San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-24
lie statement, which Hull Youngblood
has stated is substantially correct:
H1yo Too Many Nou

Have Too Many Now.
Hull Noungblood is member of
the Craftsmanship Club and is also n
member of the state executive commit
tee of the smaller legislative move
ment. which was organized in Novem-
Der. 1921. During the past year. Mr..
Ioungblood has discussed with num-
Der of the members Of the Salesman
ship Club his belief that the welfare
of this state requires that the mem
bership of the Texas Legislature be
reduced from Isl members as at pres
ent TO approximately one-fourth of that
number and that the members of the
Legislature should be paid an ado
quate compensation to induce and en-
able competent and experienced men
TO devote their entire time and thought
to the legislative needs OF this state.
As n result OF the known views Of
Mr.. Youngblood. the program commit
tee of the Craftsmanship Club invited
him to make an address before the
Cub at its noon-day luncheon on the
subject of craftsmanship and politics.
Mr.. loungblood's theme was that it
was the duty of the members of the
club to join in the smaller legisla-
tive movement and help sell the peo-
pie Of Texas more efficient system
and method of making legislation than
we have at present.
Mr.. Youngblood did not. make
charges of corruption against any per-
son now n member OF the Legislature
and even stated that number of the
men now serving in the Legislature
we're heh-class. educated, capable
men. but the efforts of these men were
more or less handicapped because Of
the present cumbersome, unwieldly
and impracticable system Of making
legislation.
Have Passed Fool Laws.
MIR. Youneblood did say that out
of the 1S1 members of the Legislature
there were some rabbit twisters,' hill
billies' and shirt tail boys He fur
ther said that the method by which
our state laws are passed is absurd.
ridiculous and beyond comprehension,
and TO drive home the po.,it that
smaller legislature was more desirable,
Mr.. Youngblood argued that in his
opinion very few of the laws now
enacted received the mature considera-
ton of more than twelve men and that
he confidently believed that probably
twelve Of the leaders of the Legisla-
ture could direct and influence the
course of action. of the entire mem
bership OF the Legislature. He fur
Their said that in view Of the unwield-.
" size of the Legislature and the
NhArt ttt,na 10 tv in Snccinr, md the
multitude of bills and measures that
como before the Legislature. 1T was
absolutely impossible for the mem
bers to give mature consideration to
all of, the laws that were passed and
consequently he felt safe in saying
that large per cent of the laws
passed were not even read by great
many members of the Legislature:
and from these facts he Ggued that
it would be much better and moro sem
sible to reduce the size OF the Legis-
lature. increase the pay of its mem
bcrs and enable them TO spend prac-
tically all of their time and thought
in giving mature and full considera-
ton to all bills before theS are en-
acted. thereby preventing fool laws
such as have been passed by the Legis-
laturc at various times heretofore.
On Vote Trading.
"Mr. Younsblood further, stated
that the unscientific and impracticablc
method By which laws are now passed
made it necessary for the substantial
business interests of this state to sim
ply plank the monty down or the bar
rel head TO keep representative in
Austin for the purpose of heading of
foolish and destructive legislation and
that the maintaining Of such reprcsen
tativcs IN Austin require business in
tersts of the state 10 go 10 consid-
cradle expense: in other words. TO lay
The money on the barrel head as Mr..
Youngblood expressed it. by which We
understood he meant that this ex-
pense was useless and waste of
money. In this connection. We wish |
IN state cmphatically that Mr.. Young
blood did not at any time charge that |
money was paid 10 members of the |
Legislature for their votes on any leg |
isIation. He did state. however. that |
Il was common report in Austin that |
some of the members of the Legis- |
lature were careless enough TO permit |
their pages TO cast their vote on i'm |
nortant matters hv nunching thc cleo
tric machine. He further stated that |
il was reverted thrt in som" caS-,
certain members Of the Legislature
would trade fhei-' rot"s with each 9th |
er by saying: i will vote for your