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On the Trail of the Johnston District Sunday Bill

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 5, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 40.

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On the Trail of the Johnston District Sunday Bill

By C. E. Holmes

C. E. HOLMES
APRIL 4, 1911—Extra session Sixty-Second Congress convened.
April 6—Johnston Sunday bill for the District of Columbia introduced in the Senate.
May 17—Public hearing granted on this bill.
May 22—Favorably reported without amendment to the Senate by Senate District Committee.
May 24—An effort made by Senator Johnston to have it passed. Opposed by Senator Smoot, and laid over.
May 26—Again presented for consideration. Opposed by Senator Heyburn, who made a vigorous speech against it.
May 29—Came up again on the Senate Calendar. Senator Heyburn objected. The bill went over.
June 1—Senator Heyburn objected to its consideration. Went over.
June 8—Senator Dixon objected. Bill went over.
June 16—After considerable discussion between Senators Heyburn and Johnston, the bill went over.
June 20—The bill again came up on the Senate Calendar. Senator Heyburn again objected, and the bill went over.
July 8—Senator Heyburn objected. Bill went over.
July 17—Bill went over.
July 18—Bill came up; at Senator Heyburn’s suggestion it was transferred to Rule IX. Under this rule all opposing senators must be notified before a measure is brought up for a vote.
August 22—Congress adjourned.
The bill is still on the Senate Calendar, and will no doubt be brought up at the regular session of Congress this fall.
From the time the bill was favorably reported to the Senate, May 22, until July 18, there were over two hundred thirty-seven memorials and petitions against it presented to the Senate by differentsenators, and printed in the Congressional Record. These were sent in from twenty-one States, and in nearly all instances represented churches. The Washington, D. C., Chamber of Commerce also adopted a resolution against this bill and forwarded it to the Senate.
Only seven memorials in favor of this legislation have been recorded during the same period of time, six of these being from individuals.
Takoma Park, D. C.