Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-02-14
Backwoods Statesmen Bent on
Reform For the Wicked
Cities.
Courier-J and Times on
HandlWhen Pork Barrel Is
Tapped.
WOOD AxTON FOR CONGRESS

far that the present Legislature has
done absolutely nothing for the good
of the public, nine-tenths OF its time
being occupied with useless probe
investigations and anti-liquor bills.
The only probing that the general
public was interested in wff the
resolution of Representative Price,
of Covington, calling for an investf-
CATION of the lobbying tactics Of
Percy Haley, this suggestion meeting
with general approval, but Haley
and his friends we're strong enough
to force a withdrawal of the meas
ure, thereby depriving the present
body of the opportunity of obtaining
a reputation, in addition to the good
it>would do the public and the
Democratic party in particular.
But the chief weakness of the
majority of the present General
Assembly is their penchant for in
PRODUCING anti-liquor or prohibition
bills, the authors principally being
residents of some country district,
not even on a railroad line, this
class endeavoring to regulate the
morals of the people in the cities,
the latest fool bill of this kind, in
troduced Thursday, providing for, a
liquor commission in every one OF
the 120 counties, although a large
percentage are supposedly dry;
closing saloons at 1 o'clock; not al
lowing beer to be carried out of
saloon, and saloon owners not to
sell tobacco, cigars or anything else
in connection.
hat
breweries can not own buildings to
rent for saloon purposes or fixtures
to sell possible buyers, this being an
adroit attempt to practically put
breweries out of. business. 1t further
provides that the proposed liquor
commissioners in cities of the first
class would receive $1,000 each and
graded down to salaries of 500
each, all to be appointed by the
Governor, which would give that
official the opportunity of building
the most powerful political machine
known. In spite of the absurdity
and expense attached to the. above
measure, the present Legislature
will probably give it due and careful
consideration.
The substitute editor of the
Courier-Journal processes to be very
Indignant because the Legislature
doesn't throw the present members
of the Fiscal Court out by the scruff
OF the neck, and quotes Senator Sam
Robertson and other Louisville
members as being lenient with the
Jefferson county Magistrates, the
above writer accusing Senator Rob-
t.A hi hot ~
strict advocates of the pork barrel
theory, seeming to overlook the fact
that the Courier-Journal and its
evening appendage, the Times, are
always on hand to secure their hunk
of pork In the way of printing the
State and county tax delinquents,
city printing and other official ad-
vertising. The Courier further ad-
vises that the voters should paste
the names of the Louisville repre-
sentatives in their scrap books for
future reference, forgetting that two
can play at that game, especially in
view of the fact that the services of
the Haldeman organs in the recent
campaign we're very lukewarm to say
the least, the Times going out OF its
way to- give the Progressive candi-
date for Mayor clean bill Of health
after the election, and putting the
Democratic Campaign Committee In
the light Of being falsifiers and
traducers of the first degree.
1T is conceded on all sides that
the management of jefferson
county's affairs by the former bodies
of Magistrates sitting as a Fiscal
Court could be improved upon, but
when II Is taken into consideration
that only 1900 out OF possible
$4,000 voters registered their senti-
ments on the commission plan in
the last election there is not
burning desire on the part of the
taxpayers to summarily dismiss the
Magistrates-elect, and II Is only fair
to give them an opportunity to inn
prove on the actions OF the last
Fiscal Court. II, as the commission
advocates claim, the people want
commission government, the Pro-
gressive ticket would have been
elected in the last election, this be-
ing one OF the principal planks in
their platform, and the large vote
In the municipal races is fairer
test than the haphazard majority in
the question of abolishing the Fiscal
Court. This fact seems to be real
lied by the present Legislature. as
Col. Pat Callahan and Henry John
son can attest. they being present
daily at Frankfort endeayoring to
persuade some member outside OF
this city 10 introduce a commission
bill. without success thus far.
The local Progressives have
elected Wood Axton as their execu-
tive head. which Is perfectly Just
and proper when Il is taken into
consideration that Woods barrel
kept the Bu.i Moose campaign go
Ing In the last election. and little
flattery now Will probably induce
him to finance the Grill. which Is
being distributed gratis at the L, and