MAINE INQUIRY REPORT EXPECTED IN WASHINGTON THURSDAY

William McKinley.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 25, 1898.

EXPECTED IN WASHINGTON THURSDAY.

   March 22.—Washington dispatches say: The procedure in connection with the submission of the report of the Maine Court of Inquiry by the President to Congress in now clearly outlined and a Cabinet officer explained the general line of action at present intended to be pursued upon receipt of the report, which is expected to reach Washington next Thursday. A copy of it will be laid before the Spanish government very early, and as soon as can be consistently done, the report will be sent to Congress and be made public at the same time. The report to Congress will be accompanied by a message from the President stating that after receiving the report the conclusions were laid before the Spanish government and appropriate action from that quarter asked.

NEW CRUISERS RE-NAMED.

   Dispatches from Washington say Secretary Long has rechristened the cruiser Abrouall recently purchased in England from the Brazilian government and hereafter she will be known as the Albany, in honor of the capital of the Empire State. He also issued an order that the Amazonas, the other new cruiser, hereafter shall bear the name of New Orleans, in honor of the principal city of Louisiana and telegraphic instructions were sent to the naval officer in command of the vessel.

USS Massachusetts (BB-2)

FLEET FOR HAMPTON ROADS.

   The event of the day in official circles was the issue of an order for the formation of a new squadron of naval vessels to be stationed at Hampton Roads. The squadron in the beginning will consist of five ships, all the best of their types. Two of them, the battleships Massachusetts and Texas, are withdrawn from the present North Atlantic fleet at Key West and Tortugas.

TO INCREASE THE ARMY.

   The largest measure of preparation yet made by the War department to meet the contingencies of the future, probably has just been completed. It is the preparation of a bill providing among other sections for the placing of the army on a war footing for the full strength of 104,000 men. Provision is made for the exercise by the President, of full power to increase each one of the existing companies from 75 men, the present strength to 250 men. The latest report to Congress for 1897 shows that the total organized strength of the United States is 104,362 men, while the number of men available for military duty (unorganized), of which a report was made at the time the statement of the militia was sent in, was 10,301,339.

Fast mail train at Cincinnatus, N. Y.

The E. & C. N. Y. R. R.

   About fifty men are at work on the E. & C. N. Y. railroad, hastening its completion to Cincinnatus, N. Y. The long trestle is almost completed as is the big cut just beyond. When track laying again begins, ten days will probably suffice to lay the last rail into Cincinnatus village. The winter has been hard on the roadbed in many places and considerable work remains to be done on the part where trains now run before high speed can be obtained.

   On April 11 the new road will take the mail route for the eastern part of the county. When the stages are abandoned the number of mails daily will be increased, thus bringing many towns in closer touch with the affairs of the world.

   As to the many rumors of extensions of the line to Syracuse, Deposit, South Otselic, Norwich, etc., which have been the rounds of papers in this section, it seems to be, for the present, simply the hopes of the company. It Is beyond dispute that they wish to extend their line to Syracuse and to Deposit but the materialization of these hopes depends entirely upon the traffic between Cincinnatus and Cortland. Should this warrant the extensions they will be made as soon as the facts become apparent and the necessary bonds could be disposed of, but probably not during the coming year. As far as completed, the traffic over the road has been excellent and is constantly increasing.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   ◘ The latest advices from Washington are to the effect that the report of the Board of Inquiry will reach there to-day. It is expected one or both branches of Congress will adjourn until Monday to afford the President an excuse for not sending it to Congress until Monday or Tuesday. It is expected he will give the report careful perusal and that when it does reach Congress it will be accompanied by a message outlining his policy and by the consular reports from Cuba. Much will hang on the attitude with which these documents are received. Should there be the least hint in the message of any receding from our recent firm policy with Spain then there will be an outbreak of inflammatory speeches in both branches, particularly in the Senate, which will certainly mean war. If the President makes it evident he will stand his ground then he will have all the backing he could desire.

   ◘ Our Washington letter mentions a rumor in that city which, if true, ought and certainly would swamp the present administration and the party they represent in an irrepressible flood of public condemnation. It is to the effect that Mr. McKinley and six of his Cabinet are anxious to see the present autonomy farce in Cuba continue. Wall street alone would support them and these few with all their money and influence could not save the present head of our government and his party from utter political annihilation and his policy from overthrow by Congress. The sober, thinking people of this country do not want an unnecessary war, but they are in sympathy with the Cuban insurgents and more than all with the poor, suffering reconcentrados. Something must be done soon to allay their sufferings beyond the mere sending out of relief expeditious with food which at best can be but a drop in the bucket, and which are hampered by the Spanish at every turn. In line with Captain Sigbee's suggestion that “public opinion should be suspended,” the millions of our people have held their feelings well in check during recent weeks, but this cannot always continue and they must soon see a move that will tend directly toward a final and lasting settlement of Cuban affairs and a stop put to the existing barbarities which are now fully known to be, not idle canards of yellow journals, but actual facts which cannot even be fully imagined. If President McKinley takes a manly and humane stand, war or no war, the people will support him to the last drop of blood and the last dollar, but if he again takes up his school-boy, do nothing policy of the not very remote past—well he had better not try it for the good of all concerned.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

   MADISON.—Wild ducks are plentiful on Oneida lake.

   The town of DeRuyter was 100 years old last week Tuesday.

   The Oneida sidepath [bicycle path] association has ordered a thousand metal badges for its members.

   Charlotte Withey of Oneida was fined $25 at Morrisville last week for violation of the liquor law in keeping a disorderly house. She also loses the rebate on her liquor license of about $175.

   TOMPKINS.—One of the wells at the Ithaca Salt Works caved and caused a lay off of half the force.

   Ithaca real estate agents report a brighter outlook for city and farm property.

   Incandescent lamps have been placed in the headlights on the electric cars in Ithaca, and the oil lamps have been removed.

   One hundred and ninety items of business were before the Ithaca Society for the Prevention of Crime in the month of February.

   George Livermore of the Ithaca Gun Co. has purchased of Jacob Teeter of Lansing the trotting horse "Sheriff T" to be used for private driving.

   Contractor Peters has already torn down and removed the structure on South Cayuga-st., Ithaca, preparatory to the erection of Jameson & McKinney's new block. The demolished building was erected 48 years ago.

   District passenger agent Millspaugh states that the passenger department of the Lehigh is now preparing to make Ithaca a centre for excursions the coming summer. Among the excursions being arranged are a large number of Sunday trips.—Ithaca Journal.

   The Ithaca fair ground is to be used by the boys for a play ground, the privilege being given by the Agricultural Society. The time will be probably from four o'clock to dark. The Society desires that a police officer be in attendance during this time; that being the only condition imposed.

[Cortland] Dark Streets.

   Evidence of the poor economy of the taxpayers of the village in voting against all night lights was again manifest last week. As a party of young people were returning home just after midnight from a card party on Monroe Heights two young ladies missed their footing in the dark and fell the length of one flight of stone steps on West Court-st. One of them was so badly bruised on the knees that she was unable to raise, much less walk, and a carriage had to be called to convey her home. Both were badly bruised ant shaken up. It could not have been the bad luck of the evening that was to blame, even if one of them, the one most injured, was carrying a small piano, the booby prize from the party, for the other had carried off the first prize, a handsome pearl handled shoe horn. The piano was badly damaged and the next day there was talk of a suit for damages against the village, both for bodily injuries which proved severe, and for the price of the damaged piano.

HERE AND THERE.

   The D. L. & W depot has received a new coat of paint.

   See new adv. of our club rate with the thrice a week Detroit Free Press.

   F. A. Bickford has opened a repair shop in the rear of No. 22 Railroad-st.

   John L. Lewis lodge, I. O. O. F., give a progressive pedro party in their rooms this evening.

   "Ole Olson," just as funny as ever, played to a good-sized audience at the opera house last Saturday evening.

   The Homer & Cortland Gas company placed a large Mosler safe in their office in the DEMOCRAT building Wednesday afternoon.

   The Loyal Circle of King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. G. I. Watson, 7 Pearne-ave, Friday, March 25 at 2:30 P. M.

   Assemblyman Van Hoesen's bill enabling the board of trustees of Marathon to borrow money to complete its waterworks, passed the Assembly Wednesday.

   Owing to the increasing orders the Bridge shops are running overtime. It looks as though a night gang would have to be put on soon.—Groton Journal.

   Teacher's Institutes will be held in Marathon and Homer during the week of April 18. They will be conducted by Welland Hendrick and D. L Bardwell respectively. 

   The north and east sides of the Randall farm, facing Port Watson and Pendleton-sts., are to have the Keystone wire fence similar to that on Main-st.  Fredericks Bros. agents will do the work.

   Barrett W. Baker of Minneapolis is visiting his father, L. S. Baker, and his brother, Dr. W. L. Baker, in Cortland. Wednesday these three went to Marathon to visit Albert Baker and were there joined by Arthur Baker of Oneonta and Edgar Baker, making a reunion of father and five sons.

   Clothier A. S. Burgess has just placed a very large and handsome sign, the work of Artist B. H. Carpenter, on the Railroad-st. side of his store. It is gilt letters on black background and extends over both entrances.

   Washburn's big double minstrel troupe entertained a very good-sized audience at the Opera house last evening. The excellent specialties they introduced were very meritorious and the entire performance was a good one.

   One of the best graphoscopes ever made will give three entertainments at the opera house to-night and to-morrow night and Saturday matinee. Their program of moving pictures and illustrated songs is the very latest and is sure to please.

   The fair held by the Ladies' Aid society of the Universalist church last week was a most pronounced success. Over 300 suppers were served Thursday and over 600 Friday. Nearly all articles were disposed of and the society will net about $250.

   The Dillon brothers will tender a reception to the members of the Rob Roy Dancing club in C. A. A. hall Thursday evening, April 14. Music will be furnished by the full City band and McDermott's orchestra. A society cakewalk will be a special feature.

   Another Klondike party left Cortland last week. It consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Jacobson, who had invested about $1,300 in supplies in Cortland. Their goods they shipped directly to the coast. They will stop in Cleveland, O., where they will leave their little daughter with relatives.

   A dispatch to the Ithaca Journal from Easton, Pa. is authority for the statement that Lehigh Valley passenger trainmen are to receive the following advance in wages. Conductors who have been getting $2.75 per day now receive $3.25; baggage masters have been increased to $2.36 per day and brakemen to $1.90 per day.

   Look out for poison in the hat band. A physician recently analyzed a black Japanned hat band worn by a patient suffering from headache, and found it contained three grains of one of the lead salts. From this case he concluded that many headaches are often due to the absorption of lead in the hat band.—Exchange.