The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-06-18
SCORESC|TEDuNDER
VIRGINIA BLUE LAWS
Ancient Statutes Strictly En-
forced In Every Municipality
Of Old Dominion State.
CONTINUED from First Pssel

Continued from First Page)
fectiopery stands and SOFA water dis
pensers were not molested.
The crew OF the first car which ap..
peared on the strcets OF Richmond
early this morning was summoned to
Richmond mayor holdi3g that the optr-
alton of street cars was not ''neccs-
eary The superintendent of the vir-
sinia Railway and Electric Company
was also summoned to court fer allow
ing the cars TO operate.
Warrants Prepared.
From police headquarters in Rich
mond came tho information today that
proprietors OF ice cream factories
detries, Ice plants. telegraph operators.
teipphcne operators, newspaper editors,
paid church choir singers and chauf-
sna %n.Sysd ny va. .aa ,S oms III q
these warrants were issued for the pur-
pose OF making tests of the blue iaws.
While q number OF sherffs through
Of rummonine TO coxrt all hired chauf-
feure found working st the wheel, tile
ehorths Of the counties rear Wash
tnston said they did not consider the
operation Of AUTOMOBILES a violation OF
chsuifeurs employed outside OF vr-
Asked whether they would summon
they said they had not definiteiy set
tied the question in their minds as to
whether this was violation OF the
All of the sherifrs said that in prac-
ticaily ali cases Of doubt they would
issue summonses or make arrests be-
cause of the operation OF the custer
law, under which they can be sum
marily removed from office for failure
cipal law or ordinance.
The sheriffs said they preferred to
orr. by issuing too many summonses
running the risk Of having to forfeit
their offices by nom enforcement OF
the blue laws.
Chief Interest in Richmond.
Chief interest of the State conferred
on Richmond. not only because II 10
the capital OF the State. but because
the mayor and police authorities there
have put a narrower construction on
the term necessary work. than any
whore else In the Commonwealth.
A mass meeting to protest against
the rigid enforcement of the blue
laws and against the narrow con-
struction made by the authorities will
be held In Richmond's largest hall
meeting say the threatened enforce
ment OF the blue laws rs even more
rigid than the enforcement in the
days Of Constantine.' -.
In compliance with the custer Law
the mayors Of Norfolk and Newport
News ordered the segregated districts
In those cities closed and the order
was immediately obeyed. Officials in
areas had been permanently abolished
and all denisens OF the district would
be arrested II they did not Immediately
Chief of Police Ki.er. in Norfolk in.
formed The Times by long distance
arrests for Violations q dc blue 'i laws VS.
and did not believe any would be made
because of the broad construction
placed all necessary work" by the
Heard of No Arrests.
Chief Kizer said he had heard Of no
arrests at Virginia Beach. Ocean View,
willoughby Beach, and other seashore
resorts in the vicinity of Norfolk, but
understood the sheriff OF Norfolk county
expected to become active this after
noon when the biggest crowds were at
In Roanoke. Petersburg. and Danville
there was little or no work for the
police to do In enforcing the blue laws
n tSese sna ths
sale OF newspapers, milk. and ice were
construed to be necessary. ..
The sale OF gasoiene was prohibited
in Lynchburs, and all soft drink and to.
were allowed to be printed and sold and
street car, telephone and telegraph
companies were unmolested.
1t was decided By the mayors Of most
Richmond" The cases decided by jus,
tce Crutchheld In Richmond will be
taken as the guide for the other cities
throughout Virginia. 1t was said to-
In Bristol the Sunday laws were RIG.
idly enforced, and many places ordi-
narily open In the border town were
''I TSe ptopr,etor, NJ IN. drug store,
throughout the State decided to oper
their esta blshiments at three stated
periods during the day for filling pre-.
seriptions only. The hours the apothc'
carries win keep open, on sunday to.
II In the morning. to in the after.
G sSsri sHd e Fie Sns s Sf AIsssandr.
county. was '.pn the Job early thi,
county to see. that the laws were
obeyed. He said at noon he had made
no arrests and had Issued no summonsei
because he found the laws generally
observed In the county.
Refuses to Act.
Before breakfast he was summoned
to the Aqueduct bridge and asked to
arrest the motorman and conductor
on Washington and Virginia trolley
car.
He was also asked to arrest the
operator Of enc of the titneys rur
by men who are on strike on tn,
Nashin gton Virginia line.
He refused to tako any action IN
either case saying Commonwoalth'i
Attorney Frank Ball had instructed
him not TO modest the cars or tltneys
Sheriff Fields also said no did moi
construe tho Sunday laws to prohibit
/ baseball. provided the players did no
Tyecoive a salary and did not take W
JAs result OF this Interpretation o
fhe law the Clarendon Athletic Clu
btaged ball game at Clarendon tnl
Afternoon. but the hat was not passed
as is customary at these games.
The sherifs OF other counties, how
ever. said that while they were in doub
as TO whether fishing: tennis, golf. ant
baseball were prohibited as "unneces
Rary." thew would give themselves TN