The record-union., 1896-03-12
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
Expressions of Interior California
Newspapers.
Comments Upon Things Local, Gov
ernmenta1, Practical, Theoret-
ical and Current.

Chico Chronicle Record: The prOpo-
sition of giving the railroad time is op-
posed chiefly by Adolph Sutro. This
gentleman has a personal grievance
against the railroad company. He has
openly boasted that he is furnishing
the money for the anti-railroad fight.
| The Oroville Register" says that 1t is
high time that the honest, patriotic,
| loyal citizens of California came to their
senses. To jump from the arms of
Huntington into those of Sutro and his
fellows is not only to spring from the
frying pan into the fire, but it is to leap
from a plateau of comparative sta
bility and progress into a slough of
ruin. Because the railroad company
would not put peanuts into the pockets
of Mr.. Sutro, that gentleman proposes
that the people of California should
ride the chutes to hades, provided that
he can satisfy a personal animosity.
OF DAMS.
Stockton Independent: In an editorial
article of great force in its issue of the
9th inst. the Record Union" of Sacra-
mento shows the folly of attempting to
continue hydraulic mining by the aid
of restraining dams. 1t says the great
Folsom dam now fills up in six months,
and cites the filling up and breaking
of other dams, which it comedies were
apparently built in good faith in the
effort to restrain the debris, but it does
not notice ex-senator Johnston's plan
to convey the debris to low lands,
where it will do good by filling and re-
claiming them. The Record Union"
is undoubtedly right about the futility
Of do, h11f or
system looks feasible in a country
where there is much land to be re-
claimed.
MUD MILLS.
Santa Cruz Sentinel: A newspaper
which is employed by someone to aid
in putting through his jobs seeks to
win, not by calm and convincing argu-
ment, but by charging corruption, con-
| spiracy and crime against all oppoS-
ers.-Post.
1t is apparent that the POST is ION
tc" the low and mercenary press that is
running mud mills for what can be
made out of the nasty abuse and black
guard business. The more money they
make the more scurrilous they become.
Patronize them enough and they will
attack any man in the community, run
a sewer through any house and libel any
town or county.
THE JUDGE AND THE JURY.
San Jose Mercury: If a recent decis
ion by the Supreme Court is to be fol-
lowed in either its letter or its spirit
by the Superior Judges in the State,
juries hereafter will serve no other pur-
pose than that of ornament Lawyers
in criminal cases may demand juries,
and the latter may sit for days or weeks
at a time listening to the testimony
and if their verdict fails to coincide
with the opinion of the Judge concern
ing the facts, he will be at liberty to set
the verdict aside. The jurors may then
go home and spend a few more days or
weeks in a vain endeavor to penetrate
the mysterious operations of the law,
which demands their service, fines or
| imprisons them if it be not rendered,
and then brushes it aside as absolutely
worthless.
| We know that setting aside a verdict
is no new thing. It is done not infre-
quently, where the circumstances make
| it not only justifiable but necessary, if
| the ends Of justice are to be attained.
| But the decision to which we refer is
sweeping in character, and it practical
ly takes all power from the jury How
ever conscientious the jury may be in
arriving at it's verdict, if the court be-
lieve that it has reached a wrong con-
clusion, it it is not only the courts priv
! ilege under this decision but it's duty to
set aside the verdict. While says the
Supreme Court, it is the exclusive prov
ince of the jury to find the facts, it is
nevertheless one of the most important
requirements of the trial Judge to see
| to it that this function of the jury is
| intelligently and jus: :ly exercised.
GOOD IDEA
Tu1are Register: Philanthropy and
per cent have joined hands in another
commendable enterprise in New York.
D. o. Mills will erect TWO hotels for the
poor. The hotels at which poor people
/ ctor1 m Ia r-cp rites are Ur-arPhpd tO the