New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-26
TTPNJVG RACK THE CLOCK.

Turning back the hands of the CLOCK
as the hour approaches for the dissoiu-
ton Of n legislative assembly Is cere-
mony of long and honorable standing
Il is an impressive tribute TO legislative
authority. because ii represents
triumph over Father Time in the one
field of human activity in which he can
ba really outgenerailed. An individual
NAV tamper with his timeplece and call
Saturday Friday if he wishes TO do So
but the courts will set aside his reckon
inc if Ii is ever challenged a ieglsla-
tive body. however. is mighier than the
calendar or the sundial, and If II shonld
eject 10 sit until midnight and still cal
II noon. or till noon and still cai IL
midnight. that edict would be accepted
as within the proper scope of its preroga-
tive. When Captain Bassett. as veneer
able AS Chronos himself. used to take
his staff and push back the hands OF the
clock I'm the United States Senate cham
bcr. those who witnessed that memo
rable performance felt almost as If they
of the processes of nature.
I'm these days Of revolution legislative
authority to nullify the fight or time Is
being rudely assailed. just "a legislative
jurisdiction is being threatened by
ropnlar law-making schemes like the in
iiiative and referendum. Ont in Mime
5. ia they have found a way to eliminate
the Captain Bassetts and their poles ana
restore the supremacy Of the chro-
pometer. The 1911 session Of the Mime
sofa Legislature ended by limitation at
midnight of April Is. II had beer me
custom to use few extra hours at the
close of each session Ia straighten out
matters In dispute between the TWO
branches. and when midnight was al
hand. on April 1S. there were still four
important measures pending which had
passed both houses, but on which the
concurrence by the lower branch i'll
amendments made IN the Senate was
necessary One OF these was Il local
option bill for fourth-ciass cities. The
liGnor-selling interests were actively op-
posing the local option measure, and it j.
charged that they were at the bottom
Of the mysterious manpuyres by which
The sanctity Of the operations of the
iimcpiccc in the House Of Representa-
tives was maintained inviolatc.
The Speaker ordered the serceani-at-
arms 10 turn back the hands. but when
he approached the clock he found 1t
guarded by three Titans, each weighing
more than $50 pounds. stationed there,
l. is said. by the opponents of the local
option bill An assistant sergeant-at-
arms was sent to the gallery with a pole
TO move the hands, but his implement
was taken away from him. Various
members tried 10 do what the House Off
Gals could not accomplish, but all failed.
as The Minneapolis Journal' reports.
because of bodyguard around the
CLOCK. which threatened physical yio-
"lence TO any man caught turning its
hands back"
Father Time triumphed, thanks TO the
Titans who held the minions Of the
Speaker in check. II is an omin0us
precedent. Soon our legislative bodies
may have to do business with an in
cased alarm clock. whose knelI Of doom
cannot be STAYED off and whose hands
cannot be reached by doorkeeper or n
sergeant-at-arms bent on forcing them
backward. Fortunate Captain Bassett,
who passed away before the chief glory
NJ his office was eytinouiSbed IX such
aLhorrcnt and seditious innovations.