The sun., 1915-05-30
FAMOUS FAKE BILL
IN THE LEGISLATURE
They Still Talk at Albany Of
the Tammany Sign Post
Measure.
JOKE ON GAS HOUSE SOLON

| During the last session Of the New
York Legisia ture Senator Alfred J.
Gilchrist Of Brooklyn attracted a great
deal OF attention through the in
PRODUCTION Of a number Of odd
bills, tho chief OF which was a
measure framed to prevent negroes
putting their heads through sits in
canvas for use as targets for baseball
throwers. II was called the hall
dodgers bill and Coney Island conces-
sionaires were up in arms over what
they called a wanton attack on their
time honored side show privileges.
Nonsensical as this bill appeared to
many, Il had the merit Of having been
regularly introduced and referred TO
its proper legislative committee for
consideration. And what Ia more its
owner declared himself in aggressive
earnest about It's Introduction and
discussion.
In this respect II differed from a
bill introduced in the Assembly OF New
York State during the session OF 1902.
This bill really became a famous piece
Of legislation before II arrived at It's
formal nnis, although It has never,
until the present time, been chronicled
in print.
The act WINS placed in the Assembly
bill box by two jciers Of the Assembly.
II was drawn up In the regular form,
beginning with the necessary verbiage:
THE People of the State OF New
York in Senate and Assembly repre-
sented." &c. The provisions OF the
first two or three sections were also
very plausible, and. In fact. the entire
measure was put together in such a
way that only a technician In legis,a-
tive matters could have d.scerned the
Joke.
As is well known tho Assembly bill
box Ia a receptacle placed for the
measures OF the legislators who may
wish TO have them introduced at the
next regular daily session subsequent
to their deposit. The box is only used
between times" for when the AS
sembly is In session the bill may be
handed up TO the clerk for reading.
Bills are introduced in duplicate. and
must bear, OF course. the introducer's
name.
The jokers dropped the fake bill into
the box on a Thursday night. They
attached a members name whose dis
trict was in tho Gas House" section
OF New York. He was what was
known as Tammany machine man
and had little initiative or individu-
ality. He never waited over for Friday
morning sessions. as they lasted but
a few minutes. and Il was easier TO
take the train to New York Thursday
night. returning after recess the fol-
lowing Monday night.
The fake bill with the Gas House"
members name was duly taken out OF
the box Friday morning and It's title
read. II was referred to ito proper
committee and ordered printed. Its
purpose was made very plain. At
every crossroad throughout the State
Of New York there must be placed at
once by the State Engineer and Sur
veyor a signpost with a sign of cx-
actly described dimensions, and let
travellers to the nearest place FOR en-
teriainment OF man and beast. The
angles of the crossroads were specified
In their exact degrees with respect to
tha proper placing of the sign.
No sooner was the title Of the bill
read than the afternoon newspaper
representative. az Albany pricked up
their ears. They were on the alert
Always for New York city legislation.
but here was bin making II manda-
tory TO erect signposts throughout
the Stale. and essentially Of rural
benefit. Yet member from a con-
gested New York district had intro
duced II. Something strange. They
searched around for the alleged intro
ducer. He was In New York. They
took no chances. however, and tele-
graphed a column TO their papers tell
ing Of the attempt to signpost the
State by Gas House" legislator,
The morning papers took II up. Re-
porters hunted up the Assemblyman
at his home. He roared out his denial.
But nobody bel eyed him. He got a
hurry telephone call to come "up to
the Hall" He went up 10 the Wig
wan and swore he had introduced no
such bill He was ordered to ask for
the privileges OF the floor on Monday
nights session and compel the with
drawal OF the bill. lie had stage
fright over the idea. He was almost
too bashful to raise his voice when
voting at roll call. Meanwhile the
news of the bill spread, and from all
quarters of the city the luckless AS
semblymen received telephone mes
sages asking to be 'let in on the sign
post graft"
The following Monday night the al
legged introducer arrived In Albany al
most In a state OF collapse. All dur
ing the ensuing week he was ordered
to demand the withdrawal OF the bill,
but would not rise in his seat and ask
It. Finally the Democratic leader told
the facts to Speaker Nixon. The
Speaker called the Gas House Assem-
blyman to his desk and questioned
him. He was satisfied that the ligis-
lator was altogether too timid to In
troduce such a radical bill and exon
Grated him.
But the bill had been printed. When
II was supposed that II had been killed
In committee the first thing known
was request for n hearing on II by
the Good Roads champions of the
State. who saw in it blessing and
who sent the alleged introducer n con-