The record-union., 1899-03-27
VOICE or The PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions ON SUBJ
jects of Living News
Interest.

|
Interest.
Marysville Appeal: The burden OIL
the red mans song seems to be that
the Government does not keep the cove
nants it makes with him. This is really
too bad, but the only excuse we can
offer is destiny which seems to cover
about as many sins as charity, by the
way. This being so, naturally the COM
plaint Of the red man over such NJ
| tie thing as a broken promise IS an
noying to those whom Providence mas
chosen as his externlinator.
THE FADS OF THE SCHOOLS.
Stockton Independent: The Legisla-
ture of Massachusetts has been consld-
ering some further legislation IN the
direction of laying a foundation TOT
Temperance in the schools by the intro
duction of physiology primers, teachng
the effect Of alcohol and narcotics on
the system from scientific STANDPOINT
But the committee having in charge
the provisions was surprised by the ap-
pearance of many educators, headed by
the President of Tufts College, and
minister of Boston, who is memper
Of the School Board, protesting against
any further attempt to cram school
children in all grades with single
branch OF physiology and hygiene. dis
sected in such a way as to make II
both disagreeable and useless.
| These educators called attention to
the fact that the zeal of temperance
people was defeating their own ends,
and breeding a dislike if not contempt
for the course of study on the part of
pupils. They urged that the temper
ance branch of physiological science
had been forced into every grade OF
the schools, and there was ceaseless
reiteration of the same. facts which
tired the pupils, robbed them Of time
that should be given to other branches
of learning, and created aversion for
these abstract teachings which seemed
to intrude themselves at every point.
1t is fortunate, We think, that ad-
vanced educators in the most advanced
educational community in the land
have seen fit to call stop to legisla-
tive crammings Of the course of study
| in the common schools. The alcohol
and narcotic fad has swept the coun-
try. 1t has not laid the foundations of
| temperance because social evils that
are infectious from association cannot
be counteracted by tiresome abstrac-
tions. But it has left hole in some
of the essential studies, and the math-
ematics and the language have suffered
just to the extent that useless hygienic
fragments have been bolted.
STATE ROADS.
| V-l,
made in the Legislature that a certain
amount of the county road tax should
| be set apart for the construction Of
State highways aroused bitter opposi-
ton from Supervisors, who prefer to
handle all the road funds themselves.
To judge by some of the comments
made on this proposition, it might be
supposed that it was entirely a new
thing. Such, however, is not the case.
According to bulletin issued by the
Department of Agriculture, State taxes
for road buildings purposes are not new
in this country, although at present
comparatively little used. The bulletin
referred to shows that Connecticut and
Rhode Island have such a system of
State aid on a small scale. New York
has just adopted system of State aid
to roads. Pennsylvania provided for
State aid by the Hamilton road law,
passed early in 1897. New Jersey
adopted a system of State aid, several
years ago, which has deservedly be-
come highly popular, especially in the
farming communities. Under this State
aid law, the cost of building macadam-
lied roads is divided among the State
the county and the adjoining property
owners. One advantage of this system
exists in the fact that road is never
| improved except with the consent of
those living in the vicinity, who are ex-
pected to bear part of it's cost. The
adjoining property owner pays 10 per
cent. of the cost, the State pays one
third and the county the remainder.
! California is far behind many of the
Eastern States in the matter Of public
roads During the past few years many
attempts have been made to inaugur-
ate complete and practical system of
road Improvement, but so far the result
has been little beyond talk. 1t is about
time that We should make up our minds
to join the procession of enlightened
and progressive communities. which
built and maintain thoroughly first
class hlghroads. At least, we might
try 10 place ourselves, in this respect
ON an equality with the Romans of
twenty centuries ago. The wheelmen
OF California can do much to help this
good work along.
| The ELECTION OF SENATORS.
Los Angeles Express: The failure of
the Legislature to elect United States
senator to succeed Senator White has
set the people to thinking and planning
now such an awkward and injurious
SITUATION can be avoided in the future,
PROBABLY the great majority of citizers
peheve that the United States Senators
should be elected by popular vote. but,
as, this paper recently explained at
length, there are very great difficulties
IN the way of an early change to this
plan. The San Jose Mercury comes
TO the front with the proposal that
every political organization, at it's reg
ular state convention, shall nominate
the party candidate for Senator. The
idea Is not new; still the Mercury is
probably the first to suggest it's ap-
plicatlon to California. The plan is
feasible, it would not be illegal, and as
stepping stone to a more satisfactory
| permanent arrangement, it would
doubtless work very WE'LL Perhaps it
would render long and tedious cam
paign for popular election unnecessary.