The record-union., 1897-02-22
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
Extracts From Editorial Expression Of
Journals
VI the State and the Coast on Sub.
Jects Of Living and News
Interest.


tore has been debating law to regu-
iate the tramp epidemic. About the
surest and most effective way TO con-
trol the tramp question is to regulate
the causes which lead up to the crea-
Won OF homeless wanderers. Suppose
our representatives should begin by at
tachlng the money trust, one of the
most prolific sources of tramps ever or
Eanlzed in this or any other country.
ENTIRELY CORRECT.
Stockton Independent: 1t will be
wide misfortune if the Legislature un-
dertakes to levy State tax for road
purposes and then distributes the
money among the Boards Of Superyis-
ors to expend. The Boards of Super
Wsors of this State have thoroughly
exhibited their incompetency to deal
with road matters by the waste of
nearly $1,000 900 a year without any
visible improvement. There are Just
TWO reasons for a State system of roads
to be provided by State taxation. One
Is to make the incorporated cities bear
part of the highway burden, and the
. other to remove that much of the
highway supervision from the local
boards that have political workers to
reward and private axes to grind 1t
ts Well that the strictly local roads
should be in the hands of the Super
viSors. But the Legislature will make
mistake if it levies State taxes for
State highways and allows three-score
discordant and incompetent boards
throughout the State to squander it. A
protest should be sent up at once di-
rect from the taxpayers.
THOUGHTS FO THE ANTI-FUND-
ERS.
Stockton Mail: It has been noted by
the reading public that the oppo-
nents of the funding bill do not have
much to say these days. Their ardor
has suddenly cooled, and only an oc-
caSiona1 yaWp is heard from them
They do not seem to be happy. They
defeated the funding bill but they are
Tar from rejoicing over it. The cele-
bratiOn of their so-called victory was
premature and is acting in the shape
OF boomerang. AS the Mall pre-
dlcted, it has proved a dearly bought
loss on the country at large, and on
California in particular for eventual
ly the producers of California will have
to pay the greater portion of this debt
through freight and passenger charges.
both Of which Will be largely regulated
by the money invested in the great
transcontinental lines. The people are
just beginnin to grasp this feature of
the situation, and as they do so
they realize that they made a mistake
in blindly following the leadership of
men actuated by malice and mere self
ish motives.
The best offer the Government has
received up to date for the Union Pa
cific Railroad is $4,000 900 net, that
is S45,00O,00O, including the sinking .
fund in the treasury, which aggre-
gated S11, ,256,S44 "a on January Both
last. The total debt, including prin-
cipal and accumulated interest, is
nearly 500, ,OO0,00 If the Government
should accept this best offer, which it
now has under consderat ton, it would
lose about $31 100000 all of which
could have been saved under the fund |
ing bill.
BY that same measure the stock of
the Union Pacific would have been
wiped out and would no longer have
been a charge against the people !
whereas under the new arrangemnt |
the stock interest will remain and in |
terest thereon will have to be earned.
We hope that the anti funding bill |
people are satisfied with their work |
We doubt if the taxpayers and produc- |
ers have found any special reason for |
rejoicing They will certainly watch |
the outcome of the negotiations with |
the Union Pacific, and We would not be |
surprised if there should be a decided |
revulsion Of feeling on this subject |
before foreclosure against the Central |
Pacific IS finally instituted.
SHOULD BE PASSED.
Merced Star: We are in receipt of |
Bulletin No >. from the Bureau of |
Highways. which contains the proposed |
highway legislation. Since the creation /
Of the bureau it has gained much val |
ua bic information and has greatly aid |
ed in cTystalizing the public sentiment |
in favor of better built and better kept |
roads. The legislation asked for by the |
bureau is wise and timely and should |
be passed by the Legislature.
IDLE CONVICTS.
Tulare Register: Trade unionism has |
certainly gone too far when it turns the |
penltentaries into madhOuses as II is |
nIIr pArTnD.- rVllIIE ITI0Ar