A Sunday Law for Portland, Oregon
By W. F. Martin
A CRIMINAL IF HE SELLS BREAD—A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN IF HE SELLS TOBACCO
Just now, the Northwest seems to be the center of attack for those who are seeking to secure religious legislation. Only recently, the city council at Wenatchee, Washington, passed a Sunday-closing ordinance, at the request of the church people. A strong effort was made to secure a similar measure in Walla Walla. For some time, a Sunday-closing ordinance has been pending before the commission of Portland. At its last meeting, that body passed the measure, and it is now a law. In common with all such measures, this Sunday law is inconsistent. It does not close the stores; and while prohibiting the sale of bread and other such articles, it allows the sale of tobacco. Thus a merchant may sell tobacco and be within the pale of the law, whereas if he should sell a loaf of bread he would be a criminal. It is said that the law was passed at the instigation of the leading grocers, and yet it met with more or less opposition. There is now some talk that the opponents of the measure will fight the law in the courts. Following is the text of the measure: "Section 1. It shall be unlawful to keep open any shop, store, or grocery for the purpose of labor or traffic on the first day of the week, commonly called 'Sunday,' or the 'Lord's day,' except for works of necessity or charity; provided, that the above provision shall not apply to theaters or places of amusement, drug stores, undertaking establishments, shoe-shining stands, livery-stables, garages, butcher shops, bakery and delicatessen shops; and provided further, that meals may be served on the premises or elsewhere by caterers, and tobacco, milk, fruit, confectionery, soft drinks and ice-cream, newspapers and periodicals, and medical and surgical appliances and supplies may be sold in a quiet and orderly manner." "Section 2. In works of necessity or charity shall be included whatever is needful for the good order or health of a community, and acts for the preservation of life and property, but nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to permit the sale of groceries, clothing, sporting-goods, boots or shoes, haberdashery, hardware, or dry-goods." "Section 3. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provisions of this ordinance shall, upon conviction thereof in the municipal court, be punished by a fine not to exceed fifty (50) dollars, or by imprisonment in the city jail not to exceed sixty (60) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment."