Putnam patriot., 1909-01-08
J dtch Our .ShOU U mdotcs
Editorial Scrap,.

| new system of pensioaing the aged needy people has Jusl gone Ints effect in England, and VII cost that country ssa.ta.e9 annually When small elass had absolute control they divided ID the land among themselves. aass SC cured 10 themselves the main sources of wealth. Now iis the people who have the poser to control affairs, and theY are making laws to benefit the masse>. Not, however. by despoiling the fitied and wealthy, as did France in Iis bloody Revolution. but bv laws 10 include all classes alike by taxation according to their wealth-an income taN k one means. now 1t is to help the respectable needy without paapefizins them.
 The grafiers that robbed Pennsylga- nia of millions in the construction of it's ~iate House. hy charging double what the best of everything should cost and then substituting, have all been brought io grief. and most of them are noN in Stale pfisan. They were Of The upper crust but that didn't aid them in their distress. The S.ate Treasurer. Wm. l.. Mathues, was one one of he large combination, has just died at The age of i6, caused by his disgrace, but escapes his sentence of imprisonment.
 The city of Portland, Me, is prepar- ing to adopt a simplified and central izei form of government, known as the commission plan. IL involves the abo- iition of the present Council. and the merging oi legislative and executive power .an the hands Of Mayor and four Aldermen, elected al large for terms of two years from nominations made by petition and without party designa- lions. Thst would be good plan for this city.
 The question of what causes earth quases is still disputed one, and each theory adS sncei encounters difficulties --ail sdmit one thing, however. and that is, the interior is a molten sea. based on that the crust may get worn in places, and water might reach the molten mass and cause ali the pheno- nlena Of such earthquakes as that in Italy. But following severe shocks. in distant lands shocks of earthquakes are usually reported. that can onIy he accnanied for by interior tidal wsves In other parts of the world shocks vers telf January at intervals of aa min- utes, ike succession of waves. They were aiso felt st various parts Of Itsly the same time. Until something naora deflnlte Is known about the causes og earthquakes as can never reagise what jeopardy threatens any or the w hole of the world
 Besides the money sent 10 Italy. three ships have been senl,,from this country loaded with everything required hy the distressed and sick and suffering rseo- pie When the steamer Bayern waS presented to King Victor Fs,4nsn.,.l ns Ambassador tirisoosr, the King ~ss greatly pleased and said. .sThe Amer. cans are always firss- T To sss.es4 ;. s.y.ss, i compliment is worth naore fn mi country, than sli i; has expended in charity.
 -eaSiosn even In New York hss t-~A, sssn - extraordinary \ display of hu- maa sympathy and generassts s. wns furnished on lsae Easl Side, oa sunday aiaoag the poor, h trying go sso ~oa,e. ihias Ter tne earthquake victims. A trucks were driven through lise poorer quarters, piled high @ith eg0she-. men seFe ssi their oaass and women tAcw saasis 10 as1d b them. Everxts-sx joined, eSsn Ehe Ghlna1nen. rhas ss aa .aeenslxe ta others.