One Victory Of Public Sentiment

ONE VICTORY OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

Two months ago Congress was importuned to do something to prevent the present Cole situation, but could not be introduced to act. Senators and representatives were indifferent or overawed by the evident progress of almost all industries toward combinations. The revelations of the anthracite coal strike, however, followed by the increase of prices and inadequate distribution of coal and the beta minus fields eventually so stirred public sentiment that it became irresistible. In compliance with its mandate Congress gave the country free coal by a practically unanimous vote.

Gratifying evidence is thus afforded and that this is still a government by the people. Theoretically it is as much so today as ever, but in practice it has had a very different aspect in recent years. The recent cold legislation shows that the people have only to assert themselves in order to make the practice consistent with the theory. If they would pay as much attention to the fundamental principles of republican government as they do to their stomachs and their pocketbooks, the present reign of imperialism at home and abroad would be quickly cut short and Congress, as in the case of the isolated victory of public sentiment in the coal crisis would become once more a representative body. The need of the hour is a universal recognition and practice on the part of all the people of the old maxim that quote eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. UN quote dash Columbus citizen.

If the city charter of Ann Arbor needs revision and amendment, this work should be done by the people. It is not the function of the members of the city government, or one or two of them to make or amend the city constitution. Ann Arbor wants know river charters or amendments to the one we have period the people themselves are the proper constitution makers and if changes are necessary in the Ann Arbor charter, they should be dictated by the people. When tinkering begins it generally represents the opinions and wishes of a few and quite frequently the changes wrought into the charters are not wanted by the people at all. So if any changes are to be made in the Ann Arbor city charter they should be submitted to the people for their approval first period no changes should be incorporated until they have been approved by the people. If mistakes are then made, the responsibility is where it belongs. But fewer mistakes are likely by this plan of procedure than by any other. It's the people's function anyway and they should not permit it to be usurped by anyone else.

If the Michigan Central Road proves $6,000,000 damages by reason of repeal of the charter, caused by reducing the rate of fare to two cents a mile, it will be compelled to prove two things: first that it does not charge three cents fare on its lines. Second that the receipts for passenger service decreased so as to show a loss. It cannot make either proof. --Adrian Press.

Smoot, the Mormon apostle, has been nominated by the republican majority in the Utah legislature for United States senator. Smoot is said not to be a polygamist, but his prominence in the Mormon church well undoubtedly create a great storm and he will be kept out of Congress if possible. He is said to be a most exemplary man in his private and public life, aside from his offense in the eyes of many of being a Mormon.

Evidence is accumulating that the coal railroads are as bad and possibly worse than the coal operators in this time of distress for fuel. Yet this seems like saying that a pot is blacker than the kettle, for the coals railroads are owned by the same people who own the coal mines. But if Congress would take both in hand and for once do some legislating in the interest of the people it would be a good thing. Neither the roads nor the operator should be tolerated in their hold up game. They have succeeded in creating much sentiment in favor of government seizure of both properties.

The Tillmans are a great cross and it is difficult to understand what the purpose of their infliction upon the people is in the divine economy. But they are with us and must be put up with. However, it almost looks as though there might be an opportunity to shut one of them up, sequester him, as it were, from society at large, in the near future. One of them who is a Lieutenant governor of South Carolina met an editor on the street the other day and without a word shot the editor down. The victim is lying at the point of death with little hope of recovery period if this Tillman is sent to prison for his crime Editor Gonzalez will not have yielded his life in vain.

According to the Philadelphia North American, while this coal famine has been on there has been shipped from that port for the West India trade 50,000 tons of bituminous coal at prices ranging from $2.50 to $3 per ton. At the same time coal for tugboats was selling at $7.00 and $7.50 a ton. This coal shipped to foreign countries has been largely stripped from the Pennsylvania piers. at the same time the railroads have professed to be unable to relieve the coal famine in Philadelphia. The whole coal situation is one imperatively demanding action on the part of Congress and that right quickly, too. but whether any relief can be looked for from this source remains to be seen.

There are various reasons why the proposed scheme of making the senior Alderman from the respective wards into a board of public wards is not a good one period to begin with it is a pretty safe principle to keep legislative and executive functions separate as far as possible. And it is better that men sitting as all their men be not required to pass on their acts and recommendations as executive officials. When recommendations come before the Alderman from the board of public works they should be in position to act upon the same without any previous bias resulting from their recommendations as members of the board of public works. When the two functions are united and the members of the board of public works make certain recommendations and then as Alderman pass on those recommendations, there are certain as Alderman to sustain their recommendations made while acting as members of the board of public works. The judgment of men is many times influenced in this way to sustain what they otherwise would not sustain. A notable instance of this and more prominent places is the case of certain United States senators appointed by president McKinley on the Paris peace Commission. In one instance at least one of these senators accepted the place as an opponent of just what he voted to sustain when the treaty came before the Senate for ratification. His judgment has been by some means changed diametrically about by his appointment on the peace Commission. This change may have resulted from his having received more light on the subject but such was not the view of the press comment at the time. The practice of selecting senators to sit on commissions the work of which they later are called upon to approve sitting as members of the Senate was directly disproved by the press at that time. The proposed making of the senior Alderman into a board of public works upon the doing of which they will later have to vote as Alderman is quite similar in principle. It is a good thing to avoid in our city government.

If Gov. Bliss imagine for a moment that he knocked a cornice off Hank Smith’s residence at Adrian when he appointed “Doc” Smith, as that gentleman is characterized by the bliss cockle-burs, as pure food commissioner, he is certainly off his trolley. Hank is one of the opinion that there are good men in Michigan looking for just such jobs who can pipe dash line more pure food to the governor's residence at Saginaw or his office at Lansing, then “Doc” ever dreamed of, and then have enough left for the other fellows to do business. “Doc” has a red plush seat in the governor's cabinet and if he cannot star as the best pure food commissioner that ever came down the Pike, he can retail more than enough political gossip to keep the governor amused and guessing during the next two years. --Monroe Democrat