The Mena weekly star., 1913-03-20
SERVING THE PEOPLE AND THE
 COST.

It is rare that a man can render a genuine service to the people and not offend some one or element that will watch for a chance to ''get even.'
 A good example of how this often works out is the case of Hal L. Norwood and the 6O-day session amendment.
 Mr Norwood, in common with practically all the thinking people of Arkansas, had seen one legisla- ture after another extend it's ses- sion far beyond apparent need, hanging on by one preteXt or an- other as long as there was money in the state treasury or any that could be secured with which to pay salaries. In many instances it seemed that the spirit was to waste time in merest horse-play, hold brief daily sessions, adjourn from day to day on the slightest pretext, to daily over the work to a degree that no employer or business con- cern would allow for even a day. It was plain that a good many of the legislators found the pay much more than they were used to at home and wanted the job to last.
 The condition was lamentable. The cost was ruinous.
 MT. Norwood, seeing all this, drew up an amendment to reduce the sessions to sixty days. The ques- tion was laid before the people and the amendment proved its popular ity by the overwhelming vote it re- ceived. The people liked it. They were sure it was a good thing, and even if it was not, it was the right of the majority to say what was wanted and have just that.
 There was no particular objec- tion raised at first. In fact, a good many candidates for the legislature came out openly in favor of the amendment and the shorter session, and doubtless some won their cleo tion on that plank in their plat form.
 But immediately after the elec- tion there was a change. All sorts of efforts began to be made to an null the amendment, and these eff forts continued until near the close of the session.
 In the meantime, MT. Norwood, being generally recognized as eligible and especially fitted for a United States Senator, came before the legislators as a candidate for the place, and, all considered, it seemed he should have the place of honor and would get it.
 But here was where serving the people proved his undoing.. A good many legislators, far more than the number necessary to have thrown the balance to Mr. Norwood, de- clared that they would fight him as long as they lived because he was responsible for confining them to a 60-day session-onIy 60 days at the pie counter One man declared it had cost him Si6O to be elected, his salary for 60 days would only be $36O, and wanted to know what kind of job that left him. A wire to his county clerk showed he had sent in his sworn Statement of election ex- penses as about S3O-but of course that did not alleviate his desire for revenge.
 As has been said before, none of this spirit was shown by Polk coun- tvs representative nor senator. They both think the 6O-day session is right.
 The General Assembly of 1913 worked instead of playing horse" and killing time They would not even have needed 60 days had multitude of local measures been kept out,
 But Hal L. NorwOod saved the people of Arkansas probably not less than $i00O0O this year.
 And this cost him a seat in the United States Senate
 It often is expensive to serve the people.