WHY THEY COME

Ellis Island in New York City harbor.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 5, 1896.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Why They Come.

   Within the past five years over 300,000 emigrants from Italy have landed at the port of New York alone. During March of this year 9,320 came. We do not want them. We do not know what to do with them, and we would much rather they staid away.

   But if we were Italians and had to exist as they do in their native land we would be glad to get away anywhere. Even purgatory would apparently not be a bad exchange. The wrongs of Irish peasants have never been comparable at their worst estate with the wrongs of Italian peasants today.

   The taxes levied on the poorest Italian family now amount to $100 a year. Everything the poor wretch has is taxed. If he does not pay, his personal property, his wagon, his goat or his one little donkey is seized and sold. In Sicily the inhabitants have only two ways to make a living. One is farming, the other is working the sulpher mines. The owners of both the mines and the farms are, like Ireland's owners, absentees, who have no interest in their property or people any more than getting the highest possible income out of them. The mines and estates are managed by agents. The laws favor the rich, who escape taxation while the peasant is taxed till he is forced to give up and quit the country. Little boys of 8 and 10 years old are sold outright to owners, who employ these infant slaves to carry ore out of the mines.

ELECTRICAL EXPOSITION.

Governor Morton Opens It by Turning the Golden Key.

   NEW YORK, May 5—The electrical exposition in the Grand Central Palace, under the auspices of the National Electric Light association, opened last night. Governor Morton was the presiding spirit, and, after making a brief address dealing with the development of electricity and the wonders accomplished by such men as Edison and Tesla, he touched the gold key at his side and set the machinery in motion.

   From the roof the cannon pealed and simultaneously other cannon in Augusta, Me.; St. Paul, New Orleans and San Francisco. The [telegraph] signal was received in these cities at the same time the governor touched the key.

   Immense crowds attended the opening. They filled the building to its uttermost and appeared immensely pleased at the magnificence of the display.

   Soon after the ceremonies attending the opening were over dispatches were received from Augusta, St. Paul, San Francisco and New Orleans declaring that the guns had gone off satisfactorily.

   The great feature of the exposition was the demonstration of the power generation by the falls of Niagara. It was by means of this power that the electric current traveled on a line 462 miles in length and set the machinery in motion when the governor turned the golden key. This current was also used to turn a model of the power plant in the building, and by putting a [telephone] receiver to the ear visitors were able to hear the roar of the cataract in the exposition hall.

YOUNG HILDRETH'S TRIAL.

The Prosecution Expects to Complete Its Case Today.

   ROME, N. Y., May 5—In the trial of Hildreth, the alleged train wrecker, Coroner Nock testified to holding the inquest over the victims of the wreck. Richard Smith, assistant chief of police, testified to going to Hildreth's room in Temperance hotel and to getting articles of wearing apparel there. Those were shown to the witness. He identified them, and they were received in evidence under objection by Counsel Sayles. When taken to the station house, he said, the pants and shoes were covered with mud.

   Chief Humphrey of Poughkeepsie, of the [New York] Central's force of detectives,. testified to visiting the scene of the wreck with Rome officers and Central detectives with Hildreth and Plato.

   Frank Albecker, a trackwalker, testified that on Nov. 11 he noticed spikes had been pulled out of a south rail of the track. This was where the first attempt was made to wreck the train. To Sayles the witness said he did not know how long the spikes had been pulled. The track was in good condition, he said, on the Sunday before. He said it required hard work to take out and put in fish plates, especially without experience.

   Anton Haas, section foreman, said the first attempt was made about half a mile east of where the wreck was accomplished. He found the tools used in the wreck Nov. 19 under water in a ditch where Hildreth said in his confession they were thrown.

   John Barry, hack driver, said he knew the four boys and saw them at the depot at 8 p. m. Nov. 17, when Hildreth said he wanted the hack at Temperance hotel in 20 minutes. Hildreth and Plato got in and went to Hibbard's house. On returning to the hotel Hildreth said he wanted the hack the next night for a party of four to go to West Rome.

   John Shanahan, section foreman, testified to his toolhouse being broken into and several tools being missed. He noticed this Nov. 11 and identified the tools missed by him that morning.

   The prosecution expects to complete its side of the case today.

TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.

CHANGES IN SCHOOL LAW DISCUSSED.

Miss Eggleston Speaks of Child Study— Enjoyable Reception at Columbia Club Rooms.

   HOMER, May 5.—Conductor Henry R. Sanford opened the first session of the institute at 2 P. M by responsive reading followed by the Lord's prayer and the singing of two selections by the institute. He then occupied the first period of the afternoon by an interesting discussion of the recent changes in school law.

   The new Nixon law which takes effect this month provides that no teacher is qualified to teach who is under eighteen years of age. The same bill fixes the ordinary school age as between five and eighteen years. Another clause of the same bill makes provision for the transfer of children in rural districts to the larger schools of the vicinity in order that they may have the advantages of better instruction. Hereafter, the teacher cannot make a contract to teach for a longer period than the limit of his certificate. Special certificates will now be granted to music teachers, kindergarten teachers, and teachers of drawing. These will not include all subjects covered by the present requirements.

   The number registered this afternoon is reported by the secretary as 177.

   Miss Eggleston, formerly of the Buffalo Normal school, but now of the department of public instruction, occupied the second period of the afternoon. Miss Eggleston is a very fascinating speaker on primary work of which she has made very deep and practical study. She advocates the study of the child from the child 's own standpoint. Win his affection by his toys, by an interest in him. Not only the teacher but parents should interest themselves in this for the sake of their own children.

   It is estimated that 150 persons were in attendance at the reception tendered last evening by the faculty of the Homer academy to the members of the institute.

   The Columbia club rooms were crowded by 9 o'clock when chairs were brought in to seat the guests during the [music] program.

   After the program, light refreshments consisting of cake and lemonade were served in the corridor which had been tastefully decorated for the occasion. Mr. W. J. Smith very kindly gave the use of his office for toilet rooms. The very efficient refreshment committee consisted of Miss Rose Ryan, Miss Mary Flagg and Miss Alice Haynes, who presided at the lemonade table. The assistants of the committee who served the company were Misses Adelaide Armstrong, Nettie Flagg, Aldine Watrous, Marion Coughnet, Ora Seward and Carolyn Arnold.

   Many of the townspeople were present and all pronounced the occasion very enjoyable. All members of the institute were furnished with cards bearing their names in large letters before being introduced to the faculty of the academy who received the guests near the main entrance to the rooms.

   Three tables of educational publications occupy the hall of the second floor of the academy. One, representing the Werner Publishing Co. of New York and the Educational Gazette Co. of Rochester, is in charge of John L. Sweeney, who until last September was state inspector of teachers' training classes of the state. Mr. F.  G. Curwin represents C. W. Barden of Syracuse and Mr. I. J. Blessing has a display of teachers' books and library books from the Educational Publishing Co. All these displays are very complete and present to the teachers an opportunity to examine and purchase many valuable books for school.

   Morning exercises were conducted by Conductor Hendrick after which the institute dissolved into three departments, the advanced occupying the academic room engaged in a discussion on courses of study under leadership of Conductor Sanford. The intermediate department occupied the preparatory academic room and was addressed during the first period by Conductor Hendrick on reading. Miss Eggleston addressed the primary department in her usual interesting manner on the numbers 1 to 10.

   At the second period before the advanced class Miss Bishop of the Cortland Normal school outlined very completely and in a very interesting manner the school system of England, as personally observed by herself last year. In the intermediate, Conductor Hendrick continued his discussion of reading and in the primary Conductor Sanford discussed the same subject from the appropriate point of view.

   At the third period Principal Tuthill of Homer academy led the discussion on a "Principal's Duties," in the advanced division. Conductor Sanford presented "Geography" to the intermediate and Miss Eggleston talked on "Fundamental Operation" before the primary. All sessions were of great interest.

Annual Meeting.

   The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Cortland Opera House was held at the First National bank at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The following were elected directors for one year: Edward Keator, H. Cowan, A. Mahan, T. F. Brayton, Philip Sugerman, B. B. Jones and H. M. Kellogg.

   At a subsequent meeting of the directors the following officers were elected:

   President—Edward Keator.

   Vice-president—A. Mahan.

   Secretary—H. M. Kellogg.

   Treasurer—T. F. Brayton.

Removed His Teeth to Say Quacks.

   Old Mr. Starr of Williams county made an earnest speech in the Ohio house of representatives Wednesday in opposition to the Kimmel bill, regulating the practice of medicine. During his remarks he attempted to say "quacks," but the word got lost in his false teeth. After several frantic attempts to get the word out Mr. Starr angrily yanked the teeth out, in full view of the house, and slammed them down on his desk, remarking, "I'll jest throw them teeth out!" The house shrieked with laughter, but in spite of the speech the bill passed.

   The lone vote against the bill was that of the man who threw away his teeth.—Chicago Tribune.

VILLAGE TRUSTEES.

AN ORDINANCE REGARDING LOUNGING ON STREETS.

Raines Law on Sunday—Keeping Streets Clean—Monthly Payroll—

New Sidewalks.

   The village board of trustees held a long session at the office of the clerk last evening, the full board being present and considerable business was transacted. An application was presented by residents of the extension of Railroad-st. asking that sidewalks be ordered opposite three vacant lots on that street beyond River-st. The application was referred to a committee.

   A complaint was read from W. F. Chadbourne asking that provision be made to stop the congregating about and defacing the fence and private property at his residence on Main-st. Chief of Police Linderman was present and asked instructions from the board as to the extent they would authorize the enforcement of the anti-lounging ordinance. The board issued this order: In view of complaints of violations of the ordinance continually coming to the board, the ordinance must be enforced. The ordinance in question reads as follows:

   Resolved, That the frequenting, or assembling, except for legitimate purposes upon any street or sidewalk, or at, within, or near any railroad depot, church, hall, or other place within the village of Cortland, or at, within or near the entrance to any business building, by any person, and all loafing, lounging play or sport thereon or thereat by any person is prohibited.

   Violation of this ordinance subjects one to a fine of five dollars or five days in jail.

   This ordinance will be now strictly enforced by the police.

   The following acts are also prohibited by another ordinance passed in 1893: Playing ball on the street, depositing rubbish on any street or walk, throwing handbills or loose paper on the street.

   Chief Linderman was asked about the workings of the Raines law on Sunday and he said that Cortland was practically dry on Sunday, but in certain quarters it was thought there were violations and a report of this would be forwarded to the district attorney.

   The board granted a license to B. H. Bosworth to conduct his night cafe one year from Oct. 1 next.

   Bills were audited.

   The clerk was empowered to get prices from the state printer on 300 copies of the new paving law.

   A building permit was granted A. S. Burgess for the north side of Railroad-st., to include the walk and one-third of the drive way. Also a building permit to Williams & Elster on Church-st. below Court-st.

   Crosswalks were ordered on Prospect-st. across Hill-st. and on East Main-st. at Pearne-ave. A large number of sidewalks were ordered repaired.

   By resolution Engineer W. B. Landreth was asked to make a survey and find the center of Groton-ave. from Main-st. to Homer-ave. The meeting then adjourned to May 18.

BREVITIES.

   —New advertisements to-day are—W. J. Perkins, seasonable requisites,

page 6.

   —Letters from several of the county correspondents will to-day be found on the third page,

   —Beers & Warfield yesterday put down a cement threshold at the entrance to Jewett's jewelry store.

   —Regular monthly meeting of the Y. M. C. A. membership committee tonight at 8 o'clock. Every member is requested to be present.

   —The regular monthly business meeting of the Junior Epworth league of the First M. E. church was held in the church parlors this afternoon at 4 o'clock.

   —Mr. F. S. Tinklepaugh of the Palace laundry has sold his interest to Mr.

Turner of Sodus Point, who took possession yesterday morning. The firm name will be McNett & Turner.

   —It is expected that the Hayes chair factory will resume operations the middle of the month under the supervision of Lewis S. Hayes, who has hired all the men he can use at present.

   —This morning a collision occurred on North Main-st. between a street car and a carriage in which Mr. F. W. Melvin was riding, Mr. Melvin was thrown out and the wagon considerably damaged.

   —The case of The People against Elmer Card, who is charged with abducting Eliza Willis was called in police court this morning and an adjournment taken until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock.

   —The board of education held a meeting last night, but no business of importance was transacted. There is a vacancy in the office of superintendent of schools for the coming year which will probably be filed soon.

   —A game of baseball has been arranged between the Normals and the

Clerks and will be played on the fair grounds to-morrow afternoon at 4 o'clock. Van Tuyl and Buckley, Mahoney and Ringer will be the batteries.

   —Attorney George B. Jones sold at the court house this morning on mortgage foreclosure thirty acres of land on South Hill, being a part of the farm of John Gallager. It was purchased by the mortgagee, Samuel S. Williams for $600.

   —The board of trustees at their meeting last night informally talked over the advisability of appointing an additional policeman and it was practically decided that the force should be increased, but the appointment was deferred and will probably be made at the next meeting.

   —Attention is particularly called to that part of the proceedings of the board of trustees regarding the enforcement of the anti-lounging ordinance. Chief of Police Linderman this morning notified Frank Halley, the bootblack, that he must not allow a crowd to congregate about his chair so as to obstruct the street, as they will be liable to arrest.

   —It is said that the D., L. & W. R. R. contemplates shortening the time of its train 3 between New York and Buffalo. This train on this division is the northbound vestibule which passes Cortland at 4:20 P.M. A dining car will be run on this train and on some other trains, and this will permit the abandoning the meal stops at Scranton.