davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1898-01-25
NEEDLESS ALARM

The Herald heard of a citizen yester-
dav who was exceedingly anxious that
the city should proceed at once to ac-
quire possession of the water system
before the expiration of the contract with
the water company. He was under the
impression that if such step was not
taken the water company would have
everything it's own way, and would pro-
ceed to take advantage of it, He
thought the company, upon the expira-
ton of the contract, could charge what
it pleased to consumers, and that it
could proceed to shut off the water in
case the people stood on their rights.
This shows what effect the incendiary
exhortations of the demagogues are
having upon those citizens who are I'M
acquainted with the precise facts.
In truth, the water company will not
be as secure when the contract expires
as it is now, for the city can then step
in and declare and maintain its policy.
The water rates are fixed by the city
eral times, a decrease being the invari-
able rule No sane person believes for
minute that there will be an advance
in rates, or that the water company can
or will assume an arbitrary position with
respect to the delivery of water to con-
sumers.
Let the real conditions be clearly un-
derstood The water system does not
belong to the water company; it belongs
to the city of Los Angeles, which leased
it to the water company on contract
that is about to expire. The water COM
pany has made many improvements, for
which the city must pay The two par
ties disagree as to the amount to be
paid, and arbitration must be had, ac-
cording to the terms of the contract.
If the controversy cannot be settled in
this wise, the courts will be called upon
to decide. Pending the settlement, the
courts are amply qualified and equipped
with the necessary authority to see
that the rights of both parties are pro-
tected. 1t is not question as " VIII
shall own the waterworks system, for
it clearly belongs to the city. 1t is not
a question of a new contract, because
everybody in the community is in favor
of the city's holding and conducting its
own works. 1t is not a question of the
water company's' raising the rates, be-
cause the rates are fixed by the city
council, and will be lower before they
are higher
The sole question at issue is, how
much the water company shall be paid
for its improvements. 1t asks what the
city regards as an exorbitant price; the
city is willing to pay what the water
company regards as an insufficient
price. The two parties cannot agree.
Arbitration is the next step; but arbitra
ton cannot be forced in advance of the
expiration of the contract.
That is all there is to it. The city is
not going to lose its water system; the
water company can neither raise the
rates nor shut off the water. 1t is not
going to get new contract. 1t is SIM
ply trying to get as much as it can for
its improvements, a thing which any
business man would do, and which is
neither a crime a misdemeanor nor an
Injustice
The herald., 1898-01-25
PENSION FRAUDS

Service in the pension Office. appears TO
be considerably more useful in obtaining
big pension than service In the army
The record shows that the pension clerks
fight nobly.-Boston Herald.
Liberal pensions to everyone who Is en-
titled to them. Lop Off the abuses and the
frauds-the well-to-do and those who are
abundantly capable of making their own
way in the world.-Pittsburg Post.
1t is believed that II the pension rolls
were purged of frauds and of persons who
have no equitable claim on the United
States the total amount could be easily
reduced so per cent.-Philadelphia Ledger.
II a mere threat to publish list Of the
government pensioners has caused so many
to request that their names be stricken
from the rolls, one can imagine what effect
actual publication would have.-Louisville
Times.
1--WE ought to keep the pension expendi-
tures," says Senator Gallinger. within the
s141, 600 900 limit, but am afraid we cannot
do it." In the name of a sweating and
swindled people, what is to be the limit?-
New York World.
1t transpires that number of the clerks
in the pension office and many of the best
paid ones. are themselves pensioners
drawing a bounty for disability" and at
the same time drawing salaries as COM
petent cierks.-Savannah News.
Pensions are drawn by men who never
saw an enemy, who at the close of the
war enjoyed unimpaired health, and have
no equitable claim to the nations bounty.
There are war widows today who were not
born when the war ended.-Buffalo
Courier.
The present agitation for a reform in
| the pension list has brought to light a
condition of affairs which, except, per-
haps, to those ION the inside" is a dis
grace to the country, as we'll as laying
an unjust burden upon the people.-Bos-
| ton Traveller
| 1t is common complaint from our SOL
diers' homes that the chief Generalization
| they have to contend against Is caused by
| the expenditure Of pension money received
| by inmates. There is no just claim for such
pensions and they should be abolished
PHILADELPHIA Times.
The herald., 1898-01-25

straightway organized O second raid. by
Importing silver from France and Mex
leo, throwing It upon the market in large
quantities, and breaking down the price
by the temporary panic thus created.
Since then, justifying his action by one
specious plea or another, the secretary
of the treasury has continued the policy
of ignoring the law and giving to the
nations creditors the option which was
reserved by the government.
Means for reversing this custom and
compelling a return to lawful methods
have not been at hand. nor has the in
dignation of the people at the unwar-
ranted usurpation had the slightest
effect upon successive secretaries or
presidents. The ere-enactment Of the law
and the law is embodied in what is
known as the Stanley Matthews resolu-
ton, passed by both houses of congress
and signed by the president twenty
years ago-may prove abortive, but it
is the purpose of the friends of silver in
the senate to at least reassert the doc
trine, and thus place new obligation
upon the shoulders of the administra-
tion to observe it's letter and spirit.
1t has been charged that Senator Tel
Ter had an entirely different aim in view,
and that his sole purpose in reviving the
Matthews resolution was to place other
senators on record in advance of prac-
tical legislation upon the reform of the
currency, originating in the senate or
Colorado senator disclaims this. He ex-
plains that the president has recently
declared that all of our bonds and
money not gold shall be redeemable in
gold, and that it is in the highest sense
desirable that at this particular juno
ture there shall be a declaration from
the legislative branch of the government
that such is not the law. He hopes to
get the Democratic members of the SEN
ate practically solid on the proposition,
and expects some help from administra-
ton members. While the president and
his secretary are intriguing to commit
the country more thoroughly to the gold
standard, he proposes to reannounce,
and to emphasize the declaration, that
such was not the law when the debt was
created; that it is not now the law and
that it cannot be made the law. He pro-
poses to thus direct popular attention
once again to the fact that the admin
istration, while falsely claiming to be
to do all in it's power to sustain
silver, is yet unlawfully refusing to pay
it out in liquidation of claims against
the government.
Such is the meaning of the Teller reso-
luton, and the fight upon it that will be |
this week. By means of an
appeal to senatorial courtesy" final
vote upon the proposition was post
poned until Thursday next but it is not |
likely a further continuance will be |
granted. The administration forces in |
the senate are preparing to antagonize |
it, and notice has already been given of |
a number of amendments, calculated to |
destroy or minimize the effect of the re-
adoption of the resolution, but it is not |
likely these tactics will prevail. The |
question should not be confounded with |
any other, and Republican members
who voted for it before should be COM
pelled again to record their conviction,
or give a tenable reason for refusing.
The herald., 1898-01-25
THE BooDLER's ENDLESS CHAIN

The community of interest that at
taches to political bossism and corrup-
tion is stronger than party. The politi-
cal corruptionist as an individual cares
comparatively little for party ties. He
works through one political organization
or the other because his affiliations have
been with it, and because it is his most
convenient instrument; but it is "busi-
ness rather than sentiment that actu-
ates him.
Birds of a feather flock together"
The push" may fight the pull upon
ordinary occasions, and the pull does
not miss the opportunity to take the
spoils from the push" whenever it can
do so with safety. Each may point the
finger of scorn at the other, but that is
part of the game. In times of danger
they stand and work together for the
common evil.
Once in a while the decent people,
who constitute majority in every COM
munity, get tired of being buncoed and
robbed and bulldozed by the push" and
the pull in turn, and institute a moral
and political house cleaning. Then it is
that the push" and the pull stand to-
gether and fight for their common cause;
then the opposing villainies become the
allied villainies.
Corruption and Doodle are links in
long chain. The community of interest
that holds the push" and the pull" to-
gether may not be confined to one local
ity. The politics of every large city is
intimately connected with the politics of
another large city in it's state, and Sc
quentially with the politics of the state.
A fight against corruption in San Fran
cisco, for instance, would enlist the OPP
position of the boodlers in Los Angeles
and vice versa-because the publication
of a city weakens the power for wrong
doing in the state.
The whole thing is logical enough.
But how can the push" and the pull"
in one city enlist the active cooperation
of a portion of the press located perhaps
500 miles away? The explanation is
easy. The newspapers in question are
the organs of the gang" in their COM
munity. One may speak for corpora
tion in politics, a corporation that has
been the chief factor in preventing the
free development of this state or it may
be the organ of dethroned boss and his
faction, who are striving to regain their
footing and power.
Another paper, or, rather, it's propri-
etor, may have political ambitions. The
latter may be affiliated with the bad ele-
ment in politics. 1t is strange but it is
true that many men who would not per-
eonally steal a dollar nor bribe any other
man, think it is absolutely necessary in
politics to make use of the corrupt ele-
ment, to enlist the services of the push
or the pull" or of both of them, in or
der to succeed. Small favors must he
returned, and if the Allied Villainies
should be attacked 1t would be cruel to
desert them, besides being very bad poll
The herald., 1898-01-25
FOREIGN NOTES

France is hasteninE to make of Jiboutil,
on the Red sea- the best port for Abyssin-
ian trade to counterbalance the effect of
the Italian transfer of Kassala to the Eng
lis in, Egypt.
Berlin university, owing to the large
numbeN of foreign students frequentlng it,
has established an instructorship in ele-
mentary German to enable them to- learn
the language in which the lectures are
delivered.
Africa's monkeys are giving out. In the
neighborhood of the Gold coast they have
been exterminated, and last yean the col
ony could collect only $1,000 monkey skins,
whereas in 1894, 16S.405 skins, valued at
S205, 900, were exported,
Railroad traffic in Germany has increased
to such an extent that the government
finds it necessary to four-track the main
lines in Wesphalia and the Rhine province.
with the prospect of extending the i'm
provement soon as far as Berlin.
Florence will have a strange celebration
next May of the fourihundredth anniver-
sary of the burning of Savonarola as a
hereto. The Catholic clergy, headed by
the archbishop, Cardinal Bausa. will hold
a solemn religious service in his honor.
No sooner was La Fronde started in
Paris with women for compositors and
printers, than the government interfered
with it for violating the law prohibiting
night work for girls. recently passed at the
instance of the advocates for woman s
rights.
Empress Elizabeth of Austria has col
lected the photographs of all the pretty
women she has seen during the last nine
years. To each picture is attached a. state
ment of the name, age and condition of
the subject, with the date and place of the
taking of the photograph.
Rejane, having captivated Berlin with
Madame Sans-Gene." the Germans have
discovered that Marshal Lefebre's wife
was a German, daughter of the Wurtem-
berg Sergeant DANIEL, and born at Hohen.
asperg. Lefebre married her when he was
a mercenary at Stuttgart-New York Sun
The herald., 1898-01-25
inc matter much of which is a nuisance

ing matter, much of which is nuisance
to the receiver. 1t looks to US as II the
principal sufferers under the Loud bill will
be the monopolies of the gold-standard
east, which our correspondent persuades
himself are behind the proposed legisla-
ton.
1t may be observed in passing that 65 per
cent of the revenues of the postoffice de-
partment are expended in transmitting Sec
ond class matter, which, on the other hand,
contributes but per cent of the total rev.
enues.-Ed. Herald.)
The herald., 1898-01-25

The statement that General Billot will
attend his trial may not disconcert the
imperturbable Zola, but the additional
information that he will appear in full
uniform, to make the necessary de-
fense of the army's honor" is quite an
other thing. But then the great novelist
has for fortnight been surveying men
in uniform from his residence in the
Latin quarter, and it doesn't follow that
he will be terrorized even by the i'm
piled threat of the minister of war. AT
the late London jubilee General Miles
appeared in full uniform. without Great
ing a riot
The herald., 1898-01-25

The latest Canadian regulation for the
free entry of miners outfits appears to
be all that can in reason be demanded
by pilgrims from high protective tariff
country to a country protected by tariff
duties. Every essential requirement of
the bona fide miner will be exempt from
the customs regulations. This should
allay all apprehensions regarding bar
riers to legitimate mining.
The herald., 1898-01-25
Drop Through a Trap

More than one good story Is related of the
late Lord Norbury, and in spite of the
grimness of the following, its htsmor is ev-
ident. When acting in an official capacity
Lord Norbury inquired of a man If he
knew any reason why sentence of death
should not be passed. The prisoner re-
piled to the effect that he considered the
joke had gone far enough and that he
would prefer to- let the subject drop. THE
subject may drop" said his lordship In
The herald., 1898-01-25

Those Klondike supplies assembled on
the border by Mr.. Alger are likely to be
more in demand in industrial New Eng
land, where Mr.. Dingley has scheduled
to make a living.
The herald., 1898-01-25

1t is a significant admission of the
annexationists that the failure of the
senate to ratify means disorder and
revolution in the islands. Enthusiasts
in any cause are prone to claim and
prove too much.
The herald., 1898-01-25

Little John Bull
Has lost his pull
And doesn't know where to find 1t;
The Russian Bear
Seems not to care,
And the Kaiser doesn't mind 1t.
Indianapolis Journal.
But, after all, that man who sells
His soul for sordid gain
Pays rather less than moralists
And preacher-folks maintain.
Detroit News.
The herald., 1898-01-25

The cabinet is said to have spent an
hour yesterday in formulating an ex-
PLANTATION as to the necessity for send
ing the battleship Maine to Havana.
The people would much prefer to know
why this country has not had a num-
ber of battleships in that harbor for g
wear past
The herald., 1898-01-25

1t is a mistake to suppose that Silver
Republicans desire to drive Mr.. Gage out
of the cabinet. He is contributing more
to the success of bimetallism just now
than any other single factor we can
name. His continued dominance of the
administration will make Democratic
every doubtful congressional district in
the country.
The herald., 1898-01-25

The dispatch Of the Maine to the har-
Dor of Havana need occasion no sur
prise. Blanco is anxious that the CO.
operation of the Washington govern
ment should be practical.
The herald., 1898-01-25

The nyzam Of Hyderabad, on account
of the suns eclipse, liberated fifty fell
ons. But the president of the United
States has had no such excuse for his
recent wholesale Jail deliveries.
The herald., 1898-01-25
Valueless VoWels

Ethel-Have you noticed how Lord Slab
sides drops his aspirates?
Penelope-Oh, but that's nothing to the
way he drops his voweis-papa says he
has got more than dozen of his i-o-u-'s.-
Judge.
The herald., 1898-01-25

The administration has thus far been
unable to get it's forces together on any
single scheme of currency reform. But
it hasn't yet tried the reconcentrado
The herald., 1898-01-25
THE PUBLIC PULSE

(The Herald under this heading prints
communications. but does not assume re-
sponsibility for the sentiments expressed.
Correspondents are requested to cultivate
brevity as far as is consistent with the
proper expression of their views.)
The herald., 1898-01-25
Paradoxical

"Why is 1t that young Whooply is such
slow pqy?"
Because he is so fast."-Detroit Free
The herald., 1898-01-25

President Dole won't know what real
trouble is until he reaches Washington
and is everywhere mistaken for Sena-
tor PETER.
The herald., 1898-01-25
No Lack

Said the married man who likes to be
sympathizcd for: my wife is never hap
py unless she has grievance
How happy she must be!' said the
pretty girl, and then the married man grew
strangely silent.-Cincinnati Enquirer.
The herald., 1898-01-25
Iron Smelling in Ireland
Little John Bull

Iron smelling Is to be experimental upol
in the western highlands of ireland.
The herald., 1898-01-25
The Loud Postal Bill

To the Editor of the Los Angeles Herald
was not a little, but much surprised, to
| see in recent issue Of your splendid
journal an editorial commentator of the
Loud bill, now before congress. In my
judgment this bill is one of the most in
| famous measures ever introduced by a SER
| vile tool of monopoly. Under the sham
| covering of reducing the deficiency In the
postoffice department, 1t strikes at the lib
critics OF the people by preventing the cir
culation through the mails of the literature
which does not harmonize with the views
of the anarchists, who,' in their greed for
gold and their hatred of republican insti-
tutions. have trampled under their gold
standard feet the constitution of our coun-
try, lowered our flag to the English ragt
and permitted the Rothschilds to wipe
their fienancial noses upon it.
The great dailies as class advocate the
special interests of the rich. while the
weekly papers, pamphlets and periodicals,
which the Loud bill would hamper and
exclude from the mails, are the only
means the great mass of the people have
of studying the questions which affect
it so deeply.
No small amount of the deficiency In the
postoffice department Is the result of car
-ying, at pound rates, the immense, stuffed
Sunday editions of the great dailies of New
York, Chicago and other large cities, much
~ "hASh AiattSA 10 SioShs ohU ~
small amount of which should be excluded
from the homes of our country. The great
dailies are not affected by the Loud bin.
1t Is the struggling reform papers and
local weeklies that it would hamper, and
in many instances kill.
That the postoffice department needs re-
forming, there is no doubt, but any at
tempt to deprive the people of the benefits
heretofore enjoyed of receiving through
III mails the literature by which their eyes
are opened to the causes of their being de-
prived of life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness, should be denounced by all hon
est men. The piratical crew Of cold-blood-
ed buccaneers who live to plunder man and
blaspheme God by giving out of their stolen
millions to spread the gospel are full OF
cunning, and as they deceived the toilers
by the hypocritical cry of ''honest money"
Confidence and prosperity" so they
hope by the fraudulent plea of economy
to be able to close to the people the gate
way-ths mails-that lead to peace and
plenty.
The Loud bill Is a scheme in the interest
of Shylockism, and for the benefit of the
express companies. The deficiency in the
postoffice department can be turned into
a surplus of 1000. 900 per year by forcing
the railroads to carry the mails for the
government at the same rates they charge
the express companies for the same KIND
of matter. GEO. r. BRUCE.
Los Angeles, January II, 1898.
The herald., 1898-01-25
rea and Coffee Drinking

Englshmen drink five times as much tea
as coffee. Americans eight times as much
coffee as tea.
The herald., 1898-01-25

The Paris mob may yet make an I'm
mortal of Zola.
The herald., 1898-01-25

The arbitrary enforcement of the new
sealing regulations on the Canadian
border is justly characterized by the
Dominion press as a disgrace to the
Washington government. 1t was not
intended that seal garments purchased
and used prior to the adoption of the
regulations should be ruthlessly taken
from the shoulders of wearers and con-
flscated. as the subsequent modification
abundantly shows. There Is no school
so effective in dispelling the theoretical
beauties of tariff as is the custom
house. Sentiment upon the subject
would not be so rampant in this coun-
The herald., 1898-01-25
IMPROVE NOT ABOLISH

The San Francisco Examiner, in an
Jury" while partially agreeing with
Judges Cster and Campbell, asserts that
there is no good reason for abolishing
that body. Although it is true the grand
Jury is not fitted to do the work it once
did, that is no reason for it's adjustment.
The Examiner says:
The place for the grand jury in our
government is in the line where our or
dinary machinery of justice fails. 1t
is from the grand jury, if from any
agency, that we must look for the dis
covery and prosecution of the class of
crimes that may be called political.
Under the present organization of the
local governments the ordinary ma
chinery of Justice is not sufficient to
protect the public against offenses by
officials or politicians. District attor-
neys are unwilling to stir up scandals
in regard to their official associates.
They are quite as unwilling TO deal with
the wrongdoings of the politicians. or
the agents of politicians, if it can be
well avoided. They depend on thesein
fluences for their future nominations,
and do not wish to offend. 1t is just
here that the grand jury can be of use,
if it is given the proper authority.
This is right in line with what The
Herald said few days ago. The district
attorney cannot fill the place of the
grand jury unless he is a capable, in
corruptible, fearless public servant, who
makes his duty his standard. Los An
geles, for instance, could not afford to
dispense with the grand jury.
The Examiner is of the opinion that
the efficiency of the grand jury would
be improved if the body had the right
to hold open sessions, or, better, still
were required to hold open sessions, un.
less two-third of the members consid-
cred that the public interests would best
be served by a secret inquiry. A bill
to allow this power to the grand juries
of this state was considered in the leg.
islature of 1895, but it was smothered.
1t is not at all probable that either
public opinion or the public service is
ripe for the abolishment of the grand
jury system. Whether it's efficiency car
be increased is a moot question that may
we'll be discussed among the people.
The herald., 1898-01-25

The iron grip of poverty Is apt to make
a mans clothes look rusty.-Chicago News.