The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-16
A BROAD INTERPRETATION
TO BE GIVEN TO THE NEW SUNDAY
 CLOSING LAW.

Violations of the Law Will be at the Peril
 of Persons so Doing, However-No Pros
 cautions Win be Made Except on Com .
 plaints-How the Law is Regarded About
 tI4e stato.
 The restaurant keepers, proprietors of cigar stores, barbers and others who have been accustomed to keep open their places of business on Sunday are still undecided whether or not to keep open next Sunday. The new Sunday law passed by the last general assem- bly, went into effect yesterday. The act reads as follows:
 livery person who shall do any sec ular business or labor except works of necessity or mercy, or keep open any shop, warehouse or manufacturing or mechanical establishment, or expose any property for sale, or engage in any sport between F o'clock Saturday night and 12 o'clock Sunday night, shall be fined not more than $50"
 It is practically settled that the law will not be strictly interpreted so as to compel persons who have heretofore done business legally on Sunday to close their places. In some parts of the state steps have already been taken to see that the law is enforced to the letter, and that all places of business are closed up. Notably is this true of Winsted, where the Young Peoples so- ciety of the Methodist church has ap- | pointed a committee whose duty 1t will ! be to see that the law Is enforced. In 1 this city, however, there will probably | be no prosecutions unless complaints are made, and in that event the prose cutting officer will be compelled to bring action.
 1 In view of this fact some restaurant keepers are thinking of closing up their places next Sunday, but it is said that | even if actions are brought against places of this kind under the new law a. liberal interpretation of the law will 1 be made, and that restaurants, soda 1 fountains, ice cream parlors and like { places will be classed as works of ne cessity." As matters now stand, il rests with the citizens of the city whether or not any prosecutions ot proprietors who keep open places or Sunday will be made and the law rig idly enforced.
 As the general opinion seems to be that the law should be broadly inter Ipreted. there will probably be few ol no complaints. As the law stands or the statute books, however, and may be enforced, 1t should be understood that all violations of 1t are made a the peril of the violator.
 Indications point to a rigid enforce ment of the Sunday law in Middletown Prosecuting Attorney Culver of tha city is quoted as saying he proposes t,
 enforce it strictly.
 It is not believed that a rigid en Iforcement of the statute will follow Il Bridgeport, although the authoritie will naturally take cogntzance of viola
 tions which are pronounced.
 In Danbury the law is regarded a being practically identical with the ol
 law, which was never enforced excep in extreme cases It has been decide
 that it would be unwise to enforce tn
 law unless there should be a popula
 demand for such action.
 A police official of Waterbury Is re
 ported to have said, few days age
 that it would not surprise him if or
 ders were issued there calling for strlc
 adherence to the letter of the law, bu
 so far nothing has been done.
 City Attorney Frank s. Fay of Meri , den said yesterday that the law con
 cerning the observance of Sunda
 would not be any more strictly enforc , ed than the old one. The new law ha excited no apprehension there. as it ha , been understood from the first 1t woul not be enforced.
 For the present those places of bus , ness in Norwich which have kept ope
 on Sundays will be allowed to continu
 However, the prosecutor stands read
 to prosecute if complaints are made.
 The prosecutors of Norwalk an . South Norwalk state that they wi
 take no steps unless complaints ar
 forthcoming.
 3 The changes in the Sunday law mad l at the last session of the general as
 sembly will make no difference in Har . ford. Chief of Police Bill says he wi not issue any special instructions to tf l sergeants and patrolrnen for the CT . forcement of the law next Sunday
 The attitude of the New London al
 thorities towards the new Sunday clo ing law is thus tersely put: "We sha l pay no attention to it unless some f the 'cranks' compel US to. The old la ', is good enough for us'
 No attempt will be made to strict
 enforce the new Sunday law by Ne |, Britain authorities, the measure beir h deemed inconsistent and unreasonabl