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| Maj. Gen. Arthur MacArthur. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, January 20, 1900.
FILIPINOS DEFEATED.
Americans Capture a Number of Prisoners, Arms and Ammunition.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.—General Otis cables to the war department that General MacArthur reports on the 18th instant a strong position west of Mabalacat, occupied by General Hizon and fifty men, was captured by McRea, Third infantry, enemy lost lieutenant and four dead men in trenches. McRea captured captain, one man, one hundred and thirty rifles, several thousand rounds of ammunition, destroyed arsenal, quantity of rice, casualties one man wounded.
Bates reports that General Schwan's column of cavalry is refitting at Batangas to move eastward on the 19th; infantry now moving in that direction; enemy retiring suffering loss of men and property; our casualties few, mostly slight; that portion of Wheaton's troops will enter Lemery and Taal tomorrow, now meeting opposition in mountains which impedes march. Six officers, 54 enlisted men, four civil employes [sic], eleven friars, all Spanish prisoners released by Schwan arrive from Batangas last evening; nearly 200 arrived in Manila day before via Calamba. Young at Vigan reports number successful skirmishes in mountains with remnants insurgent organization and robber bands with slight casualties among his troops; Kobbe expedition, Randolph light battery Forty-third and Forty-seventh infantry conveyed by naval vessels Helana and Nashville, sailed for Albany province and Satar and Leyte islands yesterday.
CRACKSMEN BUSY.
Exciting Battle Between Thieves and Citizens of Binghamton.
BINGHAMTON, N. Y., Jan. 20.—The operations of a gang of burglars is creating considerable excitement on the west side in this city. Night before last four houses were entered, but in all cases the burglars were frightened away before securing much booty.
Thursday night three more houses were entered and unsuccessful attempts were made to enter the homes of A. K. Harvey, Professor E. B. Horton and W. B. Gaylord.
Six shots were exchanged between Professor Horton and one of the burglars, Mrs. Horton having a narrow escape from being hit by one of the bullets. At the residence of L. M. Bowers on Main street, one of the places entered, a parting shot was fired at Mr. Bowers and Mrs. Bowers was threatened with a revolver. The burglars dined sumptuously at the residence of W. A. Rhodes, the family knowing nothing of the visit at the cracksmen until this morning.
SHEPARD ON THE STAND.
Denies Ever Being Under Influence of Liquor at the Home.
ELMIRA, Jan. 20.—At the Bath Soldiers' Home investigation yesterday, Commandant Shepard was on the stand all day. He testified:
"I have never been under the influence of intoxicating liquor since I became commandant of the Soldier's Home." He then made a general denial of everything witnesses for the prosecution had sworn to, save the payment of many of his personal bills by the State which he admitted while on the stand Thursday night. He swore, however, yesterday that he had never given an order to anyone to charge his personal bills to the state, which contradicts the statements of several prior witnesses.
He said he had not ordered champagne taken to the chapel on the night the now famous orgie [sic] was held there. He said he ordered it sent to headquarters and was horrified when he discovered it was being drunk in the chapel, but was powerless to prevent it at that stage of the proceedings. The investigation at 5 p. m. was adjourned until Tuesday, February 13.
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
The report that Austria-Hungary is going to increase its army and navy on account of "the grave situation in Europe" may or may not be true. It is evident, however, that European diplomats are a little more disturbed at this time than they have been at any time during the last two or three years. While nobody probably looks for any extension of the theater of war in South Africa, at least in the near future, the present hostilities may give rise to a conflict of interests in the African continent and in Asia between Great Britain and some of the other powers which would eventually lead to warlike complications, if not war itself. Europe's political atmosphere is highly charged with explosives these days, and some untoward incident might at almost any time light the fuse that would produce a tremendous explosion among the nations.
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| Rev. Oscar Allen Houghton, PhD., D. D. |
SPECIAL EXCISE AGENTS.
SHOULD THEIR TESTIMONY BE DISCREDITED.
Communication from Rev. Dr. Houghton, in Which He Reviews Recent Occurrences Connected with the Enforcement of the Raines Law.
To the Editor of the Standard:
SIR—There seems to be a disposition on the part of some to discredit the testimony of the special agents of the state commissioner of excise. As a matter of course this feeling against them will be entertained by those liquor sellers who are detected by them in criminal violation of the excise law, and they and their sympathizers will do everything in their power to create and intensify prejudice against them in the popular mind. Fair minded citizens, however, will hardly be prejudiced by this outcry, and for the following reasons:
These men are citizens of good moral character or they would not be appointed to this work under the law. The statute requires that they pass a civil service examination, and before they can be admitted as competitors in this examination they must prove by their own verified statement, corroborated by the statements of three or more well known citizens, that they are men of suitable character to enter the civil service. On receiving their appointments they must subscribe to the constitutional oath and execute a bond to the people of the state in the penal sum of $1,000, for the faithful performance of their duties. As compensation they receive a salary of $1,200 per year and necessary expenses.
The law further says, "Such special agents shall be deemed the confidential agents of the state commissioner, and shall, under the direction of the commissioner and as required by him, investigate all matters relating to the collection of liquor taxes and penalties under this act, and in relation to the compliant with law by persons engaged in the traffic in liquors. Any such special agent may enter any place where liquors are sold at any time when the same is open and may examine any liquor tax certificate granted or purporting to have been granted in pursuance of law. He may investigate any other matter in connection with the sale of liquor, and shall make complaint of violations of this act as provided for other officers in Sec. 37 hereof. He shall be liable for penalties as provided in Sec. 36 of this act, for neglect by public officers. All officers appointed or employed under the provisions of Sections 8, 9 and 10 of this act may be removed by the state commissioner, who may appoint their successors as provided by law."
Sec. 37.—"It shall be the duty of special department commissioners and special agents, and of every county treasurer, deputy sheriff, police officer or constable having notice or knowledge of any violation of the provisions of this act to immediately notify the district attorney of the county in which such violation occurs, by a statement under oath of the fact of such violation."
Sec. 38.—"Any officer who shall neglect or refuse to perform his duty under the provisions of this act shall be liable to a penalty of $500 for each and every offense. Any citizen may prefer charges to the governor under this section."
These agents are sent out by the state commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this statute. They visit all places licensed and report fully upon each and every place visited. Their reports are made and mailed daily at the close of the work of the day. In these investigations there is no secrecy enjoined, but every thing is done openly. In case the commissioner is informed that a holder of a liquor tax certificate is violating the law or that others are trafficking without such certificates, he dispatches two or more special agents to investigate such cases of alleged violation. They visit such places incognito, and by observation or otherwise get all the evidence they can of such alleged violations.
Now then, when such reputable men are thus honorably appointed to such office, their salaries in no way conditional upon the number of detections made, with all motive for dishonesty and injustice removed, and their testimony in a court of justice is confronted with the denials of liquor sellers who have the strongest possible motives for falsifying, say nothing about the law-defying character of liquor sellers as a class, which testimony should have the greater weight of credibility? In the late case of The People vs. Crane it was clearly shown by the testimony, and insisted upon by the counsel for the defense, that the testimony of Crane was directly contrary to that of the state agents and that on one side or the other perjury was clearly committed. Let every honest, fair-minded citizen pause and reflect and ask himself on which side is the probable weight of credence. Shrewd attorneys subjected these agents to the severest cross-examination, covering their whole lives, and failed to bring to light the slightest discrepancy in their statements or objections to their life and character. It is a great pity that both of the counsel for the defense so far forgot themselves (for I can hardly believe it was premeditated) as to call men of such character, appointed under the rigid provisions of such a law, "perjured scoundrels," "spies," "informers," "spotters." Is that the way learned and honorable counselors uphold and honor law? Would not every violator of the excise law in the state rejoice on hearing such opprobrious epithets applied to honorable officers of the law engaged in the discharge of their sworn duty? Can such counselors escape being classed as sympathizers with liquor sellers and those who aid and abet them in defying and trampling upon law? Are officers of the law legitimately engaged in bringing criminals to justice to be denounced as "perjured scoundrels" in a court of justice by counselors whose duty it is to honor and uphold the law?
Our appeal is to fair-minded, honest citizens of all political creeds who have respect for laws enacted by vote of the people and their properly constituted officers. If these special agents are "scoundrels," then any officer of the law who detects murder or any other crime is thereby a scoundrel. It is because the liquor traffic is lawless and defies restraint that the state is obliged, in the enforcement of any prohibitory or regulative excise law, to resort to those measures necessary in the detection of criminals. Hence it is, that all over the state, as well as in Cortland county, every effort is being made to bring these special agents of the state excise commissioner into disrepute and to throw discredit upon their testimony as against the testimony of criminal violators of law and their sympathizers. Fair-minded citizens who have any regard for the welfare of the community and for the enforcement of wholesome laws, will put a just estimate upon all such assaults of the liquor-selling fraternity, and not be prejudiced against honorable men on that account. Criminal violators of law have no right whatever to shield themselves from the public opprobrium that their crimes entitle them to by attempting to stigmatize the methods by which the state detects them as illegitimate and dishonorable. Almost any method of detecting crime is honorable and praiseworthy.
O. A. HOUGHTON.
Contract Awarded.
Smith & Beaudry have been awarded the contract to furnish about four hundred books for the library at the Central school. The contract was given as a result of the lowest bid among sealed bids for furnishing these books.
Purchased Stock and Fixtures.
The Palace Confectionery Co. has purchased from Smith & Beaudry the large Soda fountain and their entire stock of candies, fruit, nuts, etc., and have had the same removed to their store in the Garrison block. The soda fountain will be put in shape for use and will be ready for the opening of the season. New, colored electric lights have already been put in and the fountain will be a valuable addition to the equipment of the store of the Palace Confectionery Co.
For some time Messrs. Smith & Beaudry have felt the need of more room for their wallpaper, books and stationery department and decided to close out the confectionery and ice cream business altogether. Handsome new show cases will be put in the front of the store and other additions will be made to meet their demands.
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| George J. Mager. |
George J. Mager Elected President.
(From the Lowville, N. Y., Journal and Republican, Jan. 18.)
George J. Mager of Cortland, N. Y., has been elected president of the Second National bank of that city. Mr. Mager, as is well known, was a successful merchant in Lowville for many years, and he was also in the mercantile business for several years in Cortland afterwards. He has acquired a nice fortune. The bank has a capital of $100,000.
Our first recollection of Mr. Mager was in the summer of 1856, when he came to Lowville as a journeyman shoemaker seeking employment. At that time he carried all his earthly possessions by the four corners of a red cotton handkerchief. He learned his trade near Dayansville [New Bremen]. Before that time he assisted his father clearing land and farming, and also worked by the month for others. He secured a job in the shoe shop of the late George S. Case, who then had a shoe store and was also postmaster. About a year after he entered the dry goods and grocery store of Mr. A. G. Dayan as clerk and bookkeeper, by whom he was attracted by his general good behavior and certain natural points of ability. He remained with Mr. Dayan until that gentleman retired from business, when he entered the large department store of D. C. West & Co., in the capacity of head bookkeeper and general sales man. With the exception of a short clerkship in Utica and Owego he resided in Lowville. In 1867 he formed a co-partnership with Mr. A, S. Stoddard, under the firm name of Stoddard & Mager, who conducted a large and prosperous dry goods business for about fifteen years, when they sold out and Mr. Mager moved with his family to Cortland. His success in Cortland is well known, and we congratulate our former townsman on his good fortune. He is in every way well worthy of his advancement to the responsible position in which he has been placed. The career of Mr. Mager shows what a poor and industrious boy can do if he only has honesty, energy and push.
Will Try Farming.
Mr. J. G. Bussing has exchanged his property at 132 Port Watson-st. with Mr. A. J. Fortner of Dryden for a farm of 158 acres, known as the Fortner farm in the town of Virgil, and will take possession about March 1. Mr. Bussing has also exchanged his Water-st. lot for the Samuel Tyler farm of seventy acres, also situated in the town of Virgil and only a short distance from the larger farm. He is making arrangements to carry on both farms during the coming year.
Regents' Examinations.
Regents' examinations will be held at the Central school commencing Monday, Jan. 22. The following is the program:
Monday, 9 A. M.—Algebra.
Monday, 1 P. M.—Advanced English.
Tuesday, 9 A. M.—Rhetoric, arithmetic and advanced algebra.
Tuesday, 1 P. M.—Geography, Physical geography and civics.
Wednesday 9 A. M.—Writing, elementary English, plane geometry and New York history.
Wednesday 1 P. M.—Spelling, English composition, English literature, zoology and American selections.
Thursday 9 A. M.—American literature, and United States history.
Thursday 1 P. M.—Caesar, English history.
Friday 9 A. M.—Latin first year, drawing.
Friday 1 P. M.—Geology and Physics and hygiene.
Death of Lloyd Hill.
Lloyd Hill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orville Hill, aged 5 years, died at the home of his parents in Hunt Corners, Monday night after a brief illness. He was taken suddenly ill Monday afternoon and Dr. Field of Marathon was called who pronounced the illness inflammation of the brain. The funeral was held Wednesday at the home of Mr. Talmah Hill, the boys' grandfather, and the remains were brought to Cortland for burial In the Cortland Rural cemetery.
BREVITIES.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Warren, Tanner & Co., The first of the season, page 6; Brogden, the druggist, Brogden's Celery Bitters, page 8.
—Mr. James Grant is building an extensive addition to his grocery on Homer-ave. Increasing trade and a desire to carry a larger stock and to make some additions to the lines of goods carried makes more room necessary.
—Rev. W. A. Huntington, who about two years ago discontinued the publication of the McGrawville News, has now discontinued the publication of the Canastota Clarion. It is hard work starting new papers in fields already well occupied.
—The first preliminary contest for the juniors at the Y. M. C. A. gymnasium took place this morning when the little fellows started their winter contests. The events were the running high jump, fence vault and running board jump. They all did well considering the little practice they have had, but feel determined to beat the marks they made today.
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