The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-07-30
BLUE LAWS" dug UP
Observance of Sabbath May
Be Strictly Enforced.
RETURN TO DAYS OF PURITANs
Lodged Against John IL.
Houser Causes Corporation Counsel
L. II. Thomas 10 Delve Deeply Into
Legal LOre-FOrbIds Every Kind OF
Recreation and work on sunday.

Conditions in Washington will resemble
those prevailing in the early days Of
Salem. Mass. If the Police Court upholds
the law under which an information is
to be issued to-day for the arrest OF
John H. HOuser. a contractor Incl
dentany, II found guilty, Mr.. Houser VIII
be reduced to the necessity OF making
a raid on a tobacco warehouse, as the
penalty provided for the offense-that Of
working on Sundays DO pounds Of to-
bacco
Application was recently made 70 AS
sistant Corporation Counsel James L.
Pugh for an information for the arrest
of Mr. Houser upon the charge that he
had engaged in work upon the Sabbath,
but before issuing the same Mr.. Pugh
submitted the case 20 the corporation
counsel, f. II. Thomas, for considera-
ton.
Resurrects Ancient Law.
That official. after deiving deeply fri
the legal lore pertaining 20 such o.
lenses against the law and order of the
community. discovered in the Maryland
act OF I723 the following section:
NO person whatsoever shall work or
do any bodily labor on the Lords Day,
commonly called Sunday, and no person
having children. servants. or slaves shall
command. or willingly or unwiuingly SUI
fer any Of them TO do any manner OF
work or labor on the Lords Day works
OF necessity or charity always excepted /;
nor shall suffer or permit any children.
servants. or slaves TO profane the Lords
Day 10y gaming. fishing. fowling hunting
or unlawful pastimes. or recreatiOns; and
that every person transgressing this act.
and being thereof convicted by the oath
OF one sufficient witness. or confession Of
the party before the police court ca single
magistrate shall forfeit 200 pounds OF to-
bacco 10 be levied and applied as afore-
said"
The situation thus presented" says the
corporation counsel seems 10 call for
legislation or test IN the courts.
Days of FOrefathers.
In the event that Mr. Houser is con-
victed and the law thereafter enforced,
the citizens Of the Capital City Of this
glorious republic will have reason 10 be
lIeve that the pages OF history have been
turned back several hundred years. and
that they are living. as did their fore
fathers, under the strict regime Of the
blue laws.
The young man and his best girl. who.
through the week, have viewed with
enjoyment the prospect OF a Sunday
evening trolley ride. must content them
selves with a stroll. there viii be no ears
IL. I,Er IL
they Will do well 20 avoid all appearances
of enjoyment or they may be detected by
a gun shoe member Of the police depart
ment and hailed into the police court for
INDUCING in recreation.
The head of the house who seeks the
corner drug store for his morning paper
and after-breakfast cigar will find neither.
No Sunday evening concerts Will greet
the lovers Of ragtime. there VIII be NJ
river excursions. and. in fact. all those
who seek recreation must Journey on the
previous evening to Falls Church, Alex
andria, or some of the other adjacent
and wide-open towns. Tcose who wish
merely 20 rest will not be forced 70 leave
the city.
One class there Is 10 whom the law
may appeal-the servants Though IA
the majority Of households they now
have to be persuaded. they can in no in
stance be commanded 10 prepare the
Sunday dinner unless. indeed the court
rules that this would be an act OF char
ity
VIII Please Tobacco Trust
Neither Is the tobacco trust viewing
the situation with alarm. as a fine Of
200 pounds OF the leaf in each in
stance would necessarily result N an In
creased demand and a corresponding In