The record-union., 1899-01-22
IQlfE OF The PRESS,
ExTRACTs FROM EDITORIAL
EXPRESSIONS.
State and Coast Opinions on Sub
jects OF Living News
Interest.

representative Dingley the nation has
lost an exceptionally able and conscien-
tious member of Congress. In his long
public career his faithfulness to public
interests was never questioned, even in
the heat of a campaign or in legisla-
tive debate. AS political partisan he
was moderate and reasonable Like
many other earnest public men, he was
inclined to overwork, and having a
constitution never strong, he died in his
mental prime.
ARID LAND LEGISLATION-
Los Angeles Times: Congress is ike
~ to have much to say on the subject
of arid land legislation during the next
few years. 1t is encouraging to note
that the Importance of this subject is
beginning to impress itself upon the
public, and it is important that any leg
islation which may be enacted shall be
In the right line. We have had strlk-
ing example in this State Of how even
q well meaning irrigation law may work
great hardship and do vast amount
of damage. The Times" was among
the earliest papers Of the country to
recognize the great Importance of This
arid land question. 1t will have more
to say on the subject from time to
time.
Senator Stewart introduced a bill
granting 2OO00,000 acres of arid land
to Nevada for irrigation. This mas
been amended so as to grant 100000
acres to each of the arid land States.
Such legislation as this is altogether
wrong. Bitter experience has taught
the people of the United States that
such grants, made to States, are almost
invariably the source of corruption and
scandal. We have enough of that sort
of thing at present without inviting
more trouble.
AN AMERICAN STAR.
Stockton Mail: A contemporary sug>
gests the Institution of an American or
der of military merit, the badge to be
a cross, as is so often the case. in
similar European orders, and some
thing after the order of the Victoria
Cross, so famous in England, to be
awarded to private soldiers only for
deeds of conspicuous gallantry." The
Victoria Cross is given to any rank and
all ranks, and to soldiers and sailors
alike. for conspicuous gallantry in the
face of the enemy and so should our
badge. It's value consists in the fact
that no push" figures in its award and
that it is given for only a very excep-
tional display of courage. man does
not rank as hero there simply because
he has been under fire and done his
duty there. The cross is not given to
civilians; but it is to non-combatants
attached to the army or navy, such as
doctors. A yearly allowance goes with
1t, and sentries salute it. If we could
keep such badge of merit out of poll
tics it would be a good innovation. But
of course it would not do to have re-
1igious emblem as an American official
badge. A star would be all right,
though.
A JOB LOT.
Marysville Appeal: The Admins
tration has job lot of churches and
convents on its hands in Porto Rico
that it would like to get rid Of but don't
know how Over fifty churches and
mere than thirty converts, the property
of the Spanish Crown, passed into our
hands when Porto Rico became ours.
And the Government not being in busi-
ness along this line is embarrassed over
what disposition to make of them. How
would it do to create a new Cabinet
Office and appoint pious John Wanna
maker, Secretary of Churches and Con-
vents.
THE EAGAN INCIDENT.
Red Bluff News: The testimony of
General Eagan before the War Investi-
eating Committee was simply disgrace
full. He used language in the denun-
citation of General Miles that was ut
terly vile and it put its stamp upon him,
Eagan, as being coarse and brutal. The
commission showed want of self-re-
spect when it permitted such TRADE
to proceed in its presence. 1t partially
redeemed itself by returning the manu-
script of Eagan's testimony to him and
informing him that it would not be filed
and considered as testimony until all
offensive and improper language was
stricken out.
RIDICULOUSi
Tulare Register: How ridiculous 1t
must strike the farmers throughout the
State to read in their San Francisco
papers that the recent rains have as
sured good crops for 1893. The trouble
with the writers on the great papers is
they are prisoners in their little cells in
the great Offices and ara not permitted
to mingle with people to find out what
they know and how they feel about
questions of all kinds. and just so soon
as a writer cuts himself off from the
people he becomes dry and Hithered
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