The record-union., 1898-02-16

called upon TO lee lawyers 10 utleiiA
what is probably a hopeless case.
One City Trustee has gone so far as
to say in open board that the city
should carry its cases to the Supreme
Court of the United States and fight
them out But that cannot be done.
There is no way to get the issues be-
fore the Federal Tribunal, of which We
know, and if there was a method of
accomplishing that, how much better
off would we be? Nay would we not
in all probability be worse off since we
would be mulcted for heavy fees for
attorneys and incidental costs of liti-
CATION?
There is an old cartoon Of a COW be-
ing MIXED TO leanness by a fat attor-
ney while the two litigants struggle for
her possession one pulling at her tail
and the other Juggling at her horns.
Sacramento taxpayers and the bond
holders have been doing that and the
milking of the city has gone on mean
While. Is it not time to stop it all?
If, as was stated by the Mayor, the
Funded Debt Commission is anxious
and willing to close UP its business.
since the city credit is so good that
there can be no more gain through the
operation of the commission, why not,
when money is plentiful and cheap,
borrow the needed sum, wipe out the
whole Indebtedness and take reason
able time at a low rate of interest to
discharge the new obligation under
terms that will not require such a
heavy draft as at present upon the
taxpayers?
To the lay mind the thing seems rea-
sonable. 1t appears to be simply re-
capitalization on more advantageous
terms. The professional financier may
see in the scheme objections counter
balancing the apparent benefits. II
so, now is the time to present them.
The people are of a temper just now
to adopt some means to be rid of this
six per cent interest tax when money
can be had at four per cent. and pre-
MUM paid for the privilege of lending
it.
If a man owes a thousand dollars
upon his house which is mortgaged TO
secure the debt, and pays annually S60
interest on the debt, and he is offered
the 81 900 for $40 rental ON the same
security, it would seem to be the wise
thing for him to do to swap credi-
tors and buy shoes for the children"
The steamer Oregon sailed from AS
toria for Alaska on Monday, and when
a little way out was discovered to be
on fire in her coal bunkers. She had
just time to return and shift coal and
save the ship. But suppose the Oregon
had been well out at sea with her nu-
man cargo of nearly GEO passengers
They might not have been burned to
death, but assuredly there are not SUI
ticlent life-saving appliances on that
ship for so great number of people.
The Oregon is capable of carrying
with fair assurance Of safety about
$50 passengers. Whose fault is that
the ship was cleared with nearly 60O
souls aboard? Besides such multi
tude. she had 400 tons of miners out
fits, 300 tons of merchandise, 100 tons
Of Government relief supplies, 10 tons
OF provisions, 30 dogs, Al horses and "a
burros. or livestock to the amount of
$50 tons, with 500 tons of coal. If
with $50 passengers the Oregon is load
ed sufficiently with human beings.
what is the condition when 600 are
packed into the ship? Somebody has
failed Of duty, and the law has been
defied The question is, Who is dere-
lict, who has winked at this thing?
The overlooking of vessels for the north
we have reason to believe is going on
constantly, and there appears to be no
interposing arm thrust forward to for
bid it. Is it the fault of the law? If
So the sooner Congress remedies that
defect the better.
Clark, who butchered his brother
TO have his brothers wife; Bel
lew, who poisoned his brother and
sister because they were too happy TO
suit him; Flannelly, who slew his own