The courier-index., 1919-03-07

the cO1nTy.
 The advocates of this bill declare that it will be the best advertising Arkansas can receive, for 1t will be absolutely the first state with such a law.
 Automobile Legislator does not seem to be the long suite of the house of representatives. The senate has passed up to that body num- Der of bills for the protection of this character of property, but the house has continued to hold the bills in committee in spite of strong pres sure brought to have them released. In most instances laws have been amended to have them keep abreast with the times, and they have been brought part way ill the automobiles by having the old blacksmith lien law extend over automobile repairs. But when it comes to theft of cars, the house has so far declined to ex- tend the anti-horse thief law to in- elude them. It is felony to take a flea bitten plug of horse and when a $5,000 automobile is taken for joy riding it is a misdemeanor, No matter what may be the value of horse or mule, or for what purpose he is taken, if it be only to ride down a lane, the taBer is guilty of a felony, punishable by term ih the penitentiary The automobile clubs of the state intend to keep up the fight, hoping to conyiee some of the men from the mountains that the automobile is a real necessity, and not a luxury, demanding as much protection as the stock Of the farmer.
 Again there is talk in Little Rock of a state weekly newspaper that will deal extensively in politics There have been a number of such papers started, but they are now in the grave yard of the Fourth Estate. There is plenty of room for such a publication, but it is hardly probable there will be any newspaper men of experience who care to tackle the proposition.
 The general assembly has not been so fruitful a field of political prog nosis as have many proceeding ses- sions. There has been too much work to do to give much attention to polo tics. There has been, it seems to old observers, less of the kind of legislation that is designed purely for the sake of the men back home. Of course, there has been some of this element, for no similar body of representatives chosen from the peo- pie could be free from those who ground to hear what their constitu- ents may be saying about it.
 There are two extremes, and both of them have been heard in this session, as in all others One is the man who says, If every man in my county should sign petition to ask me to vote for this bill, would not do so, for I do not believe it is right" The other class is repre- resented by the man, and he was heard several times on the floor of the house only last week. who said, Personally I am opposed to this proposition, but my people want it. and therefore will vote for it."
 The legislature, which will ad- journ sine die Thursday, March 13, will not be extended, notwithstand- ing the fact that the legislative stream is clogged with log-jam of bills. mostly of local character. The senate is handling it work eas. fly, but the house has to work all day and four nights week to make an impression upon the calendar More than one thousand bills have been introduced in the two houses, and there will be probably about 800 acts when the whole thing is thresh- ed out.
 So there has been little time for politics, in fact there has been a great deal of talk on the floor of
 taking this, that or the other thing
 out of politics. It has not gone SO
 far as it did a few years ago, when a governor, more idealistic than practical, insisted that "the office of governor ought to be taken out of politics"
 There are a few things that are developing, however, that are of Do.