The record-union., 1899-04-25
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
I EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on SUBJ
iects of Living News
Interest.

to note whether change of WardenS at
San Quentin VIII diminish the average
of the murders and assaults to murder
that have given that State Prison con-
siderable distinction among penal insti-
tutions. The contention of the prison
authorities has been that it is as i'm
possible to prevent convicts from arm
ing themselves to the teeth as it is to
prevent them from importing and using
opium. But, as cutting affrays do not
occur in other State Prisons, and as
convictS in other State Prisons have not
access to opium, it would seem that
arms and drugs can be kept out by the
use of precautions or provisions that are
not in use at Sam Quentin. Perhaps our
Prison Commissioners, by inquiring how
things are managed elsewhere, and
with the cooperation Of Warden
Aguirre, may bring about a much
needed change. It is quite likely to be
found that the less politics has to do
with prison regime the better the ad-
ministration is, But, of course, that is
another story-S. F. Sutherland.
THE SIGNATURE LAW.
Bakersfield Californian: To-day the
newspaper signature law is in effect,
and from this date every article pre-
sented that in any way reflects on the
living or dead must be signed by the
writer thereof, The principle of max
ing some one person responsible for
libelous articles is correct and had the
Legislature confined it's effort to this
alone, little harm to any one would have
resulted. But this Act seems to have
been framed for the purpose of harass-
ing the press of the State. For seventy
days the members frittered away the
peoples time in considering bills to Ii
cense BARRIERS and horse-shoers, and on
kindred measures, while important leg
islation in the interest of better roads
and better schools was permitted to die
on the file. With an overwhelming ma
jority the dominant party was unable to
discharge it's duty to the State in the
matter of electing a United States Sena-
tor, and the weeks were consumed in
the senseless wrangle of factions over
lich, from the day the session opened
to it's close, hung the shadow Of scandal.
l-Harrell.
HAWAIIAN BUSINESS.
San Jose Mercury: The figures giving
the business of the Hawaiian Islands
for 1898 look insignificant when COM
pared with the immense business done
with foreign countries by the United
States, but relatively they make a very
satisfactory showing. Hawaii exported
last year products reaching the value
of 1,346, 144, and her imports, includ-
ing specie, We're valued at S11 $50. $50.
These imports We're paid for by the
money placed to the credit of Hawaii in
the United States from the sugar crop.
After drawing on this credit to pay
for imports, the balance remaining to
Hawaii for the years trade was So
695. .S53.
This balance, in a general way and
in general way only, remarks the Ha-
waiian "Gazette,' Shows the profit of
the sugar crop. AS sugar is our money
crop, and absorbs mainly the labor sup
ply of the islands, and, besides, in
wolves and supports probably nine
tenths of the mercantile business, it fol-
lows that all debts contracted on be-
half of the sugar crop, and the business
connected with it, must be paid from
the proceeds of the sugar crop placed
to the credit of Hawaii on the main
land" In connection with this sub
ject interest attaches to that of the
amount Of money in Hawaii. The Ga
zette' computes that the Asiatics en-
ployed in the islands last year remitted
home, or buried, or took out of circu-
lation. about 100000 in coin, while
the coin imported amounted to only
s., ,2S2 600. AS there is a like excess of
exports of coin every year, it can read
ily be seen that this question of coin
expectation is likely to become in the
near future one of serious Importance to
the business men and f1nanciers of Ha-
waii.
POLITICAL GAIN
Oakland Tribune: Those who have