The herald., 1895-02-19
THE METROPOLITAN EDITORS

ments making provisions for referring
laws to the people, should hasten to agree
on simple working plan and push it to a
vote. The present is favorable time for
bringing this plan to the front. The peo-
pie have become educated up to the un-
derstanding of referendum and it is
approved on all sides. The present plan
of amending the Constitution is only a
clulAsy method OF putting. the referendum
in practice. Amending the Constitution
of California is for the most part only
making by the people. And the rec
ord Of the votes on the proposition has
proved that the people understand how to
pick out good laws from the bad.-Ex-
aminer.
The Honolulu advices indicate that
President Dole finds himself in difficult
position. The law of the new republic
| gives him the power of life and death over
! the men convicted of treason. He may
order the sentences carried into effect, or
exercise his discretion in providing pun
posed by the military court. Prcsi-
dent Dole is not cast in the mold of
dictator. He is naturally inclined to
mild rather than harsh measures, and his
pronehess to temporize rather than act
has subjected him to no little criticism
supporters. Daily Report.
Here is an Assembly resolution of re-
spect of the traditional parliamentary
sort--a shower of crocodile tears condensed
into single pearl:
Resolved. That when this House adjourns
for the day it adjourns out of respect to his
lW. w. stow'sl memory.
In other words, Resolved; That when
this House adjourn because it has fin
ished the days s business it adjourn because
il respects the memory OF Mr.. Stow
Ambrose BierCe.
1t is notorious that in our legislative
bodies combinations have time and again
been made among the thievng members
to compel corporations to pay handsomely
to receive immunity from harass;ng and
useless legislation, which, ii passed,
would add burdens to their operations,
and sorely cripple them financially. Is Il
reasonable to attribute this condition OF
affairs to a knowledge of political bu-
reau? With an honest, healthy public
sentiment would such things be possible?
The Wave, ..
There is no question but that the ex-
pense attached under the present manage
ment has created strong public senti-
ment against the State Printing Office by
the expenditure of over 100000 during
the last term, when any practical printer
knows that the work could be done for at
least two thirds of the amount. The SUI
perintendent has been mere tigure-h
in the hands OF bosses and politica pi-
rates, who have made the office a catch
all for pets. But the people wi not be
willing to yield this department at the
bidding OF book ring that is thirsting to
fost upon them their wares at robber
prices.-The News Letter.
The Citizens Defense Association has
done much valuable work, one instance
being the introduction of bill to permit
recipients Of bribes to be competent wit
nesses against the givers of bribes, pro-
yided they do not testify falsely. The bill
is correct in principle, for the reason that
the person rendering the bribe or sup
plying the money is under no tempta tion
to commit the crime, as compared with
the recipient, who may be poor even to
and therefore more sinned against than
SHINING. San FranciscosStar ~,
Senator Perkins has reported bill for
the creation OF an industrial commission
of twenty-one persons to arbitrate labor
difficulties. The statesmen who contend
that the labor difficulties cannot be arbi-
trated may discover that society as whole
can do what society rs a whole think
ought to be done.-Bulletin.
The power of the railroads was shown
in the House of Representatives. when the
pooling bill was rushed through that body,
and it is also clearly apparent in the
treatment accorded to the Nicaragua
canal bill, which is receiving the cold
shoulder in spite of the overwhelming
popular demand for such measure. -
Chronicle.