Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-13

Have we really too much legisla-
ton" Of one sort and another in this
country?
The inquiry is pertinent and timely,
considering the obsessing circum-
stance that the Georgia Legislature
will gather in Atlanta within four
months, and all varieties and condi-
tions OF new legislation are being
proposed
Instead OF fussing and frittering
away its time over a thousand and
one bills OF relatively small conse-
quence, and thus through enactment
Of lot of them cluttering the statute
books with an kinds of amazing new
laws, would 1t not be the better and
the mere statesmanlike thing for the
Legislature to fix its august attention
upon q dozen or so--or, better still,
upon three or really big meas
ures and thrash them out intelli-
gently and helpfully?
Suppose, for instance, that instead
OF fussing about more prohibition
laws--the State already having on
hand a large excess assortment that
1t seems unable Or unwilling to en-
force-the Legislature fixed its mind
upon the genuine reformation of Its
child labor laws. it's convict laws. the
disposal of its forthcoming maturing
bonds, and its taxation problems-in-
Guiding the Western and Atlantic
Railroad
II the Legislature would forget that
il had other business or might have
other business-and worked to final
and sensible solution the foregoing
problems, would it not be rendering
Georgia q far finer and more patriotic
service than by forever squabbling
over small things and fussing over
extreme points OF view that nine
tenths Of the Legislature, in its heart,
would be heartily glad to get rid OF
for all time?
The Houston Post, considering this
matter from the viewpoint OF Texas,
recently set forth some opinions that,
while, perhaps, more or less eXagger-
ated in spots. nevertheless depict a
status OF things not far from the un-
pleasant truth
The Post says;
In his recent address before the
Bar Association OF New York,
former Chief Justice Cullen, of
the Court of Appeals OF that
State, deplored the decline of per-
EhAtAi AloEAtN III NtlE AiNANA h9tfAhN's
ITO day" he said. according to
the notion of many, if not most
people, liberty is the right Of part
Of the people 20 compel the other
part to do what the first part
thinks the latter ought to do for
its own benefit"
Never before has a nation
been so thoroughly submerged by
statutes Beginning with the
Federal Congress and coming
down through the State Legisla-
lures and other lawmaking bod
les, the statutes have multiplied
year by year until the personal
freedom Of the citizen is but lit
Tic more than a myth. Many
people are not satisfied in disre-
gardiug tho principle of local self
government as IL applies to the
smaller subdivisions OF the States.
but they have exhibited an
amazing eagerness to surrender
even for the purpose Of enforcing
their conceptions Of human vir-
tue upon people living thousands
Of miles away.
The Georgia Legislature might take
TO heart, perhaps, with profit to it.
self, the foregoing from The Houston
Post
OF late years the Georgia lawmak-
ing body has shown growing ten
dency 70 fuss and fume over tribes
many times multiplied. rather than TO
devote itself TO real constructive leg
is,ation.
The present Legislature made a
good tinal record last summer-after
must waste of time in the beginning,
nevertheless and it ought to COM
plete that good record this summer by
enacting a few genuinely big reforms,
the while it let's the small-fry politi
clans go hang!
Judge William b. Moore, of Fitz-
gerald, is a candidate for the Leg
stature and is looked upon by his
friends as a most likely winner
He is one Of the leading Confeder
ate veterans OF the state, and is par
ticularly popular with the many Union
veterans to he found in Fitzgerald.
Indeed, it is predicted that he viii re-
ceiVe, as a sort of substantial start
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