The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-24
ON THE WING
The Law and the Profits
BY JAMES H. HARD

'Sallie you'd better quit skating on that
Sidewalk; it's against the law" shouted a
companion to a little girl recently.
Don't talk to me about the law, was
the retort, tits all 1 can do to keep the
Ten Commandments
We who have had such struggle for
the last so years or so to keep the
Ten Commandments, especially the TENTH
will heartily approve of the sentiments
expressed by little Miss Sallie.
have many times been grateful that
the church with which 1 affiliated years
ago taught the doctrine of falling from
grace, and that although to err was hui
man, that the erring one might be re-
stored to favor, if proper penitence was
shown and an earnest desire to flee the
wrath to come and to be saved from his
Ains was exhibited.
~ had a discoloration to show for
every time 1 have fallen 1 would be as
purple all over as one of these here
guinea hen squashes, the new-fashioned
name of which Is egg plant, although
why they should be called that, don't
know, for they are larger than even an
ostrich egg and as purple as a damson
plum. ripe bullace or muscadine.
I think L am about an average man,
and I know it is hard for me to keep the
Ten Commandments, even for day at a
time, so what are we going to do about
keeping the thousand and one laws which
are on the statute books, and about
which there is hardly one man in a thou
sand, unless he be lawyer, who knows
anything about or even that they are
there?
The writers on law say that Law is
a rule of civil conduct, prescribed by the
supreme power in the state. commanding
what is right and prohibiting what is
wrong" Which is all very we'll as far
as it goes, but what about splitting on
the sidewalk, furnishing a gourd for our
friends to drink out of instead of sanitary
cups, and crossing the street diagonally
instead of at right angles, or keeping to
the crossings instead of cutting across
corners, as we country raised people have
always been accustomed to doing?
The fact that a law is on the statute
books, however, does not necessarily mean
that it is a good law that is to say,
one that will stand the test of the courts,
for we, every one of u.s. have our atten-
ton frequently called to the fact that
the courts often pronounce laws unconsti-
tutional, and thereby knock them out or
render them null and void.
Mr.. Dull, after much labor ana many
seepless nights, is rewarded by being
made legislator, and in turn must re-
ward his constituency or one or more of
them by securing the passage of law in
spired by some interest, which law being
duly drawn, introduced. discussed-or not
is passed by both houses, signed by the
governor, and becomes a fullfedged stat
ute This statute is entitled to all the
respect shown others, is to be honored
and obeyed as we'll and is in all ways
reputable and recognized as being in
good society, until some one who objects
to it raises a question on constitutional
grounds which is duly submitted to the
court, whereupon Judge Keen knocks it
sky high. In regular course the supreme
court sustains the lower court and the
erstwhile law is no more the law than
nothing.
This fate has overtaken many and
should overtake many more passed In ia
vor of some particular interest instead
of in the interest of the people as a
whole. To illustrate: At recent meet
ing in the city hall there was under dis
cussion the Single roof ordinance. The
speeches covered wide range, and In
one, the speaker representing the insur-
ance, said in effect: And do you know
gentlemen, that business man in Ala
bama cannot write to an outside nsur-
ance company a letter without being in
danger of the penitentiary?"
One of the commissioners remarked