SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Mar 8, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 10.

SIGNS OF THE TIMES.

CRIME in high places is becoming more and more conspicuous and frequent. When those whom the people delight to honor are so prone to indulge in fraudulent transactions, it is no wonder that crime continually increases along the lower lines of society. Illustrative of corruption in official life, we have a list given in one day's news of a prominent journal:

1. The Illinois Legislature has appointed a committee to investigate the charge—made by one of its members—that that body "is a great public auction, where special privileges are sold to the highest corporation bidder."

2. The California Legislature is investigating some of its own senators, charged with bribery, on the formal statement that their agent secured $1,650 to influence their votes.

3. An alderman of Milwaukee, Wis., is adjudged guilty of having accepted a bribe in connection with a special privilege ordinance.

4. The Federal Grand Jury at Portland, Oregon, has indicted a United States senator for bribery in connection with land frauds.

5. The mayor and comptroller of New York City are under injunction to prevent their giving away the people's money to the gas trust under a secret contract. And there is a demand that the Legislature investigate corrupt practices in that city's government "from top to bottom."

6. The coroner of Jackson, N. Y., is found guilty of demanding a bribe in his official position.

7. A federal judge is impeached before the United States Senate for high misdemeanors.

When we find all this in one column of one day's news, the outlook does not show much indication that "the world is growing better." On the contrary, such signs indicate a positive downward tendency—verifying the inspired prediction that, in the last days, "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." G.