The Alaska daily empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 1921-04-30
SUBSTITUTE FOR
SUNDAY CLOSING
BILL IS PASSED
Senate Makes a Short SHIFT
of House Measure
Many in Debate. j.

1t IS now up 10 lhe IouSo VI ''iS
Territorial Legislature whether there
shall be any change in the present
laws regarding Sunday closipgi
After a long session in the Senate
Yesterday afternoon, at which many
Joined in the free-for-all discussion
on the proposed Murray bill and
the Senate's substitute, the Senate
this morning, with Senators Cham
berlin and Price voting mo-" passed
the Senate substitute for the House
bill. 1t is now up to the House to
concur or something.
The Senate's substitute provides
that certain businesses, butchers,
bakers, garages, movie theatres, re-
creation parks, ice cream parlors,
barber shops and any place where
instructive or educational subjects
are discussed, can keep open. The
House bill was for a general repeal
of the old Sunday closing law.
Senator Hunt, who introduced the
Senate substitute yesterday after
noon, during the Committee of the
Whsle, defended his measure, not
boing against churches or church
influences, but desiring a more lib
eral law than the old one, taking in
the. difference in con-
ditions in Alaska than from the
States.
Senator Collins said the substitute
Vas a fair measure and stated con-
ditions as existing at various min
ing camps where the pool room or
grocery store is the club" for the
community.
Ministers in Discussion.
Rev. ]. H. Condit and Rev George
G. Bruce discussed the measure in
broad ways. Rev. Condit said that
the laws on the statutes are indica-
tive of public sentiment, although
the present law has not been enforced
to the letter He asked that the
matter rest as it is now.
Rev. Bruce, an oldtimer himself in
Alaska, discussed the proposed meas
ure, as introduced in the House,
from the standpoint of citizen and
not as minister of the gospel. He
did not believe there should be any
tampering with the present laws.
Representative Murray, who in
troduced the measure in the House,
ably defended his action on the
floor of the Senate. He did not be-
lieve the measure was taking a
backward step as many had ex-
pressed.
For Fresh Agitation.
Senator Frawley said that if the
law was repealed, fresh agitation
would start and perhaps a more
drastic law would be proposed and
passed. He was not in accord with
the bill nor the substitute
Senator Hess said he had not
heard of any agitation regarding the
repeal Of the Sunday laws.
Only people who will benefit by
the repeal of the law" said Senator
Hess, ARE those in illegitimate
trades like the blind pigs. | do not
want to do anything with the pres
ent law but l prefer the substitute
to the repeal bill -
Several who made remarks said
that the repeal would possibly mean
fewer law-breakers as the law on
the statute was not being enforced
in any manner.
Other Measures Passed.
In the Senate this morning the
following bills were passed:
II. B. No. 26-relating to regula-
tons and use of narcotic drugs.
H. B. No. 32-construction of
River bridge.
II. B. No. 23-purchase of the
Neuman collection for $4,000.
Fl. B. No. 9-allowances to GER
tain aged persons of Alaska, with
the amendment with the same claim
as in chapter %, Secession Laws of
1919.
One Measure Killed.
The election by popular vote of
the Territorial Mine Inspector, Ter
ritorial Treasurer and Commissioner
Of Education, known as II. B. No.
IS was frightfully walloped. When
the motion to pass it was made
seven Senators voted against it, Sen
ator Chamberlin only voting aye. ~