The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-18
VOICE OF.THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.


State and Coast Opinions on SUBJ
jects Of Living News
Interest.
Grass Valley Union: There has been
too much rain in Northern California
to suit the farmers, who are grumblng
a good deal because of their inability
to work wet land. But in Southern
California the need Of rain continues.
There has been more rain at Los Ange-
les than there was to the same date
last season, but yet much less than the
average or normal" Southern Cali
fornia has managed to pull through
several dry years, but should the pres
ent winter fail to bring the needful
precipitation to fill up the irrigation
reservoirs and give the soil a. thorough
soaking, things will look blue in that
section next spring.
BRAVELY SPOKEN. :.
Humboldt Standard: The Atlanta
Constitution" the leading Democratic
paper of Georgia. if not of the entire
South, has no use for Bryan's anti-ex-
pansion theories. It's platform is an
nounced in the following brave utter
ances:
mo question of politics, no trimming
of sails, no debating of details, but
Godspeed and triumph for the men on
the firing line! That is the policy, the
spirit, the grit. which patriotism calls
for! The Constitution is a Demo-
cratic newspaper, differing with the ad-
ministration and policy Of President
Mckinley in so far as it relates to Re-
publican issues. The Constitution is
an American newspaper, and has no
bullets to fire into the backs Of the men
who are opposing Aguinaldo's attack
and capture. This illustration COM
pletely defines our position in regard
to the present phase of the Philippine
question" VIII the .antis' of the
Bryan, Edward Atkinson, David Star
Jordan stripe read this and consider
what 1t means?
A NATTER OF GUNS.
Placer Leader: sSan Francisco is
not well protected The guns are there,
but no artillerists. Miles
The above Is one of the points we
have frequently attempted to show In
regard to our unprepared condition to
resist invasion. Those guns are of no
use unless we have the men behind
them who know how to use them with
effect To handle such pieces Of ar
tillery effectively requires long and fire.
quent drill and practice at targets with
each gun. It is hardly to be expected
hot L, 4,
ment of nearly 100000 artillerists to
man all the seacoast batteries of our
extensive coast line; but it might initi-
ate a scheme for the formation of sea-
coast artillery battalions, like the naval
militia service, at each city provided
with these ornaments for its defense,
and furnish officers for organization
and instruction of men offering them
selves for such service. The defenses
of San Francisco require 1900 men to
work the guns in place, and a large
part of the work requires men of intel
ligence, mechanical skill and technical
knowledge Of the guns and of their pro-
jectiles. What more popular service
can there be for young men, clerks. me-
chanics and others, than to be fitted
to defend their home city at a moments
call?
TERMS OF CONGRESSMAN.
Oroville Mercury: The Vacavi1le
Reporter calls attention to the evils
of the frequent changes OF Congress
men. AS it is now, it Is thirteen months
after their election before they begin
to serve, and by the time that service
begins they are not only on the last
year of their term, but plans are begin
ming for their displacement. This is
poor encouragement to try to do well,
and inasmuch as it takes at least term
to gain efficiency in the service it will
be seen that the average one term Con-
gressmen has little chance of making a
good record.-Pasadena Star.
True, every word And in the case
of the Congressman from this district
there was actually a movement set on
foot for successor before he had taken
his seat, and in face of the fact that all
the indications were that he would
prove an admirable official. Such con-
duct verges on political indecency.--
Alameda EucinaL
Why not move the beginning Of the
service up just one year and get a
chance to see what kind of a Congress-
successor. Or, better still, lengthen the
term at both ends.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
NEEDED.
Red Bluff News: The old idea of
making the Presidents term expire at
a later date has been revived. Senator
Hoar has INTRODUCED a bill for a consti-
tutional amendment providing that the
term of the President shall expire on
the last Wednesday in April, the Con-
gressional term to expire on the same
day. This is needed reform as it will
lengthen the last session of each Con-
gress nearly two months. At present
the second session with which each
Congress expires is only three months
IN length, commencing on the first Mon
4th Of the following March. This is too
short a time for much to be accom-
plished and there is every reason why
the time should be extended.
There is room for reform also in the
election of congressman. At present
they are chosen early in November, but
do not enter upon the discharge of their
duties until the December of the follow
ing year--about thirteen months. 1t Is
true their terms of Office begin nomln-
ally on the 4th of March, but except on
extraordinary occasions when extra
sessions are called, they are not sworn
In, and, in fact, do not meet until De-