Show I I I i SANITY VS YS HYSTERIA I ff The following Is taken from tram the Los Angeles Times and applies to every city where the dread disease of at influenza prevails The closing case growing out of the Influenza ordinance was called to fa trial on Friday In discussing con con- constitutional objections to the C Judge White before whom the case was as tried said There seems o to be tome some merit in the contention of the defendants defendant's C counsel that the Los Angeles City Council has apparently picked out those who are bent upon entertainment or worshiping their Creator as being the per persons ont most li u liable 11 able to spread influenza and after declaring as a a. legislative body that such assemblages are aro unlawful attempts attempts attempts at at- tempts to delegate to the health commissioner commissioner commissioner com com- missioner of Los Angeles the privilege lege legs of saying what other congregations congregations congregations of people might cause influenza to spread I IOno Ono One of the first cardinal rules of I Ithe the valid exercise of police powers Is that exercise shall be uniform as aswell aswell aswell well as reasonable and the council cannot undertake in the case of epidemics epidemics epidemics epi epi- epi- epi I to pick out certain assemblages assemblages assemblages assem assem- and declare them a menace to public health and then say as to other congregations of at people We will leave it to the health commissioner commissioner commissioner commis commis- to determine whether or not they are a menace to public health If It 20 people are not permitted to congregate In a church 20 people should not be permitted to congregate congregate congregate congre congre- gate in any other place The Council undertakes to say that if you meet in a church or you meet In a theatre then you are spreading influenza But if you meet in your you meet in a department store or in any other place you are not spreading the tho disease disease disease dis dis- ease although the same people might meet in the department store as in the church Can they single out churches and theatres and prohibit assemblies of people In them and at the same time permit other people who may not care to go to church or to the theatre theatre theatre thea thea- tre but would care for Instance to meet in a week end party In their home 7 Can they permit that assemblage assemblage assemblage assem assem- blage to congregate in churches If the they deny the right of 20 20 people to meet In In a department store a bank or a home The constitution has always guarded the right of personal liberty and assembling in order that people may freely worship their Creator as they see fit And the constitution is not now suspended These are my views dews at the present time but I will wil reserve a ruling and give a written opinion on the defendants' defendants objection |