The record-union., 1897-04-14


followed by a rapid increase in the in
sect enemies of vegetation It is be-
yond doubt a simple case of cause and
| effect. Even one miscellaneous bird will
destroy incredible numbers of insects
in the space of twenty-four hours.
| These birds are incessant toilers from
daylight until dark. The benefits which
they confer upon the farmer and the
fruit grower are enormous and incom-
| putable. Without the assistance of the
| birds, the raising of fruits and flowers
would be practically impossible in some
I sections. Conditions are not SO bad
in this section as they are in the East
ern and Middle States, for our cool
nights and bright midday sunshine
| serve to prevent, in some degree, the
multiplication of insect pests. Rut even
| in Southern California the birds are
an invaluable aid to the farmer and or
chardist, comforting benefits a hundred
1old greater than any injury they may
lnf1ict by the taking of some fruit.
There is scarcely State in the Union
| where the laws against bird killing are
strict enough, and in few, if any of the
states, are the laws, as they exist, en-
forced as rigidly as they should be. The
| crusade started by the Woman's Club
or Chicago should be taken up by SINH
lar organizations in other sections.
| KANSAS MILLENNIUM.
Alameda Argus: Kansas, the State
completely under control of theorists,
the land which the millennium was to
strike with the force of a tornado as
soon as the several half baked laws
| ravsN sod
an investigation of it's lawmakers. 1t
has not as yet got very far, but enough
has been done to disclose lot of hood
lers. 1t will not be long before cranks
who have not the ability to regenerate
themselves yet garrulously attempt to
| regenerate the earth, will be found out
and kept out-of responsible positions.
| 1t is to be observed that most of the
men who have financial plans for the
adjustment of poverty without work
are seldom able TO make decent living
for themselves. That a whole class of
such people should be given the con-
troll of the destinties of a great State
is amazing, but it is a natural thing
that they should soon come to grief
and dishonor
OLEOMARGARINE.
| Oakland Enquirer. Recent charges
against certain public officers in Pitts
! burg in connection with the enforce
,pent of a State law against the sale
! of Oleomargarine led to an investga-
| ton in which it was shown that in
spite of the statute nearly a million
pounds of the article are sold annually
in that city, and the only effect of the
law is to make the price slightly high
er, because dealers have to fee the
officials to obtain the privilege of sur
reptitious trade This discovery has
led to a demand for the repeal of the
law, and in this connection it is pointed
| out that in Massachusetts, the Board
of Health has declared in favor of the
| heaIthfulness of oleomargarine. and
the Commissioner of State Institutions
has substituted it for butter on the bill
of fare in all almshouses and asylums.
The change in public sentiment regard
ing oleomargarine has been a rather
| curious one.
| PURE FOOD CONGRESS.
Stockton Mail: The word "Caifor-
MIA" on a package of the States prod
uts should be a guarantee of the hon
esty and purity Of its contents. If we
can make California synonymous with
full weight, up to standard, honest and
pure, we Will have captured the mar
kets of the world. That seems to be the
animating spirit of those interested in
the Pure Food Congress to be held at
the Chamber of Commerce Hall in San
! Francisco on the Both inst
! THEY SHOULD.
|
should recognize the belligerent rights
| of the Cuban insurgents and back up
their action by the army and navy. if
necessary, and the people of Europe
should compel their Governments to
cause the removal of the Turkish forces
from Crete and allow her people to
form such a government and such al
liances as to them seem best. The
history of the closing years of the nine
teenth century should not be black
ened by further atrocities that would
shame the records of pagan times.
| Whatever may come to these two fair
islands and their heroic people, the
worlds verdict will be that they de-
| served their freedom-that no people
in any epoch of the worlds history
ever proved themselves more worthy
of the liberties for which they are
willing to die.
THE ANTITRUST DECISION.
! Pasadena Star: The antitrust de-
cision in regard to the railroads has
had bad effect on prosperity, though
generally hailed with satisfaction as
a victory over corporations-and par
| ticularly that form of corporation most
Objectionable to the average demagogue
"a railroad corporation. 1t has caused
the various railroad companies to
withdraw promptly from traffic asso-
| Citations and the effect is instantly APP
parent in depressing their stock in an
ticipation of a rate war Clews' cir
cular of April Sd says:
In Wall street, the past week opened
with a still demoralized feeling grow
/ ing out of the decision of the United
| States Supreme Court in the case of
the Trans Missouri Freight Associa-
ton.
SO it seems that a victory over cor
porations is not always the unmixed
blessing that might appear at first
blush, and that an attack on a railroad
mans interests and a depression of his
values may be just as injurious to the
| general public as an injury to any
other branch of business.
WHOSE OK WAS GORED?
| Kern Echo: Our readers are aware
| that the last Legislature passed what
| is known as the 'Dredger' bill-an Act
appropriating $500, 900 for the improve
ment of the Sacramento River. 1t also
authorized the Folsom Prison Directors
to deliver to the Supervisors of Saera