ad-
vanced. On account of misunderstand-
ing as to the time the hearing was very
brief.
The Woman's Sabbath Alliance of this
city was represented at the hearing by the
following ladies: Miss Morton, the presi-
dent of the alliance; Mrs. Teunis S. Ham
lin. first vice president; Mrs. Taber john
son. secretary, and Mrs. Hoke Smith, Mrs.
Mrs. Henry NJ. Teller, Mrs. Beiler and Mrs
Childs, vice presidents.
Objects of the Alliance.
The objects of the IVoman's Sabbath
Alliance of this city, as auxiliary of the
national alliance, are stated to be ITO
arouse the women of this community to a
realization of the existing perils which
threaten the Christian Sabbath, or the
Lords day; to enlist all women in definite
efforts to counteract the perils, especially
III the home and in social life: to encourage
the study of the word of God in reference
10 sabbath keeping in the home and Sab
Ddtu SCioOI, anu ASSIST tne W OmanS Ma
uonal Sabbath Alliance, by the distribu-
t1cn Of Sabbath literature, by procuring
funds for the national work of the al
lance, and by all other means practicable"
Declaration of Principles.
The declaration of principles of the al
lance is as follows:
we, women of America, recognizing the
American Christian Sabbath as our right
1ul inheritance, bequeathed to us by our
forefathers; as the foundation of our "a
tlcnal prosperity: as The safeguard of our
social, civil and religious blessings; as the
ccnservator of the rights of the wage
earners; will do all that we can to resist
by precept and example, whatever tends
to undermine Sunday as day of rest and
worship, land We will use our influence
10 create right sentiment on all aspects
OF this Sunday question, especially with
reference to traffic of any kind on that
day, Sunday entertainments, neither Civ
ing nor attending them, and we will recog-
nlze the rights of those in our employ to
as great a part Of that day for rest and
worship as it is possible for us to give
ana We will have only such literature for
our children and households on that day
as Will conserve to their highest spiritual
good"
Rev. w. F. Crafts Address.
Rev. Wilbur F. Crafts, superintendent of
THE National Bureau of Reforms" first adj
dressed the committee. He recommended
the substitution of the bill offered by Mr..
Wellington yesterday for the Morse Sunday
rest bill He said this is copy of a law
Cnce in force in the District, but annulled on
legal technically in it's passage This
bill provides that it shall not be lawful for
any person to keep open any place of bust
reSS or maintain a stand for the sale of any
article or articles of profit during Sunday,
except apothecaries, for the dispensing of
medicines, and undertakers, for the purpose
of providing fer the dead, or others for the
purposes OF Charity or necessity; nor shall
any public playing of foot ball or base ball
or any other kind of playing, sports, pas
times or diversions disturbing the peace and
quiet of the day be practiced by any person
or persons within the District Of Columbia
On Sunday; nor shall any building opera
tons or work upon railroad construction be
permitted. For any violation of this act the
person offending shall, fer each offense, be
la Ole to a fine of not less than s. nor more
than $40, and in the case of corporations
there shall be a like fine for every person
employed in violation of this act laid upon
the corporation offending.
Section =. That it shall be sufficient de-
Tense to a prosecution for Servile labor on
the first day of the week that the defend
ant uniformly keeps another day of the
week and does not labor upon that day,
in such a manner as not to interrupt or dis
turb other persons in observing the first
day of the week.
Mr.. Gre fits told of the Sunday laws in
force in the states, and held that Sunday
is recognized under the federal laws. The
President is exempted from the necessity
of signing bills on Sunday, the statutes re-
quire suspension Of studies at Annapolis
and West Point, and these. together with
similar requirements, make forty-siX state
and federal Acknowledgements of Sunday.
Sunday is an Inheritance from our fathers
which should be observed as principle of
government.
Mrs. Hamlin's Remarks.
Mrs. Teunis S. Hamiin told the commit
tee the scope and purpose of the Saba tn
Alliance, as outlined above. In behalf of
the alliance she begged the committee to
report the pending bill. She had been ad-
vised by Commissio ner Truesdell that the
law could be enforced if based upon this
bill, while the Morse bill could probably
not be enforced. AT any rate, she hoped
the committee would report a bill that
would preserve the Sabbath, which is an
American institution.
Mrs. w. F. COx's Address.
Mrs. Wilbur F. Cox of New Jersey briefly
addressed the committee in behalf of the
observance of Sunday. She held that the
perpetuity of this government is based upon
that principle. She would advocate legis-
in behalf Of labCring people, who, having
Sabbath provided by law, would gain the
benefits resulting.
Mrs. Cox said Sunday observance is nee
essary to man not only on moral grounds,
but from hygienic standpoint. This is a
Christian nation, and the Sabbath Is a
Christian Institution. She hoped Congress
criN- to Noe III