At a town meeting the subject of discussion was a proposed bridge over the
local creek. A small clique which had definitely greased the palm of Colonel
Biggs, the Officer Commanding an engineer unit that was to construct the bridge,
was determined to railroad the proposition through at the estimated cost of
50,000. No opposition was encountered to the Colonel's report until suddenly
a frugal citizen horrified at the size and apparent uselessness of the project
leaped to his feet.
"Dat is vun awful vaste," he shouted. "For a bridge over dat
creek-fifty t'ousand dollar? Vy, it ain't worth nitting. I can spit half vay
across dat creek."
The chairman of the meeting banged down the gavel, "Mr. Olsen," he
roared, "you're out of order!"
"Dat is right," answered Olsen in a bellow that shook the building.
"If I wasn't out of order - I could spit all d'vay across."