New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-10
1''iler llamin l.. l.. Blxcr May J. s. Bear, Oregon
o. Loheehecher, spring Grove
BUILDING CONGRESSIONAL AIR CASTLES
TWO CURIOUS LEGISLATIVE BILLS INTRODUCED
IL TILE SENATE.


washington. May . (spcclan.-Two curious illustGa
iionS Of the fantastic lengths to which schemes OF
legislation may 90. and yet be treated with apparent
seriousness In Congress offered In two bills which
Rave been introduced in the senate by Mr.. Plumb
Inc Kansas senator mahcS Che apOl1gctic announce
feht mat they are presented by request, and they
may perhaps. never be disturbed again in their
sleep in the musty files Of the committee rooms
But the fact that such cxtravagant measures have
been able TO get any hearing at all In the Senate Is
sufficient commentary on the gross abSurditicS to
which the exceedingly lax custom Of introducing bills
d" by request may lead good naturcd public man.
The first bill provides for the organization of an cX
traor'linary "Grand Army Of Labor and is as fol
lows:
BE i. enacted by the Senate House Of Representa-.
tNcs OF the United State, America. in Congress assem-.
b'd. that the President United shall forth.
with issue cali addressed all citizens Of thi, Republic
over tw'ntyone years 81 age. inviting them in
til" Grand Army of Labor OF this Republic for not lcs
than ono day under the following terms and conditions
list-The hours Of LABOR shall not exceed four hours
per day for than five days in each week. FOR
than six successive weeks without itermIssoa
weeks
Second The rate OF shall be 81 per day. and be
payable weekly in the dccaraory full lcgaltendcr silk
Threaded errenback paper money Of the United States Of
America exclusively.
See. .. That Executive Department Of Labor be and
u hereby established. and the office OF secretary OF the
Department OF Labor salary Of per day, Is hereby
created Tor the purpose II enabling said President 70 rap
dy commission and assign said volunteers 70 duty in ia"
public service where their abilities will reflect credit upon
Themselves and II j. hereby distinctly provided that tho
"nur" Of Office IN said service shah De held exclusively at
the pleasure u The said volunteer and not a. heretofore
at the pleasure u some spokesman, who may happen to
hold commission ISSUED by the President Of the United
States OF other officer thereof.
Soc ,. That the money necessary 10 carry the
propositions 81 h!, act effect be- and Is hereby.
appropriated ont ~ money In the Treasury not Other.
wise appropriated. aud there shall lee no money
In said Treasury ;h il shall BE- the duty Of the Treasurer
of the United Stata, TO inform the Secretary Of tho
Treasury Of that fat. and he shall az once caus"
Suci'ncy thereof To ho prepared and covered into the
Treasury for said purpo-e.
Sec i. That al laws and parts o, laws IN conflict
herewith be- Ind hereby repealed and this act shall
tab" effect when approved
This modest aud sa,o,man-llkc scheme IS worthy OF
Artcmu, Ward or Marx Twain
The second bill /, scarcely less ambiguous and far
reaching than The first. II provides for the cSab-
lishmcut Of pablo farm in every comfy in the United
states presumably 10 enlarge the field Of opportunity
for the members Of the Grand Army Of Labor Hero
I, the test Of the measure:
y. 10 enact d. etc., that tic Sccr,lry o. tho Depart
mont y Agriculture. under the direction u the Pr .dent.
shall. rapidly possible. establish public farm IN each
county Within %. limit. OF mi, Republic and operate
-af farms 20 cost provided that p'r-on shall be
r,orh non -ad farms except said person shall De-
pp'rd by thi, Republic. and Doe assigned q duty az
farms bv the rodent through the Secretary u the
Dclartn.n, 81 Labor.
>'- % That tnc money necessary 20 enable the Prcsi-
d 20 To- provision, o. th- act be- aud f. hereby.
appropriated out of any money n cs Treasury not other
Wise appropriated
Sc g. Iaa, al laws and pa-t q l1w, "a conflict here.
with e. ,ui her'. repealed. and ni, a.t shall the
effect vh.n approved
The real author 4 these two measures IS not known.
When discovered Dee likely 70 prove a worthy rival
q ,hc most persistent ard noionou, builder oil ar
.Yt.f sa- ,.s.t