Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-02-22
NEW SUNDAY LID LAW
PASSED AND SIGNED
MEASURE REGULATING SAB.
BATH DAY AFFAIRS DOES
NOT MENTION BASEBALL

Bismarck, N D., Feb. 17.-Amend-
ments to the Sabbath observance
measure that will permit the opera
tion of certain business enterprises
on Sunday were approved by the
house yesterday afternoon, senate bill
81 being passed with the emergency
clause On the first vote the emerg-
ency failed, but reconsideration was
granted and it was adopted.
Under the terms of the measure,
which it is expected Governor Frazier
will Immediately approve, the "nec-
essary" industries cited are railroads,
telegraph and telephone, public util-
tiles such as gas, electric plants, ETC.,
livery barns, taxi-cab and hack SER
vice, automobile garages and supply
stations, bakeries, bootblack stands,
popcorn stands and newspaper plants.
Another provision bars the sale of
merchandise generally except that
ice cream, soda water, tobacco, news
papers, magazines, ETC., may be sold.
Pool halls, billiard rooms, etc., may
sell such commodities but may not
operate tables.
Bismarck dealers will work under
the new law tomorrow.
Senate Bill 81's vital clauses read:
GAIL manner of service labor on
the first day of the week is prohibit
ed, excepting works Of necessity
and charity; provided, however, that
the operation Of steam railroads,
street railways, telephone and tele-
graph systems, electric lights, heat
and power systems, hacks, taxicabs
and busses, automobile garages and
supply stations, bootblack stands and
newspaper plants, shall be deemed
and construed to be works Of reces-
"A1l manner of public selling or
offering or exposing for sale public
" of any commodity upon the first
day of the week is prohibited, ex-
cept that meats and fish may be sold
at any time before 10 o'clock a. m.,
and except that foods may be sold
to be eaten upon the premises where
sold, and drugs, medicines, surgical
appliances, milk, candy and confec-
tionery, newspapers, magazines and
cigars, may be sold at any time of
the day, provided that none of said
articles or commodities shall be 50
sold in any billiard hall, pool room or
temperance saloon or bowling alley,
or in any place wherein pool table
or billiard table is contained, except
such tables be covered"
The emergency clause, which made
the act effective Immediately upon
receiving Governor Frazier's sigma
ture, reads:
"Whereas an emergency exists in
that the present laws against Sab
bath-breaking are in some respects
burdensome and oppressive, there
fore this act shall take effect and be
in force from and after its passage
and approval"
This act does not in any way con-
Germ Sunday baseball, Sunday shoot
ing nor the operation of moving pic
ture theatres or pleasure resorts on
Sunday. An Of these, except moving
picture theatres, are provided for in
separate bills which already have
passed the senate.
There seems to be a mistaken idea
in some parts of the state concern
ing the repeal Of the North Dakota
sblue laws" which was accomplished
through the passage Of House Bill !
No. 81, which became a law late |
when Governor Frazier
added his signature to the measure.
This bill does not mean that North
Dakota has thrown down the bars
for wide-open Sunday. It is not
a great victory for the "wide-open"
not defeat for the moral
forces of the state.
The fact is, House Bill No. 81 was
drafted by Fargo attorney upon
the request Of the Fargo Ministerial
association. It was first recommend
ed by the Fargo Ministerial associa-
tion at meeting held in Fargo Jan.
It passed the legislature and as it
will stand on the statute books is
by that association.