Warren sheaf., 1911-03-30
An Odd Sill

z Z Is
and providing that no certificate
shall issue unless the person apply
ing has had at least a years expert
ence in teaching. This reminds one
of the mothers admonition to her
daughter, THAT she must not go near
the water until she had learned to
swim"
How would it do to pass a bill pro-
viding that no one should serve as
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, mem
Der of the legislature or as any state
officer unless he had previously
served at least one term in the Of
fee? Experience is very desirable
thing, but it is not everything, and
there are heap of inexperienced
persons that could fill many of the
positions in every field of endeavor,
better for the public than the pres
ent experienced occupants. Some of
our public officials and some of our
teachers are too blamed experienced.
that is what's the matter with them.
The tendency of modern legislation
and especially of this legislature is
to restrict opportunity when the true
function of legislation is to widen op.
portunity.
| Another Curious Feature.
Another curious feature has devel-
oped in this legislature. There is a
bunch who desire to pose as "Pro.
gressives', "Reformers' 'Cham.
pions Of Purity and all that is desir
able. Yet so far this bunch have set
. their faces like flint against every
real reform bill that has been offered
! A bill was introduced providing that
if man wrote in name on ballot
or used sticl1er the same must NO;
be written or the sticker pasted over
another name but written on OF
pasted under the proper official des
ignation, in its proper place and 8
cross marked after it.
How any person in favor of homes
elections could oppose measure O
that kind is beyond comprehension
The present manner of writing il
names and using stickers as upheld
by our Supreme Court is simply ;
first aid to fraud and corruption il
elections. Yet every one of thes'
"sReformers" who would purify al
matters terrestrial by legislation, vic
lently opposed this measure.
Perquisites.
Considerable amusement and NJ
little comment has been created b,
the perquisites that have been dis
tributed among the various members
Up to date each member has beer
supplied with about five knives, three
Or four fountain pens, two or thre.
PAIRS of scissors and ink-wells, pen
ellis and various other accessories
There is really no more reason VIII,
ors with pocket knives, scissors AM
fountain pens than there is that i
should furnish them with clean col
lars-nOt so much in some cases. I
has become the unwritten law, how
ever, that members of Legislative
bodies shall be furnished with thes,
things, and everybody is more zealou
in seeing that the unwritten law i
enforced than they are that statuar,
legislation should be observed, es
pecially where there is something il
it for them. No one cares very much
if the legislators do get few evtra:
at the State expense, but surely there
is no reason why one member SHOULD
be supplied with five dollar foun
tain pen and another have to conten
himself with one costing dollar ant
a half, that one man should sport /;
four dollar tortise-shell handled knit,
and another be supplied with on,
SOoC11So uO11dl ctuu d AudlCC1.
does not seem just right that tn,
state should pay four dollars for
pair of scissors for a solon to presen
to~his lady friend and then buy him
sixty cent pair to give to his wife
And there is no reason why one firm
should be practically given the mono
poly of furnishing all these supplies.
Il All these abuses could be obviate,
by four line bill providing that eac1
member should be allowed a reason
able amount for contingent expense
to be drawn from the state treasury
the same as is done with the Senator
and representatives in Washington
Then every member would be treate'
exactly alike. Each could buy hi
supplies wherever he pleased; one o
two firms would not get all the "vel
vet" Chocolates could be bought 70