THE PROTECTIVE POLICE

Fireman's Hall, Main Street, Cortland, N. Y.

Cortland Semi-Weekly Standard, Tuesday, April 13, 1897.

THE PROTECTIVE POLICE.

VILLAGE TRUSTEES VOTED TO DISBAND THEM.

A Long Session and a Warm Discussion Pro and Con in the Matter—The Vote Three to One—A Unanimous Verdict Against the Proposed Amendment to the Village Charter to Give the Traction Company Ten Years to Pay for Its Paving.

   When President Call rapped for order at the adjourned meeting of the village trustees Thursday night, held to consider two important questions, the little meeting room in the Keator block was full of expectant listeners. The committee from the Protective Police was there to present the side of the [fire department] company in regard to being disbanded and the committee from the board of engineers was on hand to prosecute the charges made against the company and to insist on its disbandment.

THE PROTECTIVES’ ANSWER.

   Dr. Sornberger, who spoke for the Protectives, said before reading the report of his committee that he regretted exceedingly the circumstances that required the committee to answer so pointedly the communication from the board of engineers, and the fact that it was necessary to speak plainly, as sometimes when we do speak plainly we make enemies by so doing. We would not, however, be men, he said, if we should lie down and submit to the charges made. If we say anything that is untrue, I hope that some one will come forward and correct us. Dr. Sornberger then read the report of the Protectives’ committee which was very long and comprehensive, covering twenty closely type written pages of matter. The report agrees with the communication from the board of engineers previously given that the department is larger than necessity requires, and is by reason of [property tax] exemptions and appropriations a considerable expense to the village. It, however, contained a lengthy document highly complimentary to the company and expressing undoubted confidence in the efficiency and value of the company, signed by John H. Phelps, A. G. Bosworth, S. S. Horton and A. Sager, members of the board of engineers. Letters were presented from the following firms and persons, all of whom consider the Protectives a valuable adjunct to the fire department: Cortland Forging Co., G. J. Mager & Co., Delos Bauder, Rev. O. A. Houghton, Cortland Beef Co., S. E. Welch, Case & Ruggles. All of these firms and persons have had fires in their property, and spoke especially of the work of the Protectives.

   The report gave the number of alarms of fire in the past two years, and the number of Protectives who were present at each fire, the average for the first year being 19 8-11, and for the second year 21 9-11. The average attendance at meetings for the past year has been 27 1-2. The report says that the statement of responses to fires includes only those actually present at the fires, and none who reported late at the enginehouse. In reply to the charge that the company had received votes of censure from the board of engineers, the report states that this was done only once on March 28, 1895, when the company requested the board of engineers to specify in detail the charges, and the matter was tabled by the board. The report contends that the discipline of the company is of the most strict character. That the company had declared money dividends to members was not denied, and it was claimed that it was no greater crime for a member of the Protective Police to take a sum of money voted to him from his company’s treasury to be used for his enjoyment than for members of other companies to use their money for excursions, banquets, or in any way in which they choose. The report further claims that the statement is untrue in the charges made by the board of engineers that the number of members of the Protectives enjoying exemption from taxation is in excess of the number in the remaining five companies taken together, and a table compiled from the assessment roll was given showing that the number of exemptions in the protectives is thirty-one and in the rest of the department sixty.

   The proposition to detail a certain force at fires, to do the work of the Protectives was characterized as totally impracticable principally on account of the lack of organization, and also because the Protectives have police powers at fires which could not be conferred upon a force detailed from the other companies. The report concludes by stating that the Protectives pay taxes on $31,020 over and above all exemptions, while the five members of the board of engineers who voted for the resolution to disband the Protectives pay taxes upon only $50 of valuation above exemption, while the members who did not vote for the resolution pay taxes on over $5,000 above exemption, and says that the question naturally suggests itself, as to whose opinion should carry the greater weight.

   Secretary Lane of the department spoke briefly in support of the charges, calling attention to a few alleged errors in the figures presented by the committee. Dr. Sornberger made a short response in support of the report of the Protectives' committee.

THE CHARTER AMENDMENT.

   The question of the proposed amendment to the village charter was then taken up and Attorney Horace L. Bronson for the Traction Co. inquired what objections had been offered to the measure.

   Riley Champlin said that he was there in opposition to the amendment. Mr. Champlin argued that this was an amendment in favor of the Traction company, and if passed gave the Traction company ten years in which to pay its paving assessments, and because it thus compelled the village to bond therefor, it would impair the credit of the village. He did not think the village board had been consulted in the matter before the introduction in the legislature of the measure. He contended that it would also injure the chances of further paving.

   Mr. Bronson said that the old village board had been consulted in the matter and it was understood that they gave their approval. He argued that the Cortland & Homer Traction company was a bona fide property owner here, and was by right entitled to the same privileges as the other property owners.

    Hugh Duffey advocated the indorsement of the measure, saying that it was simply a question of common sense, not a legal question, and anything that would help the corporation would help the village.

                                   AN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

   This closed the arguments for the evening, and the board went into executive session.

   The following resolution was passed, only three votes being cast on the resolution, all being in favor of it. It is understood that Trustees Wallace, Nodecker and O’Leary were the ones who voted and that Trustee Warfield refrained from voting.

   Resolved, That the Protective Police company of the Cortland fire department be and is hereby disbanded, and further

   Resolved, That the board of engineers of the Cortland fire department furnish to the board a reduced membership roll in the other companies of the department, consistent with the efficient discharge of the labor and duties of the department, the same to be furnished to this board at its next meeting.

   It was also unanimously voted that sanction and consent to the proposed amendment to the village charter be denied and refused.

   The Second National bank was requested to take up and carry the overdraft now held by the First National bank. The meeting then adjourned to next Monday night.

A Question of Relationship.

   My father, left a widower at the age of forty-seven, married a maiden of seventeen, and upon the following day my brother Lyman wedded her mother, then a widow of thirty-six. In due time a son was born to each couple. It may afford you some little amusement in estimating the various relationships my father now bears to Lyman, to Lyman’s wife and Lyman’s child, also to himself and his own wife and child. You might also calculate the relationship Lyman bears to his own wife and child and to his father and the latter’s wife and child.—Whitney Point Reporter.

                                       Trouble Brewing in Hawaii.

   YOKOHAMA, April 9.—The government of Hawaii has prohibited the landing in Hawaii of four hundred Japanese emigrants, and the Hawaiian court has confirmed the action of the government. It is reported here that the United States has decided to dispatch a war ship to Hawaii and that the Japanese government has decided to do the same.

No. 5 A. P. McGraw, No. 1, his father P. H. McGraw, Nos. 3 & 4, McGraw Corset Co. factory complex. Images from Grip's Historical Souvenir of Cortland.

McGraw Corset Co. Booming.

   Last Week The STANDARD briefly announced the absence of A. P. McGraw in New York. While there he secured an agent for New York and Brooklyn for the McGraw Corset Co. and opened their New York office, corner of Broadway and White-sts.

   In order to meet their increasing trade on the Pacific coast and still further extend it, an agency has been established in San Francisco. This means more goods sold and consequently more manufactured and more work for our people.

   While on an investigating trip, we learned that their daily shipments now average about 250 dozen of corsets besides a large number of skirts. As this is about double the number of corsets now made daily, the surplus stock is fast disappearing as for instance, of 15,000 dozen of one kind of corsets which were stored in the stock rooms but 1,200 dozen are still on hand. This means that more hands must soon be employed, and we learn that some of the old employees who had secured work elsewhere are returning.

   The skirt department is a leading feature of the company’s manufactures and is rapidly growing. A very fine line of taffetas, moreens, striped and figured sateens have just been added to their already large and extremely attractive line of goods which they have been steadily improving for a number of years. As an example of the growth of this branch, there were five mail bags full of goods for canvassers sent out by one mail Saturday and supplies for 139 canvassers were mailed to-day. This certainly looks as though the factories would soon be making more goods than ever before and the Corset City boom again as it only can when its chief industries are booming.

BREVITIES.

   —There are now four prisoners confined in the Cortland county jail.

   —The Palace Star laundry is now running evenings and Saturdays.

   —At a recent meeting of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, James E. Edwards was elected a special officer for the entire county.

   —R. B. Linderman of Hotel Burns is making preparations to place a third story on his block, 18 North Main-st.; to increase the capacity of the hotel.

   —The remains of Lewis Watson were taken to the home of his mother in Freetown Monday by Undertaker Elmer Bangs, and interment was made to-day.

   —Lewis Watson, the young man who was seriously injured by a D., L. & W. freight train at Blodgett Mills Thursday morning, died at the hospital Saturday morning.

   —Hugh, Jr., the 15-month son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Corcoran of 12 Port Watson-st., died Saturday night of whooping cough. The funeral will take place this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.

   —Mrs. Louisa L. Phillip s died Saturday morning at her home, 11 Miller-st., at the age of 70 years. The funeral was held at the house Monday at 1 o’clock. Burial in Cortland Rural cemetery.

   —Chester Perry Medes, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Medes of 15 Rickard-st., died Sunday morning of whooping cough, aged 3 months and 4 days. The funeral will be held to-day at 2:30 o’clock P. M.

   —Mahan’s twenty-third music festival will be held at the Cortland Opera House the first week of June. Dr. H. R. Palmer and conduct and Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard will be the accompanist. The usual large corps of prominent artists will be engaged to assist at the concerts at be held June 3 and 4.