DIANA BICYCLES

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, April 16, 1897.

DIANA BICYCLES.

Cortland Wagon Co. to Retail Wheels at Wholesale Prices.

   Cortland people who contemplate purchasing wheels for the season of 1897 should not overlook the fact that the Cortland Wagon Co. are offering the celebrated Diana bicycle to individual purchasers at wholesale prices. The Diana has stood the test and has already demonstrated to a large number of Cortland riders that it possesses qualities second to no other wheel on the market. The 1897 model is strictly up to date. It has the large tubing, keyless crank, improved, detachable sprocket, dust proof bearings, barrel hubs, and is finished in any color to suit the purchaser.

   The large showroom at the Cortland Wagon company's works has been fitted up for the special purpose of displaying the wheels, and Mr. E. B. Richardson, who has charge of this department is constantly on hand to show them and point out their good qualities. To be able to purchase a strictly first class bicycle at a popular price from a firm like the Cortland Wagon Co., where repairs can be obtained on short notice in case of accident, and vexatious delays averted at just the time when one most wants a wheel are all points that may well be taken into consideration before purchasing.

   All interested in bicycles are invited to call at the showrooms of the Cortland Wagon Co. and inspect the display of wheels. The Cortland Wagon Co. Specials are excellent wheels for the money and a few last year's models which have been carried over are being closed out at exceedingly low prices while they last.

Lake steamer Island Belle.

MUST HAVE LICENSE.

Lake Steamers Must Comply With the Liquor Law.

   ALBANY, April 16.—The question of jurisdiction for the purpose of the collection of the liquor tax having been raised by certain steamers plying around and across Lake Ontario, the excise department ruled that they must have a liquor tax certificate if liquor is sold on board while the craft is anywhere in Lake Ontario, south of the boundary line between the United States and Canada.

   In his ruling the commissioner says: "The liquor tax law was enacted in pursuance of the police power not surrendered by the state of New York to the general government, so it is not in restraint of any of the provisions of the constitution of the United States, and, consequently, is in full force and effect throughout the entire state on both land and water, the authority of the state being complete, unqualified and exclusive."

   There is no doubt, therefore, that the parties in question will violate the provisions of the liquor tax law if they traffic in liquor while in the waters of the state without a liquor tax certificate.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Excise Law Amended.

   The assembly passed the bill amending the liquor tax law, as it came from the senate. The fight consumed the greater part of yesterday's session, final action being reached at 7 P. M. The vote was 84 ayes to 63 nays. The latter included the full Democratic strength of the assembly and twenty-eight Republicans. Of  Erie county's six Republicans four joined with the minority. The bill goes now to the governor, whose approval was assured in advance by his certifying to the necessity of the passage of the measure.

   The provisions of the amendments that henceforth are to be parts of the liquor tax law make that law what it originally was intended to be—a comprehensive, impartial, effective excise measure. That originally it was not so stringent as by these amendments it is made, was because the test of trial had not shown its framers the need of the clauses now added, nor had the courts, by interpretation of the privileges of social clubs, forearmed the legislators with knowledge of how those privileges could be availed of to evade the law. The amendments do not declare the thousands of fake clubs formed during the past year unlawful; they provide that all clubs which dispense liquors among their members shall pay the tax prescribed for saloons in the cities in which they are. There is no distinction, as there should be none between organizations exercising identical privileges. "The rich man's club" and ''the poor man's saloon" are on a taxable par before the law. The unlawful thing for either to do will be to '"distribute liquors" to members or others, without paying the tax fixed by law.

   Sham hotels are dealt with vigorously. There are "hotels" made out of any old timber that afford space to divide into ten rooms, by means of sham partitions, of canvas or boards. Hotels in basements, hotels on roofs, hotels in apartments, sprang up under the original statute. Technically they passed for hotels, but were mere subterfuges under which, with a sandwich for a meal, they trafficked in liquor on Sundays. The amendments define the accommodations that must be provided to entitle a place to be styled a hotel. Shams are weeded out, to the moral betterment of communities and the protection, and gain, and dignity of legitimate hotels.

   Minor amendments prohibit the sale of liquors in the same building where drygoods, groceries or provisions are sold, unless there is a tight, three-inch-thick partition between, and passage from one to the other only possible by going into the street. The sale of liquors to a minor, for himself or for another, is prohibited. This will put a stop to sending children to saloons. The employment of a person "knowingly" "who has been convicted of a felony" forfeits the tax certificate of the employer. This would seem to cover the case, if any such there be, of a company formed ostensibly to conduct a saloon, but formed in fact to evade the provision which forbids the issuing of a tax certificate to a person who has been convicted of a felony, and put such person in charge of the business. All night licenses are permitted on payment of $10 extra per night, the mayor and chief of police consenting. This is a privilege that will be availed of chiefly for parties that hold late into the night.

   The adoption of these amendments is another noble achievement by the Republican party. Their opponents within the party have made a mistake. The original bill was enacted with many misgivings as to its political influence. It has vindicated the wisdom of the leader and organization of the Republican party. It has proved the best excise law, even with its imperfections, that the state ever had. It has added greatly to the strength of the Republican party. Its improvement will further aid. If not, better defeat in the cause of right and the fulfillment of pledges, than temporary success achieved through catering to evasion of law. The amended liquor law will increase the revenues of cities and state, it will help the cause of morality. It further safeguards the American Sunday.

BREVITIES.

   —No stock report to-day on account of Good Friday.

   —Mr. P. C. Wheeler has been appointed postmaster of Cincinnatus.

   —The Normal basketball club played a game this afternoon upon the grounds in the rear of the building.

   —New advertisements to-day are—D. McCarthy & Co., Easter Hats, page 4; F. Daehler, Easter Opening, page 4; Tanner Bros., Separate Skirts, page 6.

   —Mrs. G. A. Tompkins and Miss Susan Tompkins with the harp and violin respectively will assist the Presbyterian choir with the Easter music Sunday.

   —Major A. Sager has on exhibition in his drug store window a brood of eleven beautiful Barred Plymouth Rock chickens which are attracting considerable attention.

   —Cortland's fishermen are to-day lashing all the streams in this vicinity for the trout that are now supposed to be anxious to be captured since the fishing season opened at midnight last night.

   —From every side come reports of safes being cracked. Waterloo and Canastota are the latest sufferers, but not much booty was obtained in either place. The only safety is not to keep any money in the safes. Deposit all spare cash in banks.

   —The many persons who look forward to the "heated term" as still far distant are reminded that just a year ago at this time the country was perspiring. For five consecutive days beginning April 13 the mercury was well up in the eighties, rising as high as 92 degrees on the 17th of the month. Straw hats sold considerably better than hot cakes, and outing shirts were at a premium. Of course such weather conditions were "freakish," but one never knows what to expect from our diversified American climate, and the wise man prepares himself for any old weather when spring comes around.