The record-union., 1897-12-31
VOICE or THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSION.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects of Living News
Interest.

Interest.
Colusa Sun. The San Francisco News
Letter says that General Miles sus-
gestion that the standing army shall
be increased Will not recommend ltsvll
favorabiy to the average taApdyei'
Now, when it comes TO Federal taxes
who is the average taxpayer! we sel
in the habit of talking about the lax
payer as though he had an enuty. j ne
San Francisco Examiner had an IN
tervieW the other day with NUMBER
OF large merchants on the increase IN
the price of goods on account OF the
new tariff, and il was generally agreed
that the price Of such goods as are
consumed by the common people VIII
have a very material increase. AS TINS
increase comes. who can separate the
extra amount paid as taxes and the
amount paid as subsidy to certain pusi-
ness interests? 1t is certain. however,
that the increase will not affect the
people with large incomes. An increase
of 70 per cent. on WOODEN goods Is
big increase for the man OF lalnaIy
whose income is $50 a month, but Ii
is not much-in fact, nothlnS-to the
man with an income of SoU0 a mohth
1t may be a great thing 10 have taxes
so big as to make prices high, ouL
all the fine-spun sophistries in the
world could not convince us that 1t Is
just the thing to make ali the burdens
fall on those least able to bear them.
A SPURIOUS ARTICLE.
San Diego Tribune: Southern Arizona
and Mexico produce a weed called the
mariguana, which, mixed with tobacco
and smoked, produces more powerful
effect than opium or any other known
agent of fumigation. San Diego ranch
ers now raise excellent tobacco, but
it is to be hoped that they will not
experiment in the culture of amri-
guiana
LABOR AND LAW.
San Diego Union: The New York Su-
preme Court has decided that a man
who loses his job because Of the de-
mands of a labor union on his en-
ployer can recover damages from the
union. This decision, if accepted as
a guide to other States, will change the
face of the conflict between union and
non union labor. The party who can
recover damages is presumed to be
a non-unio nlaborer discharged at the
demand of a labor organization. Re
Gently number of decisions have been
rendered against trusts and combina-
tons which were charged with en-
croachments upon individual rights.
The limit placed upon the power of
labor unions to prevent the employ
ment of non-union labor is in line with
these antitrust decisions.
There will be some difference, prob
ably, in the effect the decision will have
upon the parties who are declared liable
| to damages. In cases where the trustees
are restrained expedents will be adopt
ed to break the force of the decisions.
The trusts have immense capital and
can command the services of the ablest
| lawyers in the country The labor
unions are composed mainly of men
who aim to keep within the bounds of
the law, and who naturally more read
lily accept the law as laid down by the
courts OF course o decisitn blythe
! SIprelne Court of New YorA has {nly
| the force of a precedent oJt of hat
State. 1t is probable, howiv That
the New York decision VIII give fise
| to suits in other States to determine
the question as to the right of a ldbor
!
nom union laborer on the sole ground
of his being a nonunion laborer.
CIVIL SERVICE LAWS
Los Angeles Herald: When consid-
ering an appointment Jefferson in
quired: Is the applicant honest; is
he capable; is ne faithful to the Consti-
tution?" These queries are the bases
of sll good civil service laws. The
country wants honest and capable men
in public Office, and those who are not
only faithful to the fundamental law,
but who will do their utmost to pro-
| mote the public wekare. Candidates
for Office before the people ought to
be subjected to Jefferson's tests, as we'll
as those who seek appointive places
The requirement in civil service laws
that applicants shall submit to compet-
tive examination is useful. 1t is the
best way for finding out qualities, ex-
cept actual demonstration in the dis
charge of public duties. Permanency
of tenure is a good feature, as it leaves
officials to an extent independent in
forming and expressing opinions upon
public questions.
VICTORY FOR THE LAW.
Pasadena Star: The San Francisco
Post congratulates the Law-wfth
| big Lon finally achieving a victory
over the lawyers in hanging a mur-
derer. This signal warfare between
the law and the lawyers was first
brought to public notice by the STAR"
which for some time received little en-
couragement in the work. But by and
by the force of the argument was seen,
| and now have so respectable a backing
as TO feel confident of success. There
| is nothing the matter with the law. or
the reputable lawyers; but there is a
class OF unworthy disciples who per-
vert its principles and defeat Justice.
| 1t is these who need to be whipped
out OF the temple.
FARM PRODUCE PRICES.
Riverside Press: The close and con-
tinuous study which Bradstreet's
Journal is giving to prices of farm
and manufactured products shows a
continued growth in the price of the
/ products of the American farmer. It's
statements from month to month have
| shown a steady advance in prices of
farm products during the year, and it's
statement which covers the develop
ments Of November shows an advance
| in wool, oats potatoes. peas. beans,
+! milk corn, barreled beef sheep, NUT
ton, eggs, hops and other articles of
this character. while there has been a
decrease in prices of numbers of ar
ticles which the farmers must buy. such
as print. cloths, cotton sheeting. coffee
and other articles CT this class.