The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-03-07
PROPOSED
SUNDAY Law

Rep. E. w. Quinn OF the Fourth Dis
trict. introducer of the new Sunday law
hill in the House, makes the following
statement in support of the same:
The bill now before the House amends
only Section $3.50 and 31s1 of our copies
of the Revised Statutes of Hawaii,
adopted by us, which were Sections 1
and 2 of Act IS, of the Laws Of 1885.
The amendments proposed are not in
any sense of the word radical, for much
of the law as it now stands has been
practically a dead letter for years un-
til given life again with certain official
changes which recently took place in
these Islands.
We had, until recently, what is COM
monty called common sense Sunday
a Sunday similar to that found in most
of the Western States and in the great
er portion of the Union. Until recently.
we could buy cigar or a glass OF soda
at any time during the day. We could
get shaved at any time during the
morning and we did not realize how
foolish and absurd our Sunday law was
until it was enforced.
The easiest way to secure the repeal
or amendment of harsh law Is to en-
force 1t. This has been done and we
have realized the full measure of it's
strictness and it is fitting and proper
that it now be amended so as to con-
form to common sense ideas.
Section / of this bill amends Section
1880 of the Revised Statutes, as follows:
No change is made in the present law
down to the word provided" in line
s. The amended section proposed IN
this bill then provides that there shall
be no restriction on such public con-
veniences as telegraph, telephone, cleo
trio light, gas, steamship and railroad
companies, no restriction on the bui
ness of hackmen or the operating of
shore boats.
l might say, in this connection, that
so far as this amendment goes there
is no restriction enforced against this
class of public conveniences today, and
so far as this bill goes it does not alter
the present condition of affairs; but
by inserting just what are are consid-
cred public conveniences it does away
with any discretion or preference of the
official, and makes 1t more satisfactory
for all concerned.
This bill provides also that cigar
stores, ice cream parlors and soda wa
ter stands may be kept open through
out the day, and in this respect 1t al
lows condition similar to what ex-
listed here until very recently.
So far as hotels, restaurants and drug
stores are concerned, this bill makes no
change in the present law, As they are
now permitted to serve the public on
Sunday. 1t also makes no change in
the present law in regard 20 the SELL
ing and delivery of fresh meat anu
fresh fish, but adds to that provision
the selling and delivery of fresh fruit
and fresh vegetables. This amendment
permits these perishable goods to be
sold until o'clock in the morning.
Instead of restricting the sale and
delivery of milk to that portion OF the
day before 8 o'clock in the morning and
after o'clock in the afternoon, it pro-
vides that it may be sold and delivered
throughout the entire day. This amend
ment allows barber shops to be kept
open until IL o'clock in the morning
instead of only until as at present
In this matter i have personally In
terviewed many of the local BARRIERS
and they were unanimous in requesting
that they be permitted to keep their
shops open until IL in the morning
and stated that unless this was done
they would prefer to close for the an
tire day, as they are doing at present
( The bill provides that slaughter
houses shall not be restricted as to
working hours and 1t puts no restric-
ton on farmers, graziers and ranch
men. If I am not mistaken, this Sec
ton does not change present condi-
lions.
So that there shall be no interference
with Interstate or foreign commerce
the loading and unloading of vessels is
permitted on Sunday, but to prevent
any annoyance to the community the
draying of freight from the wharves IL
not permitted. This bill leaves the Law
in regard to the transfer of persona
baggage as 1T exists today.
The only other section of the Law
which 1t attempts to alter is Section
1891 of the Revised Statutes which was
Section 2, of Act SO, Session Laws OF
1886. 1t amends that present law by
striking out all of that portion OF Sec.
tion 1891 that restricts absolutely the
carrying on of public amusements
sports, shows and games, and 1t sim.
ply provides that no game, sport Oh
show shall be so conducted as to ere
ate common nuisance, that is, while
permitting amusements and games or
Sunday, 1t requires that they shall bt
carried on in such manner as not t
offend the decency, the quiet and re-
pose of the community. This change
is consistent with modern ideas of Sun
day observance.
In connection with this bill I wan
to state that we must consider al
classes of the community. The mechan
ic and working man. for instance, wh'
works hard throughout the week, doei
not have time to take part in or at
tend a baseball or football game OF
Saturday, and he should be allowed Il