OBITUARY DAY IN CONGRESS

Kate Field.

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, March 8, 1894.

Obituary Day in Congress.

   In characteristic style Kate Field's Washington goes for the fashion of setting apart a day in congress to eulogize a dead senator or representative. Senator Leland Stanford was one of the brainiest and most prominent of senators. Three months after his death the house of representatives fixed a day to express their sentiments as to the many graces and virtues of the departed. Perhaps it took them all that time to find them out. The day came. Nine representatives made speeches. Only 10 were present as audience—the rest had run away.

   One congressman told Miss Field that he himself found good use for the obituary speeches which were always printed in The Congressional Record. He sent The Record containing the obituary orations to the preachers of his district. Whenever they were put to it for eloquent funeral sermons, they drew on this fund just as if it had been supplied out of their own heads and gained much praise thereby. This congressman would not have had the fashion changed. It helped some of the most important of his constituents. One of the congressmen who escaped when his brethren began the Stanford obituaries said to Miss Field:

   "Yes, there were just 10 members on the floor when I left. I had business to attend to and seized the opportunity of a lull in legislation to do it. I am opposed to this obituary nonsense anyway. It's a farce and a great waste of time. May the Lord spare my life until I get out of office, for I don't want to be subjected to what is both absurd and outrageous. Resolutions of respect are all that are needed, but if there must be speeches let them be delivered with appropriate ceremonies on Sunday, when all have leisure and the decencies can be preserved."

MADE PUBLIC AT LAST.

The Wilson Tariff Bill Laid Before the Full Committee.

   WASHINGTON, March 8—The Wilson tariff bill, which passed the house Feb. 1, was laid before the full membership of the senate committee on finance this A. M. at 11 o'clock in the amended form upon which the Democratic majority of that committee agreed. Simultaneously with the presentation of bill to the full committee it was given out for publication through the press. The chief features upon which public interest centered were the provisions in regard to the tariff on sugar, iron ore, lead, wool and its manufactures, cotton manufactures, and the internal revenue taxes on whiskey and tobacco. The whiskey tax is raised to a dollar and ten cents. The income tax provision of 2 per cent remains in the bill, but the tax on non-residents is stricken out. Iron ore including manganiferous [sic] iron ore, also the dross or residuum from burnt pyrites, forty per cent. Coal is taken from the free list and made dutiable also at 40 cents a ton and coke at 15 cents.

   The sugar provision is as follows: All sugar tank bottoms, syrups of cane juice or of beet juice, melada, concentrated melada, concrete and concentrated molasses testing by the polariscope, not above eighty degrees, shall pay a duty of one cent per pound and for every additional degree or fraction of a degree above eighty, and not above ninety degrees shown by the polariscope test, shall pay one one-hundredth of one cent per pound additional, and above ninety and not above ninety-six degrees, for every additional degree or fraction of a degree shown by the polariscope test, shall pay a duty of two one-hundreths of a cent per pound additional and above 96 degrees by polariscope test shall pay a duty of one and four-tenths cents per pound; molasses testing below 56 deg, net by the polariscope shall pay a duty of two cents per gallon; molasses testing above 56 deg. shall pay a duty of four cents per gallon.

   Barley, and barley pearled, patent or hulled is raised from 25 to 30 per cent ad valorem, and barley malt from 35 to 40 per cent.

   Lumber remains on the free list.

TO DEFINE LIBEL.

Witnesses Heard For and Against the Bill at Albany.

   ALBANY, March 8.—Mrs. Minnie Cummins spoke vigorously against the bill to define libel in newspapers before the senate committee on judiciary. She told a pathetic story of wrongs that she said had been perpetrated by the newspaper press committing libels which they refused to retract and for which she got no damages.

   She spoke for almost an hour and a half and told how she had obtained a judgment for libel against a New York paper for $100,000, but could not get the money, neither get the paper to retract it, although it had ruined her life. She closed with an appeal against the bill.

   Mr. Matthews of the Buffalo Express spoke in favor of the bill, saying that it would undoubtedly cover such a case as that recited, because it would make it an object for a newspaper to retract, where now there was none.

   Edward Riggs of New York spoke for the bill. He said that there was a ring of lawyers in New York who made it a business to look through the papers and sue for libel on the least pretext.

   Mr. Townsend of New York said that the bill gave no great advantage to the newspaper, but only made it more possible to get damages for real wrongs to persons.

   Mr. Townsend said that a libel law similar to this one had been adopted in several states and with good effect.

   Mr. Platt of the Poughkeepsie Eagle also spoke in favor of the bill and the hearing closed.

   No action was taken by the committee.

Sullivan County Supervisors.

   MONTICELLO. N. Y., March 8.—The most out of the way town in Sullivan county has been heard from. The board of supervisors is Democratic by one majority. Last year it stood eight Republicans and seven Democrats.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Republican Gains.

   Forty-four counties of New York state have held their town meetings and the results are very significant. In seven of these counties the boards of supervisors stand just the same as in 1893. In three counties the Democrats have gained one supervisor each. In thirty-four of the forty-four counties the Republicans have gained 101 supervisors. These gains run from one to eight supervisors in each county. The greatest gain is in Monroe county, where the board stands 33 Republicans to six Democrats, while in 1893 it stood 25 Republicans to 14 Democrats. Let the good work go on.

   This year has been a year of education. It is expensive. Tuition in this school comes high, but the training is effective. Nobody requires or wants a post graduate course under this administration. The regular course is enough. During Cleveland's first administration the Republican senate acted as a check upon all wild, foolish and pigheaded policies, but during the past year the Democrats have had full swing and have shown what is really under the lion's skin. Some people wanted a change a year ago, but everybody wants another kind of a change now.

  

◘ Besides getting electrical energy directly from coal, one of the things the inventor will probably soon accomplish will be the production of light without heat. Lieutenant Patten, writing in The Electrical World, thinks that what nature has done in case of the glowworm man will be able to accomplish by means of scientific mastery over nature's secrets. Millions of fireflies illuminate a summer night, yet produce no heat. Man must learn how it is done. Another of the secrets nature guards jealously from man thus far is mentioned by Lieutenant Patten. How does the bird fly? No man can yet tell, but that, too, will be found out ere long perhaps, certainly some time.

  

◘ Money can now find investment in Europe almost as profitably as in America. Good city bonds in Great Britain bring nearly 3 per cent, while the French government bonds, extended for eight years, bring 3 1/2 per cent. The case is exceedingly rare that money in worth as much in any part of Europe as in America. But just wait a little till the hard times are over. Then American investments will sing a different song.

  

◘ It is a mistake to suppose that naval militia can only be utilized along the coast lines. Wherever there is a navigable river naval militia can be used to advantage. This Pittsburg is demonstrating. Division A, Second battalion naval militia, propose to build a light gunboat of their own to maneuver in the shallow waters about Pittsburg and to be used for fight if required. The vessel is 160 feet long, 30 feet wide and its greatest draft is 3 1/2 feet. It will be of the pattern well known on western rivers as the stern wheel. The vessel will cost $40,000, and the battalion expect to raise most of the money themselves. The state will perhaps furnish some of the money, while the national government will provide arms. The boys will perform the naval drill and evolutions in much the same manner as if they were on a coast or ocean steamer and would be prepared to enlist on such a steamer if necessary and would be drilled already for their duties. Other river cities might well have such a gunboat. It would be of the greatest service in quelling a riot, likewise in assisting to extinguish fires on steamboats.

McGRAWVILLE CONSENTS.

To the Construction of a Railroad Within its Limits.

   The following document which explains itself was on March 5 filed in the county clerk's office:

   In the matter of the Cortland & Homer Electric Co.

   We, the undersigned, trustees of the village of McGrawville, town of Cortlandville, Cortland county, state of New York, and commissioners of highways of the said village, by virtue of being such trustees, do hereby consent that the Cortland and Homer Electric Co., or their assigns, have the right to construct a street railroad to be operated either by electricity, cable or horses, for the purpose of carrying passengers, baggage, express and freight from the western boundary of said corporation, on the line of the street running direct from Cortland village to McGrawville, thence easterly along said street and through the Main-st. to foot of East hill and south on South- st across the bridge to McGraw Corset Co. factory of said village of McGrawville. No going into center of Main-st. until after passing street going up Hicks hill.

   W. J. BUCHANAN, Pres.,

   G. H. MARICLE,

   H. C. JOHNSON,

   F. C. TOPPING,

   SAMUEL DOUD.

   STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF CORTLAND

   On this 19th day of February, 1894, before me personally came W. J. Buchanan, G. H. Maricle, H. C. Johnson, F. C. Topping and Samuel Doud, to me personally known to be the same persons described in, and who executed the foregoing instrument, and to me severally acknowledged that they executed the same.

   ALBERT P. MCGRAW,

   Notary Public.

A Lively Runaway.

   Mr. Thomas M. Marks of 8 1/2 Arygle Place is the proprietor of a traveling meat market. Ordinarily he drives a handsome pair of gray horses. For a few days he has been driving a bay horse that he had hired with one of his grays to give the other one a little vacation. The new horse does not like to stand very well. At about 9 o'clock this morning Mr. Marks drove up to the home of Mrs. Silas W. Sherwood at 42 East Court-st. and left the team for a moment while he skipped to the door to take an order. The new horse was restive and took advantage of Mr. Marks' absence to induce the other horse to start off. The team went up East Court-st. to Greenbush, turned down that to Railroad, up that to Main, and down Main toward home. By the time they had reached Railroad-st. they were going at a high rate of speed, but they turned long corners and everybody gave them an undisputed right of way.

   At the corner of Argyle Place it seemed as though the high wagon would tip over, but it did not. The horses ran through Argyle Place to their own home and there turned in and started for the barn. The door stood open. There they did not calculate as nicely as previously and failed to get in by about six inches. The right forward wheel struck the doorpost and the wagon stopped. The pole and the left whiffletree were broken.

    Mrs. Marks had seen the team coming, and almost as quickly as they stopped she had secured them and held them by the heads until help arrived. Mr. Marks came up in a few minutes, out of breath, but glad to find that little damage had been done.

Cortland Athletic Association Notes.

   The badge committee received this morning through Mr. A. M. Jewett, the jeweler, the official club pin of the association. It is made of sterling silver and consists of an orange flag, bordered by silver, with a blue C. in the center. The taste displayed by the combination of silver with the club colors is characteristic of Mr. Jewett's taste in such matters. It makes one of the neatest insignias of any organization in town. The pins are on exhibition in the window of Mr. Jewett's jewelry store, where they may be purchased by members of the association only. They are also for sale by the committee and at the clubhouse.

   The light committee consisting of Dr. F. M. Santee and Mr. Arthur Kinney has had placed over the steps of the Tompkins-st, entrance to the clubhouse a neat light, with the club's blue "C" shining into the street.

BREVITIES.

   —The daily STANDARD is two years old to-day.

   —A special meeting of the C. M. B. A. is called for to-morrow evening.

   —Ground was broken yesterday for Dr. F. J. Cheney's new house on Church-st,

   —A vagrant, who spent the night at the county jail, was discharged in police court this morning.

   —The annual banquet of James H. Kellogg Camp, Sons of Veterans, occurs in the camp dining hall to-morrow evening.

   —The Loyal Circle of King's Daughters will hold their regular meeting at 32 Groton-ave., Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.

   —The Cortland steam laundry boomed business last week, having turned out 726 shirts, 86 family washings, besides smaller articles.

   —The Ladies' Aid society of the First Baptist church will meet at the church parlors Friday, March 9. Tea will be served at 6 o'clock.

   —The County Medical society met in the supervisors' rooms at 2 o'clock this afternoon. Dr. E. D. Baker of Auburn was to deliver an address.

   —Mr. and Mrs. William Robbins were very pleasantly surprised by a small company of their friends at their home on the Virgil road, one mile south of Cortland, last evening.

   —There was a large attendance at the business meeting of the Epworth league of the Homer-ave. church last evening. Thirty-one new members joined the league and a fine literary program was rendered.

   —Forty Cortland young people very pleasantly spent the evening from 9 till 12 o'clock last night tripping the light fantastic at the Clover club rooms. It was one of the most enjoyable affairs the club has given this season.

—The mothers' meeting (central) will be held at the residence of Mrs. James S. Squires, 44 Tompkins-st. on Tuesday, March 13 at 3 P. M. Subject: Readings from Helen Gilbert Ecob's ''Well Dressed Woman" and discussion of the same. All ladies are cordially invited.

   —Prof. D. L. Bardwell last night at Normal hall escorted a large and appreciative audience through the World's Fair buildings and grounds by means of his stereopticon. The pictures were very fine and the descriptions exceedingly interesting and instructive.

   —At a special meeting of the Hitchcock Hose Co. last evening it was decided to purchase new uniforms of Kent & Miller of Syracuse. They are to consist of dark blue trousers, vest and sack coat, finished with nickel buttons, and promise to equal if not outshine those of the other companies.

   —Governor Flower has granted a stay of sixty days to Lucius R. Wilson, now in Auburn prison, convicted of being the murderer of Detective James Harvey at Syracuse last summer. Wilson was to have been electrocuted next week. The stay is granted on the ground that new evidence has been discovered which is claimed will prove that the condemned man did not fire the fatal shot.

Tea Table Talk.

   The Erie canal is the second longest artificial water course in the world. To build its 363 miles it cost $10,000,000.

   The election tragedy in Troy shows that the Trojans are right up with the ancients. There is Helen Troy.—Binghamton Republican. [Read this again--CC editor.]

   The man who gets mad at what the newspapers say about him should return thanks three times a day for what the newspapers know about him but don't say.

   Secretary Lamont reports over 8,000,000 men in this country capable of bearing arms, while the total strength of the national guard at present is 112,496 men. Those are interesting facts, yet their most interesting aspect is that every man is pursuing the vocations of peace.