Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-24
An Important Matter.

II appears that the experience of
Pennsylvania as to the condition OF her
country roads il similfr to that cf Cor
necticut, Vermont and Maine. The want
Of competent men for road commission
ers and the slipshod manner Of repair
ing the roads are apparent in that great
state as with ia. The Philadelphia Press
referring I" the subject takes occasion to
remark that the Massachusetts Legisa-
ture passed bill authorizing the appoint
ment of street superintendent in every
town Of the State, and it is considering a
bill creating the office of commissioner
OF roads and bridges. Both measures
are in the direction Of better highways
in that state
This commissioner will necessarily he
skilled in the construction of roads and
officer to town superintendcnts. nder
his advice most Of the faulty methods in
highway building would be avoided and
better roads provided at a smaller ex-
pensc in money and effort. The East has
much to learn tom the West in this matter
In the latter section they have gone at the
work systematically, while in the former
we have contentrd ourselves with patching
II il time that change was made and the
present disgracefuI condition of county
highways remedjed.
The Georgia atlanta Constitution il in
poor business wheL it attempts to defend
Ex-President Cleveland for appointing
Herbert +. BeeCher Treasury agent after
his nomination a. collector at Port Tow r.
send, W. r, had been rejected by the
senate for cause, and says: IF he was a
scoundrel President Cleveland did not
know it," The Constitutions misinformed
The Philadelphia Press tells but the plain
truth when il declares that Mr.. Cleveland
knew. II he cared to know, that Young
Bcecher was u rogue. His record was
thoroughly ventilated in the Senate and
in the new sIapcrs The exposure of his
wickedne~s made by the San Francisco
' III blliit tlfHtffl II lbii hui IL IL ili-
possible that Mr.. Cleveland could have
remained ignorant of it. But, despite all
this. Mr.. Cleveland insisted upon billet
ing Bccchcr on the public service, al
though he had to GO to the length of Great
ing now uili . in order to accomplish ii.
Possible some excuse for the Democrat
President might have been tolerated had
this been single example. But it is
only one of a hundred equally as bad or
worse.
Speaking of the new line Of British
Steamship from British Columbia to
China aud Japan, the Montreal Gazette
remarks This Pacific line, as well AZ
the one to Australia, is dependent upon
the Imperial Government giving a sub
i iv and the Montreal star reminds its
readers that The British Government has
pledged itself 10 pay a liberal share of
he sub-iiies required for the establish
ment of the Pacific service Yet while
adopting thi' effective protective policy
for the benefit of her manufactures and
,,o. rn,,.,s ali. ,ars.,, f.,
-. III al, ,.,, tn, a.,
rn;,oa s,.,.. ,.o,nsa :, to.,or. an,
shields its industries by protective tariff
----
Mr., Nanlev. Mr., Lane and F. +. ;.
have made very clear and forcihle state
ments of their views OF the bridge ques-
ton. Unless it can be shown that they
are essentially mistaken in their asserted
iae'- ana 'S'""''e-' '"ef nave "''''e "''
'heir case ior ne" o''us' Oh IRON OF
H'e'' l. certainty Is one VI inc questions
Nnicn the citlIeus OF Augusta an pest