The record-union., 1897-02-11

ought to be a pretty good prohibition
law, since if saloon whisky is not de-
leterious, then the followers of Neal
Dow have been deeciving us. And the
boarding-ho keeper, How henceforth
shall she escape responsibility for her
dangerous pies and her mysterious hash,
II 1T is illegal to dispense any 'unwhole-
some substance? ?" That would even rem
der fried meat penal and perhaps it
would not be Undeserved Even the
common doughnut of commerce would
seem to be embraced within the scope of
this sweeping measure, and to sell it
across a lunch counter would involve a
fine or Imprisonment. For of course
there would be little difficulty in obtain
ing expert medical testimony that the
doughnut is a deleterious substance.
And if nothing may occur which is pre-
judicial to life or health the boarding
house piano must be silenced. If any
body but Assemblyman Dibble We're its
author we should be tempted to believe
this a cinch bill of a new kind-one
threatening all the boarding house keep
ers in the State and summoning them
to arise and hasten to Sacramento and
defend their dearest rights
STATE HIGHWAYS
Alameda Encinal: The Legislature is
wrestling with the question of State
highways-that is, the construction of
system of roads by the State 1t
would seem as though this were about
the only way by which we can ever OBJ
tain good roads throughout Califor-
MIA. There are one or two counties
which what ha lal
decent highways, and but one
or two. Most Cf the roads
are so only in name and while vast
sums are constantly expended upon
Them the people have no adequate re-
turn for the outlay. The climate of
this State makes possible the construc-
ton and maintenance of as fine a sys-
tenn of roads as in any part of the
world, yet as stated nine-tenths of
the people do not know what a good
road is. The proposal now before the
Legislature will be warmly supported
by all who have ever had to travel for
any distance over the apologies for
roads that are all but universally prev
alent on this coast.
EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION.
Pasadena Star: We see some danger
Gus meddling with the revenues of the
State in an effort to have church and
some other property exempted from
taxation. America should profit by
the experience of the old country in
this matter. and not adopt an evil that
cost England so much trouble to get
rid of. EXempting any except public
property from taxation means shifting
that much of the burden upon others.
There is no particular occasion for
anyone to have any more property than
they can afford to pay taxes on, and
when a person or society gets this it is
about time 20 unload. All property
claims dhe benefit of government alike,
and should bear its share of the bur
den. How such features as exemp-
ton are liable to be imposed upon is
shown by a late statement that a GER
tain property in New York City really
belonged TO Rockefeller, burt was al
lowed to stand in the name OF church
to save it from taxation. Wealthy &C.
ciesiastical and benevolent corporations
if exempted from the duties that
affect others are liable to become a
menace to the State, as they have been
in former days.
AGAINST THE PROPOSITION.
Placer Herald: A constitutional
amendment providing that no per cap
ita taxes be levied in this State has
been proposed in the Assembly If the
amendment should be adopted, the
present poll tax would be discontinued
We believe in relieving the people of
every burden in the way of taxation
that is in consonance with the general
interests of the State but we fail to
see wherein such a measure would
prove such an agent. The State poll
tax is right and proper. as every citi-
zen should be made to contribute
a certain amount towaird the support
of the free institutions of the State, the
maintenance of law and order and all
other agencies that tend to improve
the confidence of the commonwealth,
thereby enabling the people to live in
peace and quiet in the pursuance of
the duties of life and in the enjoyment
of American citizenship.
SAME EVERYWHERE.
Oakland Times: Oakland has a num-
Der Of peculiarities, one OF which is
the demand made upon the local news
papers for free notices. unlimited. OF
entertainments. festivals, concerts. etc,
etc. All OF the news features of these
affairs is 10 be exhausted IN the print
ing Of one notice, burt it is nothing un-
usual that a request is made for it's
repetition several times, free of ex-
pense. though there is an admission
charge to the affair. Some of these
days a man may come to the front IN
this town and publish a daily paper in
which the multitudinous local organ
izations clamorous for free advertisins.
VIII be given the right of way. But it
viii necessitate a mammoth edition.
BEAUTIES OF SpRTNGTIME
Santa Parbara News: And now
comes the most wonderful transfornla-
tion of the year-the clothing of the
hills with green, the up-springing OF
plant life and the wonderful procession
OF flowers We love the glorious sight
and We watch every step of the long
procession with interest ard eagernass.
Even now the delicate ferns are send
ing forth their beauties. the dark can
yons are fun Of them. The golden pop
pies are already here. and in a weeks
time VII come some Of the fairest of
Flora's children One hundred species
Of California wild flowers are not diff
cult to find in almost any fine after
noon in season.
THE DREDCEP MATTER