GOMEZ A DISTURBER, WILLIS HUBBARD, AND DEATH PENALTY FOR WOMEN

 

Gen. Maximo Gomez.

Gen. Maximo Gomez on horseback.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, April 7, 1899.

GOMEZ A DISTURBER.

The United States May Yet Have Trouble With Him.

IS AGITATING INDEPENDENCE.

His Purpose ls to Make the People Seem to Have but One Desire, and That Is Independence and Absolute Separation From the United States.

   HAVANA, April 7.—The Cuban military assembly being dead, General Maximo Gomez will take up his program of solidifying the Cuban people into a party that shall, without ceasing, urge the United States to withdraw from the island. His purpose is to make the people seem to have but one emotion, but one desire—the thought of independence and of absolute separation from the United States.

   General Gomez considers the dissolution of the assembly as his personal achievement, aided by the military administration here and countenanced at Washington. He believes that he emerges from the controversy with the assembly stronger than ever with the better classes. His theory is that the Cubans who before thought him merely an adroit guerrilla chief are now prepared to regard him as a political leader and that a few days more will probably see him again general-in-chief of the army.

   The Cuban general, Pedro Diaz, who commands in the province of Pinar del Rio, invited several generals and brigade commanders, who are friendly to Gomez to a conference regarding the latter's future course. As many who were invited were at some distance from Havana and could not arrive here in time for the meeting, there were only a few actually present; but the possibility of reinstating Gomez as commander-in-chief was informally discussed with the result that little or no opposition to the proposal developed. In order to get a more general expression of opinion it was decided to defer the formal meeting. No other candidate seems possible, and, if any such action is attempted it will undoubtedly be carried through.

   General Gomez, if reinstated, would be of greater service to the United States in the disbursement of the $3,000,000 but his political program means the keeping up of agitation and disturbance in the minds of the people and the weakening of American authority by producing the impression that everything done by the Americans is temporary and may soon or later be overturned.

   American observers consider any such agitation as extremely harmful to the industrial revival and the restoration of Cuban credit. Some who are high in authority and who have exceptional opportunities of knowing the character and ideas of Gomez, think the United States government may have trouble with him yet. His attitude has always been consistent regarding independence for Cuba, and he is still working for the same end. His character is narrow, resolute, arbitrary, exacting and likely to make him a constant disturber.

 

Maj. Gen. Elwell S. Otis.

HELD AS A PRISONER.

General Otis Furnishes Information Asked For by Senator Perkins.

   WASHINGTON. April 7.—General Otis has sent a dispatch to the adjutant general replying to inquiries made in regard to one Huber. Senator Perkins of California had informed the department that it was believed that Huber had been killed by the insurgents. The reply of General Otis says:

   "Huber, hospital corps, insurgent prisoner; passed beyond lines without permission seven days before hostilities commenced, having camera and revolver. Was arrested near Malolos because armed and taking photographs. Was in civilian clothes, claimed to be British seaman; was in fair health Feb. 10, when money was furnished him with promise of more to follow. He and three other prisoners arrested before hostilities commenced were at Malolos 10 days before capture of city. Believe that all are alive."

 

BOUNTY ON FISH NETS.

An Opinion on the Recently Repealed Law by the Attorney-General.

   ALBANY, April 7.—According to a law passed one year ago there was a bounty paid for each net which was found in the waters of this state, and which had been used for illegal fishing. Some of the county treasurers paid out as high as $20,000 in a year for such bounties, and on Feb. 10, 1899, the law repealing the act was signed.

   In the meantime the state comptroller was flooded with inquiries from county treasurers as to when the law became operative. This, in view of the fact that many of them had in their possession certificates calling for such bounties which had not been paid, and there were besides numerous applications for such certificates in course of preparation and of which they had received notice.

   Deputy Comptroller Morgan has just received an opinion on the subject from Attorney General Davis in which he says the repeal of the law became operative on Feb. 10, 1899, and ends his opinion as follows:

   "I am of the opinion that upon the repeal of the law which went into effect Feb. 10, 1899, every right under such repeal law was extinguished and no action on the part of a county treasurer could thereafter be legally taken with regard to the payment of the bounty prescribed by said act, notwithstanding certificates were filed with the county treasurer which at the time authorized the county treasurer to pay the bounty in conformity with the certificates. Since the repealing law took effect such authority was removed and at this time there would be no justification for the payment of the bounty."

 

Extensive Fish Planting.

   ALBANY, April 7.—Chairman Babcock of the fish hatcheries committee reported that 18,000,000 white fish fry have been planted in Lake Ontario during January and February. The fry came from the Caledonia fish hatchery. About 38,000,000 tom cod were planted during the same period in the salt waters of the state. During March 1,500,000 trout were delivered by the various fish hatcheries.

 

Guglielmo Marconi.

Nicola Tesla.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Without Wires.

   The success of Signor Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian electrician, in telegraphing without wires across the channel from South Foreland, the most easterly land in England, to Boulogne, France, is a matter of great interest both to the scientific and commercial worlds. This wireless system has been in practical operation for several months between the South Foreland lighthouse and the East Goodwin lightship, a distance of twelve miles. It worked all through the fierce storms of the latter part of February without interruption, messages being continually sent back and forth. The possibility of thus communicating between lightships and shore is a matter of far-reaching importance. Its great utility in giving prompt information of wrecks was illustrated only the other day. A vessel went ashore on the East Goodwin sands. The news was at once sent by wireless telegraph from the lightship there to the South Foreland lighthouse. Tugs were immediately dispatched to the assistance of the stranded vessel. Had a heavy storm been in progress the ship might have been lost before any help could be summoned if the only communication with the shore was by boat.

   The principle upon which the Marconi system works is similar to that upon which a tuning fork will respond to the vibrations caused by striking another tuning fork near it. The main feature of the system is a wire extending into the air. This acts as a conductor, and the distance to which signals may be sent varies according to the square of the length of this conductor. By using a conductor 80 feet high messages can be sent a distance of eighteen miles, while with one 114 feet high the distance is increased to fully forty miles. No hindrance to signaling is caused by hills or other obstacles, or by the curvature of the earth. The Morse code is used, and it is read as distinctly as if the termini were connected by wire.

   Nikola Tesla has for some time been conducting experiments on the same line as those of Marconi; but he predicts that they will, when perfected, be productive of much more marvelous results. By means of oscillators he claims that he can produce a current of 8,000,000 volts, which can be directed to any point at which arrangements have been made to receive it, and this can be accomplished without regard to distance or surrounding conditions. In short, electrical energy in great amounts can be transmitted efficiently and safely almost any distance, without the use of wires, so that far off machinery can be operated and perfectly controlled and objects moved without any tangible connection whatever. By his system Tesla says he will be able to telegraph across the Atlantic ocean with absolute certainty. Moreover, he will produce light, diffusive like that of the sun, with an economy greater than obtainable in the usual way, and with lamps that never consume. These be wonderful things that are promised; but as yet there seems to be more theory than practice oscillating in Tesla's laboratory.

 

Martha Garretson Place.

The Death Penalty For Women.

   Comments on the execution of the murderess Mrs. Place show that the thinking and conservative world commended the action of Governor Roosevelt in refusing to interfere. The London Speaker says of this subject: "We do not hear any clamor against the keepers of death traps, and the victims of the Windsor hotel [fire] do not arouse that passion of pity which was bestowed upon the wild human beast justly punished for her crime. Men and women who rave because a murderess has an electric wire attached to her leg cannot see that it is criminal to build a hotel which, when a curtain ignites, burns like tissue paper."

   In spite, however, of the general tendency of public sentiment, the women's clubs of New York have drawn up the following resolution:

   "Whereas, the question has been raised, What is the difference between killing the woman and killing the man condemned to death by the law? We reply: Man suffers death at the hands of his fellow men under penalty of a law which he helps to frame and sustain. When woman goes to the electric chair, it is men and not women that condemn her to death and execute the judgment. Therefore resolved, that the present civil status of woman in the state of New York makes the execution of the death penalty upon her legalized murder."

 

Report on Prisons.

   The STANDARD is indebted to Hon. W. J. Mantanye, prison commissioner, for a copy of the Fourth Annual Report of the State Commission of Prisons. The report this year comprises 274 pages and is quite largely historical, as well as containing the usual number of statistics. It is really very interesting reading. It contains a number of illustrations of the exterior and interior of all the prisons. The printing was done at the Sing Sing prison and the cuts were all made by the class in photo-engraving at Elmira reformatory. The report itself was entirely prepared by Mr. Mantanye and simply affords another instance of the painstaking care with which he prepares anything entrusted to him. Mr. Mantanye has at his office a number of extra copies which he would be glad to furnish to any one who feels an interest in the subject.

 

GROVER RELIEF CORPS.

Twelfth Anniversary Observed in a Fitting Manner.

   Grand Army hall was last evening filled by a company numbering nearly two hundred, who had assembled in response to invitations from Grover Relief corps., No. 96, on the occasion of the corps' twelfth anniversary.

   The guests were hospitably received by the president, Mrs. Alice A. Hoxie, the senior vice-president, Mrs. Lovina A. Burroughs, and the junior vice-president, Mrs. Harriet L. Davis. The time was passed in a social way and the beauty of the occasion was enhanced by the special decorations in the national colors which were tastily arranged about the room. No formal program was observed, but during the evening several piano selections were given by Miss Caroline R. Kellogg, which were highly enjoyed. Miss Davis of Ithaca, who is a niece of Mrs. Davis, very kindly consented to render selections upon the piano, and each time was compelled to respond to encores. Miss Davis is a graduate from the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, and her playing of last night was very much admired by all. She is also an elocutionist of more than ordinary ability, and pleased those present by reciting several selections. Mr. M. R. Faville also favored those in attendance with a number of vocal solos in his usual perfect manner. Very nice refreshments were served in the diningroom above, which was in charge of Mrs. J. C. Seamans, and which very prettily decorated for the occasion. All had a good time and soon after 10 o'clock the company broke up.

 

A FAREWELL BANQUET

Tendered G. Harry Garrison who Leaves for Troy.

   As a significance of lasting and sincere friendship, Mr. G. Harry Garrison was tendered a farewell banquet last evening at the Cortland House by twenty-one of his gentlemen friends. Mr. Garrison has resigned his position as secretary and treasurer of the Cortland & Homer Traction company and goes to Troy to-morrow to become cashier of the Citizen's Steamboat company, which plies a line of boats between Troy and New York.

   The banquet of last night in many respects excelled all previous efforts of Landlord Dorr C. Smith. It was served in the private diningroom, and consisted of nine courses. The duties of toastmaster were carefully and wittily performed by Attorney James Dougherty, and each one present responded in an impromptu manner to the calls of the toastmaster. Letters of regret were received from F. P. Mooney of Cleveland, O., Attorney G. L. Wallace of Fargo, S. D., and from C. G. Straat of Albany.

 

Cortland Normal School.

Normal [School] Notes.

   The committee on arrangements for the alumni exercises held during commencement week has chosen Mrs. Charlotte Nash-Head to have charge of their music. This committee consisting of Messrs. T. J. McEvoy and Charles H. White of the class of '89, and Miss Grace Mead of '91, having under consideration the plan for a change in the hour for holding the annual banquet from evening to early afternoon. In many of the colleges a change of time for class banquets has been found necessary, and in each case where the afternoon plan has been tried there has been a greater number in attendance than there were when the spread was held at night. The time for the banquet ought to be such as will accommodate the greatest number of the alumni, and that time is believed to be in the afternoon.

   Harry M. Butler, class of '94, is teaching music in the Mt. Vernon schools.

   The A class will meet and elect officers this afternoon. The following officers, which are the most important in the entire course, are to be chosen: President, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, orator, historian, prophet and poet.

 

DIED IN SYRACUSE.

Willis Hubbard's Body to be Buried in Cortland.

   The Syracuse Telegram of last night says: Willis Hubbard, who for some time past has been employed as a song artist in a number of saloons and concert halls in this city, was taken with a hemorrhage while singing in Daniel Foley's saloon on Belden-ave. last night, and died from its effects while being removed to St. Joseph's hospital this morning.

   Hubbard was about 26 years old, and his home was in Cortland. He was the possessor of a clear, rich tenor voice, and was the man who sang at the county fair last year. Last night he went into Foley's place, and when in the middle of a song he was taken with a hemorrhage and was forced to stop singing.

   The man complained of feeling very ill, and he went to bed there for the night. This morning he was feeling no better, and it was thought best to send him to St. Joseph's hospital.

   Burns' city ambulance was called and Hubbard was placed in it, but he died on the way to the hospital, and the body was removed to Burns & Gaynor's undertaking rooms.

   The Post-Standard of this morning says: Coroner Weaver investigated last evening and decided that death was due to natural causes. The body will be taken to Cortland for burial.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The last Assembly party of the season will be held this evening in Taylor hall. Dancing will begin at 9 o'clock.

   —The annual convention of the Christian Endeavor societies of Cortland county is to be held at Marathon, Tuesday, May 16.

   —There has been a revival in the church of Rev. L. A. Ostrander at Lyons and sixty-two united with the church on Easter Sunday.

   —The village of Lyons is having trouble over an electric light franchise and there is a prospect of a new company being formed there to furnish the lights.

   —Mr. Solomon F. Shevalier died on Wednesday, April 5, at his home in Ithaca, aged 78 years. Funeral Saturday and burial that afternoon at his former home in the town of Lapeer, Cortland county.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Baker & Angell, Jenness Miller shoes, page 7; W. W. Bennett, Plumbing, page 4; G. H. Ames, Removal, page 4: C. F. Thompson, Saturday's pickups, page 7; Baker & Angell, Ladles' fine footwear, page 4; G. F. Beaudry, Bicycles, page 6.

   —There is a family just west of this place that is raising three little pigs on a bottle. The mother of the pigs died when they were born and it was thought that the pigs would not be raised but the woman of the house tried an experiment and the pigs are growing.—Ithaca News.