The record-union., 1897-02-09
Voice OF THE PRESS.
Extracts From Editorial Expression Of
Journals
Vi the State and the Coast on SUBJ
iectS of Living and News
Interest.

Bakersfield Echo: A man up at
Marysville the other day got final de-
cree of divorce from his wife, Hattie
Mitchell, on the grounds of intemper-
ence. This is establishing bad prece-
dent in California, and we can't imagine
Where the thing is going to end. When
the women begin to apply for divorce at
the smell of cloves in the valley air, then
there's danger ahead, for the women
will insist that cause for the gander
constitutes cause for the goose!
THE UNIVERSITY.
Wheatland Four Corners: California; s
great university is Handicapped by lack
Of funds. The bill now before the Legis-
lature for a special tax of one per cent.
on each hundred dollars worth of taxa
ble property to constitute fund for the
university of California is an easy solu-
tion of vexatious problem. Our tax
payers would hardly notice this small
addition, yet as there is power in large
associations of small things, California S
mind finishing factory would be placed
in easy circumstances. No Californian
worthy of the name would oppose this
proposition.
DELINQUENT TAXES.
Tulare Register: A Los Angeles abol-
Usher proposes to abolish delinquency on
payment of taxes by the following plan:
81 would sell property for delinquent
taxes to any one who wishes to buy. I
would let the tax land shark have 10 per
cent interest on his money until re-
RI nj chN Io wifi five
years. 1 would also add a penalty of II
per cent. per year on every dollar of tax
over $50, payable to the Tax Collector
for the benefit of county collecting. This
would spur large taxpayers to pay and
redeem, While it would help other
glasses" This scheme requires eXpIa-
nation and clarifying.
TO CLEAR THE RIVERS.
Gridley Herald: The indications for
fhe passage of the bill appropriating
100000 for the purchase and operation
of a dredger under the supervision OF
the Commissioner of Public Works is
favorable. This bill, although it carries
z large appropriation. is generally ap-
proved by the people OF Sacramento
and San Joaquin Valleys. 1t promises
a relief that has long been sought, for
if it does half that is promised it will
relieve the streams and make the fu-
ture expense of leveeing much lighter.
II it extends river navigation one sin
gle mile it is worth purchasing.
THE TARIFF.
San Diego Union: The outline Of the
new tariff bin. published in this morn
ing's Washington dispatches, will re-
Soice the Orchardists of California. The
Mckinley duties on fruits generally, /.
ds announced, viii be restored, and as
10 oranges (and probably ether citrus
fruits the rates are not yet fixed, but
are to be higher than those Of the Me-
Kinley bill. This is good news. 1t in
dicates that the plea of the orange
growers Of Southern California has not
been in vain. But it should be remem-
bered that the bill is only now in the
committee stage. 1t has Yet TO be sui
jected TO amendments in beth the Sen
ate and the House. While the decision
Of the Ways and Means Committee GER
aainly gives the growers q great al
Vantage, it does not necessarily mean
that they have won their fight. 1t does
indicate. however. that with proper ef-
fort they have excellent chances of OBJ
tanning the recognition they desire in
the new law as finally passed. In the
gneanwhile they must do some hard
work along the lines already laid down
ard spare no pains TO present the
strongest possible case to Congress.
THE SANDERS CASE.
Stockton Independent: An impatient
commentator on the result Of the third
trial Of Sanders at Fresno thinks tbs
isagreement sufficient To disgust peO-
pie with jury trials. Why should one oi
a score Of apparent failures Of justice
overcome the thousands of just verdict:
rendered? a jury is a fair sample Of
the community in which it's members
are collected. and the disagreement II
fresno indicates that one-third Of tn
people there believe Sanders to be in.
nocent. Some Fresno taxpayers objec
10 fourth trial because Of its expen
siveness. This simply shows that th'
Db1ectors set q higher value on money
than on justice. and a fourth jury
taken from among such is quite al
likely to disagree as did the two pre-
ceding it. or to still further DISCUS
those who belive Sanders guilty by ac
quitting him. That essential evidence
for conviction known to lawyers as tn
corpus deficit was not we'll proved. I,
shfs case proof Of the death Of WoottoI
was necessary to show that the sigma
aure purporting 10 be his was a forgery
That fact was not proved TO the salts
faction Of four jurors and they held on
for acquittaI With the Or. lyman cas-
before them their doubts Of WOotton,
death do not seem very unreasonable
Tvnan was pronounced dead and hi
estate was partly administered upol
when the old doctor st aside the de
cfsion Of the couIe by returning to Mo
desto in good health. Those four juror
evidently thought Wootton might So
aside a verdict of guilty against san
.lers in the same fashion.
THE OFFICIAL BALLOT.
Fresno Expositor: 1t is quite probabl
that the proposition before the Lag,s
lature to alter the arrangement Of tn
names on election ballots VIII De "a
vorably acted upon. Instead of tn
names of candidates being arranged Il
aIr,na abe4ical order as at present It i
4,ronosed 10 group all those of a certain
noIftlcal party under one head makini
n Dossible for the voter TO indicate n!
r,reference for a straight ticket with
sfr,gIa mark at the head of the grou
instead Of placing a cross opposite Ii
4,arna of each candidate There Is sneri
tn the proposition because L simpliie
1h,, ballot and expedites voting. SAoul
a voter not desire TO east straigh
ballot It will be just as easy for him I
designate his choice of the candidate
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