The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1925-01-06
NATIONAL LEGISLATORS
PROPOSE MANY CHANGES.
SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO
CONSTITUTION HAS BECOME
"A SERIOUS MENACE.
THE CRAZE is ON INCREASE
Statesmen Say Law Makers Each
Year Make More Attempts to Alter
Fundamental Statutes But Fail in
The Majority of Instances.

The Majority of Instances.
WASHINGTON, D. CA hun
bred proposed amendments to the con-
sti+ution OF the United States are be-
fore the Sixty-eighth congress, which
i in the midst OF its closing session
While statesmen do not fear that many
NJ these amendments will be added to
t,e fundamental law of the nation yet
their very number is taken as an in
dication of an alarming mania on the
mart of law makers-the mania for
changing the laws of the people.
There are scores of freak ideas rep
resented by the proposed amendments
now before congress.
More proposed amendments are be-
ing received by present day congress-
e, than ever before in the history OF
the nation, politicians say. Also, states
men point out. the more ideas that
are made known the more simple and
ridiculous they become.
Batch of Changes.
At any rate, there are about l00
0roDosed amendments before the pres
emf congress. At the same time many
ideas Tor amendments are working in
tbe minds of congressman, and the
Sixtv-ninth congress may see scores
OF proposals added to the already large
list.
Here are a few of the ideas con-
tanned in the proposed amendments:
The giving Of congress of power to
lew taxes on state or municipal
bonds: authorizing congress to regu-
late the expenditure of funds for the
election OF senator's and representa-
tiyes; providing for the popular cleo
tion of presidents and vice presidents
and making them ineligible for re-
election: granting the rights OF sui
frage and representation to the people
OF the District OF Columbia; giving
congress the power Ito donscrlpt
wealth and capital in time OF war; re-
\ qsiring an affirmative national vote
y before congress can declare war, and
scores OF other proposals.
None of these have been adopted,
but no doubt many of them will come
before the present and the next con-
eress for consideration. Few, il any,
OF them ever will be approved, and
the result will be wholesale waste
OF time
Many Foolish Proposals.
In the past, since the constitution
OF the United States was adopted,
there have been thousands Of foolish
proposals in the form of amendments,
but most of them have died inglorlous
deaths A few of the most ridiculous
follow:
A law to limit individual fortunes to
| $l0000000; a bill to compel Uncle
Sam to insure all of his citizens; a
proposal to abolish the Office OF presi-
dent and establish in its place board
OF three; a plan to give all children
more than II years old the right to
vote; a bill to regulate the playing OF
golf; proposal to pension all former
| presidents.
Ii is estimated that since the adop-
ton OF the constitution $500 proposed
amendments have been offered in con-
| gress. The number of amendments
| proposed each year is steadily grow
ing, it is said, with the hundred plans
now before congress making the year
l924-25 one of the outstanding ones.
Another startling TACT is pointed out
by students OF the national govern
ment During the 100 years from 1904
to 1918, they say, only three amend
ments were added to the constitution
OF the United States, whereas during
the II years from 1913 to 1924 four
constitutional amendments have been
made.
Look to Own Ends.
The problem of notwithstanding
would not be so serious, political sstH-
dents say, if it were not for the fat
that most of the proposals are made
by congressman to suit their own
| purposes.