The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-10-17
CONTRIBUTED

~
The STAR Is glad at all times to give space
to contribution Of general interest from lts
readers and invites the free expression ol
personal opinion.
EDITOR STAR
Dear Sir:-Tn last weeks issue OF the
Folunteer an article appeared under the
heading Of. Candy making must he
profitable" which evidently emana:ed
from the pen of the BURGESS OF our mu-
nicipality.
II it were not for the fact that he
openly used my name in connection with
his literary effort, and. by %innuendo, at
least, i~nsinuated that | was conducting
my business dishonesty, | would per-
NIT it to pass unnoticed. But in justice
to myself | feel that | should publicly
refute the above mentioned charge and
say to the author that l challenge him
to produce any dishonesty, over-charge
or unfair dealing whatsoever between
the Reynoldsville Candy Company and
any of its customers. He goes on to
say that | have infracted the Sunday
laws OF the Commonwealth or three diff
erent occasions and for so doing have
paid out in fines about twenty dollars.
That statement is correct, | have paid
these bills the same as I discharge all
my just obligations. Does the author
object to this principle?
Another charge made against me is,
that he has kept his store open for
three Sundays and contrary to the
specific request of the authorities
What authorities? | have been mott
fed by the burgess TO c.0se up my place
OF business. | consulted my attorney
as to the authority OF the burgess to
issue an order of that nature and he in
formed me that it is no more the duty
of that Uffic al nor does be have any
more authority to issue an order of that
nature than does any private cit,z4n.
He advised me that the Sunday law Is
a part Of the criminal law of the Com
monwealth. over which the burgess can
exercise no jurisdiction. His duty is
to inforce the ordinances and bylaws of
the borough and when he attempts to
arrogate to himself jurisdiction of the
criminal law Of the commonwealth, he
is assuming an authority not delegated
to him by the legislature of our state.
II the burgess made an honest effort
to cause all to obey the Sunday law,
then he might be commended for his
act. But when he selects a certain
individual to be punished for doing
what others are permitted to do, then
he is not acting in good faith and is
denying to one ia square deal" Run
ming street cars nn sunday has been held
to be unlawful, yet they are permitted
to be operated in our borough. Selling
newspapers on the Sabbath is prohibit
ed-have the authorities" made any
''specific request" to discontinue this in
Reynoldsville on Sunday? Hiring a
livery rig other than for a work of
charity or a work of necessity, is I'M
lawful. Have the ''authorities' made
any effort to curb this? So | might go
on and multiply examples of special
privileges extended by the author
ities.n
The Sunday law is not a late act of
the Assembly, but, l Am informed, has
been in effect for many years. Under
its provisions any one making a pur-
chase on Sunday is as much a law
breaker as the party selling. The bur-
CESS, previous to his making the
specific request" above mentioned, has
found it convenient to visit my place
and make purchases on the day which
the law says it is unlawful to do so.
Respectfully,
JOHN P. ATHENIAN,