The Washington herald., 1908-05-02

Senator Johnston yesterday reported to
the Senate a substitute for his bill pro-
posing TO enforce Sunday observance in
the District of Columbia. The substitute
was agreed upon at the meeting of the
District Committee yesterday morning.
The bill is not radically different from
that which Senator Johnston originally in
troduced. 1t forbids all labor in the Dis
trict on the first day Of the week, except
housework and other work of necessity
or charity" the work incident 10 the pub
lication Of newspapers and that required
for the operation of public service cor
porations.
All theatrical performances, circuses,
and other shows of a public character are
prohibited on Sunday. but sacred concerts
are excepted from this provision. The
regular business of hotels and restaurants
and the sale and delivery of food and like
necessities before 10 a. m. are also ex-
cepted. and drug stores and livery stables
are not required TO suspend business. The
use of both private and public convey
ances is allowed. Nor does the bill operate
against the handling OF United States
mail.
EKcepts Religious Societies.
A proyiso inserted by the committee
relieves from the provisions Of the bill
sect which observes another day OF the
week as the sabbath. but requires that
such persons shall observe one day in
seven as a day of rest
Ten dollars fine or ten days in Jail. or
both, in the discretion Of the court. are
the penalties provided for violation of the
act, and ii is provided that prosecutions
under the proposed law shall be in the
Police Court and in the name Of the Dis
trict
The report upon the bill goes at length
into the objections which have been raised
against it. 1t is declared that Of Seventh
day Adventists. who protested most Wig
orously against the former bill. there are
but 300 in the District, among a popula-
ton of approximately 300.O00. All the
States, so far as the committee could
learn. IL is stated. have laws requiring
the observance Of one day in seven. so
that the District OF Columbia. the seat OF
the United States government. is the only
place in the country where no such law
is on the statute books. where" as the
report puts it. the Fourth Commandment
has been repealed. or is practically ig-
nOTed.
Hold Measure Constitutional.
In reply TO the allegation that such
law would tend to merge church and
state, and would therefore be repugnant
to the Constitution of the United States.
it is contended in the report that the
proposed law is a civil, and not re-
ligious measure, inasmuch as It does not
pretend to prescribe any course Of re-
lgious observance or to compel attend
ance at church. but merely requires that
the people shall rest one day in seven. It
is contended that even If reverence for
sacred institutions be not considered. the
observance Of one day each week as a
day of rest has been proven by the ex-
perience Of humanity to be necessary to
the welfare of the race. Attention is
called 10 the need of legislation 10 pro-
tect those who are restrained by the fear
Of losing employment from observing
Sunday
In support OF the contention that the
proposed law is not unconstitutional, the
committee quotes declsions of the Su-
preme Court which are declared to be
applicable IN this instance.