The record-union., 1897-06-16

and Armenia
POSTAL. SAVINGS BANKS.
Los Angeles Herald: The desirable
ity of postal savings banks is so gener-
ally recognized that it is strange they
were not established long ago. Col
umns might be written pointing out
their advantages and the beneficial re-
suits that have been attained where
they are an established institution, and
nobody has had the hardihood to assert
that the people are better off without
them.
There are at least 12000,00O wage
earners in the United States to whom
postal savings banks would be bless
ing. Established on the French plan,
SO that the savings deposited could be
applied to the purchase of small demon
national Government bonds, the COM
mon people would become, so TO speak,
stockholders in the governmental flnan-
cial system to a degree that is now
impossible of accomplishment and the
plan would mutually benefit both the
Government and the bondholders.
Postal savings banks combined with
the small bond system would greatly
encourage the habit Of saving and tend
to discourage unwise expenditure of
small amounts Just because it is easy
to draw the money and spend it," They
would render deposits absolutely safe.
A TARIFF COMMISSION.
Santa Barbara Press: Sensible men
of all parties have long agreed that the
trouble with tariff legislation is its un-
settling influence on general business.
If the tariff, then, could be taken out
of politics, at least in part, and be ad-
justed by body of men appointed for
their special knowledge of the subject
and for long terms, we should be
spared condition of affairs Which is
always threatening and always present.
A bill aiming at this object has been
recently introduced in the House and
referred to the Committee on Ways
and Means, where it will probably stay.
The idea is too good a one to meet with
immediate approval, yet a tariff ad-
justed by a commission is bound to be
the outcome of our protective system.
BUSINESS IMPROVING.
Los Angeles Times. Although parti-
sans and pessimists may deny the fact,
it is fact, nevertheless, that
business conditions throughout the
country have improved in a
very marked degree since the peo-
Pile decided at the last national
election that a change in the manage
ment of public affairs was necessary.
The Improvement, it is true, has not
been so pronounced as could have been
desired. But it has been as general
as could reasonably have been ex-
pected, taking all the circumstances
into consideration. With the tariff
schedules still undecided, commerce
and industry hesitate to engage in new
ventures Uncertainty prevails, and
until the tariff question is finally acted
upon by Congress the return of con-
fidence and general prosperity in full
tide cannot reasonably be expected.
But the fact that conditions have
materially improved is evidenced in
many ways. The business failures for
the month of May, 1897, for instance.
were less in number than those of any
one of the twenty-one months imme-
diately preceding it; while the liabili-
ties of those who failed We're less than
in any month since September, 1894
The total volume Of business for the
month of May, 1897, was equal to the
volume for May 1S92-in which year
the business of the country touched
high-water mark.
SATURDAY HOLIDAY.
Fresno Expostor: The agitation OF
the half-h holiday question is a good
thing in itself, and unquestionably
there is some force in the idea that il
would tend to minimize Sabbath desc
Grafton. People who have no other
time for recreation cannot be expected
to coop themselves up all day every
Sunday.
Yes, the haafeholiday is all right be-
cause it will give an opportunity to
| many for recreation, followed by rest
on Sunday. But there's a doubt as tc
whether it will very much minimize
actual Sabbath Dissertation. There's
a question as to what dissertation OF
| the Sabbath really is, and whether
"cooping ones self up all day every
Sunday is keeping the day.
There are a good many busy people
who find opportunity for both rest and
recreation on Sunday without consid-
ering it a dissertation of the day. They
ride, drive, read or visit, and maybe
| go to church in the evening. There are
| a good many others who now give them
! selves up to wild hilarfty on Sunday
| With a half holiday on Saturday that
| class would probably put in Saturday
| in a large time and devote Sunday tC
| Strengthening up. But it could hardly
| be called keeping the Sabbath. The
| half holiday scheme is all right as q
! holiday, but we doubt if it would much
change Sundays Sabbath keeping is
from within-a matter of conscience
not of days.
A HOSIERY CHEAT.
! Oakland Enquirer: A hosiery mil
has been discovered in Rhode Island
which marks every pair of stockings
it turns out Made in England. Now
factory which resorts to such tricks
as this deserves no tariff protection
and We suggest a section in the Ding
| ley bill levying an internal revenue tax
equal to the amount of the duty on the
same class of goods upon all products
manufactured in the United States and
marked as if made in a foreign coun-
/ try If that should hit pretty hard
some of the Wine takers in California
so much the better.
BRIEF NOTES.
/ Pain bo;J ap5 cpou fall from, Rool.