Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-02-18
SUNDAY CLOSING.
Question Sought TO be Solved by
House Bill No. SO.
PROVIDES FOR LOCAL OPTION.

'h 80 ~ Cbo ~
Speaker M%ontoya and commonly
known as the local option bill, is at
tracing general attention throughout
the territory.
The bill mas been most carefully
drawn" said Mr.. Montoya. "by attor-
neys who have e~ndeavored to make it
legally perfect. 1t has been carefully
considered and is, l believe, the solu-
ton Of the Sunday question. It leaves
to each community the right to say
what shall and what shall not be done
within the limits of the community.
Its provisions have been generally
discussed and agreed upon and | be-
lieve the bill will be passed as it
ought TO pass
The bill is known as house bill No.
AS, and the first section provides that
when a petition signed by at least 100
qualified voters of any county who live
outside the corporate limits of any city
or town, is presented to the county
commissioners, that body shall order
an election within forty days, to be
held in the same manner as a general
election, to determine whether or not
the sale of intoxicating liquors and the
carrying on of ordinary business pur-
suits shall he permitted on Sunday.
The elections shall not be held within
sixty days of any general election, but
shall be separate and distinct from
any other election. The same course
shall be followed in regard to cities
and towns and the petition in that
case shall be presented to the city
council or board of trustees. Frauds
perpetrated in such special elections
shall be punished as provided in the
present laws governing general cleo
lions and the result of the special cleo
lions may be contested as is now
provided for by law. Notice of the
special election shall be published in a
ton in the city or town, for four con-
secutive weeks and the last insertion
shall be within ten days of the day ap-
pointed for the election. At auy
such election those who favor prohibit
ing the buying, selling or trading of
goods, wares, merchandise, spirituous
and intoxicating liquors. including
wine and beer, the keeping open and
carrying on Of any business, shops,
stores, offices and places Of business,
and the doing OF all worldly work and
labor, the pursuits Of ones ordinary
mercy, religion and necessity ex-
cepted, on Sunday, shall have written
on their ballots For Sunday Closing
those opposed to it shall have
Against Sunday Closing" If the ma
iority of votes be against Sunday clos
ing, it is made lawful to carry on any
business on Sunday. If the majority
is for Sunday closing then the result of
the election shall DE published for four
consecutive weeks in some newspaper
and thirty days from the date of the
last publication it shall unlawful to
carry on any business on Sunday.
When the question is once decided by
a county, city or town. it shall not be
again submitted for four years. Sun
day is legally defined as extending
from midnight Saturday night to mid
night Sunday night. The penalty pro-
vided is a fine of not less than $50 or
imprisonment for from five to thirty
days. The fines shall go to the school
fund. In case of necessity farmers
and gardeners shall be permitted to ir-
| rigate their lands and. when necessary
to save same, to remove grain and
other products from the fields on Sun
day. Nothing in the act is to be con-
strued as preventing cooks, walters,
and other employees of hotels, restau.
rants and boarding houses or per
sons engaged in the necessary opera
ton of railroads, street cars or other
public conveyances, from following
their necessary duties on Sunday. The
present laws are repealed.
There is nothing in the bill to pre-
vent sports such as base ball, races,
etc, on Sunday, and they will be per
mitted.