APPEAL TO CONGRESS, ULTIMATE INDEPENDENCE, CORTLAND 1901 VITAL STATISTICS, AND NOTICE FOR WOMEN

 

Papa Isio.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, Jan. 27, 1902.

APPEAL TO CONGRESS.

Want Chinamen Admitted to the Philippines.

MANILA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Say the Present Restriction is of No Benefit to the Filipinos, and Chinese Labor is Needed to Work Lands. Conditions in Negros Island Unsatisfactory.

   Manila, Jan. 27.—The American chamber of commerce here has formulated an appeal to congress, in which it earnestly prays for the enactment of laws allowing Chinamen to enter the Philippine islands, under such restrictions as the United States Philippine commission may enact. The present restrictive law concerning immigration, continues this appeal, is of no benefit to the Filipinos, as Chinamen, if admitted would not enter into competition with local labor and their entry into the islands is imperatively needed, as the tobacco, hemp and sugar lands of the archipelago are only partially cultivated. Without this legislation this country cannot be properly developed. Building in Manila has been badly retarded because of this lack of labor and for these reasons the American chamber of commerce composed entirely of American citizens, representing commercial interests, respectfully prays for immediate action in this matter.

   Colonel Charles W. Miner of the Sixth infantry reports the conditions on the island of Negros to be unsatisfactory and that 400 bolomen and 40 men armed with rifles under the command of the fanatical bandit leader, Papa Isio, are terrorizing the people of Negros.

 

Jacob Gould Schurman.

ULTIMATE INDEPENDENCE.

President Schurman Reiterates Views Expressed in Boston Speech.

   Ithaca, N. Y., Jan. 27.—President Schurman made a statement explanatory of his recent Boston speech in which he advocated the eventual independence of the people of the Philippines. The substance of his late speech was to the effect that if the Christians of Luzon and Visaya wanted independence and showed themselves capable of assuming it, this country would eventually give it to them.

   President Schurman said yesterday that he believed the policy he advocated would, more than anything else, promote the welfare of the Filipinos. President Roosevelt, he said, had declared in his message to congress that we were to do for the Filipinos far more than any other nation had done for a tropical people and that we were to fit them for self-government after the fashion of really free races, He said he stood with President Roosevelt in his policy and was against the policy advocated by General Wheaton, which would mean colonial servitude like that of Java and India; and that it was just as proper for one to advocate a policy of eventual independence at the present time as it would be to urge the adoption of General Wheaton's plan, since the American people have not yet passed upon the question of final Philippine policy.

 

Judge William Howard Taft.

GOVERNOR TAFT IN CHICAGO.

Says the Government is Concealing Nothing and That It is Well Informed.

   Chicago, Jan. 27.—William H. Taft, civil governor of the Philippine Islands, arrived in Chicago yesterday afternoon from San Francisco. He was met at the depot by President S. M. Felton of the Chicago and Alton Railroad company and went at once to Mr. Felton's residence where he spent the day.

   Governor Taft said:

   "The only answer I have to make to the ideas of individual observers, who declare that the true condition in the Philippines is being concealed, or that we are hugging delusions of peace that can never be brought about, is that the government is concealing nothing and that its conclusions are not based on wild theories, but substantial facts."

   Governor Taft left over the Pennsylvania road for Cincinnati.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Vital Statistics for Cortland.

   In another column we publish today the record of birth, deaths and marriages for the city of Cortland for the year 1901, as filed at the office of the city clerk. The record of births and deaths is probably complete. The record of marriages is known to be incomplete because some of the ministers never file them with the clerk who is the registrar of vital statistics.

   The records show 124 births in the city during the year, of which sixty-four were males and sixty females. There are also 136 deaths. By these figures it is apparent that the city is not holding its own in population aside from the fact of strangers moving in to locate here. Notwithstanding the epidemic of typhoid fever that existed early in the year there are but eight deaths recorded from this disease and these are scattered all through the twelve months and several of them are coupled with pneumonia. There seem to have been more deaths from pneumonia than from any other single cause. The records show twenty-four deaths under 1 year of age, sixteen deaths between 1 and 10 years, five between 10 and 20 years, eight between 20 and 30 years, eight between 30 and 40 years, eleven between 40 and 50 years, thirteen between 50 and 60 years, eighteen between 60 and 70 years, fifteen between 70 and 80 years, thirteen between 80 and 90 years and five over 90 years.

   Last year there were recorded 124 births, identically the same number as this year, but then there were seventy-nine boys and forty-five girls, instead of being so evenly balanced as this year. Last year there were but 117 deaths.

   Fifty-nine marriages are reported this year. Last year there were sixty-four. Rev. H. L. Rixon, pastor of the Homer-ave. M. E. church, one of Cortland's marriageables, heads the list as being the most desirable minister to perform the ceremonies. Thirteen marriages are ascribed to him. Rev. O. A. Houghton, D. D., late pastor of the First M. E. church, comes next with nine marriages. Then Rev. W. J. Howell, pastor of the First Baptist church, another eligible bachelor, records seven marriages. Rev. Robert Yost of the Congregational church has six. Rev. G. H. Brigham, retired, and Rev. O. M. Owen of the Free Methodist church have each five. Rev. Robert Clements of the Presbyterian church has four, and Rev. W. W. Way of Grace Episcopal church, Rev. Geo. E. T. Stevenson of the Memorial Baptist church, and Rev. U. S. Milburn of the Universalist church each have two. Rev. W. P. Garrett, late of McGraw, Rev. Mr. Brown and Rev. Mr. Post and City Judge R. L. Davis each had one. These marriages of course were all performed within the city limits and have no reference to any of the marriages any of the ministers may have performed among their parishioners outside of the city lines.

 

NOTICE FOR WOMEN.

Meeting to Consider bill to Permit  Women Taxpayers to Vote.

   On Thursday a bill to give the tax-paying women of all third class cities in New York the right to vote on tax propositions was introduced in the senate by Hon. Lester R. Humphrey and was referred to the cities' committee. This will give the tax-paying right to women in the last of the places to which it can be applied. Nearly one-third of the third class cities now have a provision in their charter giving women this right. The bill for towns and villages passed last year, and was in the legislature for three years. It has always been in the judiciary committee, and it is considered a great gain to have the bill in a committee where a majority of its members are in favor of it.—Brooklyn Woman's Journal.

   An adjourned meeting of the Political Equality club will be held at the home of Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt, 182 Main-st., Wednesday at 8 o'clock P. M. to consider the above named subject. All tax-paying women and all interested are urged to be present. MRS. BENTLEY, Sec.

 

Mrs. Eliza Schutt.

   Mrs. Eliza Schutt, one of the very oldest residents of this city, died at about 9:30 o'clock this morning from old age at the home of Mr. M. Michelson, 149 Tompkins-st. Her age was 92 years. 8 months and 14 days.

   Mrs. Schutt and her husband, Henry Schutt, who died twenty-two years ago, were for many years residents of Cortland. About thirty-two years ago they moved to the vicinity of the old toll [plank road] gate between Cortland and Homer, of which Mr. Schutt was the keeper. After the death of her husband Mrs. Schutt went to Plattsburg, Mo., to live with a son, but at his death, the last of six children, Mrs. Schutt came back to Cortland, arriving here April 11, 1900. At that time she said she had come back among friends to die. Since then she has lived with and been most tenderly cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Michelson.

   Mrs. Schutt was awarded the prize at the fairgrounds last fall for being the oldest lady on the fair grounds.

   The funeral will be held Wednesday at 10 o'clock A. M., from the home of Mr.  Michelson.

 

SYRACUSE TEAM WON.

The Fifty-Hours Go-As-You-Please Race at Taylor Hall.

   Powers and Williams of Syracuse easily won the 50 miles go-as-you-please race, which was ended in Taylor hall Saturday night, having covered over twelve miles more ground than any other team. The final distances were: Powers and Williams, 259 miles and twenty-three laps; Diabo and Bishop, the pork and beans team from Clayton, 238 miles and ten laps; Hart and Lloyd from Rochester and Utica respectively, 247 miles and eighteen laps.

   In the two mile race between Hoagland, heel and toe, and Mills as-he-pleased, Mills won by four laps. Coleman and Hoagland went for 3 miles under the same conditions, and the former won by two laps.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The Primary Teachers' union will meet at the home of Mrs. Silas W. Sherwood, 70 Railroad-st., Tuesday evening at 7o'clock.

   —New display advertisements today are—Bingham & Miller, Clothing, page 8; C. F. Brown, Hair brushes, etc., page 4; R. W. Mitchell, meats, page 5.

   —Fred H. Ritter, who has been a barber in Cortland for ten or twelve years past, left this morning for Ithaca to accept a good position in a shop there.

   —Tilden H. Ware, one of the three men injured in the boiler explosion at the powerhouse of the Ithaca Traction Co. on Wednesday night, died at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning.

   —Twenty-five ladies of the dressmaking department of the Gillette Skirt Co. enjoyed a fine sleighride to Little York Saturday afternoon, leaving the factory at 2 o'clock in a huge carryall and returning home at about dark.

 

NEW YORK CITY IN A BLIZZARD 1902

 

RIGHTS OF CITIZENS, DANISH ISLANDS, JOHN TRUCK CASE, AND W. C. T. U. MEETING

 

Senator John Raines.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, Jan. 25, 1902.

"RIGHTS OF CITIZENS."

Senator Raines Replies to Jerome's Speech at Rochester.

ALL LAWS SHOULD BE ENFORCED.

Says No Law Protects Disorderly Places—Cites the Action of the Governor in Removing Sheriff Caldwell. Supineness of Local Authorities is Blamed.

   Rochester, Jan. 25.—State Senator John Raines at the annual banquet of the Railway Men's Sound Money association here last evening in discussing "Rights of Citizens" touched upon many points raised by District Attorney Jerome of New York in a speech in this city a short time ago.

   Speaking of hotels commonly called "Raines Law Hotels," Mr. Raines asked two questions:

   "Have you ever suspected the charges of evil against them were being persistently iterated in the interest of certain persons who desire to do so as a means to an end, namely, to secure the Sunday opening of the saloons?

   ''Is it true that the proprietors of some 2,000 or more such establishments ought to be in the penitentiary?"

   Continuing the speaker said:

   The vital question is not whether there is one hotel in 1,400 or 2,000 of population. What we wish to know is, how are they conducted. If they are disorderly places, resorts for the depraved and vicious, no law protects them. They exist in spite of law and only through the supineness of the local authorities. Every policeman has knowledge of them, if they are located on his beat. Will good citizens have the laws enforced? At least do not make the existence of disorderly places which can be suppressed an excuse for countenancing the worst calamity that could befall poor humanity, the Sunday selling of liquor by saloons."

   After citing, authorities as to the power of local authorities to enforce the Sunday and all night closing provisions of the liquor tax law, Senator Raines in conclusion said:

   ''I cannot relieve myself from responsibility by saying 'You attend to your affairs and I will attend to mine.' When a sheriff of Erie county refuses or neglects to enforce the law against poolrooms, it is the right of any citizen to ask his removal by the governor. All honor to the governor who knowing his duty does not hesitate to perform it. It seems to me that example will be worth more to the interests that stand for the enforcement of law and the preservation of order, than anyone thing that has happened in 20 years. It is a notice that, whether the sandwich be chained to the table or not, the sword hangs by a hair; that though few office holders die and none resign, some may be removed.

   "And yet, though it be the right of every citizen to have laws enforced, it is his equal privilege to work for such change or modification of law as he may think best. Let him work for their repeal if he will, but until that is accomplished let him earnestly demand their enforcement. It is his right so to do, more than that it is his duty."

 

Raid on the Bowery.

   New York, Jan. 25.—A raid of unusual proportions was made by nearly 100 policemen under Inspector Cross on the Lower Bowery last night. A number of notorious resorts were closed and 32 prisoners locked up. The large number of policemen on the scene prevented any outbreak of violence and there was little difficulty in getting the prisoners to the Eldridge street station. The raids foreshadow the doom of the old Bowery, for they [made] a preliminary step to the wholesale cleaning out of that famous thoroughfare. In nearly every raid the proprietor of the resort was arrested.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

The Danish Islands.

   The treaty was signed yesterday afternoon transferring the Danish West Indian islands to the United States. The exact terms are not yet made public. The treaty will now have to be ratified both by the United States senate and the Danish rigsdag, but no opposition is anticipated in either body.

   The treaty, it is expected, will transfer absolute sovereignty over the islands of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix or St. Kitts to the United States. The consideration is about $4,000,000, much less than Denmark could have obtained from the same country, a few years ago.

   The Danish West Indies consist of three small islands lying to the southeast of Porto Rico; St. Thomas having about 12,000 people, St. Croix with 25,000 and St. John, the smallest and least important. St. Croix is the largest, but commercially and strategically not as important as St. Thomas.

   The islands have remained under the rule of the Danish crown since their colonization in 1663 with the exception of the period 1807 to 1815 when England seized them, only to recognize the priority of the Danish claim and relinquish them. They have been ruled by a royal governor and a colonial council of fifteen members, of which four were named by the crown, and eleven chosen by the electors. In such elections the franchise was restricted to property owners and those having an annual income in excess of $500. Thus out of the 12,000 inhabitants of St. Thomas only 200 exercised civic rights.

   To the United States, St. Thomas has the greatest value. With a safe and easy entrance, a roadstead, deep and almost land locked, affording safe anchorage to more than 200 vessels at one time, it has become the chief port of all and the chief coaling point in the West Indies. More than 100,000 tons of fuel all of which comes from the United States, are handled there each year, and such is the business of this town and its close connection with America that English has been the language generally spoken for the last fifty years. Moreover the harbor, commanding the stream of commerce as it will leave the eastern opening of the isthmian canal, can be fortified and easily made impregnable. All of these things have made for annexation.

   Negotiations for the sale of the islands to the United States were begun by William H. Seward, secretary of state in 1869, when a treaty between Denmark and the United States was concluded. An election held in the islands resulted in practically unanimous ratification, but when the treaty reached the United States senate, it was turned down. This country was then in the throes of the reconstruction period, when many of the Southern states were without representation at Washington. There was a heavy public debt which many thought could be wiped out only by repudiation, and the people were unwilling to add to their burden. They rejected at the same time the government proposition to annex San Domingo.

   Within the past six years the negotiations were renewed. This time there was opposition from the islanders. At least one-fifth of the population objected to their prospective loss of civic rights. Many looked upon the United States as a young but powerful factor in the future of the world. Ambitious, aggressive, fully appreciating the success of its debut in the congress of globe-encircling nations, the result could only be war with some other country. In that event the trade with the islands would inevitably be interrupted, perhaps ruined, and their little prosperity swept away.

   In Denmark, too, there were difficulties, chiefly the question of price.

   An intense national pride also obtruded into the negotiations. It was the Danish translation of the American formula: "Wherever the flag has gone up, let it not be pulled down."

   Along with this quasi-patriotic sentiment was a more sordid one, the desire to obtain for Danish commercialism specific privileges in the islands. Again there was the recognition of a duty to perform by the mother country toward the islanders, the securing for them of United States citizenship, the free entrance into the United States of the islands' products, and the safe keeping of their material interests by the maintenance of St. Thomas as a free port in times of war as well as peace.

   The last and the least important consideration was the race feeling, which preferred to see the islands pass into the hands of a more nearly kindred people,  the Germans, than into those of the republic across the seas. No doubt Germany, though fully aware of the impossibility under the operation of the Monroe doctrine of any realization of this sentiment, zealously fostered it through motives of rivalry in dominion and in commerce.

 

THE TRUCK CASE

NOTICED FOR ARGUMENT BEFORE COURT OF APPEALS FEB. 13.

District Attorney Dowd Consults With Chief Justice Parker and Clerk Shankland at Albany as to How to Bring Attorney McCrahon to Time—No Briefs to be Submitted Now—If Appellant Fails to Appear Appeal Will Be Dismissed.

   District Attorney Thomas H. Dowd was in Albany yesterday morning and had a conference with Chief Justice Parker of the court of appeals and Clerk Henry W. Shankland of that court, and upon returning to Cortland today he informed The Standard representative that upon the advice of Justice Parker he had noticed the Truck case for argument before the court of appeals for Feb. 13, 1902. Notice of the argument will be served today upon John H. McCrahon, attorney for Truck.

   The district attorney had been uncertain as to which would be the better method to pursue, whether to make a notice to dismiss the appeal or to notice the appeal for argument. Judge Parker advised that the appeal should be noticed for argument, and if the defendant was not ready to make his argument on the day that the argument was noticed for, the appeal would be dismissed.

   The rules of the court of appeals provide that the attorney for an appellant shall serve his briefs upon the attorney for the respondent, who in this case is District Attorney Dowd, at least 20 days before the argument, and then the attorney for the respondent may reply to the appellant's brief. Attorney McCrahon has so far refused to serve his brief upon District Attorney Dowd, although several dates have been fixed upon to do so.

   Each party will now go before the court for argument without having an opportunity of examining the other's brief, which is not so satisfactory, but much more expeditious.

   District Attorney Dowd states that the case in behalf of The People is fully prepared, and he is confident that the judgment of conviction of murder in the first degree will be confirmed.

   As all well know, John Truck, the defendant, is now in the condemned cells at Auburn, N. Y., having been convicted in March, 1900, of murder in the first degree in causing the death of Frank. W. Miller of Virgil the previous year.

 

Cortlandvilłe Grange.

   The Cortlandville grange held a very interesting meeting last evening in G. A. R. hall, at which time the first and second degrees were conferred. Two weeks from last night a special meeting will be held for third and fourth degrees.

   The state grange meets this year in Olean on the 4th of February. Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Burnham of Cortland [will] attend as delegates and will start for Olean next Saturday.

 

F. E. Smith.

W. C. T. U. MEETING.

Scientific Temperance Instruction by Prof. F. E. Smith of City Schools.

   The regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. was held on Tuesday afternoon, and opened with devotional exercises led by the president.

   A petition against the Sunday opening of saloons in New York was presented and by a unanimous vote signed by the officers in behalf of the union.

   The members then had the pleasure of listening to a paper on "Scientific Temperance Instruction," by Prof. F. E. Smith, superintendent of the city schools. Prof. Smith said he would not take up the discussion of this important subject from the scientific standpoint, as the underlying facts were doubtless well known to those present, but would speak of it rather from the point of view reached through his own observation and experience.

   While fully believing in giving this subject a prominent place in the course of study prescribed for our public schools, Prof. Smith expressed the belief that under the present law the teaching of physiology and hygiene with special reference to the effect of alcoholic drinks and narcotics is spread over too long a period, beginning as it does with the first year of school and extending to the second year in the high school. His idea is that in the lower grades lessons in health, morals and manners might be profitably substituted for the more scientific side of the question presented by the text books, while in the higher grades the scientific facts should be taught and the whole subject treated in a more intense manner than is now practicable.

   The relation of temperance to other subjects, especially history and biography should be clearly shown. He thought Prof. Atwater's experiments and attempts to prove that alcohol has some value as food would have very little effect upon the position of temperance people. A few years ago it was feared that belief in the Bible would be greatly shaken by the facts brought to light through scientific investigation, but today no thoughtful person values the Bible any less because of what science has revealed. So, even though it might be proved that alcohol has a very slight food value, which has not been by any means made clear, the necessity of teaching our children the evil effects of strong drink would be just as great as now. We have only to look around and see the havoc made by alcohol in its various forms to be convinced that it cannot safely be tampered with.

   At the conclusion of the paper opportunity was given for questions and discussion.

   Upon motion, in closing the meeting a rising vote of thanks was given Prof. Smith for his kindness, in responding to the invitation of the union and for his very thoughtful and interesting paper.

 

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements today are—Opera House, "In Love," page 5.

   —Dr. F. D. Reese will address the Science club this evening at the Hatch library building. His subject will be "Tuberculosis."

   —Rev. Robert Yost tomorrow night at the Congregational church will preach the first in a series of historical sermons on Sunday evenings. The theme tomorrow night will be "The Christian Artist."

   —Rev. Henry M. Parsons, D. D., of Toronto, who has been conducting the series of Bible readings at the Presbyterian church, will preach at that church at both services tomorrow. The Bible readings will be continued the first three evenings of next week.

   —Mrs. W. M. Bass, state organizer of the Women's Home Missionary society of the M. E. church will speak at the Homer-ave. M. E. church tomorrow morning at 10:30 o'clock and at the First M. E. church tomorrow evening at 7 o'clock. Mrs. Bass is staying with Miss Mary Oday at 70 Railroad-st., while in Cortland, where she may be found by any of the ladies who desire to see her.

 

CORNELL FORESTRY SCHOOL, RESTITUTION TO CHINA, GEN. JOHN B. GORDON, AND CATHOLIC SODALITY SUPPER

 

Bernhard Fernow.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, Jan. 24, 1902.

ADIRONDACK FOREST.

Cornell Forestry School Cutting Too Much Wood.

HAS EXCEEDED ITS AUTHORITY.

Application Made to Have Sale of 40,000 Acres of Land in Franklin County Set Aside—Views of Lieutenant Governor Woodruff—Briefs to Be Submitted.

   Albany, Jan. 24.—The state forest, fish and game commission gave a hearing on an application to have the purchase of 30,000 acres of land in Franklin county, near Upper Saranac and Tupper lakes, declared void.

   This application was made by Eric P. Swenson, representing the association of residents on Upper Saranac

   The applicants include former Governor Levi P. Morton, Jules S. Bache, Sidney M. Colgate, Charles Peabody, Isaac N. Seligman, F. S. Bangs, Alfred L. White and others of New York city. The association was represented by David Wilcox and John G. Agar of New York city and James F. Tracy of Albany.

   Cornell university was represented by President J. G. Schurman, Dr. B. E. Fernow, director of the school of forestry and State Civil Service Commissioner Cuthbert Pound.

   The association charges that the purchase of the 30,000 acres of land is unconstitutional and that the college of forestry has exceeded its authority, even though the act was constitutional, by cutting down and selling timber product of the land.

   It is charged that the university entered into a contract for a period of 15 years with the Brooklyn Cooperage company for the annual sale of 10,000 cords of retort and fuel wood: that a stave factory and a wood alcohol manufacturing plant have been established near the school for the consumption of the wood cut and that a railroad has been constructed through the preserve.

   The hearing developed that there has been a misunderstanding between the authorities of Cornell university to the establishment of the school, as to the manner in which it should be conducted.

   Dr. Fernow, the director, stated that his conduct of the school has been to demonstrate that the forests can be reproduced with a view to future earnings. This scheme, he said, would give the state revenue from the sale of the surplus products. He admitted that a contract has been entered into with the Brooklyn Cooperage company for a period of 15 or 20 years to utilize the timber cut from the land.

   The timber has been cut with a view of affording opportunity for scientific reproduction and that where about 300 acres have been cut 225 acres have been replanted. It was necessary, he said, to cut down crooked, old, decayed and decrepit trees and to the untrained eye, to practically denude parts of the tract, but it was the intention of the school authorities to replant and to reproduce the trees cut down.

   Lieutenant Governor Woodruff, who is chairman of the forest, fish and game commission and who was chairman of the forestry preserve board which in 1898 purchased the land for the school, said that Dr. Fernow had evidently labored under a misapprehension as to what was intended when the school was authorized. Governor Black and the legislature had no intention of permitting the establishment of any plan which would in the slightest degree denude any part of the forest. It was then believed that a school of this character would demonstrate what could be done to improve the forests by weeding out dead wood and weeds and bringing about a regrowth of spruce, pine and other soft woods which have rapidly disappeared in the Adirondacks.

   Attorney Agar for the petitioners said that his clients had been compelled to resort to this proceeding to preserve their own property which is situated near the Cornell school.

   At the close of the hearing it was decided that both sides would be given an opportunity to submit briefs.

 

John Hay.

Restitution to China.

   Washington, Jan. 24.—Secretary Hay handed to Minister Wu a draft on the United States treasury for $376,600, being the value of the silver bullion captured by the American marines at Tien Tsin. Inasmuch as Minister Wu is charged with the payment of salaries of the Chinese consuls in the United States and with defraying the expenses of the Chinese legation in Washington, in Lima and in Madrid, it is believed this money will be applied to such purposes.

 

TREATY IS SIGNED

Which will Transfer the Danish Islands to the United States.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 24,—Tbe treaty between Denmark and the United States for the transfer of the Danish West Indies to this country was signed at 10:30 o'clock this morning by Secretary of State Hay, and Constantin Brun, minister from Denmark, in the reception room of the state department.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Mayor Brown's Report.

   The report of Mayor Brown to the [Cortland] common council upon the affairs of the city which was submitted to that body Tuesday night and was published in full in these columns on Wednesday has brought out much favorable comment from all sides. As a report it was clear and explicit. It told exactly the particulars which every one interested in the city wanted to know—where the money had gone to, what the different departments had done and are now doing, what the expenses of each department have been and what the total indebtedness of the city is. Such a full and detailed report as this has never been given before. But it ought to be submitted every year, and it is a worthy precedent for Mayor Brown to establish, and it is to be hoped that it will be followed each year in the future.

   It is also a source of gratification to know that the affairs of the city have been administered in such an economical and satisfactory manner. It is pleasing to know that we are paying up our debts and that we have cleared up about half of the longstanding deficit in a single year. If we do as well another year we shall be able to present a clean slate, so far as old accounts are concerned.

   Taken altogether it is a record to be proud of. Mayor Brown has already had a number of requests for copies of it from cities and from would-be cities, and he has no occasion to blush in sending out such a year's record for the young city or such a definite and lucid statement from its mayor.

   ◘ Havana was as free from yellow fever during the months of December as in the preceding months of October and November. The regular season for the pest has now passed and the health authorities of the city feel justified in summing up the results accomplished, which in a word are the bringing down of the number of deaths from an average of 440 to only five. The assertion that this has been due to t he war waged against the mosquito is reiterated in the monthly report of Major W. C. Gorgas, the chief sanitary officer, and this explanation can no longer be doubted.

   ◘ John D. Rockefeller has given $100,000 to the endowment fund of Syracuse university. When the fund reaches $400,000 John D. Archbold will duplicate it. It looks as if the Standard oil crowd were trying to make it necessary for Mr. Archbold to give up about half a million dollars of his hard earned savings.—Binghamton Republican

 

General John B. Gordon.

GEN. JOHN B. GORDON.

"The Last Days of the Confederacy" at Normal Hall, Feb. 3.

  The fourth entertainment in the Normal [School] course will be given in Normal hall on Monday evening, Feb. 8, and will be a lecture by Gen. John B. Gordon upon "The Last Days of the Confederacy." This lecture became famous at its first delivery in the Tabernacle of Brooklyn, New York, before an audience of five thousand people. Its broad patriotism, its exquisite humor, its faithful portrayal of great leaders of both armies, its pathetic delineation of thrilling incidents, and the magical eloquence of the description of the closing scene at Appomattox and of Grant and Lee as they stood together in the little brick house in that last act of the great drama, and the mingling together of the soldiers of the hitherto hostile armies, combine to make this lecture one of great historical and patriotic interest to the young and old of both sections.

   General Gordon, with one exception, is now the sole survivor who held high rank in either army and prominently participated at the close of the great struggle at Appomattox who is capable of giving to the people a vivid picture of these thrilling events. An orator, of the highest order, a soldier without previous training, whose rapid rise from the rank of captain to the command of one wing of Lee's army reads like a romance, who was designated in official reports as the "Chevalier Bayard" of the army, and who has devoted his time and talents to the reconciliation of the sections, General Gordon must necessarily accomplish great good by his lecture tour, as well as furnish to the young men of the country the only opportunity perhaps that will ever occur of learning of these great events from a living, capable and faithful witness.

 

REPAIRS IN COURTHOUSE

In Accordance with the Recent Orders of Judge Lyon.

   The repairs at the courthouse, which were ordered by Judge Lyon on Jan. 10, were begun this morning. The repairs are for the purpose of securing better ventilation for the grand jury room and to cut a door through into the district attorney's room, in order that witnesses might not have to be taken through the grand jury room when going to the district attorney's room.

 

THE SODALITY SUPPER.

About Four Hundred Present—Musical and Literary Program Follows.

   About four hundred suppers were served by the Young Ladies Sodality of St. Mary's church at Empire hall last night and a very pleasant evening was spent by all concerned. The supper itself was an excellent one. Kane's orchestra played most acceptably white it was being served, and afterward there were a number of selections sung by the Apollo quartet which was encored again and again. Miss Anna Lyons recited in a very effective manner "How St. Michael's Was Saved" and Mr. Augustus Dillon delighted every one by his character sketches. A very substantial sum was netted for the Sodality treasury.

 

BREVITIES.

   —New display advertisements today are—A. S. Burgess, Clothing, page 8; M. A. Case, Drygoods, page 6; Glann & Clark, Shoes, page 4.

   —The school census of the village of Dryden is just completed and the place claims a population of 776, a gain of seventy-seven over the census of 1900.

   —The Tompkins County Agricultural society has decided to hold its county fair the first week in September, the week after the State fair, and two weeks before the Dryden fair.

   —The Bible reading at the Presbyterian chapel last night by Rev. Dr. Parsons was well attended and was remarkably interesting and profitable. A second reading will be held tonight at the same hour, 7:30, to which all are cordially invited.

   —The Lehigh Valley is having a hotel suite fitted out of three of their passenger coaches at Sayre. The hotel will be used for employees and patrons in case of a wreck, a washout or the like. It is said that such an arrangement has long been demanded.

   —Mrs. Ernest M. Hulbert yesterday afternoon gave the second in a series of very delightful progressive whist parties. Nearly a hundred ladies were invited. A profusion of roses and carnations added to the attractiveness of the beautiful parlors. The refreshments were elaborate and elegant. This evening Mr. and Mrs. Hulbert entertain both ladies and gentlemen.