Confiscation

Confiscation of coal by city authorities seems to be contagious, judging by the action of the citizens of Bellevue, O., after reading of the incident at Tuscola, IlI. We will venture the assertion that not one of the participants in either of these occurrences will denounce Senator Hill as a socialist, on account of the insertion of that plank in the recent platform of the New York state democracy, advocating government control of the coal mines. Yet such denunciation was visited upon him immediately the platform was published. It makes a difference whose ox is gored- whose bin is empty. - Jackson Press.

The Ann Arbor Organ Company is to be congratulated on its prosperity. It is a good institution to have Iocated in our city. Would that there were more of them than we have. There are many but room for still more.

Prof. Hamilton King, minister resident and consul-general of the United States to Siam, is likely to get a promotion. He has been recommended for this raise by the senate committee on foreign relations and if the recommendation of the committee goes, he will be made minister plenipotentiary with a salary of $7,500. Prof. King is a Michigan man and for a number of years held a professorship in Olivet college. He was appointed from Olivet. He is an able man, in all ways worthy of the position and of the promotion. Here's hoping he gets the ralse.

Senator Henry M. Teller was reelected to the United States senate last Saturday evening by a majority of one vote, receiving 51 votes out of a total membership of 100 in the legislature. Whether this election wïll be regarded as legal by the republicans remains to be seen. The contest has been one of the bitterest in the history of the country and members of the legislature have been unseated and contestants seated on both sides without much reference to justice aud right. The house being republican and the senate democratic both sides have acted as disgracefully as they know how. The legislature as originally returned was democratic but there were several contests, but just what the merits of the contests were, it is difficult at at this distance to tell.

The attack of the German war ships upon Fort San Carlos at the entrance of Lake Maracaibo, from this distance and with such information as is at hand, appears decidedly petty. The German force apparently was many times stronger than the Venezuelans and the attack appears to have been for the purpose of revenge. It may be true that the foolish attack of the Venezuelans on the German legislation buildings after the German minister had delivered a rather high sounding ultimatum and withdrawn from Caracas and the repulse of the warship Panther in its first tilt with Fort San Carlos may have caused much chagrin to the German emperor, but after all these things are mighty small matters to be offered as excuses for such manifestations of the spirit of revenge by a nation of the standing of Germany.

The treaty providing for the construction of the Panama canal has been signed at Washington and among other things it provides that the United States for one year pay Columbía $10,000,000 and after the expiration of nine years an annual rental of $250,000 a year. The strip of land to be obtained under this treaty is about six miles in width . Columbia makes lease to the United States for one hundred years and makes the lease renewable at the option of the United States. The grant is exclusive to the United States. If the terms of the treaty are satisfactory to the senate the treaty will probably be quickly enacted and the first great step in the direction oí the construction of this great piece of engineering will have been accomplished. The commence of the world needs this ditch and the more quickly it can be constructed the better.

General Alger is now a United States senator by the grace of an election by the legislature. Thus he Is vindicated by the people of the state in the matter of hls being kicked out of the cabinet of President McKinley for the sins of others, his own included   the total.  As a direct or indirect aid in this matter of vindication it is claimed that his "legitimate" campaign expenses up to the time of his endorsement by the Grand Rapids convention footed up to the snug little sum of $75,000. So much for the new senator's side of this matter.  On the other hand, what have the people got? They have a nice, amiable old gentleman for senator who can be depended upon to vote with his side of all questions. They will have a senator who will be In due form at all times and his vote will always count one on any and all divisions. More than this the people have nothing to expect.

The Detroit Tribune has been investigating the peat supply of the state and claims that there is a very wide distribution of the substance in the state, in fact that there is scarcity of it. A factory has been started at Gapac for making peat briquettes and it is said will soon be in operation. Peat briquettes, according to those who claim to know, can be placed on the market tor $4 a ton and a ton of this fuel will go as far as a ton and a quarter of the best anthracite coal. At any rate with a factory in operation in the state in the near future we shall soon know what the possibilities of peat as a substitute for coal are. According to the Tribune a new company for its preparation has just been fornied in Detroit with a capital of $1,000,000. But the new fuel, if it proves to be as satisfactory as some seem to think it will be, will undoubtedly be raised in price and placed as near the cost of coal as conditions will permit. Still it is likely to give some relief in the matter of fuel supply.