The Washington herald., 1915-02-13
ness of the country was suffering from overin-
Iyestigation and an attempt at overregulation.
Give Us a Rest.

| The Ohio legislature met last month and the
usual torrent of bills began to fall in the house
but from the large delegation from
Hamilton County When other members inquired
why they so backward the Cincinnatians
pointed to button they wore on which was in
scribed: Give a rest" There are good
many tired Senators and Representatives in Wash
ngton who could wear such buttons if they dared.
Congress has been in session for six years with
very little recess President Taft called an extra
session of the Sixty-frst Congress which began
March Is, 1909, and continued for IA days The
two regular sessions covered POI days, making 435
days for that Congress- President Taft also called
the SiXty-second Congress in extra session on
April 4, I9II and for the three sessions that Con-
gress recorded 400 days President Wilson called
the Sixty-third Congress in extra session, April
y, 1913, and that Congress has been in almost con-
tinuous session with record OF 567 days before
the present short session began, and by March A.
that record will make 64o days With promise
of an extra session OF the Sixty-fourth Congress,
the tired legislators may we'll say give US rest
The question is, however to the desires Of
the constituents OF these legislators. There are
many indications that the people at large would
be willing to have from the continuous grind
of Legislative machinery, in Washington and in the
State Capitals The people of Illinois appear to
be compacent over the deadlock in their State leg
islature which prevents the grinding out of new
laws. The people of Ohio arc not throwing bad
eggs or bad words at the Hamilton County mem
bers who wear the button, Civ, us a rest" There
other States where the people will soon be cry
ing for such buttons The Massachusetts legisla-
ture is considering bill to prohibit smoking; the
Kansas Legislature has bill to prohibit women
from using face powder, perfume, cosmetics. false
hair earrings or any other device to deceive
weak into thinking them beautiful; and the
Alabama legislature has just enacted law to" pre-
vent the circulation of any newspaper or maga-
zinc in that State, which carries advertisement
OF any kind of liquors. The next legislative re-
form will be to conpe! Postmaster General Burle-
son to open all the letters and find just what
the people saying to each other in their private
correspondence. for it will be impossible to make
the people truly good until we can know their
inmost thoughts.
The Connecticut Representative who intro
duced the bill to have the government pay the
fine OF the men convicted in the celebrated Dan
bury Hatters' case, has put the cap sheaf on the
monument OF legislative absurdites; but why not
pass the bill2 1t would give to the government the
patent the invention OF perpetual motion which
genius has been looking for since the old earth
began TO turn on its axis. Congress makes the |
aw, the courts interpret the law, and the cxecu-
i've cnforces the law. All that is now needed is a
of the circuit by having the govern
nent pay the fines and also go to Jail in place OF
hose convicted. There is just one embarras ssment
n this new REFORM and that is as to whom the .
President shall designate to act for the govern
ncnt in OF hanging. President Wilson /
night select several deserving Democrats, but /
he subject is too embarrassing for public discus /
ion.