ARMISTICE DECLARED

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, March 30, 1895.

ARMISTICE DECLARED.

Hostilities Suspended Between China and Japan.

CHANG'S LOSS WAS CHINA'S GAIN.

In View of the Deplorable Attack on the Chinese Envoy, the Emperor of Japan Feels Constrained to Make the Armistice

 Unconditional.

   TOKIO, March 30.—The Emperor of Japan has declared an unconditional armistice.

   WASHINGTON, March 30.—The news that an unconditional armistice had been declared by the Emperor of Japan was confirmed at the Japan legation, where it was stated that a cablegram to this effect had been received from the home government.

   China made the offer of the armistice and the peace plenipotentiary of Japan was empowered by the emperor to accept it without conditions. This was done in view of the ''unexpected event" that happened, viz, the attempted assassination of Li Hung Chang.

   The armistice, Minister Kurino of the Japanese legation said, will be effective until the peace negotiations are concluded. After a meeting of the peace ambassadors had been decided on, China requested the declaration of an armistice, but this request had not been acted upon favorably by Japan. His government, Minister Kurino said, had not been inclined to stop war operations except on certain conditions.

   These conditions are not known, but it suggested that probably the occupation of Taku might have been one, Japan wishing something as a guarantee of the willingness and earnestness of the Chinese for an amicable settlement of the war.

   China evidently could not arrive at a conclusion to agree to the stipulations demanded by Japan, and the attempt on the life of the Chinese peace ambassador solved the problem for the time being, and hostilities will be suspended. There will be no withdrawal of the Japanese troops from Japanese territory, however.

   The power of the Japanese government to execute the armistice will now be put to a critical test. The military power of Japan, in the judgment of intelligent observers, has almost outstripped the civil power during the war. This has caused much serious concern, as it has been feared that the military element, backed by the war spirit among the people, would not submit to an armistice, even if the civil authorities ordered one.

   To meet this emergency, a change of army commanders was recently made. There had been three army corps, operating in different campaigns, and each under a general of supreme authority over his particular campaign.

   About three weeks ago, in anticipation of this armistice, Prince Komatsu was created commander-in-chief over all the armies. The purpose of this step was to concentrate all the authority in one man, in close touch with the imperial household, who could thus execute an armistice by a simultaneous cessation of hostilities by the three armies.

   It now remains to be seen whether Prince Komatsu can execute the important commission given to him.. The splendid discipline shown by the army during the war gives assurance that there will be immediate acquiescence by the military, and yet Prince Komatsu has to contend against a war spirit inflamed by many victories.

   It has been said that an armistice would be so unpopular among the people and soldiers that it would assure the political retirement of Japan's two chief statesmen—Count Ito and Mr. Matsu—who have served as peace envoys.

   The declaration of an armistice was most welcome news to the Chinese legation, although it was accepted with the stolidity and passive dignity which is characteristic of their race.

   The first word of the armistice reached the legation through press dispatches.

   Minister Yang Yu had received no official communication from China nor from the state department. Under these circumstances, he asked to be excused from discussing the matter.

Japs Bombarding Formosa's Capital.

   HONG KONG, March 30—The Japanese are bombarding Tai Wan, the capital town of Formosa.

  

INCOME TAX LAW.

A Report That the Supreme Court Declares Against It.

   NEW YORK, March 30.—A Washington dispatch to The Herald says: Treasury officials were excited yesterday by a rumor that the first informal ballot of the justices of the supreme court had shown a majority against the constitutionality of the income tax law. One of the internal revenue chiefs said: There is such a rumor abroad, though where it came from cannot be discovered. It may be only a guess, but I have heard it stated that Justices Harlan, Shiras, Gray, Field and Brown believe the law is unconstitutional at least in part, while Justices Fuller, Brewer and White are supposed to sustain the law. Justice Jackson is not present so only eight justices decide the case. If one of the five I have mentioned should be won over it would leave the court evenly divided and so the law would remain in force.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Inheritance and Income Taxes.

   Of interest to Americana at present will be Lord Playfair's paper on this subject in The North American Review. He calls attention to the fact that for the first time in English history the budget recently prepared by Sir William Harcourt, chancellor of the exchequer, "makes a bold and permanent application of the principle that large estates, both personal and real, should pay death duties in proportion to their size." In accordance with this idea, Sir William's scheme provides that the person who inherits $500 shall pay to the government 1 per cent, or $5. One inheriting property worth $5,000 must pay the government $100 on taking possession. An estate worth $50,000 must pay 3 per cent, and so on. An estate of $5,000,000 is taxed 8 per cent, and the inheritor must therefore pay to the British government $400,000. What a cry would be raised in this country if such a tax should be attempted!

   In England Lord Playfair tells us it is a plainly understood principle that the rich must pay taxes in greater proportion than the poor. They must procure licenses for keeping carriages, for displaying armorial bearings and even for the right to have a footman with powdered hair. There seems to be no question about the justice of the principle.

   Lord Playfair affirms that the income tax scheme, both in the United States and Great Britain, plainly contemplates a graduated scale. In America under the new tax law all incomes below $4,000 are exempt. In England all above $800 are taxed. It is to be noted that Lord Playfair says: "These changes in the system of English taxation have not been made without violent opposition by the wealthy classes. The adoption of graduation is a sign that democracy has largely increased its power in English politics." He further declares that if accumulated wealth is unwilling to pay public expenses according to ability it will lead to disastrous results in the way of increasing popular belief in the "wild ravings of communists and anarchists."

   This growing tendency induced the Liberal government of Great Britain to concede progressive death duties. Lord Playfair says wealthy people could transmit estates intact to their heirs by getting their lives insured for enough to cover the death duties. He also quotes this saying of the Earl of Derby: "I have learned more and more forcibly the uselessness, to put it on no other ground, of attempting to resist the progress of popular ideas, and I have come to think more and more highly of the moderation, the fairness and the general justice with which the masses of men, including all conditions of life, are disposed to use their power."

◘ As might have been expected by any one having even slight knowledge of constitutional law, the supreme court of Illinois has pronounced null and void the law passed in 1893 by the legislature of that state forbidding the employment of women in factories more than eight hours a day. One of the most familiar of constitutional provisions is the right guaranteed to every adult individual to contract for his own labor on such terms as he sees fit. The eight hour law would deprive adult women of this right. The decision indicates that no legislature can constitutionally enact any law restricting hours of labor among private workmen or employers of adult age. Such law would deprive the individual of both liberty and property.

◘ At the naval review in New York harbor in 1893 the Spanish cruiser Refna Regenta was the fastest warship then known, and she had the heaviest and most powerful outfit of guns. It was the heavy armament that destroyed her at last. Her own guns sunk her, not her enemy but herself.

Trolley transferring passengers at D. L. & W. railroad station in Cortland.

TRANSFER TICKETS.

How the Tickets on the Street Cars Can be Used.

   The Cortland and Homer Traction Co. is now issuing transfer tickets between its Homer cars and the local car which runs on Homer, Groton, and Clinton-aves., and to the D., L. & W. R. R. station. A transfer ticket enables a passenger to continue his passage in a direction not taken by the car upon which he has received the same—always provided that such direction is not a return one, or an undue extension of his five-cent fare. As an example, a passenger going north, upon a local car, cannot obtain a transfer at Copeland's corner enabling him to ride down North Main-st. on a southbound Homer car—that being equivalent to a return ticket—but he can obtain one enabling him to continue his passage north upon a Homer car as far as the D., L. & W. R. R. crossing after which point a second five-cent fare would be collected. In the same manner a passenger upon a Homer car, running either north or south can obtain a transfer to the local car at the Cortland House enabling him to continue his passage either east or west. These transfers must be used within twenty-five minutes of the time of issue, and are good only on the route punched by the conductor. Passengers must apply for transfer at the time of paying fare, in order that the conductor may have time in which to issue the same without delay to the car. They will not be issued unless so applied for. The company have now on sale at their office in the Garrison block strip tickets, each representing a five-cent fare; the color of these tickets is green; also limited tickets, the color of which is red, the latter are good on week days only and between the hours of 5 and 7:30 A. M., 12 and 1:30 P M., and 5 and 7 P. M. They are sold in strips of 32 tickets for $1—being a rebate of 37 1/2 per cent from the full five-cent fare.

Peeping Through the Holes.

   Many people passing Beaudry's to-day have stopped in wonder to see what was contained in his south window. The glass is covered with paper on the inside abutting off the view from the street. A number of circular holes about four inches in diameter are left in the paper and the interested ones step up and look through them to see what is behind. The objects of interest prove to be two bicycles of light weight which Mr. Beaudry has just received—a Barnes wheel and a Stearns wheel. This is a novel way of drawing attention to them.

An Unlooked for Test.

   A test of the Hitchcock bicycle, which did not occur on purpose, was made a few days ago. Mr. A. G. McGrady was riding his Emperor special across Elm-st. at the corner of Greenbush-st., when he had a collision with Mr. W. O. Nivison, who was driving up the street. The wagon passed completely over the wheel. Not a scratch was made on the wheel or a spoke bent and the only damage done was a broken pedal crank.

Fruit and Confectionery Store.

   J. D. Green will next week open a fruit and confectionery store in the stand now occupied by the cut-rate ticket office on Railroad-st. He will also dispose of his grocery stock at the same place. The cut-rate ticket office will be closed, owing to the new stand the railroad companies have taken in the mileage business.

"The Cotton King" Next Wednesday.

   For the first time in Cortland Sutton Vane's beautiful English melodrama, "The Cotton King,'' will be seen at the Opera House Wednesday evening, April 3. It is predicted that this strong and picturesque melo-drama will give enjoyment to the theatre-goers of Cortland. While the "Cotton King" is an English play, it has a large American element which accounts much for its upward and onward progress in this country. It simply tells a pretty story of English factory life, interestingly and liberally interspersed with thrilling situations. Among the latter is the scene in the calico printing works, where the villain attempts to crush out the life of the heroine by imprisoning her at the bottom of an elevator well, and then "rings down" the heavy car loaded with freight. Of course the hero arrives at the right time to rescue her.

Spalding's "League Guide."

   Spalding's "League Guide" for 1895 has just been issued. It is the largest and most attractive edition of the Guide ever issued. The book has a new departure in its make-up in several new chapters, one of which is the record of every game played in the league championship arena during 1894, giving the name of each of the opposing pitchers in each contest. It is made specially attractive, too, by its pictorial contents, which include group pictures of all the league teams of 1894, with other champion teams outside of the league. The articles on pitching, batting, fielding and base running, too, are instructive chapters, and that of the editorial comments is noteworthy. It is the largest edition of the Guide yet issued, and a work that should be in the hands of every college or amateur player, as well as of every professional exemplar of the game. The official averages differ from those prematurely issued in the fall of 1894 in several respects, as does the new code of rules, the latter being the only correct rules of the game yet in print.

   For an illustrated baseball manual the Guide for 1895 is a marvel of cheapness, its price for its 200 pages of matter being but 10 cents. It is the thirteenth yearly edition under the editorial control of Mr. Henry Chadwick, whom the National league in 1894 placed on the roll of honorary membership of the organization.

BREVITIES.

   —Dr. H. A. Cordo will preach in [Baptist] Memorial chapel to-morrow at 4 o'clock.

   —The Epworth league supper at the First M. E. church last night was a very pleasant affair. There was a large attendance, a fine supper was served and it was a success socially.

   —The electric railway tracks on Railroad-st. are being laid across the D., L. & W. switches and will be carried to the main tracks for the present, so that the car can be run nearer the station.

   —Trumansburg has just decided to adopt the electric light system for that village. The lights are to cost $44 per year each. The number of nights in a month and the number of hours per night is not stated.

   —Mr. Mahan has recently engaged Mr. Caryl Fiorio of New York to assist at the next music festival. Mr. Fiorio is a pianist and composer of national reputation, and is regarded as the best accompanist in this country.

   —Mr. and Mrs. Edward D. Blodgett last night entertained twenty young men, members of Mr. Blodgett's class in the Presbyterian Sunday school, and an equal number of young ladies at their home, 8 Argyle Place. A pleasant evening was spent.

   —About a dozen people went to Blodgett Mills on the 6:27 train last night and returned on the late accommodation train to attend the closing exercises of the school of Mr. J. L. Conrad. The exercises consisted of music, speaking, dialogues, and drills and were very excellent. The school hall was crowded to its utmost capacity and many were unable to gain admittance.

   —Mr. C. B. Maas, leader of the City band, will give two selections on the barytone, with organ accompaniment by Miss Hubbard, at the evening service in the Congregational church to-morrow. The barytone is an instrument not often heard in solos, but it is said by those who have heard it in the hands of Mr. Maas, to be excelled by few, if any, instrument of its class in sweetness and purity of tone.

   —The funeral of Mr. Arthur R. Bean, who died Thursday in Binghamton, will be held in that city Monday afternoon. The remains will be brought to Cortland Monday afternoon on the 4:20 train together with the remains of Mrs. Bean, who died and was buried there about a year ago. The two bodies will be placed in the receiving vault of the Cortland Rural cemetery, and will be buried together in the family lot as soon as the frost is out of the ground.