IT IS SENATOR PLATT AND ISAAC SAMSON DECLARED INCOMPETENT

Thomas C. Platt.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Friday, January 22, 1897.

IT IS SENATOR PLATT.

LAST KNOT OF RED TAPE IS NOW SECURELY TIED.

A Joint Session Declares the Result of the Separate Ballots—A Matter of “Internal Affairs”—Bill for Two New Bridges Between New York and Brooklyn.

(Bureau of The Standard.)

   Albany, Jan. 20.—It was not till noon to-day that all of the red tape formalities over the selection of United States senator were completed in the legislature and that the senatorial question could be finally disposed of and removed finally from the attention of the legislature. Then the formal ballot of yesterday, taken separately in both houses at noon, was compared in the joint session in the assembly chamber and Thomas C. Platt formally declared to be the choice of the legislature of 1897 for senator from the state of New York to succeed Hon. David B. Hill who will throw the senatorial toga from his shoulders on the coming March 4 at noon. Platt now holds his credentials to the seat occupied by Hill and one of the three most important acts of the legislature this session has been completed. The other two, the passage of the Greater New York charter and the enactment of excise law amendments, still remain untouched with the bills as yet unseen by the legislature.

   The senatorial affair—it could not be called a canvass or a contest—this year has probably been the tamest affair of its kind ever held in this state and the only thing about it all that would excite any surprise or comment was the injection of Henry George into the balloting as the candidate of those Democrats who were opposed to the nomination of Hill to such an extent that they refused to remain in the caucus held on Monday evening. There were seven bolters to that caucus and only four of them appeared to vote against Hill on the ballot, these being Senators Guy and Coffey and Assemblymen Cain and Zurn. It was very amusing though to see the Democratic vote of 49, its total vote out of a legislature of 200, split and being cast for two senatorial candidates, 4 for George and 42 for Hill while a total of 147 votes were recorded for the candidacy of Thomas C. Platt. That was the vote that was confirmed by comparison at the joint session of senators and assemblymen held this noon and that is the vote that gives former Senator Platt his re-election and credentials to again take his seat in the upper house of congress.

   In itself it tells a story, a story of the hold that Thomas C. Platt has at this time on Republican politics in the state of New York and a story of the situation in which the Democrats of this Empire state find themselves, when only six years ago they were in full control of all the machinery of government and all of the offices in the state.

   The advance guard of Greater New York had appeared in the form of a bill in the assembly for two bridges to connect the present city of New York with “that part of Greater New York that [was] once known as the city of Brooklyn.” These will be gigantic draw bridges, one to start from Washington and Kent-aves, on the Brooklyn side and extend to a point near Corlears-st., the other bridge to span from Gold-st. in Brooklyn to Clinton-st. in New York, both crossing the East river. This great work will be carried on under a commission to consist of the mayor of New York and three men named by him and three men to be named by the mayor of Brooklyn, each commissioner to receive $3,000 per annum during his service on the construction. Thus does the life between the great cities already begin to mingle. C. N. A.

HOCH ELECTROCUTED.

Showed no Signs of Fear—Current Turned On a Second Time.

   Auburn, Jan. 21.—John Hoch, the murderer of Minnie Ingersoll, was successfully electrocuted in the new death chamber at the prison, being the first man to die there. His execution was quiet and expeditious. From the time the condemned man entered the death chamber until the death current was turned on not three minutes had elapsed.

   Hoch walked quietly into the electrocution room, seated himself in the chair and, without a show of resistance, permitted the attendants to make all the arrangements. There was neither sign of fear in him nor attempt at bravado.

   A delay of an hour was caused by a loose belt on the big wheel of the dynamo.

   The current was of 1,840 volts and 8 1/2 amperes. This was left on for eight seconds, reduced to 150 volts and again turned on full strength.

   A number of physicians then examined Hoch and expressed the belief that he was not dead.

   The current was turned on a second time and after a second examination Hoch was pronounced dead.

Cortland Hospital on North Main Street.

MATRON ENGAGED

For the Cortland Hospital—Plans of the Board of Managers.

   The managers do not yet despair of attaining their ideal hospital, one in which rich and poor shall alike receive skillful medical and surgical care, good nursing and kind and respectful attention and in which their visiting friends may ever meet with courtesy; one in which physicians of all schools shall have equal rights and where they may feel confident that their instructions will be conscientiously obeyed and one with a training school in which young women desirous of becoming nurses, may acquire the needful education under pure and wholesome influences. Though their efforts in some of these directions have been too often thwarted, they w ill not cease striving for the realization of their ideal until convinced of its utter impracticability and in these efforts they feel confident they will have in the future, as in the past, the moral and financial support of this community.

   The managers of the hospital are pleased to announce that an engagement has been made with Mrs. Helen M. Waters of this village to act as matron. A competent head nurse will instruct and assist the pupil nurses in the practical work of caring for the sick, but Mrs. Waters will be the “house-mother,” whose duty it will be to see that all, from the head nurse to the furnace boy, attend properly to the duties assigned them. Her presence in the hospital will inspire hope and confidence, not only in the hearts of the managers, but also in those of her many acquaintances who believe that her experience as housekeeper and teacher, her education and her high character as a woman especially fit her for this position. She will commence her duties on Monday, Jan. 25.

Village Trustees.

   The board of village trustees met Monday night, audited the following bills and then went into executive session:

   Street commissioner’s payroll, $48.45

   Beers & Warfield, labor, 8.28

   Police force, 126.00

   Cortland Standard Printing Co., 20.35

   [Empire] Telephone Co., .40

   F. A. Bickford, salary, 25.00

   Lehigh Valley R. R. freight, 1.61

   Homer & Cortland Gas Co., 49.64

   J. C. Seager, refunded tax, 4.71

   Graham & Mudge, gravel, 2.50

   P. H. Whiting, 1.00

   The bill for the Miller Smoke Protector Co. of Syracuse for $24 for smoke protectors was disallowed, as it was held that the smoke protectors were sent here only for trial at the time of the fire in the Schermerhorn building and were found to be of little use.

   Trustees Warfield and Glann as a committee reported unfavorably on the bill of Smith & Dickerson for legal services.

Cortland Normal School.

THE NINTH GRADE

To Hold Graduating Exercises in Normal Hall, Jan. 27.

   The graduating exercises of the ninth grade at the Normal will be held in Normal hall Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 27, at 2 o’clock. The following is a list of graduates: Arthur Allen, Walter Bull, Brownell Bulkley, John Campbell, Fred Case, Collins Holcomb, Webb Phelps, William Squires, Truman Shultz, Frank Sornberger, George Tupper, Emmett Tracy, Ralph Wheeler, Theodore Wood, John Morgan, Carrie Bradley, Elizabeth Blackman, Goldie Clark, Agnes Connell, Linnie Doughty, Ava Erway, Amy Gale, Arla Hubbard, Angela Haben, Mary Kennedy, Maude Morris, Olive Price, Grace Sullivan, Maty Whiteson.

A Change of Teachers.

   At the meeting of the board of education Monday night the resignation of Miss Nettie E, Snyder as teacher in the Central was accepted and Miss Grace Mead of Cortland was chosen as her successor to finish the year. Miss Snyder’s resignation takes effect Feb. 1, when she goes to Geneva where she has secured an excellent position in the public schools of that place at a large salary. Miss Mead is a graduate from the Normal, class of Jan. ’91, and has been teaching at Hamilton.

Appointed Warden of Auburn Prison.

   Superintendent of State Prisons Lathrop has appointed J. Warren Mead of Cayuga county to be agent and warden of Auburn prison, the appointment to take effect Feb. 1. Mr. Mead lives in Auburn, and is to succeed Warden James C. Stout, the Democratic incumbent, who resigned. The salary of the position is $3,500. The new warden is a Republican.

Declared Incompetent.

   The examination as to the competency of Isaac S. Samson was completed Tuesday afternoon before Referee S. S. Knox and a jury. No witnesses were sworn in behalf of Mr. Samson. The jury declared him incompetent and soon an application will be made before County Judge J. E. Eggleston by the attorneys for Mr. Samson’s daughters, Messrs. O. U. Kellogg and J. & T. E. Courtney for the appointment of a commission to have charge of Mr. Samson’s person and estate.