Barbers’ Sunday Law

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 23, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 17.

Barbers’ Sunday Law.

The Barbers’ Sunday law, passed at the last California Legislature, in the interests of the Barbers’ Union of San Francisco, has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The opinion was written by Justice Henshaw, and concurred in by the entire court except Justice Van Fleet, who concurs in the judgment only. The court says, “The law not only is special, unjust, and unreasonable in its operation, but it works an invasion of individual liberty—the liberty of free labor which it pretends to protect.” Again: “It is a curious law for the protection of labor which punishes the laborers for working.” What the court would decide on a universal Sunday law, we do not know; from some expressions we are left in doubt, but the principles above stated are applicable to all Sunday laws. That part of the decision which the press has reported is a blow for religious liberty, when other courts are thrusting at her heart.