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| 1894 map pf Cortland and vicinity. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
A Question of Salaries.
Our present village board will draw the
salaries attached to their offices during the terms for which they are elected—
so that what we are about to say can not be understood as having any personal
application or as being in any way a reflection or attack. We merely wish to
express a growing sentiment in the community—that the salaries attached to the
offices of village president and trustees, $700 a year in all, might as well be
saved to the village treasury. It was a mistake in even affixing a salary to
these offices. Men, and good men, could always be found, when the offices were
without salary, who were willing to take them and discharge the duties out of
public spirit and for the public good. We have had good men in these offices
since the adoption of the new charter, which provided for salaries, but it
would [be] unjust to those who gave faithful services without pay before that
time to say that the salaried boards have been any better than the unsalaried,
or that the public business has been any better done. With village taxes as
heavy as they are, why then should an extra $700 be added for salaries where
none are needed? If salaries are to be paid at all, they should be large enough
to make it possible for any citizen of the village to take from his private
affairs the time necessary to discharge the duties of office in the best
possible manner, without pecuniary loss to himself. Three hundred dollars to
the village president and a hundred a piece to each of the four trustees are no
salaries at all. It is simply money thrown away. Either do the thing or don’t
do it. Pay salaries, or don’t pretend to pay them. And as few, if any, citizens
would want to add to village taxes by paying large salaries to village
officers, and as there has never been any difficulty in getting all the
trustees and presidents desired without salaries—and the supply of those who
wanted these offices without pay has always been in excess of the demand—what good
is done or what interest promoted by this annual expenditure of $700?
The same general principle applies to the
salary of police justice. No one would discharge its duties for the honor of
holding it, but there is a salary which would command the service desired, and
more than that ought not to be paid. We are informed that the police justice in
the city of Binghamton only receives $1,200 a year, and in the large city of
Syracuse only about twice that. Yet little Cortland pays $1,000! Six hundred
dollars would command as good service as is required, and is all that ought to
be paid. Put the salary down to that figure, and see if the aspirants for the
place would be any less in number or at all inferior in quality.
Here is an opportunity to save $1,100
annually in taxes to the citizens of this village. Will not our village board
take the matter in hand and see that the necessary changes are made in our
village charter? Or if they feel delicate about making the first move, would
not a petition asking for these changes receive almost unanimous signature?
IRISHMEN
AND AMERICANS UNITE IN HONORING IT.
A
Sumptuous Banquet—Brilliant After-Dinner Talks—Wit, Wisdom and Eloquence
Galore.
The third annual banquet of the Friendly
Sons of St. Patrick at the Cortland House last evening was a brilliant success
in every particular. The company began to assemble at an early hour. Beautiful
button hole bouquets appropriate to the occasion were furnished the guests as
they arrived, and a select orchestra composed of the following well-known
musicians furnished delightful music: F. A. Mangang, P. Conway, Chas. Maas,
Vernon Soxie, F. J. Pike, M. J. Muncey, F. R. Miller, F. I. Graham.
It was some time after the hour set for the
banquet when the doors of the spacious and elegant diningroom of the well-kept
and popular hotel were opened, and the company found seats about the attractively
spread tables, beautified with palms and other potted plants. Between 150 and
160 sat down to the banquet including the following gentlemen from out of town:
Rev. Fathers Simmons of Pompey Hill and McGuire of Marathon; Messrs. P. J.
Hallerhan, Albert McCarthy, Richard J. Dunn, City Clerk Tooney, George
Driscoll, John J. Cummins, John Hackett, City Treasurer Quinlan of Syracuse;
Dr. James M. Milne of Oneonta; John Lynch of Oswego; Hon. A. C. Eustace and D. J.
Sheehan of Elmira; Charles F. O'Brien of Binghamton; F. M. Cleary of Ithaca and
John Mourin of Glen Haven, John C. Barry of Ilion, Edwin Duffey of New York, Patrick
Comerfort of Truxton.
The walls
and pillars of the diningroom were handsomely decorated with the American and
Irish colors, portraits of Robert Emmet, Wm. E. Gladstone and Marshal MacMahon,
a copy of the celebrated painting, 'The Irish Brigade at Fontenoy,' and various
mottoes on letters of gold.
Mr. Hugh Duffey stood at the head of the
table, and after grace had been said by Rev. Father McLoghlin the company
proceeded to discuss the Menu, of which the following is a copy:
"This night I hold an old accustomed
feast,
Whereto I have invited many a guest,
Such as I love."
Little Neck Clams, Gaufres
des Huitres Frits,
Chapelures Saratoga.
Red Snapper, Sauce Crevette.
Pommes Duchess.
Galantine de Dinde en aspic.
Lettuce.
Filet de Boeuf, pique.
Radis.
Jambon de Westphalie.
Olives.
Langue de Boeuf. Fume.
Raifort.
MAYONNAISE.
de Poulets de Homard
PONCH ROMAIN.
Gelee de Citron. Gelee au Catawba.
Glace a la Vanille.
Fruits. Gateaux assorti.
Cafe Noir. Chocolat.
Champagne.
Cigars.
"Sublime tobacco: which from East to
West,
Cheers the tars' labor and the Turkman's
rest."
The feast is over, the board is cleared
Serenely full the epicure would say.
Fate cannot harm me, I have dined to-day.
And now for oratory the soul's delight.
It would go without saying that the spread
was all that could be asked, but on this occasion Mr. George D. Griffith had
been secured by Mr. Bauder as caterer, and special pains had been taken to make
sure that everything should be the best of its kind, and set forth in the most
attractive way. The result was a decided success. The service was excellent, there
was no confusion, every one received due attention, and nothing but words of
praise were heard for all concerned.
After the banquet came the "feast of reason
and flow of soul." President Duffey introduced Mr. Jas. Dougherty as toast
master, who made a short and appropriate opening speech, and read a few letters
of regret from invited guests who were unable to be present, and stated that he
had letters and telegrams from several others. He then turned to the toast list
which, as printed, was as follows:
High
Duffey, President.
James Dougherty, Toastmaster.
T. H. McEvoy, Secre'ary.
Edward Kelly, Marshall.
The Day we
Celebrate—Rev. John McLoughlin
"God save Ireland said the heroes,
God save Ireland say we all;
Whether on the scaffold high
Or on the battlefield we die,
Oh what matter when for Erin dear we
fall."
Ireland's
Contributions to America, Senator Edmund O'Connor.
"No treason we bring from Erin.
Nor bring we shame nor guilt."
Quartet, Selected.
Irish
Leaders , Hon. C. N. Bulger.
"A thousand years
scarce serve to form a state;
An hour
may lay it in the dust."
Education,
Prof. J. M. Milne.
"Tis’
education forms the common mind,
Just as
the twig is bent, the tree's inclined."
United
States, Thomas H. Dowd.
"Westward the course of empire takes
its way;
The first four acts already past.
A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
Time’s noblest off-spring is the last."
Solo,
selected, James Walsh.
Our Form of
Government, Edwin Duffey.
"Our flag, one land, one heart, one
hand;
Our nation evermore."
Politics,
Alexander C. Eustace.
"Tis with our judgment as our watches,
None are just alike, yet each believes his own."
The
National Resources of Ireland, Hon. J. J. O'Connor.
"Shine soft, ye trembling tears of
light
That strew the mourning skies;
Hushed in the silent dews of night
The harp of Erin lies."
That strew the mourning skies;
Hushed in the silent dews of night
The harp of Erin lies."
Statesmen
of this Century, Dr. F. J. Cheney.
"In halls of state he stood for many
years
Like fabled knight, his visage all aglow."
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