Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, February 14, 1899.
PENSION LEGISLATION.
Many Special Bills Passed the House.
ONLY THOSE OF MERIT ACTED ON.
Nothing to Be Done About Pearl Harbor at Present—Has Injustice Been Done Sioux Indians?—Secretary Hay's Shrewd Messenger.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 14.—(Special.)—George W. Ray of New York, chairman of the committee on invalid pensions, says that the special pension legislation for this session has been very well cleared up, and that very little will remain to be done when congress adjourns. He speaks of legislation that the pension committee endorses and not of the many bills that are introduced at each session of congress. In the house there have been presented something like 6,000 or 7,000 private pension bills, which have to receive consideration from Mr. Ray's committee. The large majority of these bills are introduced at each session, as the members of the house take the bills which fail to pass in one congress and reintroduce them at the beginning of the next. Many of these bills provide pensions for people who have long since died, and there is not the least probability of many of them ever passing. Senator Gallinger, chairman of the committee on pensions in the senate, has several times asked senators not to introduce bills unless there is really some merit in them, as it makes the work of the pension committee very heavy. The house committee has made no such appeal to the members, but simply takes up what are known to be meritorious bills and puts them through. Mr. Ray has been quite successful in the house, as there has scarcely been any objection to the bills which his committee has reported, and at the Friday night sessions, when a single objection would stop any bill, it has been observed that objections are rarely made.
Pearl Harbor.
Probably nothing will be done at this session of congress about Pearl harbor in the Hawaiian Islands, which was ceded to the United States some years ago for a naval station. As soon as Hawaii was annexed last summer naval officers were authorized to make a selection of certain well located wharfs and land in Honolulu harbor for the use of the navy. This selection has been confirmed, and possibly out of this will grow a naval station in the Hawaiian Islands if it appears desirable. Many men who have a knowledge of conditions at Pearl harbor insist that it is a very excellent place for a station, but unless it is near enough to Honolulu to be quickly reached it will not likely be made a permanent station for the reason that experience has demonstrated that naval stations should be near large cities, where skilled and other labor can be obtained on short notice. It has been found that the location of several drydocks far distant from large cities has resulted in a great inconvenience, as laboring men have to be transported to and from such places whenever ships are repaired. It is also known that considerable expense would be necessary before Pearl harbor could be made available, and as all our naval vessels will now go direct to Honolulu and have absolute rights there the demand for the Pearl harbor station is not what it was before annexation.
Echo of the Sioux War.
Some interesting history was dug up and presented to the senate the other day, when the Indian appropriation bill was under consideration. It related to the great Sioux war of 1862, when the savage Sioux, under the leadership of Little Crow, swept over at least a half of the state of Minnesota, massacring thousands of settlers and destroying very much property. The government at that time discontinued the annuities of all the Sioux Indians, and it is claimed now that several bands of the Sioux were not engaged in that outbreak, and an injustice has been done them in stopping the annuities provided in old treaties. Many papers were read in the discussion to show that these Indians were not of the bands which followed Little Crow into the great war, but that some of them really assisted the white people. It is said that the Sioux who engaged in the war were driven into the far west and turned up in the Little Big Horn country under Sitting Bull in 1876 and were afterward at the last battle which the Sioux fought at Wounded Knee in South Dakota. Congress is not yet convinced that the tribes for which relief is now asked were not in the war of 1862 and so far has refused to restore the annuities.
A Successful Reporter.
Several years ago out in the west I knew a dapper little Englishman named Broadhurst who was a reporter on a daily paper published in a town of some 5,000 inhabitants. He had to do all sorts of hustling, from interviews on political subjects to chasing petty larceny cases in the police court. The next time I saw him he turned up in Washington, presenting a play called "The Last Chapter," which bids fair to be very successful. He has written two or three comedies which have been successes in both the United States and England. George H. Broadhurst, the playwright, has developed from the young English reporter, and his fame is assured. His next work will be a libretto for an operatic extravaganza, for which John Philip Sousa will write the music. Western people can detect in all of Mr. Broadhurst's plays bits of slang, phrases and situations which are wholly western and which are no doubt due to his experience in that section of the country. While gratified with the success which he has attained in later years, Mr. Broadhurst would not blot from his memory the experiences of his reportorial career, possessing, as they did, a charm not to be obtained in other walks of life.
How He Knew.
Secretary Hay is very considerate of visitors when possible, and oftentimes when strangers are about the state department they can go in and meet him. The other day a gentleman and lady asked the messenger who has been for many years at the door of the secretary's office if they might see the secretary. The genial colored man sized them up as bride and groom, which was a safe guess, as many bridal couples visit the capital, and told Secretary Hay that a new married couple were out there and wished to see him. The secretary kindly admitted them, and after they had shaken hands he asked several questions and made some pleasing allusion to their new state, wishing them all happiness possible. Both bride and groom were blushing furiously as they came out and, the bride was overheard to remark, "How do you suppose he knew that we had just been married?"—ARTHUR W. DUNN.
 |
| New York City snowbound, Feb., 1899. |
NEW YORK SNOWBOUND.
ALL TRAINS OUT OF THE CITY ABANDONED.
Supplies Running Short and Prices Running Up—No Mail Sent Out of the City, but Postmen Have Hard Work Getting Through the Street With Local Letters.
NEW YORK, Feb. 14.—The people of Greater New York this morning enjoyed the first sunshine they had had since Friday last, and the city took on a decidedly cheery aspect in consequence. The general conditions this morning were more favorable than yesterday, but the situation especially as regards railway traffic was yet most serious. The city was still cut off for the most part from communication with the outside world. Last night the New York Central had ceased trying to send out trains. Since then no trains had arrived and those on the way were snowbound. On the New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R. no through trains were being run. The Pennsylvania railroad was still tied up and communication with the south was entirely cut off. It was announced that an attempt would be made to get out a train at noon to-day. Traffic on the Long Island railroad continued paralyzed. No attempt was being made to run trains. The New Jersey Central was still entirely snowbound and on the Erie only a suburban service was attempted and that was of a very irregular character. The Delaware, Lackawanna & Western had managed to run a few trains yesterday and to-day looked for an improved service.
No out-of-town mails have been received in the city during the night and the carriers this morning had only to deliver the local mail, which was in itself a sufficiently hard task in view of the condition of the streets. It was said an attempt would be made this afternoon to send away at least a portion of the outgoing mails that were piled up in the New York and Brooklyn postoffices.
From Tarrytown came the news that a train which had left the Grand Central depot at 5:10 last evening, arrived within half a mile of Tarrytown at 8 o'clock this morning after fighting snowdrifts all night. This train was pushed in by the Poughkeepsie local, also from New York. Both trains had many passengers on board and the first train had about 200 women on board.
When Irvington was reached last evening the first train ran into a big snowbank at Irvington at about 7 P. M. The train was stalled there until 12:30 A. M., when the Poughkeepsie local came along and pushed the first train through a snow drift. While the two trains were stalled the men went out and procured hot coffee and sandwiches for the women passengers. The Poughkeepsie train pushed the other to within a half mile of Tarrytown when they both ran into another big snowbank and both were there at last accounts. Some of the passengers got out and made their way to Tarrytown on foot. The engineers of both trains kept up steam by feeding the boilers with snow water. This enabled them to keep the cars warm.
The city began to-day in its food supply and the prices thereof to feel the stress of severe weather conditions. Last week eggs in this city cost 25 cents per dozen, to-day the price was 38 cents per dozen. Last week butter was 25 cents per pound, to-day 30 cents; chickens 15 cents, now 20; turkeys 18, now 21; oysters $1 per hundred, now $1.60; oranges 25 cents per dozen, now 45; potatoes (Long Island) $3 per barrel, now $4.25; cabbages 5 cents per head, now 15; milk 8 cents per quart, now 12 cents. Fancy qualities were higher.
Of the ordinary butter known to the trade as "choice," "extra Western," there was enough on hand to supply New Yorkers for a month. The "fresh creameries, fancy brand," may last out the week, but prices will go kiting.
A GREAT STORM.
Continued Cold Weather and Railroad Traffic Impeded.
People who pay considerable attention to the weather have within the past few days been able to compare the atmospheric conditions with the big blizzard of March 12 to 14, 1888. From now on events can be reckoned from the blizzard of 1899. The whole country is snowbound, but Cortland seems quite fortunate in not being as badly off as some other places in this respect. For the last few days Cortland residents have been spending most of their time shoveling coal into stoves and furnaces, and the coal dealers are quite confident that the coal has been almost literally melting away, so rushed have they been with orders. The plumbers have been having all they could do to thaw out water pipes. The Cortland Water Works Co. this morning had only six meters destroyed by freezing.
The extremely cold snap seemed to have abated somewhat Sunday, but that night it began to snow, and yesterday afternoon the snow became simply a fine powder which found its way down one's neck, into his ears, nostrils and eyes, and people began to realize something of the fury of a western blizzard.
But the snow has not drifted sufficiently to block the highways leading to Cortland.
The Cortland & Homer Traction Co. had its lines in operation early this morning and [trolley] cars are running on time this afternoon.
Of the three steam roads touching Cortland, the Erie & Central New York is the least affected. All its trains have been running on time until to-day. The train for the east this morning left on time with a big gang of shovelers on board, but did not succeed in reaching Cincinnatus until after 10 o'clock. Train No. 7, which is scheduled to leave Cortland at 11 A. M. was abandoned. The train came back from Cincinnatus this afternoon, and will make the run this evening.
Traffic on this division of the Lehigh Valley is almost at a standstill. No northbound trains have been run to-day, but it is expected that trains will be on time to-night. Trainmaster Goodwin made up a train and started it south this morning at 9:30, and the regular train from the north reached Cortland at about 11:30.
This division of the D., L. &. W. is open all right, and trains are late only because of waiting at Binghamton for trains on the main line. All southbound trains are on time. The train for the north reaching Cortland at 4:43, did not get here last night until 9 o'clock. The New York express due in Cortland at 6 o'clock this morning was stalled in a snowdrift fifty miles this side of New York. A local train made up at Binghamton reached Cortland at 9:20 A. M. The regular 9:20 northbound train was twenty minutes late.
A CORTLAND BOY
Now a Prominent Business Man of the Salt City.
The Syracuse Post-Standard of Sunday devoted several columns to a mention of some of the younger generation of business men of that city who are rapidly pushing to the front. Among the list was the following regarding a former resident of Cortland, the oldest son of Hon. R. T. Peck, and the older brother of Mr. F. R. Peck, cashier of The National bank of Cortland:
Arthur R. Peck is looked upon as one of the brightest of the younger business men of Syracuse, and he has the reputation of making money out of everything he touches. Mr. Peck was born in Cortland and before he was 20 years old began life for himself as a dealer in shoes. He pushed the business and acquired stores in Batavia and Oneonta, which he managed with success. In 1889 be started the manufacture of the Autographic cash register. In this line he was the pioneer. The enterprise proved so successful that in 1891 he sold out the shoe stores and moved his cash register business to Syracuse. In 1895 he took up bicycle manufacturing, becoming a large stockholder in and the general manager of the Barnes Cycle company. The success of this company is largely due to Mr. Peck's enterprise, careful management and foresight. For two years he was one of the thirteen directors of the National Cycle board of trade, which was composed of the recognized leaders in the business. He has become interested in other concerns, among them the Syracuse, Lakeside & Baldwinsville railway and the Mack-Miller Candle company.
FUNERAL OF MR. BANGS
Attended by Odd Follows and Mechanics in Large Numbers.
The funeral of Elmer Bangs, whose death occurred Sunday morning, was held at 2 o'clock this afternoon from his late residence, 3 Stevenson-st., and at 2:30 o'clock from the Presbyterian church.
Cortland Council, O. U. A. M., and Vesta lodge, I. O. O. F., of both of which organizations Mr. Bangs was a member, attended in a body and acted as an escort from the house to the church and from the church to the cemetery, at which latter place brief services were conducted by the Odd Fellows,
At the request of the family, the funeral was in charge of Undertakers Beard & Peck, and aside from the members of this firm, the following undertakers were in attendance: A. C. Baker of Marathon, Lorenzo Parsons of McGraw and J. H. O'Leary of Cortland.
The bearers were Messrs. Willard Briggs, T. P. Button, E. N. Sherwood and E. A. McGraw, representing the Odd Fellows and Messrs. Norman Thompson and C. O. Smith representing the American Mechanics.
The service at the house consisted of a prayer by Rev. John T. Stone, pastor of the Presbyterian church. At the church a quartet consisting of Misses Ruth McNett and Jessamine Ellsworth and Messrs. J. B. Hunt and T. N. Hollister sang "Abide with Me." Rev. Mr. Stone offered prayer and the quartet sang "Going Down the Valley." After selected Scripture readings Mr. Stone made appropriate remarks and the quartet sang "Nearer My God to Thee," the service closing with a brief prayer.
Values Her Wheel.
To the Editor of The STANDARD:
SIR—I want every one to know how happy I am with the Stearns bicycle awarded to me at the baseball fair. Of course at first I had no idea that I would get it, but when my friends begged of me to try that we might help the ball team along, I thought It would be nice if I could have it. It is a splendid wheel and I prize it very highly. Of course I was very sorry to defeat Miss Grey, as I know how hard she worked for the wheel. And, Mr. Editor, I am also very thankful to all those who assisted me, not only those who paid me money, but those who took an interest on my side and helped me to win. I appreciate their kindness very much and am very grateful for it. I am, also, very thankful to the Baseball association for giving me the chance to win the bicycle and I certainly hope that the team will have as good luck on the diamond this summer as I had at the fair, and that next fall we can all join in with them and celebrate their winning the pennant.
JOSEPHINE E. SULLIVAN, Cortland, Feb. 18.
BREVITIES.
—The Fortnightly club will meet to-morrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock with Mrs. A. M. Jewett, 15 Monroe Heights.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Model Clothing Co., Timely Tip, page 8; Warren, Tanner & Co., Water Sale, page 4.
—The Ladies' Literary club will meet on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 15, at the home of Mrs. J. L. Watrous, 26 Clinton-ave.
—James A. Wood has declined the Democratic nomination for justice of the peace and filed the same with Town Clerk Pudney. The vacancy has not been filled.
—Mrs. E. O. Kingman entertained a party of friends at her home on Washington-st. last Saturday evening, in honor of her guest, Mrs. B. F. Joiner of Flemingville.
—Although the weather last night was very unpropitious, about thirty-five couples attended the seventh assembly party in Taylor hall, and a very enjoyable party is reported.
—On account of to-morrow being Ash Wednesday the meeting of the Rob Roy club which was to have been held to-morrow evening has been postponed until Tuesday evening of next week.
—There have already been registered at the Normal this term 560 students and some more who are kept away on account of the storm will be back in the course of a few days. This is the largest spring term registration in the history of the school. The registration for the year so far is nearly 700. In addition to this number, there are over 400 attendants in the schools of practice.
—On account of the blizzard last night the meeting of the University Center was postponed till Tuesday evening, Feb. 21. So few were present that it was not deemed fair to Rev. Amos Watkins, who had prepared a paper on "A General Review of the State of Europe at the Beginning of the Eighteenth century," nor fair to the others who were unable to be present to go on, hence the postponement.
No comments:
Post a Comment