Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-03-01
CHAMPION FREAK
BILL Dissolve RED
EXTREME OF LEGISLATIVE Eff
FORT DUG UP IN PIGEON HOLE
AT WASHINGTON.
BAKER OF BROOKLYN AUTHOR
His Measure Was Intended to Regu-
late Interstate Commerce by "com-
petition" and Contained Many
"Whereases."
Rv EDWARD 3. CLARK

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK
Washington.-Fro the viewpoint Of
the conservative-minded members of
congress, and even from that Of some
of them who are only halfway con-
servative-minded, some of the bills
which have been introduced recently
partake of the nature Of freaks. The
truth, however, is that today measures
which would have been considered as
reasons outlaws years ago are now
looked upon as sane legislative en-
deayors by many men of advanced
thought
When the people Of the country are
contemplating some of the extremes
of legislative effort and-they are think
ing perhaps the world is cracking
when such things are turned loose,
let it look back to another year when
real freak measures were introduced.
OF course they were given pigeon-hole
room only. There are some bills which
1t is possible to look upon today, if one
chooses to conduct a search for them,
which are something more than as
founding in the scope of their inten-
ton. Here is a measure which a
searcher after antiquities produced the
other day when a friend had de-
clared that some of the, present meas
ures offered for consideration were be-
yond the dreams of the unreasoning.
In the year 1904 Representative
Robert Baker Of Brooklyn, whose mis-
sion on earth seemed to be to bring
the lion and the lamb millennium to
the people of Gods earth, introduced
into the lower house a measure bear
ing the short and simple title ITO Reg
ulate Interstate Commerce by Compe-
tition.''
Many Whereases.
Some of the yearners after prosper
ity and peace may read with delight
the whereases which preface the BE
it enacted" part of Bakers bill. Here
they are:
"Whereas, The enactment of this
bill means industrial freedom for the
working world: and
Whereas, The enactment of this bill
means public industries and competi-
ton with the trusts: and
whereas, The enactment of this
bill means public employment for
everybody who wants it i; and
whereas, The enactment of this
bill means a public currency for pub
lie purposes; and
"Whereas, The enactment Of this
bill means 10 executive departments
can be established and operated for
great public benefit; and
Whereas, The enactment Of this
bill means that every state in the
Union will be represented in the cab
met of the President; and
Whereas, The enactment of this
bill means that the whole people have
right to do any business for labor
cost that any part Of the people have
a right to do for labor cost and profit !;
and
'Wheleas, The enactment Of this
bill will mean the utmost possible pro-
lection for the consumers of Ameri-
can products"
IF congress had looked with favor
upon this bill of Bakers of Brooklyn
there would have been established 45
executive departments of the govern
ment, and the first lesson that the 40
secretaries would have been COM
PEELED TO learn would be that they
should not give employment to any
person, to quote the body of the meas
ure, "Who shall not have enlisted in
the Grand Army of Labor in this Re
public"
Duties of Secretaries.
Another duty of each secretary, if
the bill had become a law, would have
been, split infnitive and all, "To in
stantly resign his position whenever
any considerable number of the pa
irons or employees of his department
shall demand his removal from the
said office at the hands of the Presi-
dent of this republic"
Still another duty of each secre-
tary, had the bill become a law, would
have been to see to it that his en-
ployees were paid "Daily, weekly,
monthly or quarterly as they may de-
sire, not less than four dollars ($4.O0)
a day at four hours EACH with a
practical examination for each promo
ton for each higher grade of pay in
the publics service as well as
grant of leave of absence with full pay,
for one day after working three days,
for one week after working three
weeks, for one month after working
three months, for one year after work
ing three years, during the continu-
ance Of that voluntary public employ
ment."
Probably the most onerous duty i'm
posed by the bill upon the secretaries
was to see to it that the employees
oe their respective departments
should observe the laws al regard to
the sandwiched-in holidays. No man
was to be allowed to labor il the law
SAID he must loaf.
OF the 40 departments the chief
department, according to Mr.. Bakers
plan. was to be that of Labor,
though admittedly to close student
of the bill it would appear that in