Cortland
Evening Standard, Tuesday, January 24, 1899.
MEAT WAS
VERY BAD.
Most
Damaging Testimony Yet Produced.
CAPT.
WARBURTON'S AFFIDAVIT.
He Tells
of the Bad Meat on Board the Transport Manitoba and That Issued to His Men
While In Camp Near Ponce, Porto Rico—Witnesses Furnished the Board.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.—The board of survey
appointed by Secretary Alger to pass upon the question of the proper
condemnation of a large quantity of beef destined for the troops in Porto Rico
has received from Captain Barclay H. Warburton of the Pennsylvania volunteer
battalion of artillery a sworn statement of the condition of refrigerated beef
on board the transport Manitoba which transport was at Ponce from Aug. 10 to
25. In the course of this statement Captain Warburton says:
"I ate of the beef which the transport Manitoba
brought to Porto Rico. It was served to the officers mess on the United States
transport Mississippi, which brought my command back to New York, leaving
Ponce, Porto Rico,
Sept. 3 and arrived in New York Sept. 10. When I say I ate the meat I must
qualify my statement by saying that I tried to eat the meat. It was so bad that
it was impossible to swallow it. In my opinion the meat was not good—nor was it
fit for issue. I had no idea that this meat had been subjected to any chemical
process, but believed the beef to have decomposed on account of the lack of
proper refrigerating facilities, caused by the clogging of the machinery used
for that purpose on the Manitoba. I was informed by Captain Gates who was then in
command of the Manitoba that said machinery had been clogged with sand as a
result of our having run ashore, which necessitated the reversing of the screw
which threw sand into the water pumps.
"In reply to your request to give the board
any other evidence or information in my possession or knowledge, my answer in
general is that all the beef issued to my battalion was bad and had to be
buried immediately upon delivery at our camp which was about two miles beyond
Ponce at a place called Banos de Quentana, which necessitated its
transportation, I should say, a distance of six miles from the commissary depot
which was at the Playa. One day in question, Private Hack of Light Battery C,
Pennsylvania volunteer artillery, was sent for an issue of beef which his
captain had been notified would be issued in the morning on which he was sent.
On his return I met the wagon and while it was some hundred and fifty yards
from me, I noticed the most terrible odor, which seemed to smell something like
carrion. I was mounted and when I got alongside of the wagon I looked into it
and saw the meat which had been issued to him for Light Battery C, Pennsylvania
volunteer artillery. It looked white, about the color of the belly of a flounder
which had been covered with a green slime. I instructed him to present my
compliments to his commanding officer, Lieutenant Dean, with instructions to
have the same buried immediately upon its arrival at camp."
Captain Warburton gives the names of some
witnesses whose testimony may be of value.
TO
PRESERVE FOOD.
Manila
to Have a Refrigerating
Plant the Largest In the World.
CHICAGO, Jan. 24. — Colonel Lee, chief
quartermaster of the department of the lakes, has invited proposals for the
erection of a large refrigerating plant at Manila, for the use of the
commissary department of the United States army in the Philippines. The plant
as designed will be one of the largest of its kind ever built. It will include
a number of big ice making machines, a freezing apparatus and numerous cooling
rooms. The estimated cost of manufacturing the different parts of the apparatus
here and shipping them to Manila where they will be put together, piece by
piece, is about $100,000. The cooling rooms will have a capacity for 1,200 tons
of beef, 300,000 pounds of mutton, 100 tons of vegetables, 50 tons of butter
and 50 tons of canned goods.
Separate refrigerators will be built for
every class of supplies so that meat and vegetables may be kept in good
condition for months in the tropical climate. Under this arrangement the
soldiers will always be furnished with fresh meat and other food.
The specifications require that the plant be
erected and ready for use within six months after the contract is awarded. The
bids will be opened Feb. 1.
 |
Maximo Gomez.
|
GOMEZ'S
NEW POLICY.
He Is
Trying to Unite All the Factions In Cuba.
AMERICAN
TROOPS NOT WANTED.
The
Occupation of the Island by Our Military Force Is Unnecessary, According to His
Idea—He Still Remains at the Head of the Cuban Army.
REMEDIOS, Cuba, Jan. 24.—General Maximo Gomez, commander-in-chief of the Cuban army, has withdrawn to this part of the
island. As previously cabled he was not invited to be present at the evacuation
ceremonies at Havana on Jan. 1 and he is now here nursing his feelings of
alleged injuries sustained at the hands of our government. As a salve to these
injured feelings of neglect he has been receiving the adulations of the Cuban
populace of the various towns through which he has passed and the ovations of
this character which were tendered him here and in Caibarien have lately
brought these towns into the public eye.
When General Gomez arrived here the town was
decorated with several triumphant arches, run up out of scaffolding and painted
canvas, bearing such inscriptions as: "Viva the Liberating Army;"
"Honor to the Heroes;" "Viva El Generalissimo Maximo
Gomez," and "Gratitude to the United States." His was a
triumphal entry and there followed triumphal feasting.
At Caibarien there was a repetition of the
same ovation and a breakfast was tendered the general by the Cuban element of
the little seaport. After this meal the general met a number of the prominent
Spaniards of Caibarien and addressed them in this wise:
"The war is over and now begins the
work of reconstruction and the establishment of the Cuban republic. Past
passions are our only enemies to this end; therefore let us liberate these
passions and hatreds. I have come to this town more as the friend of every man in
it than as the leader of the Cuban army. Here there are neither Cubans nor
Spaniards, Frenchmen nor Russians. We are all inhabitants of the island of
Cuba. Union, peace and tact should be our guides. We have united today to
exchange ideas, to know each other and to preserve our mutual interests. Truth
follows peace, honor should not hide away. Therefore I tell you that union
alone will bring about the termination of the present and unnecessary
occupation of our island by the American army. The inhabitants of this island
do not need the presence of American troops in order to fulfill their duties.
Let us unite and devote our efforts to that object high in favor with us all,
the rapid and splendid growth of the Cuban republic."
Such an impression was created among the
Spaniards by General Gomez's address that two days later these same Spaniards
entertained him, his staff and many Cuban officers at an elaborate banquet
whereat the idea of this new united party of Cuban independence was developed
with much enthusiasm.
Captain Landis of the First United States
cavalry, collector of the port of Caibarien, and Mr. Anderson, his deputy
collector, were invited to be present at this ceremony and both gentlemen were
treated with marked courtesy by General Gomez.
General Gomez remains at the head of the
Cuban army. He considers this to be his post until the army is paid off. The
amount needed for this purpose, according to the Cubans, is $40,000,000, which
is nearly $1,000 in gold to each soldier.
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
West
Virginia's Squabble.
When the West Virginia election returns were
filed last fall, it was found that the Democrats had one majority in the lower
house of the legislature, while the Republicans had a majority of eight in the
senate. On the face of the returns, therefore, the Republicans had a majority
of seven on joint ballot. On one pretext and another, however, the Democrats
have unseated three Republicans in the house, thus reducing the majority on
joint ballot to one.
In the senate are two hold-over Republicans
who had commissions in the army, but who registered them before the legislature
met. The Democrats claimed that when these senators accepted commissions they
forfeited their seats in the legislature. They therefore nominated candidates
for election to the alleged vacancies. The Republicans made no nominations,
claiming that their two senators could become eligible by resigning their
commissions in the army before the legislature met. The two Democratic
candidates, of course, won at the polls, but the Republican majority in the
senate will not admit them to that body. The Democrats threaten if their men
are not seated, to throw out two more Republicans in the house, thus obtaining
a majority of one on joint ballot. The Republicans threaten to unseat a
Democratic senator for every Republican unseated in the house but, as that body
is much the larger branch of the legislature, the Democrats would eventually
get the best of this game.
Meanwhile the Republican governor refuses to
recognize the Democratic organization of the house, and he threatens to
recognize a house composed of Republicans if the Democrats carry out their
scheme of unseating more Republicans.
Official
Triviality.
A well marked peculiarity of the American
people at large is that they will not waste time over puerilities that are so
apt to tangle the red tape of European nations inexplicably. A normal American
cannot comprehend the smallness of a code which permits the arrest and
punishment of a man for idle words spoken when under the influence of liquor,
and yet such is the procedure in Germany, and very much the same undignified
littleness is apparent in the whole of the Lippe-Detmold squabble. In France M.
Beaurepaire has thrown the bourse into a fever by charges of preposterous
triviality that would be laughed down the wind here. It will be remembered that
when our illustrious Coxey set out upon his crusade The Saturday Review saw the
end of the great republic looming up at last. Fancy such a movement in France as
was Coxey's! But we laughed the crusade out of public sight, and the great
republic went on unperturbed. It is not generally known that a Jew in Russia
must apply to the police when he wishes to name a child, and the authorities
furnish a name. The imperial senate in St. Petersburg has just had a solemn sitting
over a Jew who named his child Samuel when the police insisted that it should
be Shemuel, the proper Yiddish spelling. Commenting on this, the Paris Temps
says, "That such puerilities should engage the attention of the highest legislative
and consultative body in the Russian empire is a striking indication of the
intellectual level which even the educated Muscovite appears to have attained
at the close of the nineteenth century."
CREAMERY
AT EAST HOMER.
New
Company Incorporated—Capitalized at $1,00—List of Directors.
ALBANY, Jan. 24, (Special.)—Papers
incorporating the East River Creamery association of East River, Cortland
county, have been filed with the secretary of state. The new concern is capitalized
at $1,000 divided into 200 shares and is to begin business with $1,000. Its
objects are stated to be creamery business. The directors for the first year
are: William W. Mott of East Homer, John Twomey and W. D. Rowe of East River,
Dexter Pierce of Cortland and George A. Klock of East Homer.—C. N. A.
 |
Main Street, Cortland, N. Y., circa 1899.
|
VILLAGE
TRUSTEES
HELD TWO
MEETINGS, BUT DID NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE.
Warren-Scharf
Asphalt Paving Company Ready to Turn Over Main-st. to the Village—Questions of
Indemnity Raised and Left Unanswered—Village Sued
Again for Alleged Damages from Open Gutters—Thomas Conway Wants $2,000 for a
Broken Leg and Other Injuries.
A meeting of the village board of trustees was
called for last night at 7:30 o'clock. Soon after that hour President Stilson
and Trustees Nodecker and White appeared. Mr. W. R. Warren of the Warren-Scharf
Paving Co. and Engineer Allen were present with the expectation of having a
final settlement upon the matter of the paving of Main-st. and of turning the
street over to the village. Engineer Allen had all his figures and memoranda
completed in full and carefully drawn off in a book to be preserved and put on record
by the village. But Trustees O'Learv and Sprague failed to appear. Because of
the great importance of this matter President Stilson was unwilling to proceed
to business with only half of the village represented. The two trustees who
were on hand declined to take the entire responsibility of a settlement without
the advice and counsel of their associates, and Messrs. Warren and Allen also
expressed their wish that the whole board be present.
It was 9:15 when President Stilson finally
called the meeting to order to transact one matter of business of minor importance.
Messrs. Warren and Allen consenting to remain over till this afternoon, though
they had planned to get away in the morning and had appointments elsewhere to
meet which they must break.
During the evening Village Collector W. A.
Pierce entered the room and pulling ten cigars from his pocket threw them on
the table with the remark that he must ask for a further extension of time
before making his final settlement with the village, as there were a number of
taxes yet remaining unpaid. The trustees sampled his cigars and looked up the
calendar to see how much time they could still give him and comply with the law
in getting their annual report in on time. It was found that he could safely
have till Feb. 15, and, on motion of Trustee Nodecker, seconded by Trustee
White, this extension was granted. He was warned, however, that no further
extension could be looked for.
This constituted the sum total of business
transacted by the board last evening except a motion to adjourn put by Trustee
White, seconded by Trustee Nodecker and unanimously carried.
During the period of waiting for the presence
of the trustees who came, Attorney
T. H. Dowd entered the room with a couple of papers in his hand. He cut a bee
line for President Stilson and asked him to acknowledge the service of one of
the papers. That official has been so accustomed to having such papers served
upon him that without the change of a muscle or any manifestation of interest
or surprise at the matter in hand made the proper endorsement on the paper and
the attorney departed with one copy, throwing back over his shoulder the remark
that "If you decide to fix this all up to-night and honor us with your
check at once we shall be glad to receive it."
After he had gone the president began to
read the copy left with him. He read half a page and then stopped and fixed his
eyes steadily on Mr. Warren. "What are you looking at me for?" asked
that gentleman. "Oh, I was just thinking how glad you would be to see this
document, for it will come to you sooner or later." Mr. Stilson then began
to read aloud and it appeared that the paper served was a summons and complaint
in an action brought by Thomas Conway against the village of Cortland to
recover $2,000 for damages alleged to have been incurred by the plaintiff's falling
into an open sluiceway or gutter at the corner of Main and Port Watson-sts., on
or about the 23d day of November, 1898. The plaintiff alleged that two bones of
one leg were broken and other injuries had been received. Mr. Warren, President
Stilson and the trustees talked over the matter of that sluiceway refreshing
their memories as to what part of it was uncovered, and as to where the danger signals
had been placed. Then they recollected the fact that two gutters crossed
Main-st. at this point one directed toward each side of Port Watson-st. The
complaint didn't state which gutter it was. "Well," finally remarked the
president as he placed the paper on the table with a pile of unaudited bills, "we'll
just leave that right there for the present."
"What an easy way you fellows have of
taking care of such little matters," responded the representative of the
paving company. And then the assemblage broke up and left the office of the
clerk.
The adjourned session of the board was held
between 11 and 12 o'clock this forenoon, but no actual business was
accomplished. Trustee Nodecker was the only absentee. He had feared last night that
he might not be able to get away for a daytime meeting, as he is rushed with
business just now, and much of the work must be gotten out on time under forfeit.
Mr. W. R. Warren of the Warren-Scharf Asphalt
Paving company was present to formally turn over the new pavement to the
village providing the village complies with certain conditions specified by him.
He presented a bond which his company had executed guaranteeing to keep in repair
for a period of ten years the pavement, curb and gutter. The bond was indorsed
by the Fidelity and Deposit company of Maryland as surety. The board did not care to take the responsibility
of accepting the bond until it has been thoroughly examined by Kellogg &
Van Hoesen.
Mr. Warren stated that Engineer Allen had
asked him to agree to reset and refit any iron plates covering gutters in case
they should become loose or out of place on account of ice or frost during the winter.
He would consent to such in agreement.
Mr. Warren next brought up the question of
the patent curb. His company had been asked to agree to indemnify the village
for any loss or that might be occasioned by a suit brought against the village
by reason of an alleged infringement of patent. He thought that his company
should not be asked to enter into such an agreement, but would waive the
question and make the stipulation in consideration of the immediate acceptance
of and payment for the pavement.
Engineer Allen was present and stated that he
had the final estimate made, and the certificate of completion ready to sign,
but would not sign it until Mr. Warren had
made the agreement as to indemnity. No action was taken on any of the
propositions, and an adjournment was taken till Jan. 31.
Paying
for Pavement.
The first payment on the Main-st. paving was
made yesterday at the Second National
bank when Charles F. Sarson planked down $148.17 as his share on the village
improvement. During the day Miss U. A. Ives also paid $530.46 for the
assessment of her mother, Mrs. Philura Ives. Dr. J. H. Spalding and Charles H.
Miller paid $197.70 as their joint assessment. This made a total of $876.33 for
the first day. Not a cent was paid to-day.
BASEBALL
MATTERS.
Directors
for the Year Chosen—Fair Will be Held.
A largely attended meeting of baseball
enthusiasts was held last evening at which much interest was manifested in the
game in Cortland for this year. A board of sixteen directors was chosen as
follows: B. C. Winchell, A. F. Stilson, B. F. Taylor, F. M. Possell, L. F.
Stillman, A. J. Lucy, Ira Dexter, G. J. Maycumber, Maurice Ducy, A. C. Walrad,
M. E. Saryay, G. F. Beaudry, Thomas J. Murray, O. K. George, Arthur B. Nelson,
and M. T. Roche.
The board of directors will meet to-night to
elect officers. It is more than probable that a local manager will be selected.
The town will be represented at the State league meeting soon to be held in
Syracuse.
The project of holding a fair to place the
team on a sound financial footing at the outset was quits thoroughly discussed,
and it was the unanimous opinion that a fair should be held. While no date was
fixed, it is very likely that the fair will be held the week beginning Monday,
Feb. 6, and ending Saturday, Feb. 11. It is believed that this is the most
feasible plan to adopt in raising the money to start the season with, and the business
men of Cortland may be expecting a call from a soliciting committee soon to be
appointed. It is proposed to have no fake arrangement connected with the fair.
There will be valuable door and other prizes, and an entertainment provided
each evening that cannot fail to please each patron.
BREVlTlES.
—The Martin company in "Uncle Tom's
Cabin'' is booked for the Opera House for Thursday evening, Feb. 16.
—The Wide Awake Literary club will meet with
Mrs. Louise Smith, 64 Fitz-ave., Wednesday evening at 7:30 o'clock.
—A regular convocation of Cortland Chapter,
No. 194, R. A. M., will be held to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. The M. M.
degree will be conferred.
—A mothers' meeting, north, will be held at
the home of Mrs. E. D. Parker, 95 Lincoln-ave, to-morrow afternoon at 3
o'clock. Subject, "Children's Rights."
—The Osborne House at Auburn, which has been
entirely rebuilt and refitted, was opened again yesterday to the public. It is
now one of the finest hotels in central New York.
—New display advertisements to-day are—M. A.
Case, One Week More, page 6; McGraw & Osgood, This Week, page 5; F. E.
Brogden, Given Away, page 7; McCarthy & Sons, Sale Of Household
Linens, page 7; Opera House, Kane Opera Co., page 5.
—The Republican caucuses for the town of
Cortlandville occur on Thursday evening, Jan. 26, from 7 to 8 o'clock. The town
convention is at Fireman's hall on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 2 o'clock. The full
call with places for holding caucuses will be found at the head of the
editorial column to-day.
—The baccalaureate sermon before the
graduating class at the Normal will be delivered by Rev. J. Barton French, pastor
of the Memorial Baptist church, at the Congregational church on Sunday evening,
Jan. 29 at 7:30 o'clock. Note the change of time from the customary hour for
evening service.
