The record-union., 1897-12-16
VOICE OF The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
State and Coast Opinions on SUBJ
jeets of Living News
Interest.

San Jose Herald: The wisdom of the
proposed amendment to the copyright
law, requiring the donation of copy
rlShted books to depositaries in the
larger cities of the Union as the basis
OF Libraries of American literature
might depend upon the number of cities
designated and character of the books
There might be enough cities claimant
to take all the profits away from the
small editions that are usually publish
ed of the most valuable books, while
the great majority of the mass turned
out from year to year would only
uselessly cumber the shelves of Ii
brary. However, there might be pro-
VISION for an annual bonfire.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Fresno Republican: Congressman
Grosvenor is wasting his breath in at
tacking the civil service rules. 1t is
true enough that Grover Cleveland
played down game in extending
the rules after he had filed the offices
with his personal followers, but that
does net furnish a sufficient excuse
for attacking a principle that has be-
come a saving factor in free govern
ment. The spoils system, so far as it
has been overturned, has gone never to
return.
WE'LL, WHAT OF IT?
Modesto News: Right Hon. Charles T.
Ieltchfe, President of the London Board
of Trade. calls the attention of rs fell
low countrymen to the heavy decline in
British exports during the past ten
months. He issues a solemn warning
TO Britons that this decline is due to
American competition. Well, what do
Right Hon. Mr.. Ritchie and his fellow
| Britons propose to do about it? We
are only getting back our just dues. If
we now begin to "oust British trade, -
as Mr.. Ritchie declares, it is only Our
turn. The British have been ousting us
ever since our country began existence.
FRAUDS IN ENGLAND
Tulare Register: We have almost dali
ly occasion for thanking heaven that
there is sheol, if not good old-fash-
Toned hot place wherein to roast thosf
who need roasting. Over in England
they import turnips from the continent
cut them up soak the turnipy taste out
of them and doctored syrup into them
and then sell them to English people
LII OallCl MA pISStiNcu pStIS. LII
every Eastern grocery there is a pile
Of buckets containing alleged fruit but
ters and jams that have not the first
elements of fruit or fruit juice about
them. They are mere filing if nothing
worse, and take the place of honest
products at honest prices The law
probably cannot reach these delin-
quents, but sheol can, and Will in the
fullness of time. This thought is very
full Of comfort
REFORMS AND REFORMERS.
Mountain Democrat: When such old
platitudes as "retrenchment and re-
form" have palled on sensible people,
the unreformed reformers, who have
worn them out, are desperate Having
never been appreciated by the people,
upon whose necks they have fallen and
wept so often and loud their patriotic
aspirations to serve them have never
been satisfied. Hence their pet aver
sion and standing grievance. And to
| bring offices and officers down to their
level, where they can throw stones at
them, they clamor for a reduction oi
fees and salaries, right or wrong
HARD UP.
San Jose Mercury: Before the sale of
the Union Pacific road the Democratic
press was bowling that the President
had entered into conspiracy to rob the
! Government Of half the debt due it.
Since every dollar of the Indebtedness
was secured, and the President has di-
rected the proper official to bid if nec-
essary, on the Kansas Pacific, this same
press is clamorously contending that
| the President is striving to procure
every dollar due the Government in or
der to help make up the deciency from
the Dingley bill. Never We're the free
| trade sheets so hard up for political
material as at present
IMPROVEMENT IN WAGES.
Riverside Press: The Improvement in
wages which was promised as a result
of protective tariff is beginning to be
felt. Naturally the first improvement
under protective tariff would be
that relating to the number of people
employed. This was felt as soon as
the new law was assured, for it will be
remembered that there was a marked
| increase in the number of people en-
ployed even before the Dingley bill
went upon the statute books. The sec
ond step in the result OF the measure is
| ginning to make itself apparent. No
| tfces have been posted in the Mahoning
Valley in Ohio announcing an increase
or ~ per cent. in wages among the
limestone operatives in that section; re-
ports come from the iron mines of
Michigan and Pennsylvania that wages
there are to be increased 10 per cent.
on January 1st, While large numbers of
manufacturing establishments in va
rious parts of the country have already
announced an increase in wages
CURRENCY REFORM.
Los Angeles Express: Unfortunately
| there is not great reason to be sapgiline
of the accomplishment of currency re-
| form during the present session of Con-
| gress, unless more general harmony of
| opinion is developed from the light to
be thrown on the subject However
that may be- the time spent in discuss
/ ing the currency, and in devising meas
ures for the Improvement of the sys-
tenn, cannot be wasted The people are
much better informed upon the sub
| ject than they were two years ago. and
/ there is still a large field of usefulness
/ for the campaign Of currency educa-
| ton.
STATE SCHOOL BOOKS.
! Redlands Citrograph: From almost ST.
multaneous appearance in many pa
| pers of editorials attacking the Cali
I fornia school book series, it is painfully
apparent that the old school book ring
| is still in existence. and that it pro-
poses to make another desperate at
tempt to regain Californias patronage.
/ On