AMERICAN LAW

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 18 September 1929, Page 10

AMERICAN LAW

ANOMALOUS CONDITIONS Some; of the reasons why "(he sober, law-abiding citizen has little respect for law as law," are mentioned by Mr James T. Adams, in the "Forum," in discussing President Hoover's appeal for law observance, "There, is the infinite number of laws and ordinances—federal, state, municipal—which Congress and forty-eight slate legislatures, not to mention lesser bodies, are turning out literally by thousands every year. Despite, the, fact that state boundaries are imaginary lines which have ceased to have any meaning for us in daily life, (ho laws of every stale vary," ho says in reference l to one of the principal differences. "This anomalous condition is found throughout the country; in countless minor matters it is impossible, to tell whether one is obeying the law or not. Motoring from Now London to Providence one must- not run at, more than thirty miles an hour, I believe it is, in Connecticut.; but a,% soon as one has crossed into Rhode Island it is against the law to run at Jess than thirty. Travelling on the train from Buffalo to Chicago, if is legal to buy cigarettes for the first hour or two; but after crossing into Ohio (no un> knows when or where) it becomes illegal for two or three hours until one has again reached the safety of Indiana. Ignorance of the law is considered to be no excuse. A law-abiding citizen who finds himself frequently breaking such laws feels none of the emotions which a reputable citizen should feel in such circumstances,' and the fact that Ihe situation is so obviously absurd insidiously breaks down (he feeling that law as law should bo implicitly obeyed."