EMPLOYEES AS STOCKHOLDERS

Stuyvesant Fish.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, December 19, 1896.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Employees as Stockholders.

   It is said that Stuyvesant Fish, the president of the Illinois Central Railroad company, is carrying out a plan for encouraging the employees of that company to become owners of its stock. There are about 22,000 men employed by the company and about 1,500 of these have already applied for some of its stock. It is believed that half the men will enlist in this movement.

   Should so large a proportion of them become stockholders in the road that employs them it is obvious that their relations to the road and their feelings toward it will be greatly modified. No one who has a financial interest in a great enterprise is likely to favor any movement that would wantonly assail its credit or impair its profits. The attitude of the management towards the men also would necessarily be affected by the fact that 50 per cent of them were stockholders. The investments of 11,000 men, even if each held only a few shares, would cut quite a figure in moral influence upon the administration of the company's affairs.

   The views of President Fish regarding the questions of the day are set forth in an interview from which we quote. He says: "We are confronted to-day with the communistic and socialistic tendencies which have long given trouble in Europe. These make it imperative that we continue our campaign of education. We have settled the 16 to 1 [free silver coinage] question, but there are a number of other important questions to be passed upon before the present popular discontent is allayed. Instead of calling the people of the South and West fools and fanatics, we would better correct our own errors. The way to answer the Populistic clamor is to ascertain the cause of complaints, redress wrongs as far as possible, and show the West and South that their interests and ours in the North and East are identical and inseparable."

   The spirit of this statement, says the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, ought to command general approval. The "campaign of education" accomplished only a small part of its mission if it stopped with showing the folly of the free silver scheme. It ought to have been, and we believe it generally was, a revelation of conditions and duties concerning the great social and labor as well as financial problems of our time. In a government like ours the spirit of toleration, patience and forbearance should be cultivated by the people and the sections towards each other. Any measure or plan which has the effect of creating common interests among employers and employees cannot fail of beneficent results.

   ◘ The admirers of football will read with lively interest a dispatch from Chicago which indicates Major McKinley's attitude toward the game. The dispatch states that "the president-elect informed a representative of the Chicago Press club that if he were in the city Saturday he would attend the Carlisle Indian-Wisconsin university football game." Of course, those who look with disapproval upon football will endeavor to show that the president-elect's presence at the game to-day cannot be construed as an endorsement of it. They will contend—in their desperation—that he will go because of his interest in the Indian problem or of his devotion to the cause of higher education as represented by the Wisconsin university. But they will not make any impression by such talk. If McKinley goes to that game the teams at the University of Rochester, at Yale and Harvard and elsewhere will feel warranted in entertaining the conviction that the policy of the next administration is to be favorable to football.

Richard Olney.

RECOGNITION OF CUBA.

Decision of Foreign Relations Committee.

CAMERON RESOLUTION FAVORED.

Secretary Olney Makes Known the Policy of the Administration—No Action to Be Taken Till After the Holiday Recess.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.—The meeting of the senate committee on foreign relations was important in two respects. It resulted in an agreement to report the Cameron resolution for the recognition of Cuban independence and it developed, through the statement of Secretary Olney, the administration's policy in regard to the insurrection in Cuba.

   The secretary occupied the greater part of the time of the meeting answering questions and suggestions made by members of the committee. He and Senator Morgan engaged in general spirited colloquies.

   Mr. Olney made two points against the Cameron resolution, as follows:

   1. That the Cuban insurgents have established no government.

   2. That the right to recognize a new state rests with the president, independent of congressional action.

   Secretary Olney contended in elaboration of the first point that the pretended government of the island was without habitation.

   "Suppose you recognize the independence of the island," he said, "what are you going to do with it?"

   "I, for one," replied Senator Morgan, "while advocating this recognition, want it understood that I am opposed to annexation."

   ''How, then, would you maintain its independence,'' asked the secretary, himself becoming interlocutor.

   "How would you, for instance, prevent Spanish domination over the island?"

   "I would," replied the Alabama senator, "establish, if need be, a protectorate. I follow much the same policy that we are pursuing with regard to Hawaii, and I would send an army of occupation to the island if necessary as we did in the case of Mexico."

   The secretary made the impression upon some of the members of the committee, by the way he pursued this line of inquiry, that while he was disposed to hold out strongly for the president's prerogative he was not nearly so strongly opposed to Cuban independence as he had been a year ago and that he would be entirely reconciled to it if satisfied as to the future course to be pursued. He did not dissent strongly from a point made that his own report showed a sufficient cause for action and admitted that a state of affairs which permits the killing of American citizens and the destruction of American property is deplorable.

   "They are, however," he added, "the incidents of war."

   "Not of war properly conducted, but of anarchy," was the response.

   The secretary set at rest the story which has been very industriously circulated that Consul General Lee has provided the state department with an elaborate report on the condition of affairs in Cuba.

   "It is not true," he said. "General Lee has made no general written report at all. He has made reports on several special cases, but not on the situation as a whole."

   It also developed during the examination that the government had made no demand in the case of the [filibustering ship] Competitor and in other cases of a similar character beyond requests for information.

   While the committee will report the resolution as agreed upon Monday it is not expected that the question will be pressed until after the holidays.

   The disposition of the committee will be to press the resolution to a speedy determination as soon as possible after the question is taken up for debate after the holidays.

REJOICING AMONG CUBANS.

Regard Cuba's Liberation as Now Being an Assured Fact.

   NEW YORK, Dec. 19.—General T. Estrada Palma and the insurgent leaders in this city were manifestly pleased at the action of the senate foreign relations committee in declaring that the independence of Cuba be acknowledged by the United States.

   The junta was thronged with enthusiastic advocates. The crucial point, they consider, is now past and it is only a matter of brief delay when Spain will either acquiesce to the action of the senate or be forced to.

   That the liberation of Cuba from the yoke of Spain is almost now an accomplished fact is recognized by the whole Cuban populace not only in this city but throughout the country.

MUST KEEP STRICT ACCOUNT.

Gross Looseness Discovered In Private Institutions of Charity.

   ALBANY, Dec. 19.—The state board of charities has discovered such gross looseness on the part of charitable institutions of the state, known as private charities, and which receive money from cities, counties and towns for support, that it has issued a resolution requiring all such institutions to keep proper books of account of receipts and expenditures.

   Secretary Hubbard of the board said: "The board has in its possession startling information as to the expenditures of city money by institutions without keeping any record. We cannot give the names of the institutions, but many of them are in New York city and others in the other large cities. Some of the developments tend to show that a great many of the institutions might safely be charged with misappropriation and with the grossest extravagance of funds given by charitable people and by the cities. There is no question but that individuals have feathered their nests out of these public funds. The matter will be the subject of a special report, and in the meantime we have taken radical action to stop the abuses."

Individual Letter Boxes a Failure.

   BUFFALO, Dec. 19.—The individual letter box system, which was introduced in this city last summer, is not a success so far as general adoption goes. Only 53 of these boxes have been placed during the year, and the demand seems to have ceased entirely.

   Deputy Postmaster Bertrand, when asked why it was that the system had not received more favor in this city, gave it as his opinion that the price of the boxes, ranging from $2.50 to $6, was too high and that many people objected to having their front doors defaced in order to place the boxes in position.

CATCHING KRISS KRINGLE.

Christmas Cantata by the Children at the Central School.

   The first Christmas entertainment of the season was given last evening at the [Cortland] Central school by the pupils of Miss Lovell and Miss Snyder. The room where the entertainment was held was appropriately and tastily decorated with evergreens upon a background of yellow and white, with a large flag nearly covering the blackboard upon one side and in the front part of the room a representation of an old-fashioned fire place where Kriss Kringle was expected to make his appearance.

   The story of the cantata, which was the principal feature of the entertainment, is of a little girl, Bertha Wright, impersonated in this case by Miss Florence Page, who has been told the story of Kriss Kringle and who determines to catch him when he makes his appearance with his load of presents down the big fire place. When she catches him he turns out to be her old grandfather who in her opinion is better than all the Kriss Kringles that ever lived. The following is the program:

   Processional, Nellie Bliss.

   Prayer, Rev. O. A. Houghton.

   Recitation—The Raggedy Man, Mabel Muncy.

   Cantata—Catching Kriss Kringle.

CAST OF CHARACTERS.

   Kriss Kringle, Edward Stevens.

   Bertha Wright, Florence Page.

   Bridget, Anna Lyon.

   Jane, Catharine Colgan.

   Molly, Millicent Watkins.

   Mrs. Wright, Grace Hogan.

   Mr. Wright, Harold Crombie.

   Christmas carols were sung in an excellent manner by each of the following: Florence Bliss, Eldredge Jarvis, Nellie Bliss, James Watkins and Harriet Benedict. Numerous quartets and a recitation by Miss Alice McDonald were other special features of the cantata.  

   Edward Stevens made an admirable Kriss Kringle and Harold Crombie as Mr. Wright carried out his part well. While all the parts were fine and exceedingly well rendered special mention should be made of Miss Anna Lyon as Bridget. Miss Anna entered heartily into the spirit of the occasion and rendered a difficult part exceedingly well.  

   At the close of the cantata Rev. J. T. Stone briefly addressed the children and was listened to with marked attention. The program throughout showed careful preparation and those having the matter in charge as well as those who took part are to be congratulated upon the success of the entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the parents of the children, their friends, members of the board, and other guests who had the privilege of being present.

Three "Weary Willies."

   There were three tramps before Police Justice Mellon this morning, having spent the night in a cell below. The first one said his name was Augustus Foster, a moulder by trade, that he came from Syracuse and was on his way to his home in Scranton. George Borden of Pittston, Pa., and Edward Cook of Harrisburg, Pa., said they had been working on the Erie canal and were on their way home. All three were given one hour in which to get out of town.

BREVITIES.

   —Daniels' orchestra played at a party at McLean last night.

   —The dry goods stores in Cortland will be open evenings next week until after Christmas.

   —The Rev. M. J. Wells is conducting revival meetings at Watervale, holding services afternoon and evening.—Manlius cor., Syracuse Herald.

   —The regular monthly meeting of the Republican league will occur Monday evening at 8 o'clock in the league rooms on Railroad-st. Live subjects will be discussed by able speakers.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. Mahan, Christmas Music, page 4; F. E. Brogden, Perfumery, page 4; C. F. Brown, Perfumes of Arabia, page 6; L. N. Hopkins, Christmas Holly, page 6.

   —The ice at the park rink is superlatively fine and there was a fair crowd down there last night. The ice is being kept free from snow and there is every prospect of a good night for skating. The cars run at convenient intervals.

   —Pioneer Hose Co., No. 1 of Groton is making its arrangements for a fair in that town on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 16, 17 and 18. The fair will conclude with a grand fireman's ball and dance on Friday evening, Feb. 19.

   —The Traction company has decided to extend the hours upon which the labor tickets are good upon the electric road. This change will take effect on Monday, and the tickets will then be good from 5 to 7:40 A. M., from 12 to 1:40 P. M., and from 5 to 7:10 P. M. This is a change which will be appreciated and will be of special benefit to patrons of the McGrawville line.

BURGLARS AGAIN.

Try Marks' Bakery a Second Time, but Get Nothing but Candy.

   Marks' bakery in the Squires [clock tower] building was entered last night for the second time in a week. Last Sunday night the intruders secured between $5 and $6 in pennies which had been taken in change Saturday night and which because of their bulk had been left at the store. Last night they called again, but secured no money. The money drawer was emptied before the store was left last night, but the drawer was left locked. This morning it was found badly broken. A considerable quantity of candy and nut meats was taken from a show case.