Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1895 — SUNDAY SHAVING LAW INVALID. [ARTICLE]

SUNDAY SHAVING LAW INVALID.

Decision by a Chicago Judge that the Law Is Class Legislation. Judge Gibbons, of Chicago, in a carefully written opinion, holds that the Cody law, making it a misdemeanor for a barber to shave a mail on Sunday, is class

legislation and invalid. This is the result so far of the fight waged by Chicago barbers against the law. The case will bo reviewed by the Supreme Court next. The Judge, in the course of his opinion, said: “The basic question of this case is, Can the Legislature single out any one calling or avocation, which in and of itself is not harmful to others, and make it the subject of special legislation. It can not be urged that barbering is a pursuit inimical in itself to the health or morals of the community as it has long been recognized as a handiwork that very materially ministers to the cleanliness and comeliness of the human family. “In truth, we find that this occupation was known to man long before many of the learned professions found a place in human economy. The prophet Ezekiel said: ‘And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head find upon thine beard.’ The courts cannot take cognizance of the moral aspect of the case, even though a seventh day of rest seems to be established by divine decree or natural necessity.”