THE SITUATION

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, December 31, 1895.

DEPARTMENT OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.

The Situation.

   It must be conceded that the Good Government club is doing its work in a way to command the respect and confidence of all law-and-order-loving people. Without malice, partisanship or questionable methods it has simply sought to secure the enforcement of openly violated law in the interest of good morals and in the name of common decency. We have gained over forty cases in suits or settlements, ranging from costs simply to fines of a hundred dollars and in one case imprisonment. Eleven men have promised to close their saloons and most of them have done so.

   Twenty-three gamblers have been arrested and fined. Two men have been convicted of keeping a gambling room. All the slot machines used for gambling have been removed. We regard this, and more might be mentioned, as the beginning of what must be done. In all this all the Good Government people have been a unit, and this harmony we expect will continue right along.

   It must, however, be kept in mind that [this] is not strictly a temperance movement—at least there is a difference of opinion among our members as to what is the best general plan for repressing the evils of intemperance and the saloon. Some believe in high license, others in prohibition. Some think that such is the condition of society and the appetite of many men that liquor will be drank, and the best thing to do is to regulate it. Others think that the liquor traffic, however regulated, is so appalling an evil, producing so much poverty, vice and crime that it ought to be exterminated, and that all legislation and reform measures should look to that end. These, however, are subjects which are not discussed in the club, for attention is confined to the law as it is and the best possible local government for the material and moral prosperity of the village.

   There will evidently be some change in the excise law made by the present legislature but there will certainly not be such a change as will protect the saloon in the unlimited and unrestrained sale of liquor against the will of the majority of the people. If license should again prevail, we shall still have a work to do in enforcing the restrictions which will be put upon it. But till then we shall continue to ask for the enforcement of the present laws with increasing firmness.

MEETING LAST NIGHT.

   At the meeting of the club last night various committees made reports, and the work of the club, both past and prospective, was fully discussed. In every way the meeting was most harmonious and satisfactory. A number of new members were received including the new pastors of the Baptist and Homer-ave. Methodist churches.

   Among the resolutions passed was the following:

   Resolved, That it is a matter of greatest gratification that all the committees and all the meetings of this club have been perfectly harmonious, that there have been no differences of opinion among the members of the club as to what measures should be pursued in carrying on the work, and that there has been no dispute in any meeting or committee of the club.

THERE MAY BE A REASON

For the Disappearance From Cortland of Robert B. Innes.

   Ever since the mysterious disappearance from Cortland of Robert B. Innes numerous rumors have been afloat as to the cause of it. Some of them have been of the most sensational character and could not be credited at all. The STANDARD, while carefully investigating them, has refrained from making any statements which could not be substantiated feeling that the trouble which has come to his family in the uncertainty regarding his absence is grievous enough without adding to it any floating rumors that might or might not be true.

   But, as the collection of taxes for this year progresses, various irregularities are coming to light which concern the work of the collector for last year, who was Mr. Innes, and his record of returned or unpaid taxes. It may be that if Mr. Innes were present he would be able to explain them all, but in his absence they are unexplained and seem to point in but one direction, and that is that the collector had received certain sums of money for which he had not accounted to the county treasurer.

   Mr. Genung, the present collector, makes no charges against any one. He simply finds some persons holding tax receipts for the payment of taxes of last year and the same taxes returned on his book as unpaid. The report of the collector for last year shows that there were unpaid taxes to the amount of $1,727.23, whereas the usual amount of unpaid taxes is only some three or four hundred dollars. It is, however, a fact that there were a few items of unpaid taxes of last year of large sums which are known to have been unpaid which have helped to swell the amount beyond ordinary years.

   There has also been found on the tax roll of last year what appear to be erasures of the marks made to indicate that certain taxes had been paid and those taxes are returned upon this year's book as unpaid.

   There have also appeared a few cases where people who were not assessed at all last year and who consequently had no taxes to pay are entered upon the roll of unpaid taxes. For instance, W. O. Mead who had last year just bought a house and lot of I. M. Seaman was not assessed at all. Taxes were assessed against Mr. Seaman, and Mr. Mead paid them without his name appearing in the case at all, but in the list of unpaid taxes appears Mr. Mead's name with the sum which he actually paid entered as unpaid. Through an error on the part of the assessors last year the bakery building on Court-st., which is owned by Eggleston & Cobb was not assessed and consequently no taxes were due from there. The collector's account of unpaid taxes contains their name.

   These are some samples of some of the irregularities found. They may possibly be errors of some kind, but still in the absence of Mr. Innes they are unexplained.

   A report has been in circulation that Mr. Innes had taken away with him $2,000, the insurance on the life of Mr. Andrew H. Day, Mr. Day having been insured in the A. O. U. W., and Mr. Innes being the recording secretary. The falsity of this claim is shown from the fact that the assessments for this insurance have only just been levied upon the members and they have until the 10th of January to pay them and the money will not be returned to the local branch for payment to Mrs. Day until Jan. 15. To-day the recording secretary of the order received a letter from the headquarters of the order saying that the draft had not yet been issued and would not be until Jan. 15. This explodes the insurance story pretty thoroughly.

MISS D. E. SMITH ENTERTAINS.

Old Friends and Schoolmates Renew Acquaintances and Enjoy a Pleasant Evening.

   A reunion of old friends and schoolmates is always an enjoyable occasion.

Such a gathering assembled last evening at the home of Miss Dora E. Smith on West Court-st. and proved no exception to the general rule. Notwithstanding the inclement weather and steady downpour of rain outside everything was bright and cherry [sic] within. The guests about thirty-five in number gave themselves up to the pleasure of the occasion and it was the general verdict that it was one of the most pleasant reunions of the Holiday season.

   Soon after the guests had assembled "conversation" cards were distributed and a short time was spent discussing the subjects found thereon. At the close a vote was taken to determine who had proved the best conversationalist. The result gave the honors to Mr. J. P. Gray among the gentlemen and to Miss Anna O. Collins among the ladies. Lists were next distributed with instructions "Answered by the name of an Author." There were fifteen authors to be named and the prize, a box of bonbons, was awarded to Dr. L. S. Ingalls for having guessed the list correctly. At about 10 o'clock dainty refreshments were served.

   Music and general conversation followed and all too soon the time came for the guests to depart. That the time had sped more rapidly than was realized, at least two young men who were present will testify. They were to see certain young ladies home and were expecting to take the last [trolley] car which went in their direction. The last car had gone long before the young men realized what time it was, and the rain was pouring in torrents. It would never do to let the ladies walk home so a messenger was at once [dispatched] to the nearest livery stable to procure a carriage. The boys say the electric cars are all right but that it would be very convenient if they would make arrangements to run all night.

SCOTT.

   SCOTT, Dec. 30. —Mr. Wallace C. Babcock of Washington, D. C., is calling on his many friends in town during his Holiday vacation.

   Mr. and Mrs. Will Burdick of Homer, Mr. Fred F. Burdick of Cortland and Mrs. W. C. Babcock of Washington, D. C., spent Christmas with the family of Mr. Edwin P. Burdick, Esq.

   Mr. and Mrs. Austin Brown visited relatives in the vicinity of Syracuse recently.

   In the absence of Rev. B. F. Rogers, Mr. Ernest Barber occupied the pulpit in the S. D. B. church by reading one of Mr. Moody's sermons.

   Several people left their work in the woods last week to finish up their fall plowing.

   The heavy rain of Thursday night of last week which culminated in a snow-storm, filled the ground with water and left about two inches of snow and ice on the ground which made very unpleasant traveling.

   The entertainment given at the schoolhouse in district No. 5 on Christmas eve is reported to have been a success, giving much credit to the school and to the teacher.

   There were many family and neighborly gatherings on Christmas day to eat turkey, oysters or chicken pie, one of which met with Mr. and Mrs. Lucien Barber where about twenty gathered and after an  hour of social intercourse, and partaking of the bounties of the table, a very beautiful tree was exhibited, loaded with many beautiful and valuable articles, which were distributed in such a way that each person was remembered. With other valuable articles Mrs. Barber received a full set of china from a friend in New York. Mrs. Arthur G. Greene presented several with sheets of her landscape paintings, which were very nice and highly prized by the recipients.

   The Ladles' Aid society of the S. D. B. church will give an entertainment at their church on Wednesday evening of this week, consisting of music, vocal and instrumental, with reading and speaking by several of the young people.

   The S. D. B. Sunday-school organized last Sunday by electing:

   Superintendent—Rev. M. F. Rogers.

   Asst. Superintendent—Ernest L. Barber.

   Secretary—Alvah H. Clark.

   Treasurer—Willie Frisble.

   Chorister—-Lucian C. Barber.

   Librarian—Miss Eva Hazard.

ELM STUMP.

   ELM STUMP, Dec. 26.—Christmas and wedding bells were ringing at the home of Mr. J. L. Munson last evening when their daughter Ethel was united in marriage to Mr. Byron Buck of Cortland. Rev. Mr. Murphy of Tracy Creek performed the marriage ceremony. The couple left amid the good wishes of all to make their home in Cortland.

   Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Lang and family attended the Oakes-Edsall wedding at Virgil last Friday.

   Rev. Mr. Murphy and Mrs. Murphy of Tracy Creek were guests at Mr. J. L. Munson's, Christmas.

   Mrs. Emma Price and children, Earl and Pearl Price of Groton, are the guests of their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. David Price, for a few days.

   Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Munson and Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Munson of Cortland were guests at Mr. J. L. Munson's, Christmas.

   Mr. and Mrs. Irving Price and family spent Christmas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Springer at Cortland.

   Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Munson and infant son of Higginsville were guests at Mr. J. L. Munson's, Christmas.

   Dec. 30.—The meetings which have been in progress at the Wood schoolhouse for several Sunday evenings in charge of Mr. Kirk of Cortland have been discontinued on account of the bad roads. There has been quite an interest shown in regard to these meetings and it is to be hoped they may be continued when the roads will permit.

   The cottage prayer-meeting at Mr. Dolph Skinner's last Friday night and the one held at Mr. Irving Price's last Saturday evening were both well attended. The next will be held with Mr. and Mrs. Riley Chatterton next Friday night.

   Misses Flora and Gertie Reynolds of Blodgett Mills were guests of Misses Lena and Anna Price last Friday.

   Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Wadhams and two children and Mrs. Hannah Robinson of Cortland were at Mr. David Price's, Christmas.

   Mrs. George Dearman was taken seriously ill last Saturday morning.

BRACKLE.

   BRACKLE, Dec 30.—Mr. Wesley Phillips has been quite sick the past week with the grip. Mrs. Phillips is improving.

   Mrs. Burdette Ailsworth visited her sister Mrs. Gilbert Craft, last week.

   The Beckwith family held their Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Harvey.

   Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Rogers of Taylor spent Thursday and Friday at Allen Smith's.

   There was a mistake in regard to school closing at the lower Brackle. It only closed for the Holidays.

   Miss Grace Warner spent Christmas with friends in Norwich.

   Miss Cora Phillips has returned to McGrawville to resume her work there.   D.

BREVITIES.

   —Wish you a Happy New Year.

   —The dry goods stores will be closed all day to-morrow, New Year's day.

   —To-morrow being New Year's day and a legal Holiday no paper will be issued from this office.

   —After Jan. 1, the shoe stores will close at 6:30 o'clock every evening except Mondays and Saturdays.

   —There will be a meeting of the Men's association of the Universalist church tomorrow evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Mr. Harry Wickwire very pleasantly entertained several of his friends at his home on Tompkins-st. last night.

   —There will be a watch night service at the Free Methodist church to-night beginning at 8 o'clock. All are invited.

   —Lincoln lodge No. 119, I. O. G. T., will hold its annual watch night social in Good Templars' hall this evening beginning at 9 P. M. All friends of temperance are cordially invited.

   —There will be a meeting of Harmony lodge No. 608, I. O. G. T., to-morrow night at 7:30 o'clock. Every member is requested to be in attendance as business of importance is to be considered.

   —The Sir Knights of Cortland Commandery of Knights Templars are requested to meet at their asylum at 2:30 P. M., Jan. 1, to go to Homer. Every Sir Knight is expected to be present

   —Miss B. Dillon gave an informal party to a few of her friends at her home on Blodgett-st., last evening. A very pleasant evening was passed in playing various games and in social conversation. Refreshments were served.

   —This morning the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. began putting a siding on the south side of their track just west of the D., L. & W. station. This will

allow the freight car or crosstown car to be switched off and thus the main line cars can make better time.

   —The postoffice [sic] will be open to-morrow, New Year's day, from 7 A. M. until 10 A. M. and from 6 P. M. until 7 P. M. One full trip will be made by the carriers in the morning, The money order department will remain closed throughout the day. The evening mail will close at 7 P. M.

   —The members and friends of the Young Men's Christian association are invited to the annual New Year's reception Wednesday evening from 7 to 10 o'clock. Members of the association will have the reception in charge and refreshments will be served. A game of basket ball will be played during the evening.

"A Catspaw."

   "Papa Jonathon," or rightly "A Catspaw" from the pen of no less a personage than Max O'Rell, has made one of the most prominent comedy successes of the season. It is a pure, clean, crisp play which compares favorably with such work as that given during the past year by Henry Guy Carleton and Archibald Gunther, more especially the former's "The Butterflies." There are moments during its action when the audience is said to be almost moved to tears but suddenly find themselves forced into side splitting laughter.

   At the Opera House to-morrow night.

   [Candy Kitchen, reference advertisement, was located in Cortland--CC editor.]

McGRAWVILLE.

Crisp Local Happenings at the Corset City.

   Miss Fanny Clark is spending her vacation at her home in Seneca Falls.

   Mr. F. A. Parker was a guest of his father, Justice E. C. Parker, on Thursday.

   Mr. J. H. Hills has moved into his house recently purchased of the Ransom Warren estate.

   Mrs. A. A. Busse of Chippewa Bay is in town and will be employed in the corset factory during the winter. Her many friends in this place will be glad to welcome her.

   Miss Delia Sultor is visiting relatives in Pennsylvania.

   Mrs. J. L. Warren and two sons of Mamaroneck, Mrs. Mark Brownell, Mrs. W. T. Bushby and two children and Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Warren of Cortland were guests at C. B. Warren's on Friday.

   Miss Zelma Shepard visited relatives in Berkshire last week.

   Miss LaVantia Woodworth is spending her vacation in Binghamton.

   Born to Mr. and Mrs. DeVer Euson, McGrawville, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1895, a son.

   Died in McGrawville, Dec. 27, 1895, of heart disease, Mrs. Rhoda Powers, aged 74 years. The funeral was held in the Methodist church Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.

   Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kinney of East Scott have been in town the past few days having been called to attend the funeral of Mrs. Kinney's mother, Mrs. Rhoda Powers.

   Mr. and Mrs. A. P. McGraw went to Ithaca Saturday evening to hear the famous Joseph Jefferson in the play of "Rip Van Winkle."

   Relatives from out of town, who attended the funeral of Mrs. Lydia Brooks on Thursday were: Mr. A. G. Brooks of Brooklyn, Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Brooks of Walton, Rev. W. A. Huntington and family, Mr. L. E. Brooks and Mr. Abram Griffith of East Homer, Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Hollister, Mr. T. N. Hollister, Mrs. H. P. Hollister, Mrs. Maggie Hibbard and Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Alexander of Cortland.

   Dr. Eugene Powers of Jordan was called to this place to attend the funeral of his mother, Mrs. Rhoda Powers.

   There will be a meeting at the Y. M. C. A. rooms on Tuesday evening, Dec. 21, at 8:30 o'clock to consider plans for continuing the Y. M. C. A. another year. Every man and boy is invited to be present.