Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-03
MISSOURI HOUSE OPPOSED TO BASE
BALL on THE SABBATH.
PASSES A STRINGENT MEASURE.
BILL RUSHED THROUGH FIRST AND
DEBATE AFTERWARD.
Effort Made to Reconsider the Matter
and "a Motion to That Effect Is
StiII PendinE-Piper's "Pru-
bntion" Scheme-LcS-
isIatiye News.

jefferson City, Mo, Feb. 2.-tSpecialO
The house went on record this afternoon
as favoring the abolishmCnt of Sunday
has eball games. 1t passed bill prohibit
ing all Sunday games by a vote of ~ TO l..
after one of the wlrmest debates on any
measure thus far brought up for discus
sion. The original bill was introduced by
burroughs, of Howell, but before final ac-
ton came to-day Truitt, of Boone. intro
dUCed this substitute, which was adopted:
Every person who shall be convicted of
horse racing, cock fighting. playing cards.
baseball or games of any kind on the first
day of the week. commonly called Sunday,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and fined not exceeding $50
No sooner had the substitute been read
than at least Il dozen members were on
their feet clamoring for recognition. Mr..
Collins had been called to the speaker s
chair by Speaker Farris. and before he
actually realized what was going on. the
house was on the point of getting away
from him. He. however. recognized Bur
roughs whose motion was that the house
vote to place the reform measure or its
final passage. In spite of innumerablc calls
of MFR Speaker" Mr.. Collins put the mo-
ton. declared it carried. and then decided
that all debate was out of order.
Under running fire of protests from st.
Louis and Kansas City members, the roll
was ordered and the bill was passed by
the vote given above. Johnston. of St. Louis
county, TO the surprise of everybody. voted
in the affirmative. He explained this how
ever, when the vote was announced, by
stating that he did so Intentionally. in or
der to move Il reconsideration of the vote.
1t was here that the discussion occurred.
Johnston insisted that the bill was Il blow
at young men in the city whose only day
for recreation was the Sabbath.
Martin of Barton, created quite a SEN
sation by 4 most vigorous attack upon the
majority for, as he expressed it, the spirit
of intolerance in applying the gag rule
and shutting off debate.
1T Is the same spirit" he said, that
banished Roger Williams in the days of the
old blue laws and witchcraft For one, / do
not intend 10 stand it"
By this time the house had quieted down.
making it quite apparent that it intended
10 allow the debate TO take as wide a range
as the different speakers wished to give 1t.
Dunn, of st. Louis, insisted that the bill,
if passed by both houses. would be un-
constitutional, as there was already IA like
measure on the statutes, except that it did
not include baseball" Truitt of Boone.
spoke for the bill, and Tubbs. of Usage,
against it. None of the speakers confined
himself strictly to the subject under dis
cussion. which was reconsideration.
All of this time the different speakers had
been greeted with silence. None seemed to
be able to arouse any enthusiasm. 1t was
not until Colonel Crisp. of Jackson. took
the floor and began to talk that the men,
bers began to warm up and applaud. After
stating his opposition TO the measure. he
numbered I'VE have too much legisia.
ton already. tApplause.D Why some of
the members of this house actually believe
they can pass bills and legisate men
squarely into heaven whether they want
to go or not. Uaughter.) Others think
that should an inventor construct an air
ship and sail into the clouds. thereby being
nearer God, they could introduce bill
here and have the currents of air
changed.
The motion was made at this point to
adjourn. This was carried. leaving the
motion to reconsider to be settled to-mor-
row.
Representative Clarke. of Kansas City.
received a letter from the Ministers llli-
ance in Kansas City, asking that the Sun
day baseball bill be amended to include
Sunday theaters. AS this measure has
gone beyond amendment. 1t is thought a
separate bill will be introduced covering
Sunday theaterS.