The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1896-02-29
EDITORIAL NOTES.

take up the tariff bill. Those i've
realize that the tariff question is like
buzz saw, dangerous thing to fool
with.
The voters of Oregon would do well
to turn some of Prof. Roentgen's cath
ode rays on the brains of every candi-
date for legislature, and ascertain if
they really mean to fulfill the
promises of economy they will all
make prior to election day.
The sooner this government abol-
ishes the greenback and all its vicious
breed and goes back to the "hard
money" of Jefferson and Jackson the
better will it be for everybody but the
gold dealers and spectators. The old
"hard money democrats" were not far
wrong after all.
If business men attend primaries and
name the delegates who are chosen to
nominate candidates for office, we may
hope for reform in politics, but If
business men stay at home, and leave
the choice of delegates to the office
seekers, reforms will be d long time
coming.
The exodus of the colored race to
Liberia bids fair to be large this year.
Two hundred have signified their in
tention to set sail from Savannah on
the 9th OF next month. The induce
ments held out by the Liberian govern
ment are thirty acres OF land, yoke
of oxen and provisions for six months
to each immigrant.
Little business of Importance trans
acted today" is the sterotyped head
line of the dispatches reporting the
proceedings OF congress. This is be-
coming so tiresome as to cause people
to ask what congressman are for? The
politicians would say to enact laws, of
course, but we would say, to draw their
salaries.
Oregon has little use for representa-
tives in congress who wait for the
people to tell them what to do before
they will take action to secure appro-
priations for the completion or protec-
tion of public works that are already
commenced. 1t is high time more
practical and pains taking servants
were sent to the national legislature.
The report of the exports and inn
ports OF the country for the year 1895
published Tuesday show that cotton is
still our chief article of export, it hav-
ing amounted to s2O4, 300, 800, while
our next heaviest export was bread
stuffs, amounting to 114,6O4, ITO. The
great American hog takes third place
in the articles Of export, with value
of $50, ,757 ,42s to his credit.
Some patriotic citizen Of Prescott.
Arizona, in lauding his town and state,
and descanting on the wonderful riches
of the region, declared that even the
buildings were in part of gold. He
was taken up on the subject and bet
resulted. A short time ago an assay
was made of sandstone being used in
the erection of some new buildings
and the stone showed 81 per ton in
gold and 20 cents per ton in silver.
The senate has passed bill granting
the widow of the late General Gresham
pension of 800 a month. Such lavish
expenditures as this is what makes the
pension system obnoxious. In the
first place Mrs. Gresham has no need
of such bounties from the government,
for General Gresham was q wealthy
man, and left her abundantly provided
for, but If she were in need of PEN
sion. there is no reason why she should
be granted 500 month, while the
widow of private, who fell in the
trenches, only receives from SO to S12.
In another column Is published a
letter from Alfred Stillman, chief sur
veyor for the Insurance Association of
the Pacific coast, in reference to insur-
ance rates in this city provided chem
ical engine and fire alarm system were
put in. From this letter it will be seen
that o great saving In insurance prem
iums would be effected by such addi-
tions being made to the fire apparatus
of the city. II such reductions in in
surance rates can be secured by the
outlay of few thousand dollars it
would certainly be good investment
for the city, or if the city is not in a
condition to make the outlay, it would
amply repay property owners to raise
the amount necessary for this purpose
by public subscription.
By a vote of the senate Tuesday
tariff legislation, so far as this congress
is concerned, was indefinitely post
poned, and sensibly too. The tariff
agitation of the past three years has
done much to unsettle business
throughout the country, and to bring
the matter up now, just as the business
interests of the nation are beginning
to adjust themselves to the new
schedules, would be unwise If the ex-
penditures of the nation are greater
than the receipts, expenditures can be
cut down, and if more money is re-
quired, it can be raised by additional
revenue taxes, an increased revenue
on beer, whisky and tobacco. Luxur-
les like these can better afford to pay
the burden OF maintaining the govern
ment than can the necessities.
The unkindest hit thatthe aspira-
tions of Mckinley, Morton, Allison
and Reed have received lately Is an al
legged revelation from the spirit world
which DR.. Keiser, of Washington
claims to have received, telling him
that Senator Cullom will be the choice
of the st. Louis convention for presi-
dent. DIR. Keiser had a similar revela.
ton fortelling the nomination Of Gar
field months before the convention |
met. when Grant, Blaine and Sher- |
man appeared to. be the coming men,
sud he also predicted the election of
in 1884 and 1892. Senator
Cullom treats the matter lightly, but
the other candidates, whose only hope
of ever reaching the White House de.
oends upon something more than