LABOR DAY MOVEMENT AND MODEL CITY

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, May 1, 1896.

LABOR DAY MOVEMENT.

General Effort Today For Eight-Hour Day.

FEW STRIKES WILL BE ENTAILED.

Labor Leaders Are Confident That In Most Instances Their Demands Will Meet With Compliance on the Part of Employers.

   NEW YORK, May 1.—The movement for the 8-hour working day, which was inaugurated seven years ago by the Federation of Labor, will be duly celebrated in this vicinity today and Saturday.

   The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of the Trans-Harlem and Westchester districts, numbering about 1,400, completed all their arrangements for the adoption and enforcement of the 8-hour demand, and they expect that the big majority of the members in that territory will get the shorter hours without any difficulty.

   No trouble or strike is anticipated, and the movement above the Harlem river will be directed by the carpenters' district councils under the personal supervision of General President of the Brotherhood C. E. Owens, who is a resident of Westchester.

   A good many of the new agreements of labor organizations in this city will go into effect today, among them being several sections of the building trades, painters and laborers.

   The mineral water bottlers and drivers may strike for the enforcement of the new agreement, but nothing definite has been announced as to their intentions.

   There will be several celebrations of the movement's anniversary, and the socialists will have a parade followed by a demonstration in Union square on Saturday night.

No Strikes In Buffalo.

   BUFFALO, May 1.—There will be no strike in Buffalo today. Several of the labor organizations got together and decided that it would be best to be sure of concerted action before asking for shorter hours. Therefore, general meetings have been called for tonight and another for Saturday night.

Boom In Raines Law Hotels.

   BUFFALO, May 1.—Deputy Excise Commissioner O'Grady received somewhat over 1,000 applications for licenses from the saloon and hotel keepers of Buffalo yesterday.

Model City Opened.

   BUFFALO, May 1.—Model City, which is located between here and Lockport, was formally opened by Mr. Love, the general manager of the boom. The ground where the model city is to be built is now covered with tents which are to be occupied by the first purchasers of land. The electric power plant has been begun and Mr. Love says that $1,000,000 worth of power would be developed inside one year. Model City is one mile wide and two miles long.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Legislature of 1896.

   The legislature of 1896 has adjourned and its record is made, and that record is on the whole highly creditable to the legislative body and to the people which it represents. This is the first legislature to meet under the new constitution having a membership in the senate of fifty and in the assembly of one hundred fifty, as compared with thirty-two senators and one hundred twenty-eight assemblymen under the old constitution. Both bodies were overwhelmingly Republican, and the executive was also a Republican so that that party alone must assume the responsibility of the work of the session, and it stands ready to do so and to point to it with pride.

   It has been from first to last a business like session. Some bills of unusual importance have been before it and have been disposed of. Probably the most celebrated measure is the Raines excise bill, which has been watched with interest, not only by residents of this state, but by those of other states as well. This was a radical measure in that it revolutionized the whole excise question. It was fought most bitterly from start to finish and the lines of the contest, both in and out of the legislature, were not wholly party lines, but it was passed and has been signed by the governor and is now a law of the state. It was patterned largely after a similar law in Ohio. There was the same opposition to it in that state and the same fight, but after it had been a law for a year it proved so satisfactory that neither party there would repeal it, and it is believed that the same result will prove to be a fact in this state. Experience may show that some amendments are needed, and if so these can easily be made next year, but the general idea of the law is right.

   The only other measure which has aroused the opposition that this did is the greater New York bill. As a matter of fact it directly concerns but one section of the state, but nevertheless it has attracted general attention. Opinion seems to be divided as to the wisdom of the bill as it went through, but there was little question as to the desirability of the union of the several municipalities into a single city. That was voted for by the residents of the several cities in 1891. The opposition chiefly arose from the fact that the exact terms of the union had not been agreed upon in detail before the consolidation bill was passed, and it was upon this ground that it was vetoed by the mayors of both New York and Brooklyn. But the bill was passed over their veto and a commission has been appointed in which all the various interests seem to be fairly represented to draft the new charter of the great city.

   Some wise and expedient amendments have been made to the ballot law of the state. These will prevent the repetition of names upon an official ballot through the action of independent candidates who try to sail falsely under the emblem of a Republican or Democratic state ticket.

   There have been two measures of railroad legislation, both of which have been passed, and one of which has already been signed by the governor, and the other undoubtedly will be signed in a few days. The first is the Armstrong bicycle-as-baggage bill which was fought desperately by the railroads and was supported by all the wheelmen of the state. The fact of its passage shows how strong and widespread the wheeling interests have become.

   The other bill is one in which Cortland county took a warm interest because it was introduced in the assembly by our own representative, Hon. Frank P. Saunders. This interest was, however, by no means confined to the bounds of this county. It was a matter of deep concern to every traveler whether he could ride for two cents a mile or whether he must pay an additional cent for each mile covered. The mileage book law of last year was so put in operation by the railroads that it was a nuisance and an abomination and the rules surrounding its use were designed to drive it out of existence. Mr. Saunders' bill makes the book good until used, and also good for a man, his family, or members of his business firm. The bill was fiercely opposed by the railroads. It was morally supported by the Commercial Travelers' association, but that organization left Mr. Saunders to do the work and to push it single-handed and it reflects great credit upon him that almost without assistance he has been able to defeat the railroads and get his bill through both houses. His energy and activity and success in this measure have made his name and that of Cortland county prominent from one end of the state to the other.

   This legislature has been an economical one. At the outset Governor Morton sent a special message to it counseling economy. The tax rate will figure 2.69 as against 3.24 last year, and this will meet with the hearty approval of all taxpayers. The Raines excise law is estimated to turn $3,000,000 into the state treasury annually, which will also help financially and make the law popular.

   Although each house has an increased membership the volume of business this year on the whole does not exceed that of last year. In the senate there were 1,283 bills introduced as compared with 992 last year. The senate sent forty-five bills to the assembly for passage last year, while this year 631 bills were sent. In the assembly 1,703 bills were introduced this year as compared with 1,752 last year. The assembly sent 1,092 bills to the senate last year for passage, as compared with 959 this year. At the adjournment of the last legislature there were 698 laws upon the statute books, while this year the laws number 414. About 500 thirty-day bills are left in the hands of the governor at adjournment.

   It is also a noteworthy fact in connection with this session that the legislature reached the day for final adjournment without a single veto by Governor Morton. Not all of the bills sent to the executive chamber have been approved, however, the governor securing the recall of the bills which he found it inadvisable to sign. No doubt by proper suggestion he also saved much waste of time over measures which could not receive his signature. His use of the veto power is in striking contrast to that of his predecessors.

   Altogether the session of 1896 has been a very satisfactory one and the Republican party can well go before the people on this record and ask for a continuance of power.

THE SUBJECT OF PAVING.

No Petition Has Yet Been Presented by Any Street.

   A report has been in circulation for some time that a petition had been presented to the board of trustees by property-owners representing a majority of the feet frontage on Madison-st., asking for the paving of that street. These statements have appeared in the Cortland correspondence of Syracuse newspapers but are far from being the facts. A petition is being signed by Madison-st. property-owners, but does not yet contain the requisite number of signatures and no such petition from any street has yet been presented to the board. The question of paving Railroad-st. has also been considered by some of the property owners on that street, but nothing definite has yet been reached in either case.

Broke His Arm.

   Yesterday afternoon about five minutes before The STANDARD went to press, Eddie Woodbury, one of our carrier boys who deliver papers on Clinton-ave. and other adjourning streets, together with other carrier boys, was practicing the running high jump on the grounds of the Athletic association next the Standard building. Eddie was just starting to run preparatory to making a jump when he slipped and fell heavily on his right arm, breaking both the bones of the forearm.

   He went at once to the home of Dr. A. J. White who set the broken bone. It was decidedly a painful operation but Eddie was very brave and never made a whimper. It will be some days before he will be able to get around on his route again, and in the meantime his brother will act as his substitute.

BREVITIES.

   —Daniels' orchestra of six pieces goes to McLean to-night, where they play at May party in Galloup's hall.

   —The regular monthly meeting of the board of managers of the hospital association will be held at the hospital, Monday next, May 4 at 3 P. M.

   —Mr. Hugh Corcoran has made arrangements with the Western Union Telegraph company to receive the scores of the Eastern league ball games by wire every evening, commencing to-day.

   —New advertisements to-day are—Dey Brothers, carpets, rugs, etc., page 6; E. W. Edwards & Son, dress goods and silks, page 7; L. R. Lewis, warm weather has come, page 6; Baker & Angell, colored shoes and oxfords, page 5.

   —Peck Brothers have just received a carload of Champion wheel rakes which they are exhibiting at their warerooms, 97 Main-st. They have already sold over one and one-half carloads of mowing machines.

   —Mr. George P. Culp of Cortland and Miss Edith D. Bruner of Rochester were married at Syracuse Wednesday by Rev. A. J. Abeel, pastor of Memorial Presbyterian church of that city. They will be at home after June 1 at 80 Lincoln-ave., Cortland.

   —A mock trial will be held at Groton on Saturday evening the proceeds to be devoted to a local object. The cause of action is the matter of stealing a rooster. John Courtney, Jr., of Cortland will be attorney for the plaintiff and Judge J. E. Eggleston will appear for the defendant.

McGRAWVILLE.

Crisp local Happenings at the Corset City.

   McGRAWVILLE, May 1.—Mrs. R. E. Sweet is in Syracuse with a sick sister. Master Glen Sweet is on the sick list.

   While Mr. Floyd Randall was playing ball on the street yesterday he became so interested that he did not notice an approaching team and narrowly escaped getting run over.

   At their meeting last evening the W. J. Buchanan Hose Co. decided to organize a running team and put them in training for the fireman's convention at Waterloo.

   The many friends in this vicinity of Mr. and Mrs. John S. Moore, who moved from the Birdseye Hicks farm to Blodgett Mills this spring, extend congratulations on one Moore which is a daughter and was born yesterday.

   Mr. Henry D. Palmer of Cortland called on friends in town yesterday.

   Mrs. Kate Andrews, who recently purchased the millinery business of Mrs. Elmer Bowdish, was out of town to all callers yesterday. The last seen of her she was boarding the train at Cortland for the north. It seems that Mrs. Bowdish had not received payment for the business and while Mr. Bowdish was hustling to get trace of her Mrs. Clinton Borthwick secured an attachment for something like $100 which was due her from Mrs. Andrews for money loaned and for board and had placed Constable Charles O. Wavle in possession, so that when Mr. Bowdish arrived with Sheriff Hilsinger he was too late. The only cause your reporter can learn for her sudden departure is the fact that certain stories of doubtful origin and authenticity had been set afloat about her in McGrawville and she believed that their intent was to injure her reputation, and she had worried herself almost sick over them and had finally departed to get out of their reach and hearing. Her friends believe them to be wholly without foundation in fact.