THe ContEst 1s Strut, ON over a properly equip- 
ped railroad serving the interests of the north of Boston. 
The proposal now is a eee electric merger includ- 
ing the Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad. Recol- 
lections of another North Shore electric proposition come 
to mind. It is doubtless true that somewhere elaborate 
plans for an electric cross-country road are stowed away 
in an engineering office, but where is the road and the 
service promised the people? ‘The Boston & Maine is 
doing as well by the people as can reasonably be expected. 
If there is to be any extensive development in the line of 
transportation whereby the North Shore is to be bene- 
fited it must logically be over the Boston & Maine road- 
peda re Live public should temper it’s judgments even 
of cororations with mercy. The rehabilitation of the 
Boston & Maine must come first, and extensive electric 
renovations afterward. The B. & M. railroad must and 
will come into its own, but the people must give the 
management a reasonable opportunity to meet the ordin- 
ary demands of traffic. Whatever the new merger of 
electric railroads may mean to the northern sections 
nearer to Boston it is evident that nothing is gained by 
the North Shore. Any developments interesting our 
Shore must come through the Boston & Maine Railroad 
corporation. 
THe IMMIGRATION ProBLEM will never solve itself. 
It is evident that something must be done and done quick- 
ly. Already there are more immigrants of direct foreign 
ancestry in Mas§Sachusetts than there are of the native 
population. The proposed immigration commission by 
the state of Massachusetts is in the line of progress. The 
temporary commission that did its work and has an- 
nounced its results has proven the need, and the commis- 
sion proposed by this year’s legislature ought to become 
law. Already, ten months of the immigration year have 
passed and the number of immigrants exceed that of 
any year in the history of the country. It is time to 
be awake. 
THe ANNOUCEMEN’T by the United States that no 
indemnity will be demanded from Mexico will do more 
to restore peace than any other consideration the goy- 
ernment could have proposed, ‘his government can 
afford to be generous in its attitude tow ard its Southern 
neighbor. But then,—this country is earning a just re- 
paration for its injustice to Mexico in the earlier Mexi- 
can War. 
It 1s -AN Int, Wind that blows no one good. The 
frigid weather sent the thermometer down Tuesday. It 
was discomforting, but a pleasure compared with the 
sweltering heat of the lake ports the same day. It was 
a cold wind, but desirable. : 
THERE ARK Marrers of greater importance for Con- 
gress to busy itself about than to endeavour to curtail 
the liberty of the members of the cabinet, however justi- 
fied criticism may be of a Cabinet officer using his posi- 
tion to further his own personal fortunes, 
Te Mexican Prosieém during the week has given 
the editors of disreputable journals an opportunity to 
take out the war paint pot, but the changes have been for 
the better. Haste is unnecessary. It requires time for 
a mediating council to consider facts and weight all con- 
siderations well. The shipment of a cargo of arms 
under false entry papers from New York was unfor- 
tunate, but it does not in any way implicate our gov- 
ernment. Huerta’s threat concerning Tampico was a 
feint of no uncertain meaning. An effort to enforce his 
ideas would have sacrified every advantage that he had 
alreadly gained by the delays incident to mediation. To 
make such a false move would be contrary to the wily 
strategy of that Mexican leader. The administration has a 
heavy care with its recalcitrant neighbor, but as long as 
peace and peace prospects reign the average citizen may 
well afford to go about his daily tasks and leave the care 
to the administration. 
THE FinpinG that the Westerly wreck was due to 
a broken rail is just, because in keeping with the facts. 
The attacks made upon governing officials of the rail- 
road for accidents that are inevitable in all railroading 
enterprises were absurd. ‘The public has a right to de- 
mand a high grade of efficiency from its railroad, espe- 
cially in protecting the public from accidents. The rail- 
roads are as anxious to avert wrecks as its caustic and 
sometimes unreasonable critics. It is certain that every 
accident teaches the railraads new facts in regard to 
accidents and everything within reason will be done as 
the result of such experiences to avoid similar difficulties. 
Tur Art Commission and the Recreation Board 
are at loggerheads over the statuary problem in the Bos- 
ton public garden. But it is an advantage to the public 
that the contest is on. Peace is undesirable when it 
means the public interests are to be sacrificed. The 
ideas of the boards represent the feeling of different 
factions of the public.. After the contest is over a defi- 
nite policy ought to result that will be agreeable to all 
concerned and good for the best interest of the people. 
Ler ry Be Hoprp that the new chlorine remedies for 
tuberculosis will prove successful. Anything that will 
contribute to the conflict with this disease. is welcome, 
but rapid progress has been made, thanks to science 
Let the savants work out their problem while a grate- 
ful public acknowledge their devotion and share the re- 
wards of their labor, skill and brains. 
How UnForrunatsé that some worthy, industrious 
and ambitious young man could not have had the oppor- 
tunity to inherit the two hundred thousand dollars that 
the East Boston boy sacrificed because of his inebriety. 
THE SELECTMEN OF MANCHESTER have been care- 
fully considering the new methods of road construction 
and are going to give the new Bermudos construction 
method a trial. It has proved successful at Beverly 
Farms, 
