GARLAND STRICKEN IN COURT AND CORTLANDVILLE TOWN OFFICERS

 

Augustus Hill Garland.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, January 27, 1899.

STRICKEN IN COURT.

Former Attorney General Augustus H. Garland Dead.

HIS DEMISE WAS VERY SUDDEN.

He Was Addressing the United States Supreme Court When He Was Stricken Down With Apoplexy and Death Resulted Within Ten Minutes Afterward.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—Former Attorney General Garland was stricken with apoplexy while addressing the United States supreme court and died within 10 minutes. The occurrence came with startling and tragic unexpectedness, changing the usual calm and dignity of the court into temporary confusion when the dying man was carried from the chamber in a futile effort to alleviate his condition.

   When the court convened at noon Mr. Garland resumed an argument in the case of Towson vs. Moore, which had begun the day before. He had read from a law volume and had followed with the sentence:

   "This, your honors, is our contention." As the last word was uttered Mr. Garland was seen to raise his hand and then gasp. He tottered and fell sidewise, striking against a chair and overturning it as he fell heavily to the floor. A succession of loud, deep gasps came from him as he lay on the floor. His associate in the case, Franklin Mackey, was at once by his side and with other counsel and officials the head of the dying man was raised, his shoes removed and a draught of water given him. A deathly pallor had overspread his face and this soon gave place to a deep purple which foretold the gravity of the attack. He was carried from the chamber across to the room of Chief Clerk McKenney and there placed on a sofa.

   Senator Gallinger, who is a physician, was near at hand. A glance told him that the attack would be fatal. Within 10 minutes from the stroke Mr. Garland breathed his last.

   Word of the tragedy was soon noised through the Capitol and senators and representatives hurried to the court room. The two Arkansas senators, Mr. Berry and Mr. Jones, were among the first to view the body and following them was a long line of persons high in legislative and legal circles who had been associated with Mr. Garland at various times in his long and notable public service.

   After the death of the former attorney general became known the supreme court adjourned for the day. This action was taken on the motion of Attorney General Griggs who in making it said:

   "May it please the court, it is my sad duty to announce to the court the sudden death of an ex-attorney general of the United States—Augustus Hill Garland. The sudden and unexpected death of this distinguished man comes with a shock of surprise to those of us who have heard of it, as undoubtedly it came to those of this court who witnessed his seizure. He was a man so distinguished in his profession, so distinguished as a statesman in political life and so connected officially and professionally with this court, to the last moment of his life that I deem it proper that I should suggest to the court that out of respect to his memory they should take a recess until tomorrow and I make that motion."

   Responding for the court Chief Justice Fuller said:

   "The court learns of the death of Mr. Garland with sincere sorrow and concurs in the suggestion that has been made. Out of respect to the memory of this distinguished member of the bar an adjournment will be taken until tomorrow at the usual hour."

   The news of General Garland's death produced a profound sadness in the senate where he had served for many years as one of a galaxy of distinguished men. While in the senate he had been a member of the committee on judiciary and he had taken rank with the strong men of that day. He gave the greater share of his attention to legal questions as the natural tendency of his mind was in that direction. Of recent years he had practiced his profession almost exclusively in the supreme court of the United States. It was here that he won his most pronounced triumphs and since the end must come, all recognize that it was most fitting that it should have come while he was performing his duties in this great forum.

   The detailed arrangements of the funeral have not been complete, but services will be held in the parlor of the Colonial hotel, where General Garland lived, on Sunday after which the body probably will be placed in a vault at Rock Creek cemetery to be removed later to Little Rock, Ark., where interment will be made. The remains of Mrs. Garland, who died 20 years ago, now rest there.

 

William McKinley.

M'KINLEY CRITICISED.

His Acts a Subject of Debate In the Senate.

HOLDING BACK INFORMATION.

Senators Gorman, Vest and Hoar Attack the President Who ls Defended by Senators Spooner and Platt. Treaty Speeches In the Senate Will Be Cut Short.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—The executive session of the senate was consumed in discussion of the failure of the president so far to send the senate the documents in his possession and on file in the state department, bearing on the Paris conference.

   Senator Gorman raised the point as soon as the doors were closed that the resolution had been adopted several days ago and addressed the senate at some length on the failure of the president to respond to the senate's request for information.

   The attack of the Maryland senator was followed by similar speeches by Senators Vest and Hoar and they were replied to by Senators Spooner and Platt. The five senators engaged in a running debate, the opponents of the treaty contending that the senate was entitled as a part of the treaty making power to all the facts bearing upon the case, and the supporters of the document holding that the president could withhold any papers which he did not consider in the interest of the general welfare to give out.

   Senator Spooner cited the precedents to show that the president could withhold information of this character at his pleasure and that such a course frequently had been followed in cases in which the president deemed it unwise to communicate facts bearing upon international complications when to do so might prejudice the country's best interests and promote the very evils which it was sought to ameliorate.

   The point was also made that the president might feel more free to communicate with the senate if he could be sure of privacy in doing so. No one professed to speak by authority and all the senators who were heard in support of the president's course expressed confidence that the president's action whatever it might be would be for the best interests of the public.

   Replying to this latter point, Senator Hoar said that no one could excel him in admiration for the personal qualifications of the president, or in confidence in his patriotism. At the same time he contended for his original proposition that the senate was entitled to the president's full confidence in passing upon a question of so much importance as the acquisition of territory thousands of miles from our own shores and with millions of people totally unlike our own population. He thought there must be some reason for putting the Philippines on a footing so different from the footing on which Cuba had been placed in the treaty.

   The opinion is generally expressed that the time allowed for debate of the treaty in executive session will not be by any means consumed as very few senators on either side desire to make speeches behind closed doors.

   The friends of the treaty profess increasing confidence for ratification but there is some talk of adopting a negative resolution to the effect that the treaty does not bind the United States to the adoption of a colonial policy.

 

CUBANS ON A STRIKE.

Road Makers Dissatisfied With the Wages Paid Them.

   SANTIAGO, Cuba, Jan. 27.—Two hundred men who had been engaged in road making in this district went on a strike. They had been receiving $1 per day and want $1.25 with rations. It is believed that two men have been guilty of inciting them to strike, and as soon as these are discovered they will be placed under arrest. Unless the strikers return to work at once, as it is expected they will, other laborers will be employed.

   The United States armored cruiser Brooklyn, Captain Cook, arrived off Santiago harbor and hove to outside Morro castle. Captain Cook with several other officers came up in the harbor to the city in the Brooklyn's launch. The cruiser, which had come from Havana, proceeded later for Key West.

 

Admiral George Dewey.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Dewey on Senate Delay.

   There in no one in the far East, or elsewhere, whose opinion on the conditions in the Philippines is entitled to more weight than that of Admiral Dewey. Before that May morning when opportunity revealed him to the world he was known to few. The few, his intimates, estimated him at his real worth, a cool, brave, far seeing, able man. The battle of Manila bay confirmed that estimate, and events since have strengthened it in the estimation of all men.

   While talk resounds in the "upper chamber" at Washington, what is Dewey's view of its effect in the Philippines? A letter received from the admiral by his nephew, W. T. Dewey of Montpelier, a few days ago, said that Aguinaldo was fast losing his strength with the natives and could be disposed of as a disturbing factor in a hurry were it not that he is bolstered up by the hope that congress will refuse to ratify the treaty, and that in some way he will personally benefit by the stand he has taken for independent recognition.

   Mr. Gorman, leader of the opposition to the treaty in the senate, professes readiness to vote. He believes he has enough senators with him to defeat the treaty. He counts in the ranks of his followers two Republicans—Senators Hoar and Hale—two men who should hesitate to defeat a treaty of peace, to prolong a state of war and add to the difficulties which Dewey and Otis and their brave men face in the Philippines.

   Admiral Dewey would hesitate to say to a newspaper correspondent what he wrote in the confidence of relationship to his friends at home. He is too thorough a sailor to criticize in public the course of congress or the senate. But the people will be grateful that he wrote to his nephew and to the latter for making public his words. The delay of the senate and the speech of the antis encourage the insurgent leader to hold out against the authority of the United States. Refusal by the United States to accept the treaty of peace means to Aguinaldo, and is interpreted by him to his followers, indecision, fear of the insurgents, gain to him and his immediate following. Ratification he would understand to mean an end to his pretensions, and in the judgment of the American admiral quick acceptance by the nations of American authority.

   Senators who prevent this consummation take a heavy responsibility. They can not justify their conduct by the plea of opposition to expansion. The treaty does not decree expansion. It declares peace, and opens the way to a determination of our policy toward the Philippines. Refusal to ratify it continues and augments the difficulties of our soldiers and sailors, and exposes the United States to loss of prestige with the nations of the earth, as well as with Aguinaldo and his band of insurgents. It is exasperating, lamentable and humiliating, that a few senators can thus hold up the United States. The people are with Dewey. They demand that the treaty be ratified.

 

   ◘ Miss Clara Barton of the Red Cross society has written and published a book in which she gives her experience of the war in Cuba entirely from the point of view of an executive and ministering angel. Of her self-sacrificing labor and noble purpose in her share of the work in that campaign there can be no question, but in her capacity of critic of the government and of the military operations she allows her womanly sensibilities to make her rather querulous and at times unreasonable. She complains of the government and the commanding officers for results that are incident and always will be incident to war, for war is, at the best, the clash of physical forces that entails waste, destruction, suffering and death inevitably. In reading her book one sees that the point of view is curiously feminine, and one feels that the author regretted very much that war was not carried on with the tidiness and comfort that a woman would command in a sickroom in her own house. Mistakes there were in prevision and in execution. But when was there a war devoid of them? That they would have been reduced to a minimum if we had had such a ponderous and exact martial machine as has Germany is quite likely. But would the game have been worth the cost? Miss Barton's book will hardly excite any fresh official investigations. Army men look upon it indulgently as an exhibition of very valuable sentiments which in actual service are very apt to be disarranged by the rush of events.

 

TOWN OFFICERS.

Communication from "A Taxpayer" Mentioning Numerous Candidates.

   To the Editor of The STANDARD:

   SIR—As the time approaches for our annual town-meeting I observe great activity among the candidates for the various offices to be nominated at the coming Republican convention. There is no lack of material in this respect. On the contrary there are "candidates galore" for all the offices, with the possible exception of that of supervisor. For this place I have as yet heard of but one name, the present incumbent, D. F. Wallace, who seems to have discharged the duties of that office in a manner satisfactory to all factions. There seems to be a desire on the part of all good Republicans, that harmony should once more prevail in their ranks, and the nomination of Mr. Wallace who was elected last year on the Independent ticket, would surely seem a step in that direction and, if wise counsel prevails and good, careful, competent, clean men are nominated for the various offices, there will be no question as to the result.

   Now, as I understand it, there are to be elected this spring, a supervisor, two justices of the peace, three assessors, a  collector, a town clerk, a commissioner of highways, two overseers of the poor, and five constables, the justices of the peace being elected for four years, the other officers all for two years.

   One of the most important offices in this town, in my judgment and one that the taxpayers should consider very carefully is that of overseer of the poor, as we all know by an action of the board of supervisors in their session a year ago, the care of the poor now devolves upon the towns, that is, each town has to support its own poor, instead of being as heretofore, a county charge. This is a matter of serious moment to the town of Cortlandville, of vital interest to every taxpayer, and there should be selected for these offices not only humane men, but men of good judgment, men who will investigate each and every application for relief, men who cannot be easily imposed upon, and will not through hasty, careless and injudicious expenditure of the people's money create an increase in the numbers of those who call for help.

   I sincerely believe this to be one of the most serious problems that confront us, just what to do, and how to do it. I learn from those having the matter in charge that it has cost this town the past year including overseers' fees, nearly $6,000; of this amount the overseers have expended in temporary, or out door relief, nearly $5,000 as follows: Mr. Cummings has issued about 250 orders amounting to about $800; Mr. Wheeler has issued between eleven and twelve hundred orders amounting to upwards of $4,000. We paid between four and five hundred dollars for the maintenance of this town's inmates at the countyhouse. This is a large item and one that will appear in our taxes each year. If we elect the right men for the office I do not doubt but that these figures might be very materially reduced, and at the same time no worthy applicant turned away.

   We as citizens have a sacred duty to discharge to the unfortunate and needy, and I am sure have no disposition to shirk, in the least, our obligations in this respect, but we do object, most emphatically, to supporting people in idleness who are able to work, or who, when they do work, spend their earnings for beer or whiskey.

   Without making any comparisons, or assuming to criticize, permit me to say right here that no more competent, careful, humane and painstaking man can in my judgment be found in this town for one of these offices of overseer of the poor than A. V. H. Cummings. His record speaks for itself. No worthy applicant was ever turned away by him, while the idle, vicious, loafing, unworthy, intemperate class have found "Botchy," as he is called, a hard man to work. Mr. Wheeler has many friends and is a strong candidate for renomination. Mr. O. P. Miner who made such an excellent superintendent of the poor, is also a candidate, and so is Mr. M. L. Alexander, who is abundantly competent to fill the office,  so there will be no lack of good timber.

   The office of highway commissioner is also an important one, and has not always been filled by men of character and good business qualifications. These are essential qualities for the wise administration of this office, for it is one of grave responsibility, and the election of an incompetent and unworthy official for this place might easily result in largely increasing our burden of taxation. Give us an upright, clean, temperate man for this as well as for all offices.

   But how about the assessors? Ah! Here again we are all interested, here again we want men, upright men, broadminded men, fearless men, men who cannot be brow beaten or coerced, independent men who are not subject to the rule or call of any faction, or set of politicians, men who are familiar with valuations of property and have the courage of their convictions, who cannot be swerved from discharging their duty in accordance with their solemn obligation, men who have no personal axes to grind, who will under any consideration allow any personal prejudice to influence them. Where could we do better I would ask, than to re-elect Mr. B. S. Conger for the center, Mr. D. H. Crane for the east part, and Mr. Frank H. Sears for the west part. The name of Mr. William Bell for the west part has also been mentioned. Mr. Conger and Mr. Crane are both members of the old board, while Mr. Bell, I believe, possesses in an eminent degree the qualities described above, as being essential in the makeup of a good assessor.

   Two justices of the peace are to be elected in place of Justice Parker, whose term expires this year, and Justice Kelly, whose term expires next year. I have heard of no name but Mr. Parker's to succeed himself. He is one of the oldest of the town officials, has held this office for many years and has a good record. He is an upright man, a conscientious justice, and has filled the office with honor to the town and credit to himself.

   For town clerk, the names of Thos. H. Dowd and Fred Kingsbury have been mentioned as being candidates, either of which I believe would make a good official and be acceptable to a united party.

   For collector, well, here the "woods" are simply crowded. I won't take up too much of your valuable space by enumerating the names of all the candidates for this office. Among others I have heard the names of Frank Phelps, Mr. Van Gorden, and Mr. Hammond, but "there are others." May the best man win, i. e., the man who will collect the closest, who is competent to do the work, and not, as is too often the case, the man who needs it the most. It is a far wiser plan for our town to help men who are incompetent for this office in other directions. Let's have our taxes collected.

   Five constables are to be elected and according to an unwritten law of the Republican party of this town, one should be selected from Blodgett Mills, one from McGrawville, and three from this corporation. We have had, with few exceptions in the past, honest, upright straight-forward, competent men for these offices. There is no doubt but what some of the present officials in this office will be renominated, some of them I believe should be. Gentlemen of the convention, delegates duly elected by the caucus, let me urge you as citizens, as taxpayers, to be careful as to your pledges. Better yet, make no pledges, look the ground over with great care, consider the men, their standing in the community, their character and fitness for office, make us a good ticket and we will all stand by. The dark clouds of discord which have disfigured our political horizon for so long a period, will disappear as we march once more together, side by side against the common foe, to victory.

   A TAXPAYER.

 

TEN-CENT STAMPS

Must be Placed on Marriage Certificates by the One Officiating.

   Paragraph 31, relative to stamp act under schedule A, act of June 18, 1898, reads as follows:

   "A marriage certificate, to be returned to any office of state, county, city, or town, to constitute part of a public record, requires no stamp. A marriage certificate issued by the officiating clergyman or magistrate and given to the parties, if required by law, must be stamped at the rate of 10 cents."

   There seems to have been some misunderstanding regarding the law relative to stamping marriage certificates, but the above is the text on the subject issued by the commissioner of internal revenue at Washington. A number of local clergymen have acknowledged that they have not stamped the certificates at all, and it is generally conceded that all the clergymen have been dilatory in this matter.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The sixth assembly party will occur in Taylor hall to-night.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—A. Petersen, Rosenthal, page 5.

   —The regular meeting of the Sons of Veterans will be held this evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Regular conclave of Cortland [Templars] commandery, No. 50, at the asylum this evening at 7:30.

   —Binghamton has awarded a contract to the Groton Bridge company for a bridge to cost $40,000. It is to span the Susquehanna river at Tompkins-st.

   —The Kane Opera company arrived in the city this morning after a most successful engagement in Ithaca. They produce Offenbach's "Grand Duchess" at the Cortland Opera House Saturday evening.

   —D. W. Field, G. E. Keith and P. B. Keith have each given $10,000 towards the new building of the Y. M. C. A. at Brockton, Mass., and thus added three more names to the list of large givers to association work.

   —Clayton H. Buell has resigned his position as the Cortland correspondent for the Syracuse Evening Journal. Mr. Buell assigns no reason for his action. He will continue his spicy reviews of Cortland events in the Elmira Telegram, however,

   —A large audience saw "Remember the Maine" at the Opera House last night and was delighted at the scenery and mechanical effects which were thought to be about as fine as anything ever seen here before. The play was very fair and the company produced it well.

   —The public schools of Cortland open for the last half of the school year on Monday, Jan. 30, 1899. Parents wishing to get their little people in school for the first time should send them on the above date as first grade people are not received except in September and January of each year.