The record-union., 1899-04-15
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
EXTRACTS FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on SUBJ
jects of Living News
Interest.

not indicative of early termination oi
the Philippine war. The most suggest
i've feature of his request, however, is
its official Interpretation at Washington.
1t is regarded by the Administration as
evidence that Dewey thinks sit will not
be possible to materially diminish the
American fleet IN the Philippines in the
near future" Dewey's fleet is much
stronger now than when it won its. fame
and the Filipinos have no fleet at all.
Then why this preeaution of the eau
tious Dewey? Does he see that the
Administration has taken out an inn
mensely bigger contract than was sus-
pected. or does it indicate that the willy
Admiral is 10th to take much stock in
professions Of the Germans, who gave
him so much concern several months
ago.
THE FIRST SHAKE OUT.
Los Angeles Express, April 18th:
Clearances for about seventy cities last
week aggregated $2051, $3.50. 81, as com
pared with $1,000, $50, 1S4 in the pre-
vious week, and 81, S84, 504, 791 in the
week before that. The amount sur
passes the average Of the current re-
narkable year and comes close to- the
highest ever recorded. Not to exceed
half a dozen times have the clearances
ever reached the two billion dollar
mark, and all these instances have been
in 1899, excepting one, perhaps two, in
November 1898 The settlement OF
April quarterly dividends and interest
accounts had much to do with running
the figures so much above those for the
previous four or five weeks. 1t is when.
comparison is made with the CORE
spending week in 1898 that the true
significance Of SO large sum is seen,
for the same settlements were made in
the previous year. The record of 1899
is 59.7 per cent. above that of 1898,
indicating an exceedingly great expan-
sion in the use Of money, but not
greater than has been the general rule
in all the past three months.
AMERICAN BUSINESS ABROAD.
Santa Rosa Republican,: Recently an
important bridge was required in the
Soudan country controlled by England.
OF course British manufacturers ex-
pected to build the bridge. 1t was not
thought that the workmen of any other
nation could compete with them. But
they We're mistaken. A Philadelphia
firm secured the contract and the great
structure will be the product Of Ameri-
can enterprise.
There is a good deal of grumbling in
England over the letting of this con-
tract. Bridge firms there are offering
all kinds Of excuses for their failure to
secure it. Some claim they were
crowded with work and could not read
lily handle this job in addition to con-
tracts already on hand. This is denied
by others in position to know indus
trial conditions there. But there are
two points in connection with the let
ting of this contract that are annoying
to the people of England-the Philadel-
phia firm takes the contract at the
minimum of both time and cost.
Our country is building the best To-
connective engines to be found on the
globe. They are being demanded and
ordered for use In many lands. So far
as they are concerned protection has
ceased to protect. They have a monop
oily of the home market and are being
taken elsewhere because of their quail
ty and price.
Our WOODEN and cotton mills are
reaching out and gathering the worlds
trade to considerable extent. Every
year tells of their nav coneuests While
paying the highest price for labor, our
superior machinery and more skilful
operatives are the elements that are
giving this country industrial SUI
premacy.
This is indeed highly gratifying to all
the patriotic people of the United
States. 1t is equally annoying to our
ind .ial
consequence there is much discussion
the other side of the Atlantic Ocean as
to what shall be done to keep pace with
the industrial giant of the western
world. The fact Of our progress is noted
there with genuine alarm.
ADMIRAL DEWEY.
San Diego Union: Admiral Dewey's
remarks regarding the talk of making
him Presidential candidate, will strike
most people as displaying sturdy COM
mon sense. The bluff old naval officer
may be somewhat over modest in his
estimate of his capacities; it is by no
means certain that man who has per-
formed such varied duties as Admiral
Dewey has during the past year, is not
well equipped to act as the Executive
Of the nation. But however that may
be, the Admiral has a right to follow
his preferences. He is not a politician,
he says. and he evidently desires to have
nothing to do with politics. He would
consider himself out of his element
We're he to become a candidate for Of
flee. Under the circumstances he is
taking wise course in firmly discour-
aging any attempts to induce him to
change his plans of life
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Marysville Democrat: After careful
consideration of the subject the present
Railroad Commission has passed a res
olution resembling the action Of the late
Commissioners, which has the effect of
ending the litigation as originated by
them. This certainly is a reasonable
way out of the conditions resulting
from tie up and long drawn out con-
test in court. The language of the
Constitution authorizing the Commits
sioners to fix rates of freight and fare
of transportation companies means a
reasonable compensation for the SER
vice. The adoption of a fxed rate on all
roads alike is not just compensation
on some lines, while in others it may
produce revenue over operating ex-
penses. Let the new Commissioners
proceed in a businesslike manner and
deal fairly by all transportation compa
MES, keeping in view the fact that
much more can be accomplished in this
way than by resorting to The courts.
WHAT IT DOES NOT DO.
Alameda Encinal: The Richard law
is not an infringement of the right Of