The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-15
Measures Considered by
the District Com
mlSSl0nerS.
PUBLIC TO BE HEARD MAY II
Everybody Will Be Given an Opportunity
10 Express Opinions as to the Lesisla-
tion Deemed Neccssary-Niews of Com
missioners Ross and Biddle.
nllSSlonerS

tectTe Association and a number Of
eiergymen of the city and Others are ac-
tiNeiy agitating the question of the clos
ing OF all places of business on Sunday,
except drug stores and dining rooms.
several ILLS nave been introduced in
congress on the subject, and these are
now before the District Commissioners
Tor consideration and report
win view TO allowing all who may
wish to give expression TO their opinions
upon the subject, the Commissioners have
appointed public hearing for Tuesday.
May q, at II o'clock a. m.
One of the proposed measures which the
commissioners have considered is Senate
Dill 1894, requiring places of business in
me District of Columbia to be closed on
sunday" This bill provides that it shall
oe unlawful for any person, firm, or cor
porauon In the District of Columbia to
Keep open any place of business for the
sale OF any goods. wares. and merchan-
Use or articles of profit on the Sabbath
oay-commonly called Sunday-excepting
dining and lunch rooms. and apothecaries
ior the dispensing of medicines, and I'M
oertakers for the purpose of providing
Ior the burial of the dead, or others for
purposes Of charity or necessity"
Commissioner mcfarland moved that
this bill be reported favoraDIy TO Con-
gress. but with this view his colleagues
did not agree thinking the proposed law
too stringent. Commissioner Ross gave
expression to his ideas on the subject. as
follows, Commissioner Biddle agreeing
with him.
Mr. Ross Recommendation.
When bill similar to the present one
was under consideration by the Board of
Commissioners in 1896, Commissioner
Truesdell offered an amendment thereto
which in my judgment. would be a very
appropriate amendment to the present
Dill. and would tend in a great measure TO
allay the objections of vast number of
people who would regard the till in it's
present form as intolerably oppressive /
move, therefore, that the Commissioners
recommend that the following amendment
be made to the accompanying bill: Strike
out lines z. s. 8 and 10, beginning with
word necessity. and insert in lieu thereof
the following: Except for the sale of
medicines, cigars, tobacco, newspapers.
meals and refreshments, other than malt
or spurious liquors; and for the purposes
of charity and necessity
Another proposed measure Is Senate
bill 5563. Ito further protect the first day
of the week as a day of rest in the Dis
trict OF Columbia This bill excerpts
vendors Of books or newspapers, and
apcthecaries and undertakers. prohibits
the pfaying OF baseball or football or any |
other kind of games. sports. pastimes or
diversions disturbing the peace and quiet
of the day: also building operations and
railway construction.
Again Commissioner mcfarland recon- 4
mended favorable report on the measure
while Commissioners Ross and Biddle ex-
pressed their views in the following in
dorsemeni. written by the former:
Sabbath Is Respected.
For many years there has been prac-
tically no Sunday law in existence in this
District, except the one which prohibits
the sale of liquor and that which pro-
hibits the opening OF barber shops The
liquor law is strictly observed / believe
that the law prohibiting the opening of
barber shops should be modified go as TO /
permit such shops TO open. in hotels at
least, until noon on Sundays
Throughout the entire District the I
first day of the week is respected; and
no vacations are carried on, TO nv
knowledge. which cause complaint or an
noyance TO the people have not heard
that the public playing of baseball or
football has caused annoyance to
anyone. Building operations or work
upon railroad construction do not
prevail. except in cases of emergency;
and / think that such exceptions should I
be permitted to continue
I'm other words. without any law the
people OF the District of Columbia re-
spect the Sabbath day, and do rot engage 1
in their vacations. except in a few in
stances, which seem TO be In accord with |
public sentiment, such as the opening of
tobacco stores, florist establishments.
newstands, apothecaries, etc 1t seems 10
me that that condition is preferable
which secures such a creditable state of
affairs without punitive legislation
My own conclusion is that there is not
now a situation grave enough to demand
the proposed legislation"
The circular letter which the Commits
sioners are receiving from various sources
through the agency OF the Retail Clerks
Association is as follows:
Protest of Clerks.
Eve respectfully call your attention 10
The large number of dry Aoods clothing.
Shoe and gentlemen's furnishing stores
who keep their places Of business open on
Sunday. This action cannot be justified
by the proprietors of these establish
nents as an emergency. as the different
lines OF goods which they handle are sold
throughout the entire week, and until a
late hour on Saturday night.
I'VE protest against this species of
sabbath breaking, and ask your honor
able body to take such steps as may be
necessary 10 eliminate this evil
I'VE feel assured that yourselves. as
well as the general 1ublic of Washington.
have no idea OF the extent TO which this
Sunday business Is carried On, and be-
Iieve that an investigation on your part
will be startling in the extreme"
Copies OF this letter have been sent 10
the Commissioners by the following or
international Brotherhood
~ Book Binders, Local Union No 4;
BAKERS Union lis: United brotherhood of
Carpenters. Local Union 1870; Iron Mold
ers' Union, No. 2l5; International Union
stationary Engineers, Local Il: Musi-
clans Protective Union. Local l61; Wood
Wire and Metal Lathers' International
Union, No. 3.
Letters From Clergymen.
The following ministers have sent in
u @ |