The Washington herald., 1908-03-14
Hearing on Proposed Bills
Given by Commissioners.
RABBI SIMON ENTERS PROTEST
'TDay of Rest" Advocated by One
Speaker-Propositio Supported by
CoInbatcd by Speakers a. Uncon-
s'itutiOnaI-ReIiGiO Legislation.

pending before Congress bearing on Sun
day closing in the District.
At 10 o'clock more than 100 persons had
crowded into the board room of the Dis
trict Building, and speeches were in or
der after Commissioner Macfarland. pre-
siding. said: The Commissioners have
appointed this hearing on certain bills
proposing Sunday laws which have been
referred to them by the House Commit
tee on the District OF Columbia, accord
ing to the custom respecting proposed
legislation for the District. The Commis-
sioners, as in every such case, desire to
ascertain the views of citizens before
making a report to Congress- I may
state for information that there is now
no Sunday law in the District Of Column
bisG except Tor the closing OF saloons and
barber shops. and q police regulation pre-
venting theatrical performances. The
Court of Appeals in test case, brought
by the Commissioners. has recently de-
cided that the Maryland statute of the
eighteenth century Inherited by the Dis
trtct Of Columbia. prohibiting all labor on
Sunday and providing penalties in pounds
of tobacco, is obsolete"
w. II. Singleton. the first speaker,
advocated Sunday closing, bringing n
the day OF rest theory.
Churches the Movers.
In answer to him w. A. Colcord. sec
-etary Of the Religious Liberty Bureau.
advanced the argument that the pro-
posed legislation would be unconsutu-
tional He said that il was not a
question OF wOrkingmen taking day
of for rest without fear of discharge.
but 4 move beyond the authority or
Congress He put the churches as the
prime movers in the crusade, and said
il was the religious organizations that
were back of Il all
Charles r. Diggs, as attorney for the
Retail Grocers' Association. spoke next,
and placed himself on record as in IA
vor of the Langley bill. which pro-
vides for the closing OF stores and GER
/ tain other places on sunday.
r. p. b. Sands spoke for the Sunday
closing legislation. and as attorney for
the Washington Butchers Association.
/ said that there is no necessity for
storekeepers 10 keep their shops open
on Sundays, even for public conven-
/ icnce.
James L. Feeney. Of the Central La
| Dor Union. pointed out that il would be
advisable TO try to avoid making any
man work seven DAYS in one week.
! lie declared there IS an absolute ncces-
/ stty OF one day OF rest For the good
of the laboring men" he put himself on
record as I'm favor OF the Sunday clos
/ ing bills.
/ Commissioner Macfarlaud. after the
/ hearing. said that the representatives Of
D o. 4
/ missioners really wanted 10 reach-the
disinterested party. the party that Is not
dealing with the question from an un-
| biased point OF view The running Of
steel plants and factories in the District
( on Sunday was brought out in the course
/ OF the speeches made by the representa-
! tives of the labor unions and they spoke
in favor Of closing all such plants.
Germans Make Protest.
! T. A. Rockar. first vice president Of
uhe United German Societies OF the Dis
/ trict of Columbia. read the protest of that
fsociety against the proposed legislation.
/ These resolutions declared that any
further restrictive law would be in direct
violation of the Constitution Of the United
/ States and the Declaration Of Inde-
/ pendence.
/ Rev DIR. Wallace Radcliffe. pastor OF
/ the New York Avenue Presbyterian
/ Church, spoke in favor OF the Sunday
closing bills. p. J. Ryan. attorney for the
/ Central Labor Union. suggested that an
amendment 10 the eight-hour law be-
made 10 cover sunday work. so as 10
make it a violation of the law to work
/ on Sunday. except where occasion re-
/ quired- Seventh-day Adventists were
/ heard next, and Rabbi Abrsm Simon.
/ J. Z. Thompson, a. G. Russell. chairman
/ of the Religious Library Bureau and
/ Rabbi Louis Stern spoke against the pro-
posed law.
! In favor Of the proposed legislation.
/ Charles J. McGin. a. s. Clark, r. l..
! Stevens Of the Central Labor Union; II.
/ l. Meader. of the Retail Grocers' As
/ sociation, and Mrs. Wilbur F. Crafts were
/ heard.
Rabbi Simon. who spoke against closing
stores on Sunday. said: IF a Jew who
kept his store open on Saturday were
10 ask my opinion as 10 his attitude on
| Sunday. I should advise him at once to
close MS store on Sunday for his per-
sonal and political advantages. for the
respect Of his fellOw-men, and for the
| avoidance OF an unfair competition. But
/ would not agree to forced closing.
In ether words. ! come 10 protest against
a compulsory legislation on the Sunday
question l object to the dragging in the
force of the law TO solve what lies in the
duty Of an education in self-respect. II
this compulsory legislation views Sunday
as the Sabbath. it is religious legislation.
and is therefore pernicious. Phrasing
Notwithstanding. this is religious ques-
ton, and religious legislation. coercing or
resting on the, strong arm of the state
has come down to us in cloak OF
shame.