The sun., 1898-02-24
The Corn Laws.

Ihe Hon. WILLIAM w. ARMSTRONG, a
Rochester member of the Assembly, ex
presses, with some asperity, his dislike OF
bill introduced into that body by the
Hon. JOSEPH BoNDY of the Onondaga Res
ervation. This bill merely flows through
MIR. BoNDY; it arises in the depths of the
Pedic Society of this town, and is called
the Pedic Society bill. The Pedic Society
consists of gentlemen in the corn-cutting
line. The Pedic Society bill grants to the
Pedic Society full authority over the corn.
cutting business. The Pedic Society is to
regulate the practice of chiropody, as the
wise it call, and to force all chiropodists to
follow the rules and customs of the Pedic
Society. Whoever diverges therefrom will
be punished by fine, which the Pedic So.
ciety will gather into it's own strong box,
or by imprisonment, which the Pedic Soci-
ETY. will generously allow the culprit to
have to himself.
Such is the measure which the Hon. WILL
LIAM w. ARMSTRONG of Rochester permits
himself to describe as IAN outrage"
Why outrage? 1t is a recognized first
principle of legislation that the State ought
to regulate everything. 1t is recognized
second principle of legislation that the
State should regulate one mans business
for the benefit of his rivals. Probably in
time the Pedic Society will ask for char
ter endowment and annual appropriation
for itself as the State College of Chropody.
We would not call the bill of the Pedic
Society an outrage. At the worst it indi-
Gates a certain callosity of the finer sympa-
thies of the members of that society. AS for
the Hon. JoE BoSDY, we absolvc him. In
All evil moment some bungling execution.
er hewed at the corns of the statesman
from the salt licks. He still feels the
smart and pants for vengeance on that
caitiff hand.
1t must be difficult for a man buffeted by
corns to keep a good temper and remain a
good citizen. His temptations and his suf.
ferings must be great. No doubt desire
for it's special welfare as part of the gen.
eral welfare leads this Pedic Society to ask
the State to surrender to it jurisdiction
over corns. Let the Pedic Society have
this bill passed and care for the corns of
New York, and it cares not who makes the
other laws.
1t seems to us, however, with due rever-
ence to the science of the Pedic Society
chirurgeons, that the bill encouraged by
the aching BoNDY doesn't go far enough.
1t is for the interest of the Pedic Society
that the corn crop be increased. For that
purpose the society should supervise the
sale of boots and shoes. If men, women,
and children can be made to wear boots
and shoes that don't fit them, the corn
production Of the world can be centupled
in year.
Far be it from us to balk the Just revenge
of Mr.. BoNDY or to interfere with the natu.
raj desire of the Pedic Society for the ex.
tension of its power. Yet If Mr. BoNDY
were not still smarting and the Pedic So.
ciety were not flushed by the contemplation
of the high career which 1t has planned,
we might suggest that the simplest and
most effective way of putting corns on the
statute book and off the feet would be a
law declaring that corns are hereby abol.
ished. The same object might be attained
in little more roundabout manner by
passing constitutional amendment abol-
ishng feet.
Legislation is beautiful thing now, but
1t can be improved. The ideal legislator
will have no feet, for he will walk on air.
Heads have long been supertiuous in the
business, and feet will be the next survi.
walls to lop Off.