The Washington times., 1902-05-28
Hearing Granted by Com
nniSSiOnerS on Pro-
posed Bills.
PASTORS AND CLERKS HEARD
Views of Clergymen and Representa-
tives of Retail Clerks Associations
Widely Divergent-Effect OF Legisla-
tion on Small Merchants.

A public hearing was gives by th'
District Commissioners yesterday to ;
number OF associations. societies an'
private persons on the proposed legisla
tion for a stricter observance Of Sunda,
in Washington.
Commissioner Macfarland in, opening
the hearing stated that four lsills have
been introduced in Congress looking Il
this end. Senate bill 6SS4 and House bill
1870 are identical. each -requirn.
places OF business in the District of Co
lumbia 10 be closed on sunday" Hous,
bill 14110 and Senate bill 5562 are alst
identical-'to further protect the frs
day of the week as day of rest in tn,
District of Columbia"
1t was further stated that ;he bill:
had been referred to the Commissioners
and that the Methodist ministers meet
ing had requested a hearing on the sub.
ject before the bills should be reported
back to Congress. Since that time. Mr.
Macfarland said, the Retail Clerks AS
sociation and other bodies had mad,
similar requests. He suggested, OWNS
to the large number present, that the
speeches be limited to five minutes each
Butchers Side Presented.
Mr.. James A. Hoffman spoke for tn,
Retail Butchers Association. whicl
caused the Mcmillan bill to BE- intro
drcod Il, ropgroerH IJo -rol-o l., tcto
of closing all places of business en- Sun.
day. and gave a history of the move.
ment in other cities. particularly in New
York. MIR. Hoffman presented dat;
showing that a great number OF store.
on Pennsylvania Avenue. Seventh Street
and other streets were open for husines!
on Sunday a week ago.
Gen. A. A. Birney spoke against III,
proposed legislation, declaring that GGn,
OF the bills was predicated on the com
mand of the Lord TO keep the Sabbath
holy. He analyzed the bills, showing
that they authorized certain absolut,
prohibitions. which, in his mind. could
not be and ought not to be enforced
which he thought would more nea-l,
meet the conditions of Washington life
Many Have to Work Sundays.
General Birney called attention 10 tn,
fact that census clerks and those oi
other departments were obliged 70 worl
on Sunday. Policemen, firemeb. en-
ployes of street railroads, preachers
physicians. newspaper men and Others,
he said. work on Sunday. and he said
the proposed legislation would stop ali
this. at least. TO he consistent.
Rev. Lucien Clark, of the Methodist
ministers meeting favored the bills.
claiming that such legislation as is pro-
posed in them is needed. We do not
want an enforcement OF a Sabbath" said
Mr.. Clark, "in a religious sense. but we
do wart the rest day enforced" lie
stated that the clerks in 500 grocery
stores have to work on Sunday and de-
clared that the proposed legislation
would give them rest on Sunday. Mr..
Clark declared that it WAS possible for
all to purchase needed supplies en- Sat
ur6ay nights.
Mr.. Washburn's Protest.
Rev. ]. s. Washburn. OF the Seventh
Day Adventists. protested against the
proposed legislation as unconstitutional.
un-American, and un-Chriztian. He de-
clared that it was possible for any man
ha n
pass the law he thought would work
hardship and was unnecessary.
Mr. George r. Squires. OF the Retail
Clerks Association, defended the bills
or the ground that members OF his as
sociation were unanimous in the opin-
ion that their rights could be secured
only by some such legislation. Mr..
squires stated that the association
would accept an amendment proposed
by Commissioner Ross.
Spoke Against the Bills.
Mr.. W. A. Croffut. of the Secular
League. spoke against the bills. He
said that Washington is now one OF the
most orderly, quiet, and law-abiding
cities in the country. THE proposed
legislation is net needed he said. ard
would be in the nature OF an insult TO
the intelligence CT the community" Mr.
Crofiut produced good deal of mirth
BY showing that had the bills been in
force last Sunday the law would have
resulted in the arrest Of forty merchants.
many ministers. twenty Sevcnth-Day
kdventists. and a good many policemen
and car conductors.
Mr.. A. A. Winfield filed a paper set
ting forth the views OF the Grocers' As
sociation in favor OF tire bills.
Mr.. Louis Krisscn. dealer in handker-
chiefs and notions, stated that the pro-
posed Law would work hardship to him
self and gimilar small dealers.
To Prohibit General Work.
DIR. Ramsdell advocated Law that
would prohibit general worl; on Sunday.
and would at the same time vest dis
cretionary power in the Commissioners
TO exempt such business or class Of
business rs may soem to be necessary
Other speakers IN favor If the bill
were Rev. 5. y. Luccock and Rev. Asa
riske.
Those opposing the bills. besides the
gentlemen mentioned. were Leoa To-
briner, for orthodox Jews; Thomas W