The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-20
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE.
Hearing Given on Bill TO Make Law
More Liberal.
Speeches in Opposition by Several Local
Clergymen.

! Upon the adjournment OF the Honse
| az Representatives this afternoon tho
| judiciary committee with Mr.. STUD ey
| presiding gave "a public nearing on mo
| bill 90 amend the SUNDAY observance law
| introduced early In the week hy Mr.
Kim ball OF Providence.
Mr. Thomas W. Waterman and several
| local clergymen were present In the inter-
calls OF sunday observance.
Tho bill provides that every person who
shall do on exercise any labor or work oi
his ordinary calling on the ilrSt day on
the week, on suffer. the samo 70 be. done by
his children, servants. or apprentices, works
Of necessity and charity only excepted
shall bc fined not exceeding five dollars
for the first offence and ton dollars Tor
the second and every Subsequent offence
Provided, that nothing in this section
shall be- 40 construed rs 20 promhlt tho
operation of steam bonts, steam or
cleCtr railroads, any amusement at any
public park Of any city or town IN iho
discretion Of the lawfully constituted
authorities of said park, the publishing
selling and delivery OF newspapers ana
the opening o! drug stores whose owners
are registered pharmacists. Town eoun'
ellis and city councils by virtue of the
powers vested in thom hy chapter 40
sections 2l and - OF tho General Laws may
in their discretion prohibit the use by any
person OF any game, sport my or rvcroa-
ton on the first day OF the week.
Mr. kimb3ll was the first SPEAKER ana
urged the substitution of tho now law on
the statute books because ho sald the
present law is altogether out or date ana
81 L. impossible 10 enforce u because III Tor
bids many things with which pubilc
opiuion finds no fault
Rev. Floyd W. TOukins, Jr., was tho
FIRST speaker for the opposition TO the Dill
lis objected 90 the brief notice when had
been given of the hearing and said that
Otherwise n larger number OF opponents
would have been present
Mir. Tunkins referred 20 the ridicule OF
The Journal IA the mater and intlnated
that that paper ~ behind the blll He
said that he was not a Puritan ard did
hot wan. a Puritan sabbath, but ho DO.
lievod 1t necessary 60 draw the line some
where
As to the law on the books today he
claimed that IL was not necessary 10 en-
force il absolutely ami literally ana fur
thermore such q, ,forcement Is never In
tended for any lRw.
cit is not question of religion" he
said, "and am not here aS minister IL is
merely "A matter of rest for the com.
munity on one day of the week.
Mr.. John w. Vernon OF the Merchants
National Bank said that the present law
is much wider in It's application than 1t
has ever been ia It's enforcement On tho
other hand lac thought that the bill intro
duced by Mr.. kmball was far from be-
ing above criticism The proper OBJ
ieCt To ho had in laws with refer
onco To Sunday should DO To secure
for everybody thor liberty in
"A quiet and peaccfu observance of tine
day of rest according to their own ideas
without -Interferenca With the rights of
their neghbors.
He objected To .hc provision of the pro-
posed bill giving 10 town councils lo1al
option in the matter because OF the longer
subsequent elections placing in power "A
set Of men who would sanction disgrace
full riot i'm the name OF amusement
The real purpose Of Roger Williams
Park, 50 far as Sunday Is concerned no
said, is to provide place for quiet sonsi-
bic and peaceful recre atian where no ones
sensibilities will be shocked. Further
more he claimed that the presence of
such an amusement as the merry go round
at the park would be a constant tempta-
tion to children to sTend money and
therefore would prove extensive for poor
parents, the very people who should get
the greater benefltaof the park.