Evening journal., 1905-02-15
81 'IE LAWS ARE
TO Be AMENDED
The Pennsylvania Legislative
Committee Hears Argu-
ments on Bill
MANY PROMINENT SPEAKERS

Harrisburg, Pa, Feb. 15.-one Of the
most notable legislative committee
meetings held at the capitol in recent
years was that Of the judiciary gem
eral committee Of the senate, which sat
listening to arguments for and against
legalizing the sale Of certain articles
on Sunday. Many men prominent on
one or the other side Of the question
were present to defend their interests.
They represented innumerable religi-
gus bodies Of the state and also busi-
ness mems organizations and labor
unions.
The bill before the committee makes
It lawful to sell drugs, medicines, soda
and mineral w~ters and other harmless
notwithstanding drinks, bread, cakes,
pastry, oysters, ice, ice cream, candy,
milk, fruit cigars and tobacco, to pre-
pare, print and sell newspapers on
Sunday"
The first speakers TO address the
committee for the bill we're c. ]. Field,
of Philadelphia; Attorneys Charles A.
| O'Brien, Pittsburg; Lincoln Eyre, Phil
adelphia, and Richard b. Scandrett,
Pittsburg. They argued that the pres
ent law works a hardship on the poor,
in that the small dealer must pay fines,
while the great corporations work
their men without being held legally
responsible; that four-fifths of the
people demand its repeal; that It is an
instrument Of persecution and oppres-
sion, and therefore intolerable, and
that the stand taken by religious bod
les is driving the people from the
churches. ,-a..t. ..a..
Rev. Charles L. Fry, of Philadelphia;
Rev. d. G. Martin, of ethe National
Reform Association; Judge w. N. Ash
man, of Philadelphia; Bishop Dubbs,
OF Harrisburg. and b Frank Carson,
OF Philadelphia opened the argument
against the bill They argued against
the repeal of the Sunday law, because
the law rests on divine decree; because
it protects the workingman and pre-
vents the employers from working him
seven days week Judge Ashman
said he realized that the law is incon-
venient to some. and added that a
law has never yet been devised that
did not cause certain amount Of in.
convenience.
Senator McNichol said Il an
strongly against any desecration Of the
Sabbath would not be a party to Il
and am not a party to II, though in.
. troduced this bill My mission in thiI
life is not to tear down the laws; moi
to desecrate the Sabbath, but to lool
after the welfare Of my wife and chill
dren."
Speaking further, Mr. McNichol sale
he was happy to think that he wal
able to employ 1000 men. Picturinl
the life of a workingman from sunris
Monday until sunset Saturday. ever!
day day Of toll he said that tn,
workman should have some libert!
and be able to enjoy a few comfort
on Sunday along with his wife ant
children.
Continuing. he said, 1--WE member
OF the legislature are sent here to en-
act laws for the betterment of the pco
pie Of the commonwealth. I ask bu
two things of this committee-eithe
repeal the blue laws or pass a Law
which will compel every citizen Il
! strictly live up to them"
The committee took no action on tn
bill. nor has a meeting been called Il
, consider it. A member of the commit
. tee said that a majority of the mem
. bers are against the bill.