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| S. N. Holden. |
The Cortland Democrat, Friday, August 4, 1899.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
VILLAGE VS. PAVING COMPANY.
The Village Board Tackle the Question Of Compensation—State Authorities Appealed To—Specifications for Paving Port Watson-st. Adopted. No Extension of Time Granted.
The [Cortland] board of village trustees made a strenuous effort Monday evening to secure increased wages for the laborers on the paving job, and failing to secure concessions from Mr. Warren, the representative of the paving company, the question is to be submitted to the state authorities for adjudication. A heated discussion arose over the matter, precipitated by an application from the Warren-Scharff company asking for an extension of time for the completion of Lincoln ave. to August 20. The contract called for the work to be done July 31, but on that date the laying of the concrete foundation had not begun.
Trustee White promptly moved that the extension of time asked for be granted. The motion was not seconded and after some plain talk by several members of the board, Mr. Warren and Engineer Allen were called from the ante-room. President Holden stated that the village was not disposed to grant any concessions until the paving company lived up to the contract entered into with the village.
Mr. Warren said his company was not willing to pay $l.50 for eight hours work, for the reason that the men did not earn it. He insisted that the law could not be enforced, and his company was willing to make a test case here. In the specifications prepared by Engineer Allen it was stated that the current rate of wages in this locality for common labor is fifteen cents an hour, and he was paying sixteen cents. He had made careful inquiry and found that common laborers in Cortland were getting but $1.25 a day. This was denied by some of the board. Mr. Warren, further said that many applications were made every day for work at $1.28 per day. In asking for an extension of time, he stated that the work of laying concrete would begin Wednesday and be finished in six days. This should lay ten days before the asphalt surface is laid.
The board reminded Mr. Allen of the statement of his brother, one of the firm, who in answer to a question submitted to him when the bids were opened, said that the price was higher than last year because of the increased cost of labor under the new eight-hour law.
Trustee Wood moved that the state authorities be asked to interpret the law, which was carried unanimously.
Trustee White renewed his motion to grant an extension of time, which was seconded by Mr. Sprague. The motion was lost by the following vote: Ayes, Trustees White and Sprague, nays, Trustees Thompson and Wood and President Holden. By the terms of the contract the village can retain $25 from the price to be paid, for each and every day's delay in the completion of the paving of Lincoln-ave. after last Monday. It would seem that the village is in a position to compel the company to come to its terms in the payment of laborers.
Several residents of Port Watson-st. were present to see that the board did not forget to set the machinery in motion for the paving of that street. Engineer Allen presented plans and specifications for the work, his estimate for the job being $32,000 with stone curb and gutter, and $29,000 with Portland cement curb and gutter. The question of disposing of storm water at the eastern terminus of the pavement was discussed at some length.
Mr. Allen's plan is to conduct the water through sluiceways under the D., L. & W. company's tracks, remove the rise in the street east of the tracks and by ditches convey the water to a natural water course near Owen-st. In answer to a question by President Holden the engineer said the cost per lineal foot would be about $4.00 with one and one-half inch asphalt surface.
After a contract had been entered into with Engineer Allen, the map, plans and specifications presented were adopted by the board and placed on file. The street will be forty feet in width at the intersection with Main-st. and thirty feet in width at the eastern terminus. The specifications call for bids for a two-inch surface of asphalt, and also for a one and one-half inch surface. Bids are to be opened August 14.
A large number of bills were audited and ordered paid, as follows:
Police and Justice's Court.
POLICE JUSTICE DAVIS.
John Reilly was arrested by Constable Goldsmith last Friday on the charge of stealing a ride on a freight train and the police justice thought three days in jail was about the proper penalty.
Henry Temple of Taylor was before the court yesterday charged with intoxication. He was allowed his freedom on his promise to return home and stick to blacksmithing.
The case of Charles Mosier, charged with larceny, was adjourned to August 14.
JUSTICE HARRINGTON.
In the case of James Ryan against Margaret Proctor, to recover the amount of a blacksmith bill, judgment was given the plaintiff for $17.65.
A case in supplementary proceedings was tried before Justice Harrington Saturday, brought by Olive L. Atwater against George Green to recover possession of property for the non-payment of rent. The defense denied certain allegations and set up a counter claim. Judgment was given the plaintiff.
NINE TO NOTHING.
NEWSPAPER MEN VANQUISH THE LAWYERS.
Really a Tie Game But the Umpire Said 9 to 0—Many New Lawyers in Cortland—Sheriff Brainard a Model Umpire.
Two hundred and fifty-two people paid ten cents each last Saturday afternoon to witness a game of base ball between the newspaper men of Cortland and vicinity and a team composed of lawyers from the village, and had not a shower come up at about the hour named for the game to be called it is probable the attendance would have been double that number.
When Justice Mattice holds the next term of supreme court in Cortland in September he will be surprised at the many new attorneys who will appear before him in the interest of clients. The fact that M. T. Roche, F. M. Van Hoesen and others had become disciples of Blackstone was unknown to many of the spectators of the game, but they bore the certificate of regularity and hereafter may be addressed as "Att'y."
The two teams were made up as follows: Attorneys, Edward PerLee, catcher; Police Justice R. L. Davis, pitcher; S. K. Jones, first base; T. E. Courtney, right field ; M. T. Roche, center field; Edward Dunn, short stop; F. M. Van Hoesen, left field; George Meade, second base; Arthur Ryan, third base.
Newspaper men: A. W. Williams, Cortland DEMOCRAT, pitcher; R. H. Davis, Syracuse Post-Standard, second base; Ward C. Moon, Virgil Chronicle, right field; Chas. Sanders, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, short stop; Robert E. Kerby, Syracuse Evening Herald, first base; Floyd B. Avery, McGrawville Times, center field; Floyd H. Miner, Cortland Standard, third base; Chas. L. Meade, Syracuse Journal, left field; Ed. Ringer, South Cortland Gazette, catcher.
The game was umpired by Sheriff A. E. Brainard and it is said that never in Cortland was such perfect decisions made by any state or national league umpire as were made by the sheriff. The variation of even the fraction of an inch was quickly noted, and when he gave a decision no one had the temerity to question its justice.
It was not until the fourth inning that the newspaper men realized that time was passing, and when Art Williams scored the first run, followed closely by Davis, cheers rent the air, showing clearly that the crowd was with the scribes. At the end of the fourth the lawyers had the game by 8 to 2, and the prospect looked gloomy.
Ill luck still followed the newspaper men, their opponents scoring three runs in the fifth, while they were unable to solve the mysterious curves sent over the plate by the police justice.
The sixth, however, was a regular juggernaut for the lawyers, their side being retired without a run, while the pen-slingers rolled up seven scores, making the tally eleven to eleven. In this inning Floyd Miner astonished the crowd by reaching home plate, and R. E. Kerby made a home run by proxy.
The attorneys came to the scratch very reluctantly in the seventh, scenting defeat, and they succeeded in scoring two runs only. At this time a little disagreement took place and the lawyers refused to play longer, the umpire giving the game to the newspaper men by 9 to 0.
The scribes played an errorless game, while the lawyers have the most remarkable record ever made, each being credited with nine errors.
The full score for the six innings was as follows:
Secret Society Notes.
Chicago grange located at a small hamlet west of Cortland [Gracie Road], is one of the most flourishing organizations of the patrons of husbandry in the state. The following are the recently elected officers of Lincoln lodge, I. O. G. T.:
C. T.—Harry Northrup.
V. T.—Miss Nellie Mattoon.
S.—Miss Coral French.
F. S.—L. L. Gillett.
T.— Arthur Moot.
M.—Louie Lang.
S. J. T.—Miss Rosa Ball.
L. D.—W. J. Chorley.
Trustee—L. L. Gillett.
Delegate to Grand Lodge—L. L. Gillett.
Alternate—A. Frost, Jr.
Press Rep.—A. Frost, Jr.
Our neighboring village of Homer proposes to try the benefits of a new organization, one from which many Cortland workingmen have derived much profit and pleasure. Last Friday evening a lodge of the A. O. U. W. was instituted at that place, to be known as Homer lodge, No. 418, and many officials from Cortland and other places were present. Officers were installed as follows:
P. M. W.—Fred Briggs.
M. W.—R. Watson.
Foreman—Wm. Foster.
Overseer—George Thompson.
Recorder—C. V. Coon.
Financier—Thos. Knobel.
Receiver—Chas. Marriel.
Guide—P. R. Paddock.
I. W.—Harry Newcomb.
O. W.—Carl Dillenbeck.
The Masonic fraternity did not turn out in great force Sunday evening to attend the Homer-ave. M. E. church, only thirty-five members being present.
A large number of Masons, members of the Cortlandville lodge, visited their brother Josiah Hart at his residence on Railroad-st., last Thursday evening, the occasion being his 81st birthday. Several brief speeches were made, and the company also left a substantial evidence of their visit.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.
Governor Roosevelt has appointed Albert H. Sewall, county judge of Delaware county, a supreme court justice to succeed the late David L. Follett.
The receipts by the government from all sources during July as given out by the administration, was $48,054,258, and the expenditures aggregated $56,561,090, leaving a deficit of $8,506,802. At this rate the Republican administration will be compelled to hunt around for something else to tax.
One of the conundrums of the hour is why the sending of a cablegram to Gen. Otis, conveying an expression of Mr. McKinley's confidence in him, and satisfaction with all he has done, including his press censoring, should have been kept secret for ten days after it was sent? Some say that Mr. McKinley wanted to ascertain how far public sentiment would go in supporting the demand for the recall of Otis, and that if that demand had been a little stronger, the cablegram would have been suppressed entirely. It was evidently kept back for some purpose. And it wouldn't have been the first time that official matters have been made public or suppressed by this administration in deference to the state of public opinion.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent.)
WASHINGTON, D. C., July 31.—Republican wishes father the story sent out from Washington several days ago, that a movement was on foot to put another gold Democratic presidential ticket in the field next year. No such movement is known among Democrats and no such action is expected to get the support of any considerable number of Democrats, because they all know that it is not being instigated by Democrats, but by Republicans, whose only object is to draw support away from the regular Democratic ticket. A number of Democrats who took part in organizing the Palmer and Buckner movement, have since acknowledged their mistake and their regret, and expressed their intention to stand by the regular nominations hereafter, because the Democratic party as a whole stands for most of the things they believe in. Although Republican money is likely to be freely used to bring about such a condition, there is absolutely nothing in sight at this time, to indicate the nomination of a gold Democratic ticket next year.
There is much shaking and quaking in the old Alger clique in the war department because of a rumor which seems to have foundation that Secretary Root, who is now in Washington, preparatory to being sworn in tomorrow and taking charge intends to reorganize the war department from bottom to top. Certainly no other department of the government needs a thorough reorganization more than the one over which Mr. Root has been chosen to preside, but the clique is powerful and Secretary Root may find himself unable to overthrow the Algerites. If he is wise, he will get Gen. Miles on his side, by restoring him the authority of which he was deprived by Alger.
Attorney General Griggs, before going off on his summer vacation, shattered the hopes of numerous persons who thought they had everything fixed to secure valuable Porto Rican concessions from the war department, by rendering opinions upon three specific concessions:—The right to use the water power of the river Plata, the right to build and operate a tramway, and the right to build and control, for all time, piers and wharves at Ponce. These opinions take the ground that all such concessions were the crown property of Spain, and sums them all, and apparently all other public concessions on the Island, up as follows . "As crown property, they were, by the treaty of cession, transferred by Spain to the United States of America, and are now a part of the public domain of that nation. I do not know of any right or power which the secretary of war or the president has to alienate in perpetuity any of the public domain of the United States, except in accordance with acts of Congress, duly passed with reference thereto." This is understood to be a hint to Alger of the power of the administration to make trouble for him and his business friends, who are heavily interested in some Cuban deals, if he attempts to antagonize the administration.
HERE AND THERE.
Cortland is well represented at Ithaca this week.
A telephone message received at this office at 2:30 yesterday afternoon states that Excelsiors of Cortland won first prize in the book and ladder race at Ithaca, and that first prize in the 800-yards hose race goes to Orris hose company of Cortland; time 46 3-5 seconds. Orris hose gets $200 in gold, and Excelsiors get $150. Whoop for Cortland! Three cheers and a tiger for its fire ladies!
A little son of W. P. Eldred was seriously scalded Saturday by falling into a boiler of hot water.
Cortland has a grocery merchant who can and does preach plain, practical sermons nearly every Sunday.
Miss Gertrude Tracy, who graduated from the Cortland Normal last June, is at the hospital very ill with appendicitis.
Women propose to enter Cortland county politics this fall, Miss Katherine E. Cobb of Homer announcing herself a candidate for school commissioner in the second district.
Ernest W. Childs of Scott, a former supervisor from that town, has announced that he is a candidate for school commissioner in the second district.
The police force of Cortland had a group photograph taken Tuesday afternoon, and we may now expect to see a picture of the "finest" in all the leading illustrated papers.
Our genial district attorney will probably go gunning for Brother Blanchard of the Cincinnatus Times with a shotgun. It isn't every man that likes to be styled a "Duffer" in a newspaper.
Wm. Gray, who was injured in a fall from the roof of Riley's hotel two weeks ago, is in a critical condition, his back being broken. The attending physicians have no hope of his recovery.
At a special term of supreme court held in Binghamton Tuesday, Attorney Irving H. Palmer of Cortland was given a judgment for $10,900 against the Erie & Central New York R. R. company.
Mahan's 25th Musical festival will be held at Cortland Opera house on the 11th to l5th of September inclusive, and it will without doubt exceed all former Cortland festivals in magnitude and interest.
The Moravia Valley Register has the following brief comment on this village: "Cortland has organized an anti-saloon league. But what bothers us is, what use an anti-license town has for such an organization."
The story of the bathing nymphs becoming entangled in the meshes of an electric plant discovered in the Cortland Riverside park, written by Clayton H. Buell, will be a feature of the Elmira Telegram next Sunday.
Bee keepers are not getting much returns this season from their bees. This seems to be one of the years when the flowers do not contain honey. We read in our exchanges that such is the case and in conversation with our local bee keepers we find they are getting no honey.
This village was visited by an old time wind and rain storm Wednesday afternoon. Lightning struck a chimney on Adolph Frost's house, but without doing much damage. Another bolt struck a wire connected with the light system at the power house and damaged the alternator.
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