The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-02-04
EDITORIAL NOTES.

EDITORIAL NOTES.
Those who had been building up
hopes that Alger would be speedily
bounced out OF the cabinet after Egan's
downfall are to be disappointed. In
stead of being fired, he will be rewarded
by being sent off to Cuba with the
senate and house military committees
lands, and possibly to show the Cubans
how little be knows of military affair 4
Admiral Dewey is made one of the
commissioners to determine what is
best to do with the Philippines. And
since the American people have the
utmost confidence in Dewey's judge
ment, If he recommends the retention
or annexation of the islands, that poll.
cy will be adopted by congress regard
less of what it may cost in money and
blood.
The bill introduced in congress
authorizing the increase of the stand
ing army to 1000 men haspassed the
house and will probably become law.
The imperialists in congress are begin
ming to realize that if we are to extend
| our territory all over the world a
large standing army will be necessary,
and if this policy is pursued, about the
next request will be to increase the
army to 100000 men.
w. A. Clark, recently elected sena.
tor by the Montana legislature, is In
favor of restoring silver to the status
it had before its demonitization in 1873.
! and is also favorable to protection on
raw materials. In these propositions
Mr."Clark is consistent, for all pro-
rectionists should favor the encourage
ment of the silver industry, and the
only way to encourage it is to give sill
yer equal mintage privileges with gold.
The party in the majority in con-
gress has submitted measure for re-
forming the currency that proposes to
irrevocably fasten the gold standard
upon the country. 1t is the Hill bill,
and If it becomes law, which it prob
ably will at the next session. the silver
money of the country will be nothing
more than credit currency. as it will
be redeemable in gold. The bill re.
ceives the endorsement of the admin
istration.
Again at the next general electios
in this state the voters will have an
opportunity to express their approval
or disapproval of extending the right
of suffrage to women, the resolution
submitting constitutional amend
ment to that effect haying passed both
branches of the legislature. The feel.
ing as regards women suffrage has
somewhat softened down since the vote
was last taken on this question aad it
is not improbable that it will carry.
A senator. who is close to the ad-
ministration, in discussing the Philip.
pine question the other day, said If |
the Filipinos Gid not submit to Amer |
ican rule, he would have them "wbip. |
ped to DEATH" When it is remem-
bered that the war by which we
gained shady title TO the Philippines
was waged In the interest of human.
ity-to free the Cubans from Spanish
oppression-it would seem that this is
rather harsh treatment to propose.
But it is justified by the radical i'm
perialists.
John Morgan, Of San Francisco, has
rendered q curious decision which
holds that person receiving a street
car transfer has right to give it
away to another person If he wishes.
He did not decide that the second per-
son hiss right to ride on the transfer
so obtained. ard hence the value to
the public of the decision is not ap-
parent; bat II Ia established that city
ordinance cannot make it O crime to
give away what one has honestly ac-
quired.
Why don't some philantrophic legis-
lator introduce a bill placing bounty
on fax fiber? This is an infant in
dustry that has about swamped those
who were interested in the experiment
it one of the products of the
state, just the same as the sugar-beet
in Grande Ronde valley.
If the sngar-beet growers are entitled
to bounty, give one also to the fax
growers; and then keep on passing the
bounties around pntil we can all get
out of the bounty business.
Let's make the thing general, and take
money opt Of one pocket to pay taxes
20 that we may get it back into the
other, Jess expenses of collecting, in
;he payment OF bounties On snr pro- {
lucts.
Congressman Tawaey. of Minnesota, @
,as introduced a bill "to increase the &
of the public service by t
optional and. compulsory retirement of
and disabled : govepnx 9
nent employees, and for the crea- b
ion of a fund for the retirement j
4 such employees. Mr.. Tawney's v
ill does not impose any additional tax "
pea the peeRls, but assesses all GOV
rnment employees under the civil q
ervice 3 per cent of their salaries an 3
ually for the purpose Of a retirement o.
and. This assement. it is estimated. o.
'ould produce s3.439, 300 annually, d.
lille the yearly outgo to retired em. p'
loyees would be but s3,335, ,0s0, thus cs
,aving 3 surplus for safety. If this bi
III would become law it would make &C
bout 1900 vacancies in civil service nj
,sitions ct once, and cause 10000 to
'omoMcns. ] cd