WHO SPENT THE MONEY?

 

John Hay.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 9, 1898.

WHO SPENT THE MONEY?

Where the First War Emergency Fund Went To.

NAVY GOT THE LARGEST AMOUNT.

Out of $29,975,274 a Balance Remains of $275,000—The War Department Got $13,951,303 While the State Department Got $393,000. How Expended.

   WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.—The manner of which all war funds were spent is told in detail for the first time in letters sent from all the departments and bureaus to the house committee on appropriations, made public as part of the report on the urgent deficiency bill of the emergency national defense fund of $50,000,000, the navy department got the largest amount, viz, $29,973,274. Of this the department proper spent $17,706,884, mainly in buying ships; bureau of yards and docks, $1,038,480; equipment, $1,290,883; navigation. $124,000; ordnance, $7,912,084; construction and repair, $1,115,315; steam engineering, [$430,613]; supplies and accounts, $21,484; medicine and surgery, $37,000; marine corps, $106,529. The navy has a balance of $275,000 of this emergency fund.

   The war department expenditures of the emergency fund amount to $13,954,003 as follows: Office of Secretary of War $106,206; ordinance bureau, [$4,797,000]; engineer bureau, $5,369,787; quartermaster's bureau, $1,988,880; medical bureau, $1,233,693; paymaster's bureau, $436,944; chief signal officer, $238,890; light house board, $69,866.

   Secretary Hay states in a letter to the committee, that the state department received $393,000 in five allotments from the emergency fund. Of this amount the sum of $100,000 has been transferred to the bankers for this department at London, England, for the use of the peace commission at Paris, and $30,000 was advanced to the disbursing officer for the commission prior to their departure for Paris. The amount disbursed by the department, including drafts of ambassadors, ministers and consuls, also for transportation of consular officers, Cuban refugees and others from Cuba, telegrams, etc., was $48,276.

   Assistant Secretary Spaulding writes concerning the treasury's expenditures of the emergency fund: Allotments of $10,000 for investigating the administration of civil affairs in Porto Rico have been made to this department, all of which will probably be expended. An allotment of $75,000 for expenses of commissioners of inquiry into the conduct of the war has also been advanced to the treasury department, of which $20,000 have been advanced to the disbursing agent of the commission. How much more will be required the department is unable at this time to state.

 

IT IS A. S. BROWN.

HIS NAME RECOMMENDED TO BE CORTLAND POSTMASTER.

Congressman Payne Sent in the Name Tuesday Afternoon—Will Undoubtedly be Nominated and Confirmed—Office May be Moved.

   Congressman Sereno E. Payne on Tuesday recommended to the President the name of Andrew S. Brown to be postmaster at Cortland. There are understood to be upwards of two hundred recommendations before the President, the accumulation of the recess of Congress, and it may [be] a few days before the nomination is sent to and confirmed by the Senate, but the next Cortland postmaster will be A. S. Brown and he will probably take possession Jan., 1899.

   Rumor says that the office will be moved farther North and nearer the center of Main-st. during his administration. It also says that William Pierson will be appointed deputy but we were unable to find Mr. Brown to confirm either report.

 

Freer's Tavern and Hotel, Higginsville, N. Y.

Christmas Party.

   Landlord W. S. Freer of Freer's hotel at Higginsville is making arrangements for a grand Christmas party to be held at the hotel Friday evening, Dec. 23. "Happy Bill" Daniels' full orchestra will furnish the music and everybody will, as usual, have a big time. Full bill only $1.25.

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

Erie Canal Report.

   The report of Judge Countryman to the Attorney General and Governor Black in his investigation of the report of the canal commissioners to ascertain and determine whether any judicial proceeding, civil or criminal, should be instituted on behalf of the State against any party or public officer interested or engaged in the canal improvement, finds that both State Engineer and Surveyor Adams and Superintendent of Public Works Aldridge have either committed or permitted acts which should be investigated by a grand jury.

   The report contains 24,000 words. Wonder if the Hon. Tim would change those campaign speeches of his if he had them to deliver again in relation to the matter? Governor Black has addressed the Attorney-General as follows:  "You are hereby requested to immediately take charge of such proceedings on behalf of the State, and to institute and prosecute to their conclusion such criminal action or proceeding as may be warranted by such reports and testimony, and you are hereby required to attend in person or by one of your deputies, the Supreme Court and appear before the proper Grand Jury thereof, for the purpose of managing and conducting such criminal actions or proceedings. Special counsel will be designated to aid you and the executive department will render to you in this matter any assistance within its power."

   For keeping this matter in the background until last week Governor Black should have the everlasting gratitude of Platt and Roosevelt, for by so doing Augustus Van Wyck was kept out of the governor's chair.

 

   ◘ A man who "buys a lawsuit" is commonly called a fool. How about a nation that buys a war in making a peace? Spain does not possess or control the Philippines. Why should we pay her $20,000,000 for the opportunity of subduing the natives?

   ◘ The first Spanish war pension awarded was that to Jesse T. Gates of the Second United States Artillery, who lost part of his upper lip in the West Indian campaign. He will get $17 per month. This amount being considered inadequate, a private pension bill increasing his pension will probably be introduced in Congress. Claims on account of the Spanish war are now increasing rapidly. The total on file up to date is 1,947 for war service and 178 for naval service, exclusive of the claims of the battleship Maine victims.

   ◘ One of two things must be done in the near future. Either the ballot law must be so amended that the evident intent of a voter may be considered in arriving at the result, or voting machines must be substituted throughout the State. It is difficult to understand how the preparation of a ballot can be made any simpler than at present, unless both blanket and individual pasters are to be allowed, a system which is held by many to be productive of opportunities for corruption, because affording a chance for identifying a ballot after it had been deposited in the box. If ballots improperly marked should be counted, this would also open the door for bribe giving. But the fact that nearly 20,000 void ballots have been discovered by the canvassers in Greater New York alone, of which about 15,000 were wrongly marked and nearly 5,000 were entirely blank, is proof positive that some remedy must be provided for this state of affairs. It will not do to disfranchise from 20,000 to 40,000 voters in this State at every election.

 

Political Notes.

   The New York Sun demands scientific evidence that a pure beer law is necessary. The data will be furnished as soon as Mr. Platt has completed his study of the election figures.—Rochester Herald.

   No doubt the Legislature of 1899 will do its share of crazy things but it is safe to predict that it will not do all the flighty and irrational things Col. Roosevelt is said to be contemplating.—Albany Argus.

   Senator Hoar is quoted as saying that if this Philippine scheme is carried out "the destruction of the American republic will date from the administration of William McKinley.'' This ought to induce "Destiny" William to put on his thinking cap.—Binghamton Leader.

   From being an isolated nation we at one leap surround ourselves with strangers—Japs, Dutch, Germans, French, English, Chinese and Russians, to say nothing of the dozens of races of cantankerous natives in the islands we acquire. Here are entanglements galore.—Baltimore Sun.

   It appears that Aguinaldo has openly defied Gen. Otis by refusing to surrender Spanish prisoners. This act shows what may be expected from the insurgents if we insist on annexing the Philippines. They are in no mood to submit to American rule, and we have no moral right to make war upon them for the purpose of preventing them from governing their own country.—-Buffalo Courier.

 

HERE AND THERE.

   The town board transacted routine business only at their regular meeting on Monday.

   Anyone wishing to rent an excellent barn in the center of town should apply at this office.

   We are now ready to receive about twenty cords of wood on subscription and allow market prices.

   The Cortland County Medical association held their regular meeting in the supervisors' rooms yesterday.

   The county convention of the W. C. T. U. was held in McGrawville Tuesday and was largely attended.

   Webber & Fields burlesque "The Glad Hand" gave a good entertainment at the opera house last evening.

   Fred Pierce of the 203d regiment, who has been home on a 30 days' furlough, has had it extended to 60 days.

   Police Justice Mellon on Monday sentenced Owen Andrews of Homer to six months at the county farm.

   An excellent New England sapper was served in the parlors of the First M. E. church Wednesday evening.

   The Ancient Order of Hibernians will hold their annual New Year's party in C. A. A. hall Friday evening, Dec. 30.

   The boys will have a big time in the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium this afternoon. All boys over 12 years old are invited.

   Kellogg's Cash store is offering some great bargains for the holidays. They run a special sale till Jan. 1. See adv. on opposite page.

   The Altar society of St. Mary's church served a supper in Empire hall Monday evening which was followed by a musical entertainment.

   The annual fair of the mission bands of the Presbyterian church was held Tuesday, and a turkey supper was served in connection with it.

   Mr. Beaudry has recently extended the steam heating system in his block to include the rooms of the Knights of Columbus on the third floor. T. T. Bates did the work.

   The craze of roller skating has again appeared in several places in this state. These new skates are noiseless, being of improved pattern, and are provided with rubber tires.

   Lawrence and Stephen Dillon tender a reception to members of Rob Roy club and friends next Wednesday evening in C. A. A. hall. The Cortland City band and orchestra will furnish music, the band for two steps and the orchestra for waltzes.

   Improvements are progressing most satisfactorily on the E. & C. N. Y. R. R. The water tank at this station has been painted, and is supplied with an abundance of water. The iron for the new sidings at the Cortland yard has arrived, and the new turntable there has been placed upon the pivot and the track laid. Engine No. 2 will soon be ready for service again, her repairs being pushed as rapidly as possible. The track men are doing good work along the line, improving the roadbed where most needed.—Cincinnatus Times.