The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-01


Some Legislative Idens.
There is probably not legislature that
has been in session this winter but has
been called upon to consider some freak
in the way of proposed legislation When
CULVER visited Laputa he found the ma
tives busily engaged in trying to extract
sunbeams from cucumbers to be stored
away for use on damp and chilly days,
and to soften marble so that it might
he used for pillows and pincushions
From that day to this there have been
disciples of the Laputans who have work
ed along similar lines. Some of them are
at present members of the various state
legislatures. Others are in congress.
An especially favored stamping ground
for these well-intentioned persons this
year seems to be the Indiana House.
That body on the fifth day of the cur
rent month passed bill declaring that a
previously accepted mathematical propo-
sition was all wrong, and should no long
er be considered orthodox in that state.
The bill IS TO the effect that hereafter the
circumference of circle, in the state of
Indiana, shall he three and two-tenths
times the diameter. Under the old rule
tho circumference was calculated to be
BIAS and fraction times the diameter.
DR.. Goodwin of Posey county, Indiana, de-
clared that that rule is wrong, proved
1t to the satisfaction of the House
and secured it's vote to change the
laws of mathematics! And yet there are
some people who insist that the laws
of finance cannot be changed by Iegis-
lative enactment! 1t was in the Indiana
legislature, also, that the proposition to
regulate hotel bills of fare, so as to ex-
clude foreign languages, originated. Still
another Indiana idea is to prohibit kiss
ing In streets, parks and other public
places. except when the kisses are ex-
changed between man and wife or near
relatives. Just how such a law would be
enforced is not apparent, unless 1t should
be required that badges with duplicate
numbers be issued to and worn by per
sons entitled by law to kiss each other.
Kansas, as might be expected is not
far behind in freak legislation. Indeed.
1t might have been expected that Kansas
would be in the lead, to Judge from her
previous record. But this year, up to the
present, Indiana is the drum major. The
most cranky idea so far introduced into
the Kansas legislature is a bill to dis
pose of offices at auction, to the persons
who will take them for the least paw.
Many Kansas people are partial to the
I'll ~
If law like the above were in force. and
the offices were disposed of to the lowest
bidder, it would. obviously, be easier 10
pay the taxes.
The Missouri legislature has been called
upon to take the MASKING conductors of
both urban and suburban railways IN
hand and legislate against their flirting
propensities. The proposed law does not
provide that they shall wear blind brides
during business hours, to be sure but it
directs by inference that conductors shall
be as blind as bats to the charms of their
passengers, and shall never, never wink
the other eye"
Minnesota legislator has been immeas-
urably shocked by some of the theatrical
posters that are 20 be seen upon the dead
walls in Minneapolis and St. Paul, and
has introduced bill to regulate such ad-
vertislng matter He desires that CEN
sor OF theatrical poster art shall be pro-
vided. with power to tear down certain
kinds Of posters, and arrest the people
who paste them up.
Prof Tomlins of the Illinois board Of
charities, Is of the opinion that the power
of music to soothe the savage breast Is
really more or less medicinal. and that Il
may be found greatly beneficial to dis
eased minds. He has been studying the
effects OF music upon insane patients, and
has found instances in which song has
done much towards arousing latent mem
tai energies. He will conduct experiments
in the Illinois insane asylum, and hopes
to be rewarded by seeing cases of a re-
awakening OF the suspended faculties OF
the mind through the aid Of vocal and in
strumental music. The music cure Is said