The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-02-08

paign.
Thirty-two mills is pretty heavy
tax for the citizens of The Dalles to
endure, however the capital invested
here can stand it better than in many
places where investments are less prof
table. the tax though would have
been at least two mills lighter had it
not been for the extrasaPanee OF the
last legislature.
With Senators Mitchell, Dubois.
Foraker and dozen other prominent
republicans clamoring for the free
coinage of silver it is difficult to see
how our friend the Pendleton Tribune
is going to maintain its proposition
that the democrats are responsible for
the hold up of the bond and tariff bills
in the senate.
One of Oregon's senators voted for
and the other against the free silver
bill last Saturday. Both of them are
staunch republicans, so how are our
republican friends going to harmonic
upon the question in this state? Will
they 90 with Mitchell and free silver,
or will they stand by Mcbride and
gold? Time alone will tell.
Lord Salisbury has reconsidered the
Venezuela matter and now says that
he is supporter of the Monroe doct-
rine and that his letter to Secretary
Olney supported it as rule of policy,
in the strongest an6 most distinct
terms. Lord Salisbury certainly mis-
understands Presidedt Monroe, if he
claims he has followed his teachings.
The appointment of Hon. William
Galloway to be receiver of public
moneys at the Oregon City land office,
is very just reward for that gentle
mans service to the democratic party
in the state, and besides Mr.. Galloway
is competent man for the position.
He even would have made fairly COM
petent chief executive of the state,
but the Lord did not so dispose at the
last general election.
The democratic members of the SEN.
ate finance committee are pursuing
poor policy in their retaliatory meas
ures of reporting silver substitute for
the tariff bill. If they could not re-
port favorably upon the house tariff
bill they should have stood up like
men and 30 stated. Then if the repub-
lican members desired to place them
selves upon record as,favoring an in
creased burden upon the people in the
way OF heavier duties, let them do so
and assume the responsibility of their
acts.
The dispatches announce that
Spanish troops in Cuba are displaying
q savagry equal to that shown by the
Turks and Kurds, shooting down de-
fendless people in the streets of Saban-
lila. If these reports are true, the
United States government can do no
less than interfere and put a stop to
the barbarity. Humanity demands
prompt action, and this government
cannot afford to be as dilatory in this
matter as have the European powers
in extending assistance to the perse-
cuted Armenians.
Because Secretary of Agriculture
Morton has put stop to the free dis
tribution of seeds from his department.
he is severely condemned in some
quarters, but he is commended by those
who favor economy. Congressman |
who have used the seeds for campaign |
urposes-making themselves solid |
with their constituents-feel that it is
an infringement upon their rights to be |
deprived of this source of free cam
paigning, but the secretary is not
looking after their interests just now.
The house committee on public build
ings is, to say the least, wasteful in its
recommendations. It proposes to ap-
propriate several million dollars for
public buildings throughout the
country that are no more necessity
than a fifth wheel on wagon. One
of the lavish expenditures which the
committee recommends is 100000
postofice buildidg at Salem. The idea
of cutting down expenses to the actual
needs Of the governments seems never
to have entered the minds of the
members of this committee.
1t is pleasing to note that the Moro
Observer has experienced a change of
heart, and will withdraw its opposition
to the boat-railway. 1t says: " In view
of the fact that it appears to be boat
railway or nothing at the dalles OBJ
to the Columbia, the Observer
steps down from further opposition to
the scheme and halls with Joy the hope
for an early commencement of the
work at Celilo." Now let the other
opponents to the scheme lay aside their
prejudices and turn their attention to
encouraging the passage OF the bill
Senator Mitchell has introduced for
the commencement of this great work.
Our contemporary, the Chronicle,
very Justly says that taxes in The
Dalles are too high, and that manufac-
,uring enterprises cannot live here and
,ay an annual tax of 81 mills. II we
expect The Dalles to forge ahead as a
great manufacturing center, which it
8 specially adapted by its favorable
taxes, state, county and muni-
ipal, must be reduced. Expenses must
,e cut down to the necessary require
nents of economical government.
When money can be invested in non.
axable bonds that pay from to 8 per
ent interest it will not be invested in
Industries when the taxes are over l
er cent.
The Salem Statesman takes rather
arrow-minded view of the duties of
when it suggests that 4,
fr. Herman should only look after ;,
uch matters as are of interest to the !.
rst congressional district, and should
OF be expected to aid In securing the 8
assage of measures for the improve =
lent Of the Columbia river. OF course :,
ae people of the second district are v
lore directly interested in Columbia :"
yer improvements than are those of .
le first, but we had supposed it was a =
duty to represent the
1tire state from which he is elected,