The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-08
FRON OTHER PENS
sTATE LABOR COLONIES.

In the New York assembly there is
pending a bill for the establishment OF
a state labor colony. 1t provides for
the commitment to this institution of
Migrants and inebriates, where they
may be taught trades and rural occu-
patton for what they may be able TO
earn over and above the cost of their
keeping Thus 1t is hoped to lead the
majority back to self-support and self
respect Carried out to its logical con-
clusion. this will prove long step to-
ward abolising the tramp nuisance. 1t
will take care of the real Migrants ana
another class of detectives, thereby
lessening the bewildering number or
the floating population.
There is, however another duty not
less important. That is the care of the
temporarily unemployed who do not
desire to become tramps. For these
there should be employment stations
established, where they may be tenn
porarily employed on public works, if
necessary and given compensation
above the cost of their keeping until
they can find regular employment or
are able to go elsewhere in search of
it. If this plan were generally adopt
ed, with stations at reasonable inter
walls, there would cease to be any ex-
cuse for the seInblance of tramping on
the part of honest men that serves as
a cover for others who are not honest.
l-Pittsburg Dispatch.
DESERVING OF RECOGNITION.
No hero's crown awaits the worthy
brow of Congressman Edwards of
Georgia; no band Of musicians with
brass instruments and leaden feet will
assemble beneath his dormer window
and play Hail to the Chief" Yet the
Tattnall county statesman deserves
both. He has offered bill to cut
down the salaries of representatives at
Washington. Such honesty should be
rewarded. Edwards ought to be men
toned for something.
Far be it from any mortal in civil
life to say that a congressman does
not earn the $500 he voted himself a
year or so ago. 1t is rather that a
man who, finding himself entitled to
public treasury, has the courage to tell
the public that he thinks he is not
worth so much.
There is, of course the same chance
| that the Edwards bill will became a
| law as there is that the members of
congress will vote to give up their new
office building to charitable purposes.
| 1t is never very difficult to bring sem
| timent to the point of increasing a
public expense; the difficulty lies in re-
| ducing the expense to it's former level.
| -Cleveland Plain Dealer.
VALUE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
How many Americans can speak a
| language other than English? We
mean Americans born of English
| speaking parents. Very few, we be-
| lieve. And how many of those who
studied French of German in our
schools or colleges can speak or write
/ either language? The public would
be appalled, if 1t knew the insignifi-
cant number.
| At present a foreign language may
not be of much Importance to an
American, although German drum
mers, on account of their facility in
speaking Spanish, can Guido ours in
| South America. And not without some
little humiliation one reads that Con-
| sui Jackson, of Aieppo, repeatedly
has to beg some of our countrymen
| to remember that English is not the
| daily language of Turks. and to be-
seech them again and again not to
send to Turks price lists printed in En-
> glish.-Boston Globe.