The record-union., 1899-09-04

vention, placed themselves squarely on
record against the possible interference
of European Powers in the political at
fairs of this continent. In reference
to article 27 of the convention, binding
the Powers "as a duty to appeal to
the arbitration tribunal when quarrel
ers threaten to use force the Ameri-
can delegation made a formal declara-
ton, which was assented by their
confreres, to the effect that nothing
contained in said convention shall be
construed to require the REIMBURSEMENT
by the United States of it's traditional
attitude toward purely American ques-
| tions.'
CONGRESS OF ASSISTANCE
| Oakland Enquirer: An international
congress of public assistance and pri-
vate beneficence is to be held at Paris
i from July Both to August 3, 1900, dur
ing the continuance of the great expo
sition. The French Government will be
officially represented and foreign Gov
ernments have been requested to send
delegates to the congress. There will be
four sections-one devoted to children,
another to the sick and infirm and aged,
| another to the able-bodied and a fourth
to works of assistance by the furnish
ing Of labor to the poor. This is proba-
bly, the first charity congress which
has been internationl in its scope, and
the assem- bling of such a body with the
sanction of the French Government
| shows how the question of judicious
administration of poor relief is coming
to occupy the attention of thoughtful
people all over the world.
THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS.
Los Angeles Times: The eighth an
nual session of the National Irrigation
Congress, which is to be held at Mis-
soula, Mont, on the 25th, 26th and 9th
of September, is attracting more than
usual interest. Hitherto, these con-
crosses have been chiefly attended by
scientific engineers and other men di-
rictly interested in irrigation. Now,
! however business men. manufacturers
and others are beginning to realize the
| immense Importance of opening up to
settlement the arid lands of the great
West We may, therefore, expect that
the coming congress will be the most
successful that has yet been held
The congress is composed as fol-
lows: Five delegates appointed by the
| Governor of each State and Territory:
one delegate from each city of the
United States having a population Of
less than 25,000, and two from each
city with a larger population; one dele
gate from any regularly y-organized ir-
rigation, agricultural or horticultural
society, society of engineers, irrigation
company, agricultural college, or COM
mercial body duly accredited represen-
tative of any foreign nation or colony,
any member of the United States Sen
ate or House of Representatives, or
! Governor of a State or Territory, any
member of a State or Territory Irriga-
ton Commission, or the Chairman of
each section and permanent officers of
the congress.
FORESTS AND RESERVOIRS.
Los Angeles Herald: That the pres
ervation of the forests of the arid re-
gion is a duty distinctly belonging to
the general government seems to be
general opinion. Large appropriations
have been made for the surveys of pro-
posed forest reservations, thousands of
square miles of forest land have been
made reserved, and ways and means
for forest preservation are now being
discussed and considered. One of the
strongest arguments which is advanced,
showing the Importance Of forest pres
ervation, is the influence which forests
are known to have in conserving moist
ure the forest acting like a great
sponge which takes up rainfall and
then allows it gradually to sweep away,
supplying streams. brooks and springs.
Inasmuch as the commercial value OF
! these forests is comparatively lnslg-
nificant. except for furnishing fuel and
rough timber, the water question is
really the important one. Here, then,
we have the Government. through its
administration of forests, practically
spending money to store water and con-
serve the flow Of streams. Why, there
fore, is it not a proper Government
function to spend money for building
works which shall artificially store
water, as the forests do naturally? I'm
doubtedly the preservation of the for
ests is a highly important question,
and especially in the West, and the
Government is the proper agency to in
sure such preservation, but the princi-
pal arguments which can be brought
forward in support of the policy, apply
with increased force to Government
construction of reservoirs.
A VITAL QUESTION.
Stockton Independent: 1t is to be
hoped that the case of the imprisoned
Galicians of Hawaii can in some way
be brought before the Supreme Court
of the United States in a way to de-
termne directly unequivocally and for
all time the relation of the Federal
Constitution to newly acquired terri
tory, or to any territory to which the
formal act of Congress has not di-
rectly extended the Constitution and
laws of the United States. Most peo-
pie understand pretty well that the
Constitution of the United States is not
in active operation in either Hawaii,
Porto Rico or the Philippines. The
excuse of war has never existed for
any suspension of constitutional guar
antees in Hawaii and no such plea
could obtain in behalf of the Govern
ment of Porto Rico for a number of
months Therefore, a state of martial
law induced by war, is not the reason
the Constitution is not in force there.
The Constitution is not operative in
these islands simply because Congress
has not exercised its functions of for
mally extending it to these territories.
Now the question has been raised, and
should be decided, whether the Federal
Constitution applies itself to any pos
sessions of the United States. That is
directly tested, though the practice OF
) the Government has always been to as
sume that possessions are directly