Evening star., 1909-02-15
FIGHT "CL0S|NC BILL"
Speakers Argue Before House
District Committee.
PROVISIONS OF MEASURE
w. H. Colcord Makes Reference to
Religious Legislation.
COMBINATION OF CHURCHES
Declaration That Object of Move
ment Is to Fill Houses of
Worship Sundays.
PROVISIONS OF MEASURE
COMBINATION OF CHURCHES

Inc House District committee room
was crowded this morning. the occasion
being public hearing on the johnson
| sundry closing bill, which has passed the
Senate. The speakers. all Of them in np
| position to the measure, were W. A. Col
| cord and W. w. Prescott, Seventh Day
| Adventtsts OF Takoma Park; II. C. Kirk
| representing the Secular League; G. B.
Thompson and John Quinn OF the Dis
trict, Seventh Day Adventists; A. r.
Jones Of Battle Creek, who appeared for
himself and discussed religious indfvid-
ualism"; S. b Horton Of Tennessee, NJ L.
Anderson OF New York, w. H. Hickman
and o. o. Bernstein of Philadelphia; B.
F. Kneeland Of New Jersey and Col.
Haynes of Baltimore.
The johnson bill provides that it shall
be unlawful for any person or corpora
tlon In the District of Columbia on Sun
day to labor Or to employ persons in
labor or business, except household work
or other work of necessity or charity and
except also newspaper employers and
employees. public service corportions and
their employees: provided, that persons
who are members of religious society,"
who observe as a Sabbath any other day
In the week than Sunday. shall not be
liable to the penalties prescribed in this
act If they observe as a Sabbath one day
in each seven.
Exempts Sacred Concerts.
IT is also provided that it shall be un-
lawful for any person in the District on
Sunday to engage in any circus, show
or theatrical performance. provided that
the act shall not be construed so as to
prohibit sacred concerts, nor the regular
business of hotels and restaurants on
SAID day; nor to the delivery of articles
OF food. including meats. at any time
before 10 o clock in the morning of said
day from June l to October /: nor to the
sale of milk. fruit. confectionery, ice
soda and mineral waters, newspapers,
periodicals.. cigars. drugs, medicines and
surgical appliances: nor to the business
OF livery stables or other public, or the
use of private, conveyances; nor to the
handling and operation of the United
States mail
Any person or corporation who violates
the provisions OF the act shall, on con-
viction thereof, II is provided, be punish
ed by fine of not more than $40 or by
imprisonment in the District Jail for not
more than ten days, or both
Mr.. Colcord ums Up.
Mr.. Colcord, summing up the argu-
ments against the Sunday bill. said in
part:
We of the opposition have not asked
in bringing it here. The responsibility
for this must rest with those who insti-
gated the movement for the legislation
and demanded such law at the hands of
Congress.
1T is inevitable that demands for legis-
latlOn of this kind should stir up strife
and disturb that peace and equanimity
whicn should characterize free and we'll
governed people.
In the very nature of the case reli-
gious legislation on the part of civil gov
ernment cannot fail to do injustice and
disturb domestic tranquility The mere
suggestion of such a thing provokes ap-
prehensions and creates disQuietude
Civil government was not ordained to
direct men in religious affairs, nor to set
tie relgiOus controversies.
Sunday Legislation Religious.
That Sunday legislation is not only re-
ligious. but involves the question of an
attempt to settle a religious controversy
by law, was the position taken by Con-
gress three-quarters of d century ago
Il bring the direct charge. therefore
that this proposed legislation is religious
that its principal promoters and support
ers are religionists: that if passed 1t will
be the beginning of religious estab-
lishment in the United States. and that
in the end. as with all other religious es-
Establishments. it will result I'm religious
and persecution.
The chief promoters and supporters
Of this legislation religious people.
1t is the churches and such church or
as the American Sabbath
Union. the Lords Day Alliance and the
like. chiefly. that are demanding it. True
trades unions and labor organizations
have in some instances been induced to
join in the demand for such laws but
these are regarded only allies The
church people are the prime movers in it.
"Betrays It's Character"
THE movement in the District has
been placed in the hands of an 'interde-
nominational committee upon Sunday OBJ
servance in the capital The express
sion Lords day legislation at once be-
trays the character of the legislation
sought. 1t is religious
The bill permits only sacred con
certs to be given Sunday. This again
shows it's religious character. 1t ex-
empts upon religious grounds Those
exempted must observe another day as
Il Sabbath and belong to d religious So
ciety'
While. to disarm opposition. allay
suspicion. or gain support, the legisla-
ton may be demanded in the interests
OF day of rest for the laboring classes
or In support of an alleged civil in
stitution, when the truth is told. and the
real object made known. it is desired in
support of IA religious institution and in
the interests of church attendance
This is what we see at this very mo-
mcnt-a great combination Of churches
seeking from Congress and from other
la awmaking bodies throughout the coun-
try Legislation which. it is hoped. will
fill the churches with worshipers sun
day"