The record-union., 1896-12-15

business houses, which is called a "di-
rectory." This fake is worked every few
months and seems good method OF
raising a little cash from business
houses. Fifty or hundred Of the cards
are tackled UP in as many business
houses, for time, which convey in
formation as to who subscribing mer-
chants and their neighbors across the
street are. It takes a stranger to work
a fake like this. Nobody who lives in a
town would have enough nerve to do it.
Some men who would not pay So for an
advertisement for a month in news
paper that circulates in the county,
jump at the chance ''to advertise" and
give the scheme So with which to get
some other town to work the same thing
over.
RETRENCH.
Santa Rosa Democrat: Taxes in this
State are exorbitant, the largest Of any
state in the Union. High taxes are
positive evil, and retrenchment in State,
county and municipal taxation has be-
ccme necessity. Retrenchment is es
sential, or the people will be bled to
death by the taX-eat ters.
GOOD TIMES.
Selma Irrigator: Indications all point
to more prosperous times for Selma.
That money is spent more freely than
for several years is shown by the num-
Der of Christmas goods being sold this
faIl, and the opening of new stores
shows that business is steadily increas-
ing. True, some Of our citizens have
been unfortunate in losing their homes,
and others will yet have to give up
their farms, but many who were almost
IN despair will be enabled to save them
selves If times continue to improve.
SURE PROSPERITY.
Fresno Republican,: Some of the
aftermath of boom time debts and the
collapse which followed that period are
yet to be cleared away, but salvation
has come in time for many, and even
those who were hopelessly loaded with
debt will now have an opportunity to
start afresh and do something for
themselves. 1t may be that the present
prices OF wheat and other products will
not be fully maintained, but it is evil
dent that there will not be- for some
time at least, a relapse to any such ru-
1nous prices as have prevailed during
the past three years. The financial
scare has passed away, and such vol
ume OF money as we have is again
coming into circulation. If a general
condition even Of moderate prosperity
prevails, California will get her share,
and Fresno County will be right In
the front when 1t comes to declaring
the dividends. We can produce the
things here that people will buy when
the money is in circulation to buy
with.
THE MESSAGE.
Petaluma Argus: The last message
Of President Cleveland has been de-
livered to Congress, and by this time
1t has reached millions Of people
through the great newspapers of the
country. 1t is an able and dignified
document and contains much valuable
information While we radically differ
with the President in his treatment Of
the financial question, we find much to
commend.
A SUGGESTION.
Uiah Press: It would be we'll If Con-
gress, while devoting its attention to
the Armenian and Cuban atrocities,
were to establish an entente in the
Call l-EXaminer' imbroglio. If the
present journalistic war continues gore
is very apt to flow.
TO BE AN ISSUE.
Pasadena Star: The irrigation ques-
ton will be one Of the principal issues
at the coming session of the Legislature
if not the burning ISSUE" There is
going to be a fierce onslaught on the
Wright law. Senator Simpson is en-
phatic in the opinion that the law is an
outrage upon taxpayers and that it
ought to be either wiped off the statute
books or so modified that it will not be
possible under it to confiscate property
for the benefit of a few water-right own
ers. He says facts in his own possession
are numerous enough to show that the
law Is used as an engine of most griev-
Gus oppression and out and out confis-
cation. If 1t is possible to so wrest the
Act from its true purpose, which is to
allow property owners to combine for
mutual interest in placing their lands
under irrigation, 1t is high time for an
inquiry into the matter that will result
IN change. We do not believe. how
| ever, that the people of California are
ready to abandon the essential princi-
pies OF the irrigation law.