GUARD AGAINST EUROPEAN CRIMINALS

Immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, New York.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Guard Against European Criminals.

   The compilation of the census reports for 1890 is nearly complete in some departments, and the facts presented are now in form for careful study. Many of the figures are of great interest from a sociological and patriotic point of view. Especially is this true of the statistics of crime, which have a direct bearing upon many of the problems involved in the welfare of the country.

   At the time of the census there were confined in the penal institutions of the United States 82,329 criminals, 75,924 being males and 6,405 females. This was one male criminal for each 422 of male population, and one female criminal to each 4,770 of female population. It appears also that 57,310 of the prisoners were white and 25,019 colored, or one in each 958 of white population and one in each 305 of the colored race.

   A good argument in favor of rigid immigrant inspection is found in the fact that 56.81 per cent of the crime chargeable to the white population was committed by foreign born people although they form only 14.77 per cent of the total population. When there is added to this the largest percentage of foreigners among the pauper element, it will be seen that loose immigration laws are responsible for a big share of the burden of criminality and poverty which the people of the United States are compelled to bear.

   Of course the great body of the criminals appeared in the older and more densely populated section, but the West takes the leads when it comes to percentage of criminality to population. In the Western sections there were 2,221 criminals to every million of population, in the North Atlantic 1,624, in the South Central 1,466, in the South Atlantic 1,288, and in the North Central 888. This speaks well for the German and Scandinavian elements which have made their homes in the last named division, and sustains the opinion already held in regard to desirable and undesirable immigrants.

   In percentage of criminality to population Arizona heads the list, having forty-two criminals to each 10,000 of population. Nevada is next with thirty-three, Montana third with thirty-two, California fourth with twenty-eight, and Massachusetts fifth with twenty-three. South Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa come last, with only five criminals for each 10,000 of population. New York is well toward the top, having nineteen criminals for each 10,000.

   A fact which should not be lost sight of is that in the decade between 1880 and 1890 the population of the United States increased about twenty-five per cent, while the criminals increased forty per cent. In 1880 there were 1,109 for each million of population, while in 1890 there were 1,315. All this occurred notwithstanding the great activity in moral and religious work, and the unexampled progress made in the way of educational facilities. It may be that some of the increase in imprisoned criminals can be attributed to greater vigilance on the part of the guardians of the law, but not all of it can be accounted for it that way. The first impulse is to charge it to unrestricted immigration, and this view is borne out by the large proportion of foreigners among the criminals.

   There is need for radical action if this drift in the wrong direction is to be checked, and obviously the first and the easiest precaution to be taken, says the Troy Times, is to shut out the criminality which Europe so industriously seeks to force upon us. The ports of the United States must be closed against all except those who will make honest and industrious citizens. To adopt radical restrictions is not to do violence to the old idea that this country should be a haven for the oppressed of all nations. We can shelter the really oppressed, but self preservation demands that we rigidly exclude all who should be suppressed.

   From last Thursday afternoon to Friday afternoon more than 4,000 immigrants arrived at Ellis Island. As many of them had to be detained for special inquiry, the Immigration officials had their hands full. With proper foreign inspection and registration the labors at the port of New York would be greatly simplified. Experience has so thoroughly decided what legislation is needed that congress can have no excuse for further delay. The immigration laws should be amended in the direction of shutting out undesirables and simplifying the work of inspection.

A Grand Army Colony.

   On the very ground in Georgia on which May 10, 1865, Jefferson Davis was captured by Wilson's cavalry there now flourishes a colony of Union veterans. The south received them with open arms, and Governor Northen of Georgia offered them good agricultural lands for $3.50 an acre. The region belongs to the pine land country. The soil will produce all the grains and vegetables of a temperate climate and delicious fruits, as grapes, peaches, figs, apples and apricots.

   Perhaps the most eloquent persuader that led to the warm welcome given to the colony of veterans by southerners was the fact that their presence would bring into the state of Georgia $50,000 a month of pension money. Before the magic spell of the mighty dollar the bitterest animosities melt away like April snow wreaths. And it is a good thing. In this pleasant spot in Georgia, in Wilcox and Irwin counties, where the thermometer averages 50 degrees in winter and where it is no hotter in summer than in the north, these old boys will spend the rest of their days.

   They are Grand Army men, mostly farmers and a majority of them pensioners. Their town, which is already blossoming into a city, is called Fitzgerald, for the founder of the colony, Captain P. H. Fitzgerald of Indianapolis. In spite of being a pension attorney before founding the colony, Captain Fitzgerald is universally trusted by his old comrades.

   By the end of this year the Fitzgerald colony will contain 10,000 inhabitants. It has already 6,000. Like magic the settlement is growing. With the newest and best ideas in architecture, in sanitation and in agriculture to aid them, with a sure if moderate amount of money flowing to them constantly from the government, these intelligent and experienced men ought to make the Fitzgerald colony the nucleus of one of the world's model settlements. No doubt they will do so.

   The tract of land upon which the colony settled comprises 118,000 acres. It is 117 miles south of Macon. In the laying out of their town the old boys distribute the names of streets equally between Union and Confederate heroes. On one side of the main thoroughfare the streets are named for Union generals, on the other side for Confederate. This colony is one more link, and one of the brightest, in the chain which binds together the gray and the blue.

   ◘ The faculty, students and alumni of Antioch college, which Horace Mann founded, issued a neat little memorial book in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of his birth, May 4. In the front of the volume arc quoted the following words from Horace Mann's last baccalaureate address to his students in June, 1859: "I beseech you to treasure up in your hearts these, my parting words: Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."

THE CANDY KITCHEN.

Grand Formal Opening Occurs Tomorrow Night.

   The Candy Kitchen, which has just been moved from the Cortland House block into the store, 17 Railroad-st., formerly occupied by Fred I. Graham, druggist, has been elegantly fitted up and now is one of the neatest places in town. In the front part is the soda fountain and also a full assortment of fresh home-made candies, also Wallace & Co.'s fine candies in packages or in bulk. A low partition separates this from the ice cream department which has been nicely carpeted and fitted with large mirrors on each side.

   Back of this is the shop for the manufacture of candy in which Rood & Co. are excelled by none. A small building has been erected at the rear of the block to be used especially for the manufacture of "The Delicious" ice cream.

   The location is an admirable one and the arrangements those of beauty and convenience. The rooms are very cool and at the same time there is plenty of light. It makes a very tasty place to drop in for a glass of soda or a dish of cream. The whole establishment is fitted with combination gas and electric light fixtures.

   Rood & Co., the proprietors, announce that their formal opening will take place to-morrow evening, at which time an orchestra will be in attendance and where they will be pleased to see all their old patrons together with many new ones.

    [Mr. Rood was manager of the Cortland Opera House and sold theater tickets from his candy store--CC editor.]

In Police Court.

   A man giving his name as James H. Warren of Elmira was found by the police lying down on Tompkins-st., yesterday afternoon. He was promptly gathered in and placed in the cooler. This morning he tried to make Police Justice Mellon believe he was tired but failing in that, pleaded guilty to the charge of public intoxication. He was given his choice of paying $5 fine or going to jail for five days. He went to jail.

   He claimed to be a peddler of eyeglasses. He had been seen in the vicinity of Tompkins-st. for some time before being arrested and is alleged to have been guilty of indecent exposure upon which charge he will be arrested when released from jail.

UNDOUBTEDLY SO.

National Express Company Will Probably Vacate Oct. 1.

   It is reported that the United States express company, which operates over the Lehigh Valley railroad system, has served notice on the National express company to vacate the E., C. & N. branch by Oct 1, next. When the change is made it will give Canastota another competing express company, and the large volume of business which now comes this way over the E., C. & N. will then doubtless go the other way. When the change is made there will probably be very little transferring of express at this station.

   The above clipping from The Canastota Bee was shown to G. E. Ingraham, the local agent of the National Express company this afternoon and when asked as to the truth of it he said that it was undoubtedly so, although he had not received official notice to that effect. He would not be surprised to receive such a notice at any time.

   Should this change take place the United States company will handle all the express business in Cortland as they now handle it on the D., L. & W. R. R.

Death of Miss Collins.

   Miss Sara E Collins died at 10 o'clock this morning at the residence of her brother, Mr. C. W. Collins, 18 Clinton-ave., after an illness lasting only from Sunday evening, although she had been almost an invalid for over two years.

The direct cause of her death was gastric fever which affected the heart. She was 52 years of age and is survived by her mother and brother.

   Miss Collins had been prominent in W. C. T. U. work in Cortland county and in the state since the organization of the first local union. She has been connected with other benevolent work. It is impossible to-day to secure all the facts for an obituary which would in any way be fitting, and a more extended notice will be given later.

   The funeral will be held Friday afternoon, the hour not yet having been fixed.

BREVITIES.

   —The annual meeting of the Ladies' Aid society of the Universalist church will be held to-morrow afternoon.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. S. Burgess, biggest store because the best, page 8; L. B. Lewis, plumbing, page 7.

   —C. H. Peters, superintendent of Westcott's milk express business, was at McGrawville yesterday negotiating for a site for the proposed creamery at that place.

   —The case of Anna B. McWhorter against her husband who is charged with nonsupport was yesterday adjourned to May 18 in Justice Dickinson's court.

   —By the explosion of a fan in the works of the Birdsall Mfg. Co. at Auburn yesterday afternoon, Adam V. Miller, aged 27 years, was almost instantly killed. He was married only a week ago.

   —A new telephone card has been issued for the convenience of the patrons of the exchange. The list contains the names of ninety-three local patrons and of twelve pay stations in different towns in the county.

   —The funeral of Mrs. Sarah Miller will be held at 1 o'clock P. M. to-morrow from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph Livingston on East-ave. Rev. G. H. Brigham will officiate. Interment at Homer.

   —Mr. John Robbins of Clinton-ave. has new potatoes that are large enough to eat. They were planted by accident in a flower pot in the house in the winter, and when they came up along with a cactus they were permitted to grow.

   —William S. Sloan, second vice president of the D. L. & W. R. R. and son of Samuel Sloan, the president of that road, died at his home in New York Monday morning. Mr. Sloan was born in 1859 and was graduated from Columbia college in 1882.

   —The Lehigh Valley railroad will sell round trip tickets from all stations on the old E., C. & N. division to Cortland during the Mahan music festival at two cents per mile. These tickets will be good coming from June 1 to 5 and returning until June 6.

   —There were 366 cases taken before the grand jury at Syracuse yesterday for alleged violations of the Raines law. The saloonkeepers are on nettles as to who is implicated. It is said that quite a number of complaints came from the failure to keep the windows clear of curtains.

   —There is a war among milkmen at Pulaski and the prevailing price is now two cents a quart instead of five cents as it was a week ago. It is a war of extermination, and one dealer is quoted as saying that quite likely he will be giving his milk to his customers within a week.

   —Mr. E. J. Bennett of the E. C. Stearns bicycle company of Syracuse is at the Messenger House to-day looking for finishers on bicycles. He reports that his company has set out to make 27,000 wheels this year and is now 8,000 wheels behind their orders, It is almost impossible to get finishers enough.

   —Adelbert Bundy, aged 8 years, son of Theodore Bundy of Farm-st. was rendered unconscious by a blow on the head Saturday. He was watching the game of ball between the high school and Cortland Normal teams when a player let a bat slip from his bands which struck the lad on the head, cutting a gash several inches in length. Two spectators interested themselves in the child's case and took him to Dr. H. B. Besemer, who dressed the injury.—Ithaca Journal.