p. 24 | Another Sunday Bill Introduced into Congress

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 4, 1916

Another Sunday Bill Introduced into Congress

By C. S. Longacre

ON April 20, Senator Wesley L. Jones, of the State of Washington, introduced the following Sunday bill into the United States Senate:—

“S. 5677, A Bill for the proper observance of Sunday as a day of rest in the District of Columbia.

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That from and after the passage of this Act it shall be unlawful in the District of Columbia for any person to labor or to employ any person to labor or to pursue any worldly business on the first day of the week, commonly called Sunday, except in works of necessity or charity, and except also newspaper publishers and their employees, and except also public-service corporations and their employees in the necessary supplying of service to the people of the District, and also except those persons who are accustomed to observe regularly some other day of the week on which they refrain from doing what is herein prohibited on Sunday. In works of necessity or charity is included whatever is needed for the good order and health of the community. It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, firm, corporation, or municipality, or any of their agents, directors, or officers, to require or permit any employees to work on the said day, excepting in household service, unless within the next succeeding six days during a period of twenty-four consecutive hours he or it shall neither require nor permit such employee to work in his or its employ.

“Any person who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall on conviction thereof be punished by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50 for the first offense, and for each subsequent offense by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $100, and by imprisonment in the jail of the District of Columbia for a period of not less than one month nor more than three months, in the discretion of the court.

“Section 2. That all prosecutions for violations of this Act shall be in the police court of the District of Columbia and in the name of the District of Columbia.”

This is the fourth compulsory Sunday rest-day bill introduced into the present session of Congress. This last bill was introduced, it is said, for the purpose of safeguarding the rights of those who observe another day than Sunday as holy time. Some think that we as a people should not oppose this bill, as it exempts us from being compelled to observe Sunday, and that we are courting martyrdom to do so. While it is true that we are exempted, it is nevertheless religious legislation, and would serve as an entering wedge for similar legislation to follow. It would make Congress the custodian of religious institutions, and would compel all its citizens to conform to the requirements of religious laws, whether they made a profession of religion or not.

We must oppose this bill because of its unconstitutionality and the principles involved. Congress does not now have a single Sunday law on its statute books, and we cannot quietly accept one, no matter how many exemptions it offers.

We are issuing a new Liberty Extra, which will contain petition blanks against this bill and another press measure. The new Sunday bill is especially dangerous, and will doubtless pass if a vigorous protest is not made. Our people should at once place orders for this Extra, and secure signatures protesting against this legislation, sending them to their Senators and Representatives in Congress. They should also write letters, as these have a splendid effect on Congressmen.

C. S. LONGACRE.