Widnes Examiner. — 1889-03-09 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

SOI/1.'1,,w, and to this end it has seemed to us desirable to place the matter before our rendez, or that th,y may at any rate give expression to their views 011 the subject. It not ;infrequently Imppens, when there is a bargain to be struck, that those who ultimately heroine parties to it are a long Way tilt each other, to commence with. They approach each other by degrees, until, by what ADAM Sarni calls the higgling of the market, a figure is agreed upon which is fair to both parties to the transaction. It will lie seen that the kill is set rolling this week by " Citizen" who, in another column, contributes a thoughtlid and carefully prepared article on the subject. "Citizen" is a townsman of posiCon who has at heart the interests of the  town. but he does not make his name public, as lie thinks the subjeet will be emre likely to be discisad impartially if it is discussed impersonally. It will be noted that he has a strong opinion 144 to the desirability of a water monoply being in the possession of the Corporation, and as to this we are in perfect agreement with him ; but when he CI tines to deal with the question of revenue and of purchase we are inclined to think that he takes too r.y a view of the matter. He suggests that if the Waterworks became the property of the Corporation, working expenses might he cut down ; and so they might, but except as to the saving of directors' fees, we are afraid it would be found that working expenses would increase rather than '• Citizen is hold enough to take the bull by the horns in considering the question of purchase from the point of view of the highest sum likely to be asked by the shareholders of the Company ; and, as he states the case, the figures do not look very formidable. But the Company are , net as yet obtaining " the full interest or dividend to which by lawthey are entitled," and we submit that it would be inequitable for the Corporation to effect a purchase upon that basis. The shareholders are certainly entitled to something beyond current dividends, if it Call be shown that dividends are undoubtedly on the increase ; and that something should be a figure somewhere between what they think they (night to have and what, in the first instance, the Corporation would be inclined to offer. But we are anticipating in some measure the criticism of our readers, to whom our columns are open for the discussion of this important ques:ion.  Tns suicide of Proorr —shocking as suicide always is—cannot be said to be unnatural. It was suggested from the moment of his disappearance that be might destroy himself. Ho was not the kind of man, however, to resort to selfslaughter from any feeling of remorse ho had been too long inured to villainy to do that ; and if he could have found a wealthy newspaper proprietor to supply him with another thousand pounds or so, he would have sought to get further • out if the way and to prolong his wretched existence. lint penniless, a Police Inspector at his heels, and the prospectbefore him of imprisonment for life, it is not surprising that he should make deadly use of a revolver. What does not cease to suprise all who reflect on the miserable career of this miserable forger is that the " Tines " should have staked its money and its character upon a man who was without character at all. Granted that thieves sometimes betray thieves, it is not I usual to reward the informer until it is proved that his inb•rmation is reliable. The '• Times ' in , the fullness—or perhaps we should say in the bitterness -of its heart, paid away its thousands without asking for anything from Pim= in the nature of proof. It has shown itself blind as never bat was Mind ; and, as it has insisted, without justilicatiomin murdering reputations,there can be no sympathy with it when the time comes for it to undergo its ptinishunint. It is just possible that the Parnellitm, in the jubilation of feeling arising out of the exposure of the foul ! 14,4 to ruin them as a Party, may be more or leas indifferent as to taking action , against the " Times -; lust it is a quest' of justiee and not of private feeling, and justice demands, in the public interest, that he who is gmlty of a great wrong shall have commensurate punishment meted out to him. Mr. PARNELL Will 4., forward with his action, and others of hints& Lignos should follow snit. Thu Nationalist loader just now having letters mud telegrams showered upon him fruit all parts of the world, congraulaMon clink havi ff g been able to confound the :nil frastrate the knavish tricks of his Ills self-restraint, under the ciscune  i 4 as extraordinary _ax it is creditable to  ...! . Ib• had eoveption when he rose to speak 1... I I.miu of Commons thu other evening of Ilt•ro might have been prond. Itat  ...mitive to this kindness, he wasnot unduly mel was carotid in the °nurse of a Audi' rate speech to avoid any reference to if, en the Commission. But he will • wed to efface himself and we are glad at the banquet which is to be given him • ,t has to hers and character, to be ' • 0.. m.,,t memorable that this generation has I. Thus 'ever the good come upperand ever is justice done.