Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-28
ONE MERCHANTS VIEW
WANTS FORMER DEPARTMENTAL
HOURS RESTORED.
Suggests That Business Men Will Be
Obliged to Keep Stores
Open Sunday.

In a communication received today by
The Star a merchant OF the city expresses
concern over the effect on the business in
terests of Washington which he thinks will
result from the rule adopted by the gov
eminent departments requiring clerks TO
remain at their work until 40 pm. each
day The writer desires information as to
whether there Is a law prohibiting the
opening of stores and shops on Sundays
The communication declares that unless
the merchants are allowed to keep open
Sundays or unless the department hours
are changed to those formerly in force,
from m to pm. the merchants Will
be compelled to go into bankruptcy" Shop
ping after 4:30 o'clock in the afternoon. II
is declared, Is altogether unsatisfactory.
IF we are allowed to keep open Sundays
says the writer ut would IN a measure In
crease our receipts and maybe prevent nnal
ruin"
There is no law in the District of Column
bia that requires any places of business.
excepting bar rooms and barber shops, to
remain closed on Sundays. Every store In
the city, 1t is declared. has legal right to
remain open and in fun blast for the trans
action of business seven days out of the
week, IL the proprietor so desires. The
only thing. perhaps. which prevents the
general practice of keeping the business es-
Establishments open on Sundays is public
sentiment which, in Washington, II Is con-
sidered operates with almost great eff
fectiyeness in this case as would an act OF
Congress specifically prohibiting Sunday
opening.
No Law to Prevent.
In so far as the stores and shops are con-
cerned. 1.-The lid is or in Washington.
should any proprietor desire to keep open.
In the case of a number of small stores
throughout the city the Sabbath day is not
NlNe boz f,V-h
ness seven days In the week. There Is no
bar to the Sunday opening. excepting the
sentiment of the people Of the community.
which may be said to constitute I'M
written law. There are no specific pro-
visions in the statutes OF the District
against the opening of theaters or against
Sunday base ball in the District. There Is
a provision. however. in the police regula-
lions which prohibits the raising and low
ering of curtains In theaters, and this
would prevent the giving of theatrical
performance. perhaps. IL the managers de-
sired to keep open on that day. In the
case of Sunday base ball IL is believed that
the police could prevent games OF that
character the ground Of bOisterous and
disorderly assembly. However, there are
no specific laws which declare that theaters
or ball parks shall not be opened on Sun
day.
Protest Against Prohibitive Measure.
In the past numerous efforts have been
made to secure the enactment OF laws In
the District prohibiting Sunday opening of
stores and business establishments These
efforts have met with strong opposition
from proprietors OF small stores and mar
kets. and also from the members of those
religious denominations which observe Sat-
urday as the Sabbath.
When Congress was in session about a
year ago a bill was presented providing
that stores and other business establish
ments should remain closed Sundays. ex-
cepting during the summer months Of the
year, when the stores could be kept open
a certain period during the morning for the
delivery of meats and supplies purchased
prior to Sunday. 1t was argued that some
classes Of people in the District could not
afford to keep ice boxes in which to store
their meats and other perishable food stuffs
and that 1t would be hardship to deprive
these persons of the opportunity to have
foodstuffs delivered Sundays.
This bill was approved by the Commits
soners, but ii did not meet with the ap-
prevail of Congress and was never en-
acted. Since that time there has been no
further active effort to obtain legislation
requiring Sunday closing in the District