, 1886-05-13

has under consideration q bill I'M
posing heavy penalties on any one
instituting il q melting others.
And in Connecticut the courts have
held it punishabl, under existing
laws. The time Is not far distant
when in every state in the Union
boycotting Will be prohibited by the
most explicit statutes.
I'VE will take what we need" is
the motto of the Chicago socialists
who inaugurate riots in order that
they may plunder and loot the houses
of people who have worked for their
property. An eastern paper sug
gests that they begin by taking a
bath. We desire 10 offer another
suggestion: it is that the leaders take
a look at the surrounding country
while suspended from the end of a
rope. They evidently need something
of this kind worse than they need
anything else.
Gladstone, the grand old man"
of English politics, is storming
Europe with his home rule scheme
for Ireland. Before his eloquence,
his statesmanliko sagacity and his
indomitable will power the seelusive
walls of titled nobility are crumbling.
He will yet carry the measure pro-
posed and leave in it an enduring
monument to his earthly fame as
that of WashinGton-because it is
right, because the eternal principles
of justice underlie it. America can
well afford to rejoice, because it is a
progressive movement in accord with
republican ideas of government.
We understand that proposition
is to be introduced in the city coun
Gil this evening to increase the com
pensaticn of the city attorney II
such thing is TO be done now is the
time to do it, just at the close of the
fiscal year. 1t Is net known who is
to be our next city attorney; presum-
ably there will be 4 free field and
fair chance; but whoever fills the
office should he reasonably compen
stated. We are in favor of the most
rigid economy, but there is such Il
thing as becoming niggardly. The
yearly compensation of our city at
torney is 800. This amount was
fixed years ago, since which time We
have grown to far more pretentious
proportions. and the duties of the
Office have increased corespondingly.
Our attorney is required to attend all
council meetings, to give legal advice
freely on all questions requiring
action, and is debarred from partici-
pating against the city in any litiga-
ton in which the city is or may be
involved. Seattle pays her city at
torney $1,000 a year; Tacoma $1,000.
We do not favor any such salaries as
these for Port Townsend, but 5000 or
$3.50 year would not be out of place.
Local option is exciting eonsidera-
Bile interest. Indications are that it
will be given trial very generally
throughout the Territory. While it
is altogether unlikely that prohibit
ton will be carried generally-espec-
tally, in the larger towns-yet it will
doubtless be adopted in many of the
smaller places, and there will be an
opportunity to see how it works dur
ing the coming two years. We hope
to see it fairly tried, without allowing
the election contests to run into bit
ter local fights. The greatest trouble
with such matters is that business
communities are apt to get worked
into a state of violent ferment. Port
| Townsend har decided to hold an
election, and now it will do well to
keep its cranks and extremists on
both sides under reasonable subiec-
| ton. Let us not tear and Tend each
other in impotent rage because all
cannot or do not think alike There
is altogether to much of disposition
these days to establish the rule that
might makes right-that your neigh
| bor's business must be assailed If he
refuses to think or act as you do on
questions of public policy. While
there may be necessarily some dis
cussion of the issues, We hope for
the good OF all that they will be tenn
perate and free from bitter person
alities. Let the unforture example
of sister towns prove warning TO US
Men engaged in the liquor business
| tsome Of them, at lcast) are inclined
to resent every move under the law
as an attack upon their business. No
greater mistake was ever made. 1t
is simply applying a new system to
the control aDi management of the
traffic. To refuse to submit the qnes-
ton of license on its merits as a plain
business proposition, upon such q
fair ard just b:,si= IS IS proposed un-
der this las Is = confession of weak
ness. La Poit Iannscad there Will
be Iaujplity - favor Of H,east-
at least # the 2 ses-lon Is voted upon
without bias or ae1ted p:rjpdirc-
because those vino favor license out