Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1897-06-26

2|lIN I
PRIV ity they invade leg
islatures, try with
all their might to push bills through,
curtailing rights and privileges, and
interfere with public conveniences.
Very Frequently these bills are smoth-
cred at their first presenting. Many Of
them are too ridiculous even to be read
in public; others come in and are treat
ed as jokes, while scores and probably
hundreds are too absurd to be consid-
cred even for a moment.
During the present year there has
been an unusual amount of crank legis-
lation and any quantity of folly perpe-
trated in the name of law-making.
A bill was presented to the legisla-
ture of one of the eastern states max
ing it a criminal offense for womento
wear boomers for bicycle riding. Some
years ago there was a great hue and
cry because women wore Mother Hub
bard dresses on the streets. They could
wear Mother Hubbard cloaks or jack
cts, but not dresses, and there was a
great deal of wonderment at the differ
ence.
A bill forbidding the wearing of cor
sets was recently killed by the legis-
lature of a western state. Among the
absurdly funny bills that have been
presented in committees was one to
compel young people to marry or pay a
fine; also n taxing bachelors. An
other provided a pension for old maids,
the same to accumulate as a dowry.
The object of this was to make it an
object for some man to marry the
young woman on account of the little
cash she possessed.
A crank wanted a bill passed MAX
ing 1t a criminal offense for a bald
headed nan in the front row Of seats
in a theater to wear a skull cap, and
attempts at legislation on theater hats
are too recent to need recalling. Law
makers have struggled with proposed
enactments f%orbidding hazing, and yet
students "haze" whenever and wher-
ever they will. Football has come in
for some attention in law-making cir
cles. Now it has been to limit the
game, and again to compel the men,
bers to cut their hair. Some years ago
a bill was placed in the hands of a
member of congress, making it an Of
Tense punishable by fine and imprison-
ment for a woman to wear her hair
shingled. Another crank tried to for
bid the wearing of bangs. Shoes with
very pointed toes came in for a similar
attention, and high heels were not
overlooked when this crazy work was
in progress.
A number of bills have been drafted
which were evidently suggested by the
blue laws. To forbid and to punish
flirting was the purpose of one effus-
ion, and another sought to restrain
young men and maidens from driving
after nightfall, probably lest they flirt
''unbeknownst" to the Mrs. Grundys
and Mr.. Meddlesomes of their several
communities.
To authorize a committee to select
a certain number of manageable
young women and provide marriage
portions for them from money raised
by taxing rich bachelors was a favorite
idea of one happily married resident of
a locality where there were a number
of rich bachelors and pretty girls who
could not, to all appearances, come to
matrimonial terms.
A bit of legislation that would have
been much commended if it had sue
ceeded was a bill to prevent the send
ing of flowers to convicted felons. The
number of women of unwholesome and
mawkish sentiments who make a prac-
tice of sending bouquets to men who
have murdered their wives has long
been an occasion of disgust to sensible
people. Beginning with the purest mo-
tives, that of offering spiritual conso-
lation to prisoners under sentence of
death, the practice of visiting con
demned criminals has become, through
misuse and a misconception of the
proper intent and purpose Of such
visits, a reproach to the persons who
are most nearly concerned, and a
shame to the communities where such
foolishness is INDUCED in. Laws pro-
hibiting the visits of other than the
families or spiritual counselors would
save much i'll feeling and open dis
grace. The legislature Of the great
state of New York has made a record
for itself by trying to pass a law for
bidding the printing Of the picture of
a person without having first OBJ
tanned the owners consent. This is
just about as senseless as the Loud
postal bill, which was as bad a piece
of postal legislation as it was possible
to propose.