Washington telegraph., 1920-04-09

@All"Nlll 10 DOuDLleSS JneFe
are men in this house who have
observed these oil and gas
agents making examinations of
the gas sold by the gasoline
distributors. You have seen
them take that little gauge or
register as it may be called,
and such a little gasoline into
it, examine it, write something
in a book and go on away. You
keep buying the same gasoline
at the same price, and selling it
at the same price, and the fell
low who drives his Packard or
Tin Lizzie" never knows any
difference. So where does the
public come in on the deal?
About the same argument
applies to the feed and ferti-
lizer Inspector. The consumer
don't get any better feed or fer
tilizer than he did before the
office was created. But ne can.
have the consolation of know
ing that he's helping to pay the
expense of all these fat jobs.
know | have some friends.
among those occupying these
different positions, but whether.
they will continue to be my
friends after the publication of
this speech, | do not know.
Some of them, | think, are big
enough and broad enough toI
view this question from a busi-
ness and economical standpoint.
while others can only view i'll
from a selfish standpoint. Me-
thinks | can now observe the
approach of the advance guard
of politicians, job-makers and
job-seekers, crying out, away
with this teacher of false econ
omy; he seeks to cut our appro-
priations, abolish our Offices
and strike our names from the
public payroll. He must be-
defeated at any cost" But in.
stead of retreating, l shall meet
them at the threshold of this
contest and challenge them to
combat; and with the aid and
assistance of those who believe
in the policies that advocate,
we will put them to flight and
gain a victory for the taxpay-I
ers of this State.
Local Legislation.
In my judgment, there isl
great evil that seems
to have - -c,-~-oughly rooted itself.
in the legislature during the
last fifteen years, and that is
the evil of local or special legis-
Iation. l think it is safe to say
that at least ninety per cent of
.he time spent by the legisla-
5ure is taekn up in the consid-
of this class of legisla-
ion. The major portion of
such legislation is not only of.
10 benefit to the people affect
I'd, but in many instances it re-
suits in great strife and con-
,usion. These local laws are
amended, repealed
md re-enacted so often, until !
t is difficult for the lawyer,
much less the layman, to keep
rack of the law. 1t hasn't
)een many years ago since all
he laws, general and special, |
md all the resolutions and me-
norials enacted by the legisla-
ure, were all printed in a little
book not more than two inches
hick. How is it today? The
Acts Of the last regular session
If the legislature, leaving out
I'll these special sessions, are
contained in four books, three
# which are almost as big as
[irby's Digest. Two of these
zig books contain nothing but
pecial road laws. The other
arge book contains the re-
nainder of the local laws, and
he small book, the general
avs, resolutions and memor-
ais. This idea of local legis-
alton is becoming so common
md so ridiculous until a man
will soon be afraid to kiss his
wife, without being authorized
o do so by special Act of the
legislature.
The constitution of this State
provides for the giving of no.
ice in the locality to be affect
ID, before any local bill can be