The record-union., 1898-01-28

eolAAuelice DelHS restored, the DHSlueSS
conditions are improved. A report from
Sioux City illustrates this to a degree.
Business has increased in that city, but
not to such an extent as have the bank
clearings. This is explained by the fact
that during the season of distrust the
people did not do business through the
banks to such an extent as now. Conf
dence is restored and the banks are
being used to the great convenience OF
business men.
RAILWAY TO DAWSON.
Fresno Republicans: The time for
making big land grants to railroad en-
terprises is over in the United States.
1t may have been necessary once, to
encourage railroad building, but it is so
no longer. There is plenty of idle CAPT
tai in the country and some of it could
be profitably invested in an Alaskan
railroad. A line covering the most diff
cult part Of the journey between Dyea
and Dawson would pay foritself in a very
short time and there must be capitalists
willing to undertake the enterprise
without making ~eXorbitant demands
upon the Government.
EXPORT OF PRUNES.
Stockton Independent: 1t is only
few years since all the prunes in the
United States were imported from Eu-
rope. The greater part of the fruit was
SO inferior and so badly cured that they
were standing jest against the board
ing houses where they We're served.
They We're thin, smoky and tough and
''stewed prunes" was a phrase of re-
proach for contempt. Now California is
nOrt hU h.a hundred
to Germany, where they must be re-
garded as luxuries if the Germans have
not made great progress in the arts of
cultivating and curing that kind of
fruit. The luscious and meaty California
prunes are almost luxury at home.
Now that they are being exported in
large quantities the demand for them in
the Eastern States is likely to be in
creased as Eastern people always bet
ter appreciate American products after
they are approved abroad.
THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM.
Los Angeles Herald: The Grand Jury
system is being made the object of some
very vigorous attacks. Judges Oster
and Campbell sitting at Riverside this
week, declared in the planest terms that
the system has outgroWn its usefulness,
and, as at present conducted, is an ex-
pensive, superfluous incumbrance They
| asserted that there was no part of it's
duties that could not be as well per-
formed by the office of the District At
torney, with the advice and assistance
of the sitting magistrates. The last
Grand Jury at Riverside which re-
turned but one Indictment, at an ex-
pense to the taxpayers of over $1,700,
was cited in illustration and as a JUS
tlhcation Of the structures passed by the
Judges.
There is, no doubt, great deal to
be said against the Grand Jury system,
as at present conducted. There are
| many ways by which it can be trans
formed into an abuse, instead of being
an instrument Of justice. But have we
anything better to take its place? The
| District Attorneys office has been sug-
gested. Unquestionably the District
Attorneys office could and would per-
| form the work now, delegated to the
Grand Jury system, under favorable cir
cumstances.
| The. first essential, in case the ex-
| change were seriously contemplated,
would be a District Attorney who could
| be depended upon to do his duty with
out fear or favor-an official in whom
| the people could place implicit conf
dence.
SPECIMEN MONKEYING.
| Santa Barbara Press: The decision
| of the Supreme Court of the State in
! the now historic case of the San Luis
| Obispo bonds wipes away at one fell
| stroke of the pen a lot of attempted
popycratic throttling of business inter
| ests.
San Luis Obispo voted to issue
| bonds for municipal improvements,
payable in gold coin. Commissioner
| Chapman declared the issue invalid, on
| the grounds that the law prescribed
that such bonds should be payable in
gold coin, or lawful money Of the United
| States. The Commissioner opinion
was sustained by a department of the
| Supreme Court, and therefore became
| a decision of the tribunal. The clause
which caused the trouble was the work
of the Populists, and was a fair speci-
men Of "monkeying" with the great
| fundamental laws Of finance and trade
The decision caused much hardship
ard inconvenience, but on a rehearing
year from the decision the Supreme
| Court decided "the statute places no
! limitation upon the mode of payment
of the bonds" and then ads with equal
sarcasm that the recognized standard
of value in this State is gold coin"
| Under this Interpretation of the law,
municipalities may issue bonds that
will sell i. e. gold bonds.
NEW STATES.
Los Angeles Express: 1t is all right,
| perhaps, to deny the three Territories
| that are left the Statehood they are
coveting, but is not Congress a little in
| consistent, unwise, or something else
out of the way. to refuse admission to
| New Mexico, Arizona and Oklahoma,
while at the same time it proposes to
annex and admit far-off Hawaii?
| TREATY RIGHTS IN CHINA.
| Stockton Record: The British people
are certainly aroused and respond with
enthusiasm TO the expressed intention
of the Ministry to protect British COM
mercial interests in the Orient at all
hazards. There is no doubt left that a
perfect understanding exists between
Japan and Great Britain. They are in
entire sympathy regarding the main
tenance of the absolute independence of
upper China Japan, Of course, is the
most directly concerned, and also has
| the sorest grievance. When she re-
Gently whipped China, Russia and the
other Powers interfered to prevent the
absorption of Chinese territory. and it
! is now quite natural for her to resent
| the absorption Of the same territory by
the very Powers that were most active
in their interference. But England