Sunday Legislation in Louisiana by SANFORD B. HORTON

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 28, 1906

Sunday Legislation in Louisiana

By SANFORD B. HORTON

As predicted in the columns of the REVIEW AND HERALD some time ago by the writer, Sunday legislation is receiving some attention just now in the Louisiana Legislature. And like most unwise legislation, it is developing some incongruous situations for the lawmakers to meet and harmonize.

During the first days of the session a bill was introduced into the House, having for its purpose the closing of all barber shops in New Orleans on Sundays. The bill is No. 26 of the calendar. Several days later, another bill was introduced (H. R. No. 48), amending the present Sunday law passed in 1886 so as to permit cigar, tobacco, and ice stores to open for business on Sundays.

So far as I know there was no hearing on the cigar-store measure, but a hearing was held on the barber bill on the night of the day upon which the cigar bill was passed by the House by a vote of seventy-two to fourteen, twenty-eight members being absent. At this hearing before the judiciary committee opportunity was afforded those barbers who favored the bill to speak, the same privilege being given those who were opposed to it. The writer spoke against the measure from the standpoint of truth and equity. The argument was commended by several, including the framer of the bill, but pledges had been made to the “union” barbers backed by the combined labor organizations of the city, and the committee, nearly all the members of which had voted in the afternoon to open the cigar stores on Sunday, voted to report the bill favorably. While a few were consistent in their voting, yet the most of the members who voted to open the cigar stores, including the father of that measure, voted to close the barber shops.

Both bills are now before the Senate, and the manifest inconsistencies are evidently having some effect on the committee of that body. A hearing will be given us before the Senate, and we hope for the blessing of God to assist in bringing the principles of the message before our lawmakers to the glory of his name. Letters have been received from different parts of the State commending our stand. One comes from a Jewish rabbi wishing us success.

An important matter connected with this experience is that Sunday legislation is entering into politics, the labor organizations giving notice that men who want their votes must do their bidding, no matter what the principles involved may be. And so legislators are being forced to close their eyes to principles of justice, truth, and equity.

It must be said to the credit of one representative of the House that he voted against the bill.

SANFORD B. HORTON.