The record-union., 1896-11-27
whose citizens were originally quite
possibly from this State.

whose citizens were originally quite
possibly from this State.
THE WRIGHT LAW SUSTAINED.
Willows Review: The Supreme Court
of the United States handed down de-
cision Monday, November Is, 1896. sus-
tanning the validity Of the Wright irri-
cation law. 1t is to be hoped that this
will settle the controversy. At any
rate, the organization of the districts
| under the Wright Irrigation Act is
proper, and it now remains for the peo-
pie Of Central Irrigation District to pull
| together, complete the canal and help
.. to gain prosperity.
SIMPLIFY LAWS.
Santa Rosa Republican: If the next
Legislature will simplify the statutes
of this State so as to make it possible
to convict and punish rich or infiuen-
tial murderers within reasonable time,
it will be rendering good service. Our
criminal laws need thorough revision
and simplification. They are abomina-
BILE, expensive, indefinite and admit Of
too much legal jugglery.
HARD TO PLEASE.
Pasadena Star: Some of the Demo-
cratic papers are hard to please. Not
being content now to see industry re-
vive with McKinley's election, they
claim that the reopened mills are those
that shut down just before election.
Gentlemen, they could be closed again,
so far as you are concerned; but as
some people who are not chronic kick
ers are also interested, they will prob
| ably be kept open.
THE WRIGHT LAW DECISION.
Oakland Tribune: In the decision of
the Federal Supreme Court sustaining
the constitutionality of the Wright Ir-
rigatiOn Act, Justice Peckham, among
other sound reasons, gave this one:
ITO provide for the irrigation of lands
in States where there is no color of
necessity therefore, within any fair
meaning of the term, and simply for
the purpose of gratifying the taste of
the owner, or his desire to enter upon
the cultivation of an entirely new kind
of crop, not necessary for the purpose
of rendering the ordinary cultivation
of land reasonably remunerative, might
be regarded by the courts as an i'm
proper exercise of legislative will, and
the use might not be held to be public
in any constitutional sense no matter
how many owners were interested in
the scheme On the other hand, in a
State like California, which confessedly
embraces millions of acres OF arid
lands, an Act Of the Legislature pro-
viding for their irrigation might well
be regarded as an Act devoting the
water to a public use, therefore as
valid exercise of the legislative power"
PRIESTCRAFT ENDED.
San Bernardino Sun: Since the divis-
ion on national politics, which was first
made in Utah in 1S9O-0, the earnest
ness of the members of the church in
the new movement has frequently been
questioned, and there have been many
who insisted that as soon as Statehood
was gained, the rule of priestcraft would
be as rigid as ever. But the division has
gone too far. The Mormon people have
had. taste of liberty and the whole
power of the church cannot keep them
from. enjoying it to the full. When the
dissatisfaction has spread until one Of
the twelve apostles refuses to be guided
by the counsel of the court to which he
belonged, but persisted in his candi-
dacy for the United States Senate, the
orders of the priesthood to the con-
trary notwithstanding, the sentiment of
the rank and file of the membership
may be guessed.
Priestcraft in Utah is ended. 1t ruled
with an iron hand from the day that
Brigham Young and his fellow-exiles
| entered the valley Of the Great Salt
Lake. just fifty years ago. but its power
vanished before the advance of another
civilization. Utah has been reclaimed.
SPYING OUT THE LAND.
Bakersfield Echo: A Tulare paper
speaks of party of Eastern men being
| there looking for land. Some of them
wanted to buy for colonizing purposes,
SC they said. A gentleman who recent
| ly went from here to an Eastern State
| writes back that there is much inquiry
| about this valley, and with the return
| of better times he expects to see a re-
newal of immigration among farmers