The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-04
Letters to The Editor.
Ie $. E E Is $ < * & Ss & # s & $ $
 THE SUNDAY LAW.
A Bill to Make Its Enforcement More
 Effective.

A Bill to Make Its Enforcement More
 Effective.
 Editor The Advertiser:
 On Saturday last MT. Rushton of Cren- shaw introduced the following bill into the lower House:
 A BILL
 To Prohibit the Sale of Liquor on Sunday.
 Section l. Be 1t enacted by the Legisla- ture of Alabama. That any person who shall on Sunday keep open a barroom, or other place for the sale of sprituous, spirituous, vinous or malt liquors, who shall on Sunday, sell or otherwise dis pose of such liquors or any of them, must upon conviction be fined not Nss than twenty nor more than one hundred dol lars; and may be also imprisoned in the county jail or sentenced to hard labor for the county. for not more than three months.
 Provided. That if any person is con- victed twice under this act for offenses committed within one year, such person shall also forfeit his license and be de- barred from conducting for himself or another the business of dealer in spirit uous, Vinous. or malt liquor for the pe- riod of two years after such conviction. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted that 1t shall be the duty of the clerk of the trial court. immediately after conviction. to certify to the Judge of Probate. the names of those convicted under this act, together with the dates of conviction. and the Judge of Probate must keep an accu- rate record thereof in a well bound book, kept for that purpose, and mus not issue a license to such person within two years of the date of such second conviction.
 Sec. 8. Be 1t further enacted that any Judge of Probate who issues a license contrary to the second section of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
 Sec. 1. Be it further enacted that all laws or parts of laws in conflict with any of the provisions of this act be. and the same are hereby. repealed.
 This measure. 1t occurs to me, ought to meet the appreciation of all good citi- gems. There Is nothing in the bill that will in anyway interfere with the inter- ests of any law-ab bidng citizen. Its pur- pose Is only to secure the better enforce ment of laws already existing, and which are wholesome and beneficial. Before any one can secure liquor license In Alabama he must take an oath not to keep open on Sunday. There are many men engaged in the saloon business who respect their oaths and endeavor to keep the law. These. of course, do not open their doors on Sunday. This bill does not reflect on them nor does 1t interfere with their business; the rather it pro- | tects them against an iniquitous compe- tition that injures their business and, al the same time brings it into disrepute | There are. however, a large number of saloon keepers who do not respect their | paths. but break with impunity the law | of the State that regulates their license | This Is especially true in our cities. no tably. Mobile and Montgomery. Thes' places that openly violate the law are as | a natural result, breeders of lawlessness | and the crimes that lawlessness engen- | ders. If this bill is enacted 1t will force this class of dealers in liquors to either keep their oaths and obey the law. oI l close out their business. The fear of a | forfeiture of license will act as de | terrent from violations where the pres ent law, because of it's mild penalty. has proven ineffective. I submit the propo- | sition, that any one who repeatedly and | delibeyately violates the oath by which