Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-19
THE SUNDAY LAW
Enforcement Placed in Hands
Of City Marshal.
City Council Holds Busy Session and
Does Much Business.
Assessor c. w. Jones Resions-suc.
ceeaed by Roscoe &. Penney.

me monthly meeting Of the CITY
so'erhhent was OF more than usual
interest, last evening, because Of two
matters which came before II ami
chiied forth quito Il number Of snact,.
Tors. The chief topic of interest was
'he subject OF closing the fruit and
caiidF stores. or. more strictly sneak
HlS, the enforcement OF the so-culled
sunday law. The other subject fo;.
'"hlcn the audience Ea1 their ears to tn
ground, was the election Of an asses.
sOr.
The meeting was little tar,lv in
being called to order but as the read
ing of the records of the previous
meeting IVES dispensed with. the time
io7t vas reduced to a minimum. and
once started, the train of business vas
Kept moving.
Alderman Marley, OF Ward 6. took
the initiative. with an order that the
mayor and the city treasurer be au-
th0riZed and directed to execute and
deliver to Thomas J. Lynch, trustee
Tor w. +. Peva. quitclaim deed of
the real estate occupied by said Pcva
ana sold for taxes OF 1888 to 1892. both
inclusive. ana bid i'll by the city of
Augusta, and the order was given a
passage.
Alderman Hall, Of Ward 8, then pre-
scented the monthly roll Of accounts. No.
!. amounting to $3032.59, which was
duly approved, following which the
mayor read the report of Bridge IN
spector Moses Il. Leighton. in which
Mr.. Leighton stated that the bridge
Was in a good condition. but would
need painting in another year and also
offered Il number of good suggestions
which would add materially to the
number of years of its continuance as
a public thuroughfare for man ana
beast. This report, too. was unani-
mously accepted.
Tn" mayor was directed to draw his
warrant in the sum of $305.59. in favor
CT II. ]. Noyes, and one for $685. III
favor Of Malcolm & Dyer. on account
OF repairs At tht isolation hospital. and
to charge the same to the contingent
fund.
Then came the principal event of the
eVcnine-the settlement of the GuCs-
Sunday law. OF course. it is but JUS
ticc to the members OF the council to
say that they We're familiar with that
particular piece: Of legal antiquity. but
th2rc was others present whose knnWl-
edge OF it and its teachings were very
misty.
The Gus Stion lacked not of support.
It vas known that an action in favor
of its enforcement had been taken at
the different churches. Sunday. and
seven petitions were presented at the
meeting. last evening, from the pastors
Of the following churches. as follows:
Methodist. Episcopal, Uriversalist
Baptist. Free Baptist. Catholic an6
ConGro gational. There WAS also o.
from the W. c. L. U. These were res.>
by the city clerk. There were ais,
present, OF the clergymen, Roy. II. Il.
Dun'Iack Of the Methodist, Rev. Nor
man Mckinnon OF tn" Congregational,
and Rev. c. G.. Mosher of the Free
BAPTIST church. and all spoke earnest
il in favor of the enforcement Of the
law
City Solicitor Maher, in order to en-
tighten those who did not already know
The text Of the law. read from Chapter
l.. o. tho Revised Statutes. the 10Th
section, which is as follows:
Sec. 20. Whoever. on the Lords
Day, keeps Cnen his shop, work house,
warehouse, or place Of business. trav-
els, OF does any work, Labor. or bust
ness on that day. except works
Of necessity or charity; uses any game.
sport or recrcation: or is present at
any dancing. public diversion. show. or
entertainment. encouraging the same,
shall be punished by fine not exceeding
ten dollirg.''
Tho Interpretation of that law i'll its
literal sense when it was enacted.
might have been we'll enough at that
time. but it is hardly in keeping with
the needs and requirements of the
human race il this, the Goth century.
ard while all law abiding citizens de-
sire that tbs sabbath shall BE- properly
observed it was not the opinion Of the
board of aldermen that the enforce
m"nt OF the law according to the text,
would be of great moral advantage to
the city. a number OF questions We're
asked, as to what effect it would have
in different ways. and then. upon mo-
ton OF Mr. Manlcy. the petitions We're
referred to the city marshal.
A petition against hitchinE horses
OH Church street. except during church
services, was read, and by vote. re-
fcrred to the city marshal.
In accordance with an order passed
Nov. Il, instructinS the mayor to APP
point a committee to purchase land
for d public park. the committee was
appointed as follows: Aldermen Hall,
Cloutier and Mason; Ccuncilmcn Far
rinEton, pishou and Thcbergc.
The resignation of c. w. Jones. as
assessor. was rendered, and upon its
acceptance the boards met in joint con-
vention, for the purpose of electing
successor. to serve until the eXpira-
ton of the term. There were two caii-
didates. Roscoe G. Penney, and Henry
A. Heath. In the ballet, Mr.. Penney
received Is of the Is votes cast, and