Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-12
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE
ACTION TAKEN ON PROPOSED
LEGISLATION.
Memoranda Giving Record of Commits
sioners' Office Since 1894-The
Pending Measures.

With the view of guiding the Commits
soners of the District of Columbia in their
consideration of the bills relating to Sun
day legislation. a memorandum has been
PREPARED at the District building showing
the action taken on the subject locally
since the year 1894, as follows:
April 10; 1894. the board made an adj
verse report on Senate bill 1923 and House
bill 621J. To further protect the first day
of the week. commonly called Sunday, as
day of rest and worship In the District of
Columbia The superintendent of police.
in reporting on the bill. stated that there
was good order in the city on Sunday, and
that there were 30 per cent fewer arrests
made on that day than any other day of
the week. and he knew of no necessity for
further legislation on the subject. The at
torDey for the District, in an opinion, stat
ed that from the report of the superintend
ent of police and the strong healthy public
sentiment in favor of the observance of the
Sabbath day, he was of the opinion that
there was no necessity for further legsla-
ton on the subject.
Provisions Of the Measure.
March u. 1896. the board reported on
House bill 1877, with the same title the
one previously mentioned. In their report
the Commissioners stated that If enacted
into law and strictly construed. it would
make it unlawful to hire any kind Of a We
hcle to deliver ice. milk or to sell mineral
waters on Sunday. 1t would prevent the sale
of Sunday newspapers and all work IN
newspaper offices in the preparation of the
Monday editions of newspapers. 1t would
also prevent the opera ton Of street rail-
ways, the sale of steamboat and railroad
tickets and the use of the telephone and
telegraph. They stated that they did not
believe that any other city in the United
COlll better record
peaceful and orderly observance of Sunday
than Washington.
May II. 1886, the board in reporting on
Senate bill 24S.1. on the motion of Comm!s-
sioner Truesdel. suggested the following
amendment: This act shall not be con-
strued to prevent the sale of refreshments
other than malt and sp!rftuous liquors or
to prevent the sale of malt and spirituous
liquors as now provided for by law. or to-
bacco, cigars. railroad or steamboat tick
cts, or the collection and delivery Of bag
gage.
Bill Proposed in 1897.
May II. 1897, the Commissioners re-
ceived from the Senate committee on the
District of Columbia bill that was intro
duced by Senator Mcmillan, TO further pro-
tect the first day of the week a day of
rest in the District of Columbia This bill
contained the amendment suggested in the
preceding paragraph. and the Commission
returned the bill with their approval
and recommended it's enactment
December -, 1897 the Commissioners re-
Ceived for examination and report House
bin 1915, which was a duplicate Of the pre-
ceding, and they made a similar report.
The Commissioners have taken no action
on Sunday bills since 1897. until the pres
ent year. The bills proposed in Congress
are now in the hands of Captain Newcomer,
acting Engineer Commissioner. and are be-
ing considered by him prior to the framing
of the report by the board"