Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-12-30
CRIMINAL SUNDAY LABOR

There have been many Complaints Ut
late from several sources, Of the ylola-
lion Of tho law against unnecessary iS-
b,r IN the sabbath day. Work Is beng
done on buildings, trenches are dug in
street. and some contractors IN their
endeayors to complete what they have
agreed to finish by a given time app
peei to be ignorant Of the law on ms
matter or else to openly defy It, We
therefore, call attention to the statute
which is sull ON the books and which
ought to be reasonably enforced Sec
ton ASS Of the Revised Statutes OF
Utah says
every person who performs any I'M
necessary labor or does any unneces-
sar, business ON Sunday, Is guilty OF a
mlsdemeanor and shall be fined In any
sum not exceeding $50.
''sec. 1929 Exception Labor per-
formed by employees OF such works os
are usually kert In constant operation,
and in hrlgatng, Is not included IN
the foregoing section.
sec. 42lO When sunday begins and
ends. For the purposes OF TINS aCt,
Sunday shall commence at mldnlght
Saturday, and terminate the following
midnight.
Sec l93l-Eyery person who Keeps
open on Sunday any store, workshop,
bar saloon, banking house, or other
place OF business, for the purpose OF
transactlng business therein, Is pun
ishable By fine not less than s. nor more
than Sl0O
"Sec. 1896 Exceptions. The proyl-
slons Of the preceding section do not
apply to persons who on sunday Keep
open hotels, boarding houses, baths,
restaurants, tayerns, livery stables, or
retail drug stores, for the legitimate
business Of each, or such manufacturing
establishments as are usually kept In
continued operation
There Is q separate provision against
lIquor traffic on Sunday, contained in
section 1860, which imposes a penalty Of
line IN any sum less than $500, or Inn
prisonment IN the county jail not ex-
ceeding six months, or both such fine
and Imprisonment at the discretion of
the court on any person who shall,
Sell, give away, or otherwise dispose
Of any intoxicating drink at any time
during the first day Of the week, COM
monty called Sunday, except for medical
purposes upon the prescription Of a
physician"
The law on these points is clear and
specific It may be easily understood.
Proceedings can be taken against any
person guilty Of It's infractlon in either
particular Not only are employers who
keep men at work unnecessarily on
Sunday liable to prosecution, but also
the laborers engaged IN that work. Peo-
pie who have a religious regard for
the Sabbath are scandalized by the OPP
en- defiance or ignoring Of the law, and
consider bad example Is placed before
the eyes Of Sunday school children who
are taught to Remember the Sabbath
day to keep It holy" and then see men
at work on that day the same as OH
any other day Of the week,
The law IL not founded upon any pur-
itanlcal rules or obseryances, but Is
broad enough in It's letter and spirit tC
give such liberty as Is necessary In
cases Of emergency or reasonable ne
cessity 1t is the persistent and need
less violation Of the Sunday laws that Is
complained against, and to which We
direct the attention Of employers and
employees, with the hope that It viii not
become necessary to push the matter
before the courts, or to urge the laws
enforcement upon the peace officer,
whose duty It is to proceed against tho
transgressors