NORMAL SCHOOL STUDENTS FACE NEW REQUIREMENTS

Cortland Normal School.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 17, 1896.

NORMAL STUDENTS.

REQUIRED OF STUDENTS.

Certain Rules to Which Those are Subject Who Desire to Enter Normal

Schools.

   The following regulations relative to the requirements of students for admission to the Normal Schools of the State have been adopted:

   "First, That those who wish to enter normal schools shall be expected to present on September, 1896, and thereafter, certificates of proficiency; and that the normal schools shall ultimately discontinue giving entrance examinations under any circumstances."

   "Second, That those who fail to present certificates of proficiency in September, 1896, until the final discontinuance of holding entrance examinations at the normal schools, may be examined in arithmetic,

English composition, grammar, geography, American history, civil government and physiology and hygiene, or in Algebra through quadratics in lieu of physiology and hygiene and civil government, provided the reason assigned for not presenting such certificates is valid and satisfactory to the principal; that a standing of 75 per cent shall be attained in arithmetic, grammar and geography; and that a standing of 75 per cent shall be required in the remaining subjects. No paper below 50 per cent in any subject will be accepted. The questions for these examinations will be furnished by the department of public instruction and all answer papers submitted by candidates must be returned to this office for examination and marking. It will be observed that the above standing is the same as the standing required in such subjects for a certificate of the second grade under the uniform system of examinations."

   Candidates, who have been duly appointed, will be admitted without examination upon the presentation of any one of the following certificates of proficiency.

   1. The diploma of a college, university, high school, academy, academic department of union school or a regents diploma.

   2. A State certificate or a first or second grade uniform examination certificate, now in force.

   The certificate of a city superintendent or school commissioner, showing that the holder attained a standing of at least 75 per cent in arithmetic, grammar, geography and an average standing of at least 75 per cent in English composition, American history, civil government and physiology and hygiene in an examination held under the uniform system of examinations, not more than six months before the date upon which such candidate seeks admission to a normal school.—Ithaca Journal.

TOWN MEETING.

THE PARTY MACHINERY SHOULD BE SET MOVING AT ONCE.

Some Changes in the Law to be Observed—Five Polling Places for This Town.

   Some changes have been made in the election law which will be observed at the town meetings to be held in this county on February 18. There will be five polling places in this town and they are made up as follows:

   District A—Consisting of election districts One and Ten. Polling place, village hall, McGrawville.

   District B—Consisting of election districts Two and Three. Polling place at the Cortland steam laundry, Clinton-ave., Cortland.

   District C—Consisting of election districts Five and Six. Polling place, Warner Rood's barn, 16 Madison-st., Cortland.

   District D—Consisting of election districts Eight and Nine. Polling place, McGraw's carriage shop, S. Main-st., Cortland.

   District E— Consisting of election districts Four and Seven. Polling place, Fireman's hall, Cortland.

   The regular party nominations must be filed with the town clerk at least twelve days and not more than twenty days before town meeting, and independent nominations at least eight and not more than twenty days previous. The blanket ballot used at the last general election, so far as the form is concerned, will be used at town meeting. The excise ticket will be on a separate ticket and will be placed in a separate box.

   The inspectors canvass the vote at the closing of the polls and make returns the same as are required at a general election and on the day following one of the inspectors delivers the returns so made to the justices and town clerk at the office of the latter at 10 o'clock A. M. and the town board then proceeds to recanvass the votes.

   The town board of this town has appointed three inspectors of election for each district and these will serve at the next town meeting when three inspectors for each district will he elected for the ensuing year.

The Farmers' Institute.

   The Farmers Institute held in the Court house in this village last Friday and Saturday was well attended and the talks and lectures were interesting and will undoubtedly prove profitable to all who were present, most especially the farmers. Every seat was occupied and standing room was at a premium throughout the session.

   There were some interesting questions found in the question box and all were promptly and satisfactorily answered by those in charge or by some farmer in the audience. Our readers will remember that during the last campaign, the Saturday Review was filled with indignation because there was a law on the statute books of this state requiring all milk offered for sale to contain not less than twelve per cent solids, and the Review claimed that the standard was fixed too high and that it should be lowered, or the law should be repealed altogether. The DEMOCRAT insisted that the standard was not too high and that no honest farmer would want the law repealed or the standard lowered.

   A question, asking if Assemblyman Saunders should not be requested to ask for the repeal or amendment of the law, was found in the question box, and Mr. Converse read the question and called for remarks, but no one responded. After waiting a few moments for a response, Mr. Converse said that any reduction in the per cent would be very bad policy. Mr. Van Alstine said the same. The ordinary milk was poor enough and the bars to allow it to be made still poorer by adulteration should not be let down.

   It was generally understood that the editor of the Saturday Review was the author of the question but when Mr. Converse called upon him to make some remarks on the subject, he could not be found. The question being put, "Shall the standard be reduced?" not a man voted for it. When asked if they favored the present standard every farmer voted, aye.

   The standard is not too high for the honest farmer, but any standard whatever is too high for the dishonest farmer.

Main Street, Cortland.

Those Hitching Posts.

   The meeting called to consider the recent ordinance passed by the village fathers with regard to hitching teams on Main-st. was largely intended on Wednesday evening. In fact Firemen's hall could not contain all that came. The question was thoroughly discussed and the result was that a resolution asking the board to rescind the ordinance was passed unanimously.

   President Higgins said the board had been requested by certain business men on Main-st. to pass the ordinance and they did so thinking the business men wanted it. He presumed the board would be perfectly willing to recind the ordinance. The real gist of the whole business is this: Nearly every business man on Main-st., who has a hitching post in front of his premises wants it removed because in the summer time, the odor from the gutters is not over pleasant but he objects strongly against taking up the hitching post in front of his neighbor's place of business. The ordinance will undoubtedly be rescinded.

   The DEMOCRAT is pleased to see teams hitched on the business streets of Cortland. A row of teams hitched on both sides of the street has a business look about it. The DEMOCRAT invites farmers to the privileges which Railroad-st. offers for this purpose.

The Raines Excise Bill.

   The Raines excise bill, which is pretty sure to be passed, makes some great changes in the law. Every excise board in the state and its employes [sic] will be legislated out of office April 30, 1886. No license can be granted by any such board to extend beyond that date. After April 30, the county treasurer receives all applications for licenses and grants licenses. Boards of excise are compelled to make return to him of all licenses in force when they retire with data as to places of business, sureties, terms of licenses, etc.

   There are six different classes of license.

   The first class applies to New York and the license fees are $800 for hotels and saloons. Stores (wholesale), $500, druggists, $200, car and steamboat, $300.

   Brooklyn belongs to the second class and pays $650, $400 and $150.

   Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Troy belong to the third class and pay $500, $300 and $100.

   The following villages and cities are in the fourth class and pay $350, $200 and $75: Utica, Amsterdam, Auburn, Binghamton, Cohoes, Corning, Dunkirk, Elmira, Hornellsville, Hudson, Ithaca, Jamestown, Kingston, Lockport, Long Island City, Middletown, Mt. Vernon, Newburg, Niagara Falls, Ogdensburg, Olean, Oswego, Poughkeepsie, Rome, Schenectady, Watertown, Yonkers, Batavia, Canandaigua, College Point, Cortland, Edgewater, Flushing, Geneva, Glens Falls, Haverstraw, Hoosic Falls, Lansingburg, Little Falls, New Brighton, New Rochelle, Oneida, Oneonta, Owego, Plattsburg, Port Jervis, Port Richmond, Saratoga, Seneca Falls, Sing Sing, Tonawanda, West Troy.

   The fifth class includes all incorporated villages not included in class four and these must pay $200, $100 and $50.

   The sixth class includes the rest of the state and the license fee is $100, $75 and $30.

   The revenue from licenses, together with all fines and penalties, go first to the county treasurer. One half the whole amount less the commission, is paid by him to the state treasurer. The other half is paid to the treasurer of the town or city. The car and steamboat tax goes to the state treasurer in toto.

   The comptroller of New York and treasurers of Kings and Erie counties receive 1 per cent for collection of taxes; in Albany, Rensselaer, Monroe and Onondaga counties he gets 2 per cent; in counties having third class cities he receives 3 per cent; in all others 5 per cent.

   No person may be granted a license who is under 21, who has been convicted of a felony, who has had his license revoked under the old law or who is not a citizen of the United States and the state of New York.

   It is unlawful for a saloonkeeper—

   I. To sell on Sunday.

   II. To sell on weekdays from 1 to 5 A. M.

   III. To sell on election day within one-quarter of a mile of a polling place.

   IV. To sell within two hundred yards of an agricultural fair during the fair.

   V. To sell or have adulterated liquor.

   VI. To have a side door open Sunday or from 1 to 5 A. M. week days.

   VII. To screen or curtain any window Sundays or from 1 to 5 A. M. week days.

   Selling without a license is punishable by a fine of twice the amount of the license, imprisonment from six month to one year, or both. Other violations are punishable with forfeiture of the license, a fine of $200 to $500 and costs, imprisonment six months to one year.

   The state comptroller establishes a new office, the liquor tax department, presided over by a "competent attorney at law of five years' practice," salary $4,000. "He may also appoint fifteen confidential special agents," salary $1,500 and expenses. "Such agents are empowered to examine the books, papers and accounts of the county treasurer * * * as to whether the law is complied with by those engaged in the traffic of liquors, and for that purpose shall have entrance at any time, when the same is open, to places where liquor is sold, whether in compliance with the law or not, and may examine tax certificates or as to any other matter in connection with the sale of liquor." [sic]

   At the next city and town elections in every city and town in New York a vote shall be taken as to whether there shall be granted hotel, storekeepers and druggists licenses in the state, each and all.

   The vote in every city shall be, however, by wards, not for the whole city.

   Under the local option section there is no provision for the city as an entity, the ward being in every case the unit.

   The vote is apparently for two years, though it is not so stated. Two years after this vote, the question must be submitted again if fifty voters of the town or ward petition. Otherwise the same condition as previously agreed upon, whether license or no license, obtains.

   Towns and cities now "no license" must remain "no license" until a vote has been taken at the next charter election. There is no mention of cars and steamboats in the act; they apparently can get licenses anyhow and sell in no license towns anyhow.

   The county treasurer has no option but to grant licenses to applicants unless those applicants are explicitly ineligible to become saloonkeepers.

   The old law as to location of saloons away from churches and schools is in force. Licenses must be granted, whatever the character of the man and his place, unless be has expressly violated the law and it has been proved. This done, the police, "special agents, and district attorneys are supposed to do their duty.

HERE AND THERE.

   Harvey Dann of Virgil has been declared insane and has been sent to the Binghamton hospital.

   Mr. B. E. Miller is contemplating the erection of a hitching barn in the rear of Warren, Tanner & Co.'s store.

   Chris Hansen of Ithaca will open a store at 41 Railroad-st., for the sale of awnings, tents, flags and all goods of that class.

   The supervisors' journals are being distributed. Parties desiring a copy may find the same at the First National bank in this place.

   Mr. John Garrity has secured the contract for carrying the mail to and from the railway stations and the postoffice in this village.

   A new combination car has been placed on the McGrawville road. It has a ladies compartment and a smoking room for gentlemen.

   A large crowd of both young and old people were at the skating rink last Saturday night. The managers are preparing for a large crowd to-morrow night.

   Regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will be held on Saturday. January 18, at 3 P. M. Consecration service, followed by a business meeting and a short program.

   A leap year party was held in Empire hall last night. The girls have thus early organized the campaign, which will be pushed to the bitter end "Look well out."

   The Cortland Athletic Association will have an entertainment in the opera house, February 19. There is to be sparring, bag punching, wrestling and other sports. Joe Dunphy, Tom Cawley and Tommy Ryan will take part. 

    A wagon body fell across Fred Lucas' back and shoulders at the Cortland Wagon shops last Tuesday morning, bruising him quite badly. He was able to walk to his home on Prospect-st. but he is still quite lame from the accident. 
   The Moravia Register, published by M. E. Kenyon & Son, is twenty-five years old and is one of our best exchanges. It is a spicy and a prosperous sheet and we hope to see it celebrate its fiftieth birthday under the same management.

   The Cortland Howe Ventilating Stove company has been awarded the Gold Medal and Diploma of Honor, the highest award possible, on its stoves and ranges at the recent Atlanta Exposition. The goods of this company have few equals.

   A new law regulating actions in divorce cases went into effect Jan. 1, which attorneys declare will result in fewer actions for divorce. As stated the new law gives the defendant more time to file his or her answer and when the defendant is not heard from, the plaintiff is required to produce the evidence in open court.

   A. H. Van Slyke was arrested last Saturday night on a warrant issued by

Justice Dowd on the charge of grand larceny in appropriating a quantity of patent medicines placed in his possession for sale by C. H. Nearing of Homer. He gave bail for his appearance January 31.

   A new law went into effect January 1st which will require of young men and young women preparing themselves for positions as teachers in the public schools an extra year's attendance at teachers' training school. The law is causing general dissatisfaction throughout the state and it is probable that a bill will be introduced in the Legislature early in the session repealing it.—Exchange.
[Spaces between paragraphs were unintentional and sometimes happen in this blog format--CC editor.]