The record-union., 1896-06-21
VOICE OF TEE PRESS.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTERIOR CALL
FORNIA NEWSPAPERS.
Comments Upon Things Local, Gov
ernmental, Practical, TheOret-
ical and Current.

Ell Dorado Republican: The Record
Union" recently contained some good
articles on legislative methods in Con-
greSS and in the State Legislatures,
showing how public money is wasted
ana misappropriated because the repre-
sentatives of the people endeavor con-
stantly to secure appropriations of pub
lie money for districts they represent
regardless of the real needs of the State
or nation in the proposed expenditure.
1t is the experience of every legislator
that he is compelled to vote for lot
or measures that are really undesirable
te the people generally because he must
trade votes in this way to accomplish
any of his own legislation. Under the
lcg-rolling system every representa-
tive practically bribes every other rep
resentative and is himself bribed, but
influence changes hands instead Of
money. We have long noted this con-
Clifton, but we don't particularly blame
the representatives, for the people are
themselves at fault. When they elect a
representative, the latter is tacitly in
struoted to make a pull for the dis
trict he represents. He is supposed to
get all the offices and appropriations
he can for his constituents, and they
never inquire whether he has studied
the real interests of the great social
body Of which his district is only
small part. The result of this condition
Is that local plumber comes first and
general welfare and economy after
everything else. When the legislative
body closes, there is a lot of useless
officials and unnecessary appropriations
to be paid for. The people foot the
bills and curse the Legislature when
they pay their taxes, but they go on
year after year electing men as legis-
latorS and giving them to understand
that they must do something" for their
district or they are mo good
The condition is such that a scrupu-
lously honest man can hardly feel COM
Portable as a legislator, for if he fights
for his own district in the shape of local
advantages he is denounced as a hypo-
crite and an incompetent If he fol-
lows the wishes of his constituents and
works for some little local steal that
they desire, he must gain it by voting
for steals that are perhaps worse than
his own, and he thus violates not only
his own sense of honor, but runs the
risk of being considered a corruptionist
The question of localism is only another
phase Of the present conception of hon
esty in which the average conscience
squirrns at the idea of stealing from an
individual but is complacently quiet if
community is robbed.
CHANGE IT.
Los Angeles Herald: The physical
discomfort being endured by the men
who attend conventions in this sun
shiny month of June is enough to pre-
cipitate a movement in favor of a
change of season for convention meet
ings. 1t really seems idiotic to keep
right on holding such gatherings un-
der such uncomfortable conditions
The work of great political conven-
ton is 80 intimately related to the
country's welfare that it should be
done only under conditions conducive
to calmness and coolness in the partic-
ipants. Men irritated or enervated by
sweltering heat are not usually in the
frame of mind calculated to produce
the best thought Conventions should
meet either in the fall or spring, even
If, to avoid campaigns that are too long
or too short, it is necessary to change
the dates of elections.
PUT HIM IN.
Pasadena Star: There is no use dis
guising the fact that the divergences
of opinion in the Republican ranks
over the financial question are serious
and that the many sincere advocates
Of the free coinage of silver found with
in the party look with anxiety upon a
campaign under the gold standard ban
ner. At the same time the enthusiasm
for Mckinley is real and widespread
among Republicans of all shades of be-
lief on the currency question, and he
will be heartily supported by all but a
small contingent of extreme silver
men, on the theory that the country
cannot afford to allow a Democrat
upon free trade platform to be elect
ed. This enthusiasm for Mckinley
and a tariff that will raise revenue
enough to run the Government and
stimulate home manufactures is des-
tined to increase as the campaign pro-
crosses, and to land the gallant Ohioan
WHEN?
Colusa Herald: When the wage
earners of the United States are fully
employed, and at the high wages that
were the rule during the protective era,
they consume more wheat, meat and
farm products of all kinds than do the
people of any other country, counting
man against man, and they pay a
higher price than the low wage re-
ceiving people of higher nations can
pay. When work in the United States
is scarce by reason of importation of
foreign manufactures, the purchasing
power for farm products is low and the
surplus for export grows larger, and,
as it has to be sold to people who earn
low wages, 1t has to be sold at a low
price.
GOOD ADVICE.
Biggs Notes: The free use of fruit in
hot weather is commended because the
acid of the fruit stimulates the liver
to greater activity in separating the
bile from the blood, which is it's proper
work, the result of which is the bowels
become free, the pores of the skin are
open, and under such conditions fever
and want of appetite are impossible.
BOND SALE INVESTIGATION.
Testimony Taken Before the Senate
Committee