The Topeka state journal., 1900-05-24
OLD BLUE LAWS.
They Are About to Be Revived
In Topeka.
Street Cars, Hacks, Restaurants
Must Quit on Sunday.
COUNCILMEN EXCITED.
Did Not Understand Ordinance
Was So Broad.
Special Meeting Called to Con-
slider the Question.
The Provisions viii Probably
Be Revised.
COUNCILMEN EXCITED

The action of the city council in res
urrecting the old ordinance which IS
meant to close all places of business on
Sunday except the medicine depart
ments Of drug stores does not meet
with favor. A special session OF the
city council has been called for Friday
night when the ordinance Will be
brought up and from the sentiment ex-
pressed it will undoubtedly be repeal
ed and another Sunday ordinance not
SO broad will be passed.
Many of the councilmen are opposed
to the ordinance. The resolution call
ing for the enforcement of the ordi-
nance was ''railrOaded' through the
council after several members had gone
home. The council instructed Mayor
Drew to enforce it, The chief will hire
as many extra officers as he needs and
viii enforce the ordinance to the letter.
This means that hotels, restaurants,
livery stables. undertaking establish
ments, ice wagons. fruit stores, news
stands, cigar stores, street cars, hacks,
omnibuses, bakeries, meat markets, pho
tographers and all business must be
suspended.
The motion to close all business
places on Sunday was made at the
council meeting Tuesday night by
Councilman Miller of the First ward
Just before the session adjourned at
merchants of North Topeka demanded
it for the reason that business houses
kept open on Sunday contrary to the
law. He stated that butchers had put
in groceries and besides selling meat on
Sunday morning sold groceries.
Chief Of Police Ramsey said: My or
ders are to close everything but drug
stores. I have consulted with Mayor
Drew and looked up the ordinance and
find that it means close all stores and
stop all business. Under section 81 the
street cars would have to stop. I shall
carry out my Instructions as 1 received
them allI no-lfy all persons excepting
druggists to close their places of busi-
ness on Sunday. If they are not closed
on Sunday they will nave to answer to
the court"
Mayor Drew said: 'I think as long
as the ordinance is on the books it
ought to be enforced. I don't know how
far reaching it is but I think the only
business places allowed to be open are
drug stores. 1 should not think it would
apply to lunch counters"
Councilman w. $. Clancy said: fI
was not present when the resolution
was adopted by the council. If I had
been present 1 should have voted
against it. L am opposed to such eX-
treme measures as are outlined in the
sunday closing ordinance. 1 think it
should be repealed"
Councilman NJ. Snattinger said: "If
one store should be closed all should.
w llAt 4 ain 4lOL acquainted with the
ordnance L voted for the resolution.
am i'm favor Of enforcing or repeating it.
think some places by necessity should
be kept open on Sunday"
Councilman J. S Warner said: I
can not say that l am opposed to Sun
day closing of business houses but there
are certain business houses which ac-
commodate the people on Sunday. 1 left
the council meeting at II o'clock to
catch my last car home and the matter
nFOTTurbf II q Iaf
Councilman J. W. +. Hughes said: 4
am iu favor of repeating the closing
ordinance. / left the council meeting at
IL o'clock to catch my last car home
and the matter was brought up after
i left. If l had been there 1 certainly
would have fought it till breakfast This
means that street cars, livery stables
hotels, restaurants. underta kers and all
places and business must be suspended
Sunday. There is no use in putting To-
peka back $50 years. We don't want a
Garden of Eden"
Councilman w. F. Weber said: my
understanding Of the motion was not
that everything should be closed or
Sunday. I did not understand that the
ordinance was so broad as to apply tc
street cars and all business such as
restaurants and livery stables. That is
all foolishness and not what I voted for
] do not believe in that old ordinance
If the drug stores are open they sci
cigars and ice cream but cigar stores
anu ice cream STANDS are closed. Ihai
Is not justice. The ordinance should bC
repealed"
G.; $. Scott. restaurant proprietor
SAID IL close on Sunday where VII
my regular boarders eat? My place i.
open "A hours every days I have IL
keys TO lock up with 1t is impossible
for me to close"
/. NJ Penwell. of DeAIoss & Penwell
nindertakers, said: "We simply can mo-
close our place on Sunday. Our busines.
is every day and every night and w
are ready at any time for a call"
II. c; Lindsay. hveryman, said: -
think this compares favorably with 9th
er actions taken by the council. 7 %,
not and viii not close on Sunday. Tia
is my busiest day. The ordinance is IN.
broad -
NJ. +. Rigby, fruits and news dea1e
said: Such an ordinance will hurt IN,
business. On Sunday L do 80 per cent q
my news business. 1 can make no es+i
mate on perishable goods wish to o.
on saturday. If this is enforced I WI
nave to make other arrangements"