Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-08-30
NEW JERSEY BLUE LANS.


The old blue laws' Of New Jersey
were re-enacted in modified form in 1874.
Some Of the extreme provisions were omit
ted, but enough remained in the statute to
make it offensive to common sense, and
therefore in many respects the statute has
always been dead-letter law, even mem
bers Of church freely violating it.
The Sunday law as it exists on the stat
ute book prohibits on the first day OF the
week worldly employment or business,
seryile labor or work on land or water,
shooting, fishing, sporting, hunting, gum
ming, racing, frequenting tippling houses,
theatrical performances, dancing, singing,
fddling or other music for the sake of mer-
riment, foot ball, fves, ninepins. bowls,
quoits, all kinds Of playing, sports, pas
times or diversions No person is allowed
to driye wagons or carts or to load or un-
load them. No person is allowed to openly
expose for sale any goods, wares or mer-
chandis. But milk can be transported and
sold, newspapers may be printed and sold,
and carriage riding is permitted, and the
law does not forbid work Of necessity or
mercy.
Strict enforcement Of the Sunday statute
would close all drug stores, confectionery
stores, cigar stores and other similar places;
stop all music except in the churches and
forbid all outdoor recreation, including
excursions The statute is ignored in es-
sential features by common consent, and
to that extent nearly all the population are
law-b breakers.
Ideas change with time. Not many
years ago church members walked to church
on Sunday, except IN country districts,
where long distances had to be covered.
The street cars changed all that. When
they we're introduced they were prohibited
from running on Sunday, and the people
continued to walk. Then the daring inno-
vation Of Sunday street cars was introduced
amid hot protests by sabbatarians The
protests died out, and it was not long be-
fore church congregations began TO use the
Sunday cars.
Steam railroad travelling was infrequent
on Sunday for many years. Only mail
trains we're run, and these were severely
censured by clerical sentiment. Then the
railroads increased their trains and invited
severer censure. Citizens will recall the
first Sunday trains on the Newark and New
York railroad. AS long as Samuel Sloan
was presidents Of the Lackawanna that
corporation was distinguished for two
things. It refused to run Sunday trains
and it systematically cheated the State out
Of its taxes by making false returns to the
State Comptroller. When the Sloan regime
passed away Sunday trains were introduced,
and there is now no interdict to Sunday
travel on any railroad in this State.
1t is time to revise the Sunday statute
and get rid of those features Of the law
that are obsolete and disregarded. Thirty
two years ago, when the Sunday statute
was modified, the state population was less
than million, and the rural sentiment
was all powerful in legislation. The great
majority Of population is now in the large
cities and towns, while the suburban popu-
lation exceeds the rural. Four hfths OF
New Jerseys population are opposed to a
puritanical observance Of Sunday as requir-
ed by the existing law OF the State. Why
keep up the farce Of a law that makes law
breakers Of a whole population, besides
compelling law officers to be recreant to
their sworn duties by deliberate neglect to
enforce the law ? What is the good of an
obsolete law universally disregarded and
condemned The evil Of such law is
more in evidence.
Newark Daily Advertiser.