The record-union., 1899-07-05

therefor. If this decision stands the
test of the Emitted States 4 Supreme
Court, and 1t appears feasible that IT
will, it will do away with State legs
lation assessing the. cost of public inn
proyements to the abutting property
owners, and the Improvements OF
streets and highways must hereafter
be borne by general taxation. It seems
passing strange that the vrooman ace
should have stood for so many years
while smart attorneys tried their best
to knock it out but overlooked what
appears to be its most vulnerable point.
While the Vroonan act unquestion-
ably worked hardship on the prop :
erty owner of limited means, yet not
withstanding it has been the tnstru-
mentality through which Stockton has
been built up and improved as city.
If improvements are to be done by
general taxation public work In the
locality will probably be at a stand
still for some time to come. as the
keeping down Of the tax rate is pre-
sumed to be the main object of nfunic-
ipal and county legislative bodies.
HANDLE WITH CARE
Alameda Argus: The Cubans must be
handled with care. The 1situatiOn is
such that few plumbers would cause
the outb0eak of an insurrection there,
which, once started, would soon be as
serious business as our $2O,00O,0O0
lnsurrectiOn in LuZon. Saturday night
three American officers at Cienfuegos
created disturbance and resisted ar
rest. They used their revolvers, wound-
ing policeman. Their carriage was
pursued by policemen and finally a
squad Of soldiers took a hand In the
shooting and two more policemen and
three civilians were wounded. Sup
pose such an outrage had happened in
San Francisco. The city would be
af1ame with indignation. The Cuban
people are FESTIVE under a military
rule. They endure it solely because
OF lingering faith in Americas prom
Use Of a better, juster civil rule to fol-
low In which they are to attain self
government. That faith is tottering
and a few such outrages as that at
Cienfuegos will endanger the peace of
the island. The three offending officers
are locked up and their< punishment
should be so severe that all Cuba will
know that lawlessness on the part OF
the soldiers, at whose mercy they are,
will bring swift and stern retribution
upon the offenders.
SOWING WILD OATS.
Petaluma Argus: DR.. c. I. Fisher, Su-
perintendent of the Presbyterian Hos
pftal Of New York City, man of great
force and learning, is visiting in the
Southern towns and delivering lectures
on the Harvest Of Wild Oats" He
proves from a scientific standpoint that
the bad effects of cigarettes, liquor
and licentious living do not remain
simply with the person WHO ssows" his
wild oats. but are handed down to sue
ceeding generations. While this is not
new, it is a great truth that ought to
be forcibly brought to the minds of all
young people who are just commence
ing to "sow wild oats"-as prevention
is much easier than cure. After the
cigarette habit is once formed it, IS
hard to break off, and while it does
not bring ruin as quickly as strong
drink, it is equally certain in it's eff
fects. In short time the cigarette
fails to satisfy, and the boy seeks the
opium den-overr the door of which
should be inscribed in large letters
He Who Enters Here Leaves Hope
Behind" 81 O.