Hearing on the Sunday Bills

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 19, 1908

Hearing on the Sunday Bills

ONE of the most important hearings yet held in the capital was that which took place on last Friday, March 13, before the District Commissioners on the various Sunday bills now before Congress. The hearing opened at ten o'clock and lasted until twenty minutes of one. It must be admitted, however, that the importance of this hearing lies largely in the sentiment that had been worked up prior to it, by the advocates of Sunday legislation. It is very probable that the Commissioners will recommend to Congress for passage at least one of the bills now before them; and the campaign carried on in behalf of a Sunday law by the churches of the District and by certain commercial and labor organizations makes it quite probable that Congress will listen to the “importunate widow,” and grant her request.

Realizing the importance of this hearing, the Religious Liberty Bureau laid plans to have the principles involved in such legislation clearly laid before the Commissioners. Each side had twenty minutes to open, to be followed by five-minute speeches alternating, pro and con. The speakers favoring the proposed legislation were attorneys for the Retail Butchers’ Association, the Retail Grocers’ Association, the American Federation of Labor, and some of the clergymen of the city. Those opposing the proposed legislation were Brethren W. A. Colcord, K. C. Russell, G. B. Thompson, and J. N. Quinn, Rabbis Simon and Stern, and an official of a certain German organization. Perfect fairness on the part of the chairman of the District Commissioners was manifest throughout, and the best of attention was paid to the principles laid down by those who spoke from the standpoint of religious liberty. Nevertheless, one of the Commissioners, near the close of the hearing, made the statement that as they had previously recommended a bill similar to one of these, they would probably act favorably on one of these bills. Before the hearing closed, Brother Russell presented to the Commissioners a bundle of petitions containing the names of nearly fifteen hundred persons who protest against the passage of any of the bills.

Another hearing has been promised when the bill or bills recommended by the Commissioners come before the committees of the Senate and House.