Smyrna times., 1939-09-14
blue LAWS STIR LIN
TALK IN STATE
- That Arrests Were
W. 70 Be Made on Sunday
Are Unfounded
ATTY. GEN. STATES VIEW

c,.sin was heard Saturday even
O nd early Sunday that follow
ng a.+ statewide check-up by police
~ lsst arrests were to be made sun
5av l1S' for any violations ATTIC. of Of Dela, a
srs's rsy antiquated blue laws. IN
war; Tals If these reports a number
sn.s VIEW Fl their cars with gasoline Sat
nsr 'l.isv and Saturday night for fear
tssv would not be able 70 get any J
t. -'s Sunday. The reports proved to .
Y. = erroneous. The story published
ths sunday Star set at rest that
= enforcement would not be
y. ~ the Attorney Generals Of
IT, Attorney General Morford, It
"sr,s had received from Superln-
+srdent of state Police John X.
EFader a report Of the survey
E,onducted recently as to the
Es,,.rious establishments throughout
III state who were operating IN
'riolatiou Of the Sunday Blue Laws.
|rbe report, Mr.. Morford said, in
N.lndes the names, addresses and
stvpes Of businesses from all over
H. state. outside Of the corporate
limits Of Wilmington. Wilmington
~ not made its report up to that
Rtime. Mr.. Fader's letter to Mr..
Moford in which he included a
Elist Of go names, says that the
kstate police head believes the list
&eovers better than 80 per cent Of
tbe Sunday Blue Law violators.
M Morford reiterated that he had
REQUESTED this survey from the
kstate police only for the purpose Of
teing in a position to furnish the
legislative commission, appointed
10 consider this problem, with ac-
curate facts and data Of the con-
dtions as they exist in the state.
Commenting On reports made to
Rhim that both state and city police
had warned storekeepers and 9TH
ers that they might be prosecuted
Lii they continued in violation of the
Blue Laws, Mr.. Morford declared
that such warnings were not given
at bis instigation. If any arrests
ere made for Blue Law violations, "
be said, "it will be done entirely on
the authority Of the arresting Of
Nicer. The officer Of the Attorney
General has no intention Of prose-
Cutting such alleged violations until
definite action has been taken to
the legislative commission" In a
prepared statement, the Attorney
Generals Office said: Apparently
the state police have warned most
of these persons that they were
violating the law and have told
them that they would be prosecut-
ed i the violations continued. Mr..
Norford stated that seuch warn
lngs and threats of arrest were
without any authority from the Of
nee Of the Attorney General. The
enforcement Of the Sunday laws is
primarily a police matter over
which the police agencies Of the
state Of Delaware have sole juris-
olction. The Attorney Generals
orlce does not propose to request
tne making Of wholesale arrests
III Sunday law violations until the
Slegslative commission has made a
$sludy Of the problem and made a
Ii sceclaration Of policy. At the meet
~ o. the legislative commission to
n held next week, Mr.. Morford
"ui present all the facts furnished
w me survey and will request the
'Onmssion to make such declar-
aliOn Of policy for the guidance OF
lae Attorney Generals Office and
sas state police. Many Of the per-
sonS @ VINO have been warned by the
s'ate police have communicated
with Governor McMullen, and in
que such case, Governor McMuller
MrOte to the alleged Sunday law
s,Ulator that he hoped she would be
{ sAOWed to continue as she has in
sus past"until legislation which viii
10y De discriminatory or oppressive
other" VIII Tue