The record-union., 1896-12-08
Voice OF TIE PRESS.
Extracts From Editorial Expression Of
Journals
Of the State and the Coast on SUBJ
jectS Of Living and News
Interest.

Healdsburg Tribune: Trade is IN a
convalescent condition and Will acquire
new strength daily. All Is as well as Is
possible after two years of panic and
nearly two of stagnation. But While
these cheering signs are plainly visible,
there are not wanting a few malicious
politicians and agitators who are circu-
lating false stories of decreased wages
and of discharges Of numbers OF per-
sons from great works. Chicago mas
been made the center of this storm OF
falsehood. AS a matter Of fact, none
Of the great industries of that city have
reduced the wages Of operatives or d.
minished the number Of them Chicago
ds sharing in the prosperity OF the whole
country, and is finding daily new en-
ployment for the thousands that long
have been unwilling idlers.
BUREAU OF HIGHWAYS.
Santa Barbara Press: Another very
vital matter which will at least receive
q fair amount of attention and toward
which the attitude Of the people is be-
coming daily more friendly Is legisla-
tion on the subject Of roads. The State
Bureau have recommended legislation
and a plan and their treatment of this
matter at the hands of the law givers
will be watched with intense interest.
1t is acknowledged on all hands that
our present road methods belong to
the dark ages, and that the cost Is out
of all proportion to the result attained.
Good roads are now conceded to be OF
vital Importance, and if the present
oaf <bo
is a subject which the people cannot
afford to drop.
THE POLL TAX.
Colusa Sun: The poll tax Is
wrong in principle and should be
wiped off the statute books, but
If that is wrong how much greater
is the wrong Of collecting the revenue
Of the Government from consumers! By
the poll tax very small portion of the
State revenue is collected from proper
tyless men, but by the system of col
lecting from the consumers the 81 per
cent. OF the population who own only
per cent. Of the property pay at the
very least a thousand times as much Of
the taxes as the 4,047 millionaires who
own 20 per cent. Of the wealth. Then if
the poll tax is odious because It collects
of the men who own no property, how
much more should be the other which is
thousand times more unequal
UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.
Santa Cruz Sentinel: In the month
of March 5000 Italian immigrants
landed at New York. In April the influx
continued at a heavier rate. Three
thousand arrived in two days; 4,0O0
more were known to be On the way. and
from 5000 to 10000 were awaiting ship
ment at Italian ports.
Financial conditions in Italy and the
dread of being conscripted to serve in
the war with Abyssinia are causes which
IN part explain this sudden accession of
Italian immigrants. Another cause. In
the opinion of the Commissioner Of I'M
migration at New York, is the fear that
Congress will enact the proposed law
enacting an educational test Of irnmi-
grants. The Italians hasten to get into
the country before any measure exclud-
ing them can be passed.
About one-half Of the italian immi-
grants arriving at New York last
spring are unable to read or write
Fifty cents each was found to be the
party numbering about a thousand who
We're destined at one time for examina-
tion- One In ten only of the immigrants
mad ticket to carry him beyond New
York
Existing laws direct the enforced re-
turn OF immigrants who are likely to
become public charge, and several
hundred OF the Italians were sent back
under that clause; but to many of the
most thoughtful students Of American n
social and Industrial conditions II
seems clear that the present restric
lions should be increased, and the an
pneat1on OF reading and writing test
Tor the purpose of sitting out and
sending back the illiterate, seems the
form OF restriction most conststsnt
with our institutions.
CORRECT.
Santa Rosa Democrat: II tates on
engineer and good one to build roads.
ana State. county or some kind of an
engineer to manage them Is the first
prerequisite for good roads. Sonoma
county has about ! 800 miles of road
during Its life as a county II has ex-
pended upon them $1,75O. .OO0-oyer
Sl,ooo mile-and there is no good road
IN the county. Why? Because the
money has been expended under a faulty
CODE or laws governing its disbursement
The pane of agricultural, and all other
progress in fact, is the closeness with
which we are welded to custom. habit
and tradition 1t is the greatest obsta-
Gle now In the way of good roads.
ORCHARD FENCES.
Facaville Reporter: With each sue
ceeding year the tendency to do away
with orchard fences increases. with the
pound law In force, there Is no reason
why the horticulturists OF this locality
should invest the money required to
keep up fences. The money which has
been going into fences in times past now
stays In the rancher's pocket and lessons
TO considerable extent the cost Of pro-
ducing fruit. We trust the time viii,
come when there will not be a fence sur.
rounding an orchard In the entire town.
ship. at least surrounding those por-
tions devoted to orchards and vineyards.
The passing OF the fence means q great
saving to the fruitgrower.
THE INAUGURATION.
Fresno Republican: The "Rspubn-
cam would prefer to see a simple in
auguration ceremony because It holds
that magnificence really Will cheaper
the event To be chosen a. President
by the people Is In itself 50 great a
thing that the application Of magnifi-
cent ceremony to II would be like gild-