The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-17
BLUE LAWS TO GRIP
| VIRGINIA TOMORROW
All Amusements Threatened and
Washington Motorists Must
Beware.
CONTINUED from First Page,

cuPhuoh other tnan one tnat ID neces-
Street car motormen and conductors
VIII be arrested Tor a similar reason.
ana telegraph operators have been
warned that they will be amenable to
the law until the question of whether
No Shines or Candy.
The Virginia authorities say they
need no test in the case of bootblacks
and confectloners. They say they are
convinced the proprietors Of these places
VIII be guilty II they keep open, and
they will make regular arrests In all
such cases.
Any druggist who keeps any part OF
mis- store open, except the prescription
department. or attempts to make sales
OF soda water, cigars, cigarettes, to-
becco. or anything other than necessary
drugs, will be arrested, according to the
Virginia authorities.
Golfers. baseball players. fishermen,
mowers OF lawns. planters OF seeds. per-
sons who fix fences, political exempt,
or who water their grass or drive
wagons or do anything else that Is not
absolutely necessary. will be subject to
arrest
Cooks to Lay on.
In Alexandria, fredericksburg. Rich
mond. Roanoke. and other Virginia
cities many colored cooks and house,
maids have already served notice on
their employees that they will not work
on Sunday. Statements issued by the
mayors OF the cities that the enforce
ment OF the blue laws will not effect
those engaged IN necessary household
work" on Sunday have not allayed the
They still insist they will take no
chances with the law" and will not re-
port for work tomorrow morning.
fortunately. the attorney general Of
virginia has ruled that proprietors of
necessity. and their establishments will
continue TO- remain open on Sunday.
An amendment to the blue laws. enact
ed last March. removes the ban from
ice cream manufacturers. II holds that
the manufacture and delivery Of ice
cream 10 n work OF necessity"
Whether or not the delivery OF news
papers is work of necessity" will
say Vireinia officials.
The question Of delivery of news
papers will be decided by the Judges
who try the newspaper editors. who
printers, stereotypers. pressmen. re-
porters. 'deliverymen. and newsboys.
Won't Bother Newsies.
In practically all Virginia cities the
modest newsboys tomorrow. or until
the question of whether a newspaper
Ia a necessity has been settled, unless
the newsboys cry their WIRES on the
streets. At the first outcry. however, tho
newsboys will become subject to arrest
even before the necessity OF the news
paper Is settled. ~, r't ~
No freight train will be allowed to
run . ANYWHERE ,isasa in Tirs,nle an,ssssif
would he impaired by one days delay,
Under the construction placed on the
blue laws by the mayors. judges and
Magistrates Of Virginia. the operation
necessary" and the drivers Of these
vehicles have been threatened with ar
rest
Passenger Trains May Run.
Passenger trains are not affected by
the blue laws. but It is understood the
news butchers" on the trains have been
warned not to ply their trade on Sunday
under penalty OF arrest.
The loading and unloading Of freight
cars Is specifically prohibited. and the
same Is true with regard to steamboats,.
unless the loading or unloading be abb
solutely necessary because Of the perish
able nature OF the cargo.
Amateur baseball. croquet and tennis
are also under the ban. and players Of
such games will be subject to arrest:
Although the operators Of all public
hacks, "jitneys." sightseeing automo-
biles and other vehicles for hire have
been. told they will be arrested II they
sheriffs and magistrates do not con-
strue the blue laws to apply to the
operation Of private cars by their
owners. Chauffeurs employed by private
"at their trade or calling on Sunday"
One Still Can Eat.
About the only things not prohibited
by the Virginia blue laws are eating.
sleeping. going to Sunday school and
church. and placing flowers on graves
Some of the blue laws have been
spasnnodically enforced in various
parts OF Virginia for many years. but
the enforcement has been confined
Confectionery stands. Prior to this
no attempt has been made to enforce
them to the very letter.
Echo Of Prohibition.
The cry for the strictest possible
enforcement of the ancient laws came
as an echo OF the prohibitionsts' VIC
tory at the polls in Virginia last fall
The Statewide prohibition law was
favored by a majority OF $4,000 voters
out of a total of 100000 votes cast.
. The prOnlDlt1OnlStS cleCtcu pTdCtlCdl-
ly every member OF the house and
senate which formed the Legislature OF
1915 and which met last January and
adjourned on March 10.
Every prohibition measure suggest
ed by the "drys" was enacted into
law by the legislature. A prohibition
commits sioner, at a salary of $4,000
a year, was provided for by the leg.
islature and the position was given tn,
Rev. J. Sidney Peters. an official OF
the Anti-Saloon League.
Passed Custer Act.
Having control of the legislature
the prohibitionists availed themselve.
OF the opportunity to demand the en-
forcement of the Sunday closing ant
other blue laws. for which they hat
been fighting a number of years Tn,
Legislature put few stringent amend
mentsN on the blue laws and to max,
absolutely sure the laws would b,
enforced they passed the custer act.
The custer act. providing for the
summary, dismissal of officials who fai
10 enforce the blue laws. follows:
Every person holding any office OF
trust or profit under and by virtue oi
any OF the laws OF the state of Virginia
county or municipal. except such Of
ficsrs as are by the constitution rcmov
able only and exclusively by methods
other than those provided by this act
who shah knowingly or willfully mis-