Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-06-17
Considerable Speculation Concerning 11ig
What Are to Be Regarded as
Works of Necessity.

Virtually all persons in Alexandra
who have heretofore been conducting
business on Sunday have had their
attention called by the police to the
state law which will be put in force
tomorrow upon all who attempt to
conduct such as is not regarded as
necessary. 1t is expected that an
extenuated docket will be upon the
desk of the Police Court next Mon
day morning, as many who allege
their occupations compel them to
transact business on Sunday will be
cited to appear, as well as others who
may not be able to give reasonable
excuse for violating the law.
Bakers, ice and milk dealers, as
well as deliverers of Sunday papers.
are expected to plead that this oc-
cupation force them to continue the
same every day in the year. Lunch
room proporietors also expect to show
that their business is essential at
III times.
Those interested in Sunday base
BALL games are distressed, as there
seems to be nothing to show that TINS
means of recreation and amusement
$ absolutely necessary. 1t is urged
hat many youngsters who are employ
Il during the week look forward to
Sunday as the day they can unbend
and enjoy, in their own way, some OF
he pleasures of their existence. This
natter is being discussed in Balti-
more. where the Ministerial Union Is
,ndeavoring to bring all such diver
lions to a close. The Baltimore Sun
is the the apologist for the boys, ana
The first editorial in that paper to-
lay is a protest against deprlving
.-oungsters of their means of enjoy
nent. Baseball, it is suggested, Is
played in the open, and generally at
.,laces where no annoyance is afforded,
my one. 1t is said by its patrons that
he boys might be engaged IN more
Questionable practices on Sunday, as
.,anv. unfortunately are too often.
Alexandria has been nursing
ack eve during the past few wref
he result Of an unnecessary alarm
.aused Nv cases of scarlet fever IN
,ur midst and which kept some
imid people away from the city. Inc
bandages have barely been remove
when the "Blue" law excitement IS
precipitated. = Since the improvements
If roads leading into this city, and
especially that to Mount Vernon, our
.itv has naturally been the great
,eck of travel from the capital city
% Americas Mecca. Hundreds OF
automobiles pass through Alexandra
on fair Sundays, but after residents
of Washington shall have read the
following from papers of that city
thew will select other roads on which
70 run their machines, and Washing
ION, King and Alfred streets, recent
" so animated, will be as Tara
Hall.
The State of Virginia will on Sun
day, be legally the most conspicuous
State in the Union for on that Gay
because of the "ouster law" every
man. woman, and child engaged In
any occupation except housekeeping
will be subject to arrest, and ORDERS
have been issued that the arrests be!
made. Under this ridiculous enforce
ment of the law, telephone opera.
tors. street car crews, publishers Oh
newspapers, choir singers, drivers o.
automobiles. or any person working
at any trade or employment at any
labor or business which is not a
work of necessity or charity, will be
arrested and subjected to fine.
Every amusement resort will be
threatened bv the operation OF the
blue laws of the Old Dominion, and the
recently enacted custer act Compel
;ng every public officer to prohibit
everything except necessary labor,
Under these laws also any Wash,
ington automobile owner with a hired
chauffeur will run the risk of having
the operator arrested if he ventures
acrosa the Highway, Aqueduct. or
Chain bridge tomorrow. The chauffeur
would be amendable to the blue laws
for following his trade or calling.
AS result of the operation of the
custer act every official in Virginia,
''from Accomac to Lee and from
Winchester to Lunenburg' will be
summarily removed from office if he
fails to rigidly enforce the blue laws.