Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1902-02-07
Editorial Notes

having in mind the tax that has
been made ON their geographic and
orthographic knowledge since the
country has taken its place as q
world power, hope that the route
with the shortest and easiest name
win be chosen for the isthmian
canal.
Recent debates in both branches
of congress show that the old wheel
horses, men who have been in the
legislative halls for long time,
have a decided advantage over the
younger members who try to cross
lances with them. They have at
the tips Of their tongues witty sal
lies and retorts for any and every
occasion.
A newspaper rumor has been
started that there are negotiations
pending for the sale OF the Philip
pines TO Germany and that the visit
of Prince Henry to this country is
preliminary to the announcement of
the SALE Whether true or not, it is
infinitely better than the abandon
ment Of the islands by this country
to internal dissensions OF the prey.
ing of other countries.
u
The United States has in round
numbers 200, 900 miles Of railroad in
operation OF moro than two fiflhs of
the mileage of the world Germany
is the nearest rival with $4,000
miles Russia comes next with 3d.
900 miles, and France, India, Aus
tria Hungary, British Isles and Can
ada follow in order Almost one
third Of the total mileage is govern
ment owned, and the railroads Of
France will revert to government
control about the middle of the cen
tury.
There are frequently things said
in congress that do not get in the
sedate pages of the congressional
record. For example, in the recent
tilt over the Philippine tariff bill in
the senate between Senators Lodge.
Teller, Beverldge, Spooner and
Money, one Of the gentlemen said
LET the Philippines go to the
devil - This was expunged from
the official document, as was the
greater part Of the heated passage
at arms.
In letter TO the adjutant general
of the army Gen. Bells says that the
influence of one American woman
can contribute mora to the reforma-
tion OF the Filipinos than any COM
pany of men, soldier or civilian. He
cites several instances where the
presence Of officers wives, who have
sympathetically tried to understand
the natives, has worked an entire
change in the attitude Of even the
revengeful Tagalos who are willing
to concede that with such good
women, Americans can not be all
bad. Gen. Bell recommends that
permission always be given for Off
GERS to be accom- panied by their
wives.
The French official census has
just been issued, Returns are made
in that country every five years
instead Of every decade as in the
United States. The most significant
figures are those that have to dc
with the birth rate that has con-
stantly decreased, until now the
excess Of births over deaths is only
three in every 10000 inhabitants
The military aspects of the census
are the most alarming to France, as
computations show that In 1919 the
annual contingent for.military ser,
vice win be only 1sO, 900, while the
same calculations applied to Ger
many show that she will have twic,
as many fighting men as France. L
is maintained in France as a vita
factor that the equilibrium must b'
preserved between the two coun
tries, so that the present mortality
statistics show that France mus
seek new and powerful allies.