The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1901-06-22
SUNDAY LAW AT JACKSON.

are dolng tney are dong something
which they should not do at all.
They are interpreting the Missis-
sippi Sunday law.
This is what the Jack son Clar-
ion-Ledger has to say on the sub
ject:
The Board of Mayor Aldermen
of the city Of jackson, by a vote
OF five to four, majority of one,
has passed. an ordinance under
taking to construct the State Sun.
day law, which for arrogance. is
unprecedented in the history OF
municipal government in this
country.
\ This board has no more author,
ity to construe, oriiiterpret a State
statute than it has TO regulate the
affairs of the Chinese empire.
The ordinance undertakes to de-
fine the business occupations that
may be permitted under the State
statute, within the corporate linn
its of jackson, on Sunday. and
nothing could be more autocratlc
or absurd than this extraordinary
aldermanic effort to settle the
laws of the State for the citizens
of Jackson.
The legislature ofthe State, has
never attempted to define the
works that may be done on Sun
day, butin the most general terms
have provided that all works OF
necessity are permitted on that
day.
So that everything not within
the aldermanic dispensation is
prohibited. The street cars, under
this ordinance should be stopped,
though they are permitted to run
on Sundays, Notwithstanding the
ordnance. The bread wagons are
Interdicted, tho livery stables are
closed. A limitation is placed on
the public hacks. The undertake
ers' establishments are closed, and
according to this municipal ukase
the dead cannot be lawfully buried
on Sunday.
Lemonade, soda water, coca-co-
la and all manner of innocent
beverages are forbidden by the
ordinance. A plate of ice cream
or a piece of cake or fruit cannot
be purchased in d confectionery
establishment on Sunday, nor a
cigar, or a newspaper, so far as
the ordinance reads.
Nobody is allowed to be shaved
or to have his shoes polished on
Sunday. A tooth brush, a comb,
or tooth pick cannot be purchas-
ed on Sunday. s...r,
R All Of these things, according to
the law OF the land as decided by
the courts of the country, are per-
mitted on Sunday, but by the fiat
of the Board of Mayor and Alder
men these things are denied to
the citizens of jackson.
A hotel or restaurant cannot
sell cigar to guest on Sunday,
under the ordinance, although by
a recent decision or order of the
Mayor a hotel or restaurant may
sell cigars, but the cigar stands or
drug stores remain under the ban
OF the ordinance.
Under another recent dispensa-
tion of the Mayor, the newsboys
may sell newspapers, bnt the news
stands are not included in this act
of grace.
A citizen cannot take a drive on
Sunday unless he is rich enough
to own his own turnout. A
citizen can only use hired car
riage to go to, or from, q train.
He cannot drive to church, except
in his own equipage.
These are some Of the conditions
and absurdities of this extraordi-
nary ordinance.
If a public conveyance is not
permitted, by what authority are
the street cars dispensed from the
operations of this ordinance. If
ice is allowed by the ordinance by
what reason are iced drinks for
hidden?
The truth is that this folly is
making jackson the laughing
stock Of the State, to say nothing
Of the annoyances and inconyen-
fences to which the citizens of
the State are subjected.
The patience Of the citizens Of
jackson under this petty tyranny
is being put to q very severe test.
..---------------A~--.
While we are no apolngist for
the Governor, it appears to us
very unbecoming the manner in
which he is being watched by a
certain element of the State press
and everyact Of his jumped at like
a cat would a mouse and distortl
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