p. 9 | A CONTRAST by W. N. G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 30, 1896

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 22, No. 18.

A CONTRAST.

By W. N. G.

THAT Supreme Courts are not infallible is frequently demonstrated, and that their decisions are often the result of individual bias rather than of logical construction of law is also capable of demonstration. Last week we noted the decision of the California Court that the Barbers' Sunday law of this state is unconstitutional and unjust, because it is class legislation. There was but one dissenting voice. This week we note that the Supreme Court of the state of New York confirms the Barbers' Sunday law of that state, ruling that it is not class legislation. In that case two of the judges filed dissenting opinions. A press despatch says that “Judge Vann holds that the law does not deprive any one of liberty or property within the meaning of the Constitution.” It requires considerable stretch of imagination, or bias of opinion, to see equality in forbidding men of one trade to pursue a quiet vocation when those of other trades may labor at pleasure. It is equally a restriction of one's liberty when he is denied the privilege of working at any given calling which persons of another city in the same state may freely engage in during the forbidden hours. But such is the character of all barber laws establishing religious days or other religious institutions or ceremonies. W. N. G.