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HYSTERICAL LEGISLATORS. "There is MN legislation of a hysterical character passed in the United States than in any ountry OB earth." says the Canadian Sportsman. "Tlx-ir slate legislators rush to extremes on many subjects, and especially when matters pertaining to the turf are brought to their notice they are liable to stampede after listening to a wild harangue from some bucolic member who. In all probability, was never on anything more nearly approaching to a race course than a fair ring out in the bushes. Such a zealot as lie become crammed with all sorts of yarns until he imagines himself ordained of heaven to stop horse racing. "We read occasionally of members of western legislatures being accompanied to the Legislative Hall by their wives ho sat by their side and urged them on in the expression of the most extreme views. We. on this northern side of the houndary line. are cooler blooded and do not bubble over in such frothy Style; ne. her do they in England. Over there a few days ago the parliament quietly passed a new betting law. Although it is a measure likely to have a most sweeping effect, it caused little excitement, and sensible people of all classes hi -oguized it was a step in the right direction. It stops betting on t lie public thoroughfare, in public houses, fri halls and in any other place where men are i:i the habit of assembling. "The city of London was Infested with thousands of betting agents who swarmed in the neighborhood of factories and workshops taking bets on the races in sums ranging from three pence up. The new-law localizes lietting on legitimate race courses Slid no where else, and when American legislators can sober down to a calm reasoning they will find it infinitely better in the interests of trae morality SS seek to control what they caniot succeed in aliolisliiiig. Hysterical legislation is ..I a character that reflects no credit on the srlsdesa of those who pass it."
