"Freak" Bills in America

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 289, 9 June 1897, Page 3

"Freak" Bills in America

Q An unusual Lumber of " freak " Bills have turned up in State Legislatures tbis year, says the New York Tribune. In the Missonvi Leiuislaturo Mr Ho id has introduced a Bill probili ing rail way conductors and trainmen from flirt ing with women passengers. Mr Me Pherson wants to make lobbjiug a felony, and has introduced a drastic Bill relating to rtarltal unfaithfulness: Mr Eebo calls for tbe c ipping of tbe wings of all male birds at tbe age of two years, and Mr Wamsley has mystified bis fel low- legislators by introducing a Bill probibiting railroads from using wooden rails and tying them with a string. The penalty for a violation of tbis proposed law ia 50,C00do's. Of course, Kansas is in tbe van with " freak " bills. More than fifty sucb bills have been tilled by Committees, among them being Bills prohibiting the wearing of bloomers and corsets by woman. A Bill now pending would, if passad, tax solvent Banks in order to pay tbe depositors of Backs that fail ; a«d there is a similar Bill pending in regard to Insurance Companies, An Anti Theatre Bill, wbicb ban been introduced is so worded that if it became law a bald beaded nan wearing a skull cap in a theatre could be fined. Tbere is no chance, however, for anr of these Bills to pass. Even those wbo intioduce them hardly expect that. But tbeir introduction and discussion hurt nobody, and seem to give pleasure to a great many people boih in and oat of tbe Legislature.