Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-08
SOME STORES ARE ALWAYS OPEN
Ministers and Laymen Submit. Views
Matter Will Be Held Open
Several Days.

side would be heard, each would be limited
to five minutes In bringing out the points.
When the hearing ended Commissioner
Macfarland said that several days would
De allowed before report on the measure
is sent to Congress, to permit Others who
wish to do soto send their views in writ
ing to the Commissioners. Several times
1t was necessary to ask the speakers to
confine themselves to discussion of the
general provisions of the proposed bill.
it being stated that the hearing was for
the benefit of the Commissioners. and not
for the information of the public, and
to enable them to make comprehensive
and enlightened report on all sections ana
phases of the measure.
This bill expresses the mind of the Epis-
copal church. said Rev DR.. McKim, land
while have no right to speak for other de-
nominations, I am sure 1t expresses their
sentiments as we'll. 1t aims at two things.
the protection of the laborer. so that the
workman may observe the day of rest-and
1t Is further contemplated that the day be
protected against merchandising. For the
Lords day to be turned into day OF labor
in this city is unfortunate
Il oppose one clause of it." Mr.. Hoffman
said, '-and l represent the Master Butchers
Association. This bill makes one man inn
mune and COnvicts another With his clause
Included it would be class legislation Mr..
Hoffman read the section which relates to
permitting man to labor on the Sabbath
DAY II he uniformly Keeps anOtnef Qdy OF
the week asq a day of rest.
General William Birney, who appeared
among the Professionals, said that he OBJ
jected to the second clause of the preamble,
and he declared that there was no evidence
to show that anyone had been injured under
the operation of existing laws.
Religious Liberty Bureau.
Representing the Religious Liberty Blu
reau of the Seventh Day Adventist general
conference, II. H. Russell said:
II have been a member of the class who
have observed the seventh day of the
week for twenty-five years. and 1 have
never been in a city where Seventh Day
have objected to honorable toll
on Saturday 1 regard it as degrading to
the Sabbath to bring it into politics. 1t Is
a backward step
{ Il represent the Methodist Preachers
League" Rev j. c. Nicholson said, land
that / represent fully $1,000 residents of
the capital. This bill does not specify how
the Sabbath shall be observed. Just as we
have an eght-hour law to specify the hours
of labor so this might be called a six-day
law
'I am opposed to this bill on general
grounds. because it trenches on religious
legislation" w. w. prescott said. Most
of the states have some form of Sunday
law but the United States legislature has
heretofore stood clear of such action.
Even Russia has issued manifesto de-
claring for religious liberty, and 1t would
be q virtual tearing down of freedoms
banner, under which we live, II any SUCH
legislation as is proposed is enacted"
Rev j. G. Butler of the Luther Memorial
Church said that he desired only to present
his personal views and the. support of the
Lutheran Church toward the. measure. He
consumed only two minutes OF the time,
and Mrs. Margaret l. Ellis OF the w. Z. L.
u was allowed the remaining three min
utes due the advocates side in the discus
sion.
Religious Editors Views.
.sYou cannot make anything criminal un-
der this law except as any act relates to
the day" declared Rev. A. II. Lewis OF
Plainfield N j., editor of the Religious
Observer He deprecated the attempt TO
bring this matter into the arena of politics.
ut was settled by Congress between 1919
and $780, he continued, lin connection
with their arrangement of the postal sery-
ice of the country" In closing he sug-
gested, If any bill at all is deemed neces-
sary that one be introduced in Congress
that would be permissive and not arbitrary,
so as to allow rest but not compel idenes5
Labor is able to take care of ITSELF
Rabbi Simon declared, and he cited the
powerful labor organizations of the country
which he said are more and more becoming
a dominating factor and not at all in need
of the officious ministrations of the advo-
Gates of the measure. THE church Is
tyrannous force" he added, when evolu-
ton is more and more toward the Jewish
idea of Sunday instead of the PuritanicaI
idea brought over to this country by the
early settlers. First came creation, and
then the so-ealled seventh day for re-crea-
tion-hence for recreation.
why make an exception in this bill, If
so much Is to be prohibited. Why allow
the tobacco dealer to keep open his shop
and compel the clothing merchant to close.
Il
this measure can offer such concessions"
Much interest was manifested by the
Commissioners in the statements made by
D. F. Manning, who represented the Retail
Clerks Association. He argued that the
members of his organization. while of prac-
tically all nationalities and all religious
beliefs, were interested in favoring the
passage OF the Allen Sunday closing bill
because they saw in 1t the possibility of
securing one day of rest each week for
many of their members who are now COM
PEELED to labor on Sundays and weekdays
alike.
Stores. Open Sunday.
Asked by Commissioner West what stores
in the District were open on Sundays MIR.
Manning said that nearly all of the shops
on 18th street north of New York avenue,
majority of the stores in Georgetown, many
in Southwest and Southeast Washington,
and not few in Northeast Washington
practically never closed their doors. He
referred the Commissioners to report on
the subject made by Major Sylvester about
three years ago.
"Seven-day workers are poor work.
ers," he declared, and in reply to another
question he estimated that the number of
clerks now employed in the District every
Sunday would be between 1000 and 1000.
Commissioner mcfarland asked him
whether the Retail Clerks Association
was affiliated with the allied organiza-
lions of labor in this city, and Mr.. Man.
ming replied that 1t was, and that this
affiliation had undoubtedly aided the re-
tail clerks materially in securing freedom
on Sunday for such of their nun ber as
had induced their employers to keep
closed shop on that day.
c. A. Foer, who introduced himself as
representing the grocers clerks argued
along the same line. and declared that a
majority of the grocers' clerks In the Dis
trict of Columbia were working leo hours
a week. from am. to 8 am. and pm.
every day: ON Saturday until midnight and
on Sundays from 8 am. until and 5
o'clock In the afternoon.
why, one OF the men told me the other
day." the speaker said. that hts wife had
to Introduce him to his own children. be-
cause he was ALWAYS home After they hal