PRISONER IN TERROR, SAVINGS BANK TAX, AND CORTLAND CITIZENS' MEETING

 

Roland B. Molineux.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, February 21, 1900.

PRISONER IN TERROR.

Condemned Italian Murderer Creates Scene in Sing Sing.

SCREAMS WHEN TOLD HE IS TO DIE.

Molineux and All the Men in the Cage Greatly Agitated—Dr. Kennedy Affected So He Could Hardly Stand—Ferraro Dies Monday Nest.

   NEW YORK, Feb. 21.—There was an exciting scene in the death house at Sing Sing prison yesterday afternoon. All the men in the cages were greatly shaken. Molineux was much agitated and was pale and drawn about the face when it was over. All the prisoners were in a similar condition. Dr. Kennedy is said to have been so affected that he could hardly stand.

   Antonio Ferraro is to die next week for the murder of Lucius Mussaccio on Sept. 4, 1898. Since being in the death house he has proved to be most vicious and uncontrollable.

   Warden Johnson feared to inform him that all appeals for clemency had failed and that he must die next week. This duty he entrusted to an Italian priest from New York, who visits the condemned man occasionally. The priest went to the death house and informed Ferraro that he must expect to die any time after Sunday at midnight.

   The moment Ferraro heard this he burst forth into a prolonged scream. His screeches in the silent room were fearful and were totally unexpected by the prisoners. For the greater part of half an hour Ferraro screamed hysterically, rushing about the cell and acting in a violent manner. Finally the priest calmed Ferraro somewhat, leaving him seated on his cot rocking and moaning.

   Warden Johnson fears a scene when Ferraro is led to the death chamber on Monday next, which is the probable date.

Dr. Mary Walker.

 

Opposed to Capital Punishment.

   ALBANY, Feb. 21.—Dr. Mary Walker, whose masculine dress attracted great attention yesterday at the Capitol, appeared before the assembly committee on codes yesterday afternoon in favor of Mr. Maher's bill to abolish capital punishment. Those who listened to her argument were composed mostly of women.

 

PROTECTION FOR NEGROES.

Colored Voters of Kentucky Are Upheld in Their Franchise.

   LOUISVILLE, Feb. 21.—In the case of several persons arrested during the recent state election for alleged intimidation of negro voters Judge Evans in the United States court overruled the demurrer of the defendants which brought into question the jurisdiction of the federal court.

   Judge Evans held that congress passed section 5507 of the United States statutes to protect the colored people in their right of suffrage and 5508 was passed to prevent persons from conspiring to injure and oppress, thus insuring this class of voters the free exercise of their right of franchise; that congress had the power to pass such laws as the only real guarantee of liberty, and that it was the duty of the court to see that the provisions of the statutes were enforced.

   He held that if congress had no power to protect the colored people against intimidation, etc., then they were left at the mercy of the combinations of politicians and brute force, and that the fact that the election was one at which only officers of the state were voted for did not in any wise take away the jurisdiction of the United States court to protect the colored voters under the constitutional amendments and sections referred to.

 

Uniform Law For Plumbers.

   ALBANY, Feb, 21.—Another hearing on the bill of Senator Armstrong providing that a plumber having passed an examination before an examining board of one city or village shall be entitled to engage in his work in any city of the state. John F. Kinney, representing the Master Plumbers' association of Rochester, favored the measure, as he said it established a uniform law throughout the state. John E. Harbison of Schenectady also favored the bill. H. W. Westcott of Albany, president of the State Master Plumbers' association, opposed the measure.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Savings Bank Tax.

   The Hon. Willis S. Paine of New York, formerly superintendent of the State Banking department, has sent to the chairman of the assembly committee on taxation and retrenchment a powerful argument against the proposal to tax all deposits in savings banks above the sum of $1,000. He calls attention first to the fact that measures of this kind tend to prevent competent men holding such responsible and thankless positions as trustees of savings banks. He cites the case of a trustee of the Bond Street Savings bank sued under a law that made him responsible for unauthorized acts not committed with any wrong intent: the law holds him responsible even though he acted under the advice of counsel. The result of the litigation brought against him was that he had to pay $113,000.

   Mr. Paine points out next that the bill would operate inequitably. "Private individuals and many corporations," he says, "may by concealment as to the amount to be taxed avoid payment, but savings institutions may be compelled to make without the possibility of under-valuation a full public exhibit of their resources." The consequence would be that they would have to bear their share of the taxation that private individuals and corporations escaped. Moreover, they pay taxes already. The real estate that they hold in connection with their buildings is taxed. It should be remembered also that the real estate upon which they hold mortgages bears a tax.

   But the strongest point that Mr. Paine makes is that the bill will tend to discourage the thrift of the poor. According to the last annual report of the superintendent of the state banking department the amount due depositors on the first of January was $887,480,650.30. This vast sum is the result of small accumulations that would not without economy have been saved and thus placed within the reach of the tax gatherer. It is not only of great importance to the people that have deposited it but to the industrial interest of the community. In the first place, it enables them to make provision for the purchase of homes, for such emergencies as sickness, and for the incapacity of old age. In the second place, it becomes available to the holders of real estate, and is a potent factor in reducing the rate to interest. Were laws to be enacted to discourage the habits of thrift that have placed nearly a billion dollars at the disposal of the community, they would do incalculable harm. "If the pecuniary result were not to be considered," says Mr. Paine, "the moral result of discouraging habits of industry and economy cannot be overdrawn."

   The conservative forces of society called into existence by these accumulations are worthy of especial attention at this time. "Organized anarchy has existed in this country," says Mr. Paine. "All communities possess an unstable and vicious element, and experience has demonstrated that the city of New York as well as in Chicago and elsewhere, a slight pretext may be made the excuse for a disturbance. Savings institutions especially are to be conserved as barriers to the increase of communism. The small sum the state may realize from savings banks by the enactment of laws like these bills is of small consequence compared to the harm wrought by the knowledge of the fatal fact that these deposits are subject to taxation."

   It should be remembered, finally, that the poor are already subject to heavy indirect taxation. That has been pointed out many times. On this subject Mr. Paine says: "The poorer portion of every community pay many indirect taxes, and their small accumulations should be protected from taxation to the end that the tendency to save may be encouraged. For example, those who engage in manual labor usually do not own the tenement that gives them shelter. The landlord imposes the tax which be pays, in the form of additional rent upon the tenant precisely as a farmer increases the price of his products as his taxes increase."

   ◘ Mr. Frick has sued Mr. Carnegie for 16,000,000. Possibly Mr. Frick wants to found a few libraries himself.

 

Fire at J. B. Kellogg's.

   A fire in the cloak room of J. B. Kellogg's store on the second floor was quickly extinguished at 4:15 P. M. to-day. A hose from the Palace Star laundry was run across the alley and extinguished the flame before the fire department arrived.

 

Attorney James Dougherty.

CITIZENS' MEETING.

HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN LAST NIGHT.

Full Citizens' Ticket Nominated—City Charter Figures Prominently in the Discussion—Charges That Obstructionists Were Present--Oil on Troubled Waters—Great Crowd of all Parties and Classes Present.

   Fireman's hall was last night crowded to the doors and clear down the stairway and standing room was at a premium. The occasion was the meeting called by the so-called Citizens' committee to nominate a full Citizens' ticket for the coming village charter election. Not all of those present were there to take part or were in sympathy with the movement, but many were spectators, interested to know was to be done. A considerable number came because of a hint conveyed by a handbill that was spread about town during the day that the proposed city charter was to be discussed, and it was thought that some new light might be thrown upon the subject. This did indeed come in for its share of attention, but it proved not to be the primary object of the meeting. That was to go through the form of nominating a ticket, and a full ticket was proposed, though It was stated in the convention that the mere nomination of an independent ticket at a meeting of that kind was not sufficient or legal, but that a petition to ratify those names must be signed by the required number of individuals.

   At 7:30 o'clock the meeting was called to order by M. H. Yale, who nominated for chairman of the meeting A. J. Murray. The nomination was seconded and carried and Mr. Murray took the chair. He said as a preliminary that this was a most undesirable position for him to take and he was not anxious to preside, still he had yielded to the wishes of his friends in the matter and it was time that some one sacrifice himself. It was reported, Mr. Murray said, that a charter made by some one was about to be thrust upon Cortland without an opportunity for the people to express an opinion upon it.

   On motion J. A. Jayne was made secretary of the meeting.

   At this point James Dougherty arose and said that he was there in response to a call circulated that day upon a handbill, a copy of which he held in his hand, which appointed a public meeting at this time and place for the purpose of discussing the proposed city charter for the village of Cortland. A number were present who were interested in that charter who would like to take part in the meeting if anything was coming up in reference to the charter. The same handbill also intimated that another purpose of the meeting was to nominate an independent Citizens' ticket. If this was so he didn't wish to interfere in any respect with the progress of the meeting. If the charter was the object of the meeting he should insist on the right to take part. He therefore called upon the chairman for information as to the object of the meeting.

   George B. Jones was on his feet in a moment and said they were there to nominate an independent ticket.

   Chairman Murray stated that there had been a mistake in preparing the copy for the handbill. The names of the committee which were appended to it were there by mistake. That committee was appointed for altogether another purpose. The bill should have been signed by another committee, and he would call upon the man who was really the chairman of the proper committee whose names should have been on the bill, to explain the object of the meeting.

   Mr. M. H. Yale responded and said that the purpose of the meeting was to nominate an Independent Citizens' ticket. The independent citizens wanted the proposition for a city charter first submitted to the voters if it were to be considered. After the ticket had been nominated they purposed to discuss the charter, and he hoped that all who were interested and who would like to discuss the charter would wait and take part in the discussion at the proper time.

   Lewis S. Hayes inquired what Mr. Dougherty had to do in this meeting any way. He didn't belong to the Independent Citizens movement. He was there as an obstructionist. The meeting was called by the independent citizens to nominate a ticket, and if they afterward proposed to discuss the city charter what business of Mr. Dougherty's was it whether they did or not? "What do you expect to do," said Mr. Hayes turning directly to Mr. Dougherty, "Do you think it legitimate business to come into such a meeting and try to run it?"

   Mr. Dougherty said that Mr. Hayes' remarks seemed to be personal, and he explained that it was not his intention to interfere in any way and that he would never have thought of coming to it had it not been for the dodgers put out.

   L. F. Stillman said he didn't expect to always remain a citizen of Cortland, but he thought the charter was a good thing. He didn't believe the dodger expressed the sentiments of any great number of citizens. The citizens need none of them fear that the charter was to be railroaded through the legislature as an abundant opportunity would be given for a full and free discussion of its provisions.

   Chairman Murray stated that the people who called this meeting believed it to be one of the fundamental provisions of the charter that it should contain a referendum clause and that it should not be put through without submitting it to the people; and that the plan of putting it through the legislature without submitting it to vote was contrary to the republican form of government under which we live. The charter, said the chairman, may be exactly what we want, but what we object to is the method of putting it through without a chance to express our approval or disapproval of it.

   Mr. Dougherty said that as the people who were there didn't seem to know much about the proposed charter and what it contained, and as there was no way of getting a copy of it till the printed copy was sent back from Albany, and as  it was evident that the people would like to have a look at it before discussing it, it seemed to him that this meeting was premature and he would, therefore move that the meeting adjourn pursuant to a call from the village board of trustees when the copy of the charter came back.

   The motion was seconded by some one from the house, but was declared out of order by the chairman on the ground that Mr. Dougherty was not a member of the citizens' organization and consequently had no right to take part in its meeting. 

   Dr. Higgins said that he and Mr. Dougherty were good friends. He thought Mr. Dougherty represented a number of people who wished to be heard and they had a perfect right to be heard. If any discussion were to follow or any action were to be taken he hoped those people would feel free to remain and take part and have their say.

   Mr. Dougherty said he thanked the doctor for the bouquets thus thrown to him, and he would like to throw some more back to the doctor were he able to do it in such an easy graceful style, but in any event be thought that he and Dr. Higgins fully understood each other.

   Chairman Murray inquired, what was the pleasure of the meeting?

   M. H. Yale then moved the nomination of a full ticket for village offices. He said he hoped that no one would leave the hall under the impression that the committee who had called this meeting was opposed to a city charter. What they were opposed to was the method of putting it through. They would like a voice in the matter of its adoption.

   A voice from the house inquired if Mr. Yale, the mover of the resolution, purposed continuing his residence in Cortland during the coming year.

   Mr. Yale evaded the question by replying that he had not introduced a resolution, but had simply made a motion.

   Dr. O. A. Houghton inquired if the charter might not become a law before a meeting could be called to consider it.

   R. C. Duell inquired of Dr. Houghton if he did not read The STANDARD and if he had not noticed Mr. Sands' telegram there last night saying that a hearing was set down for Tuesday, Feb. 27.

   Dr. Houghton replied that he did read it carefully every night.

   Rev. J. L. Robertson, D. D., said that he was not accustomed to speaking in meetings of this kind, but he felt very deeply regarding the proposed charter. He was opposed to the methods pursued to get it through. He denounced the action of the promoters of the charter and of the village officers in approving of it.

   Mr. Yale then read the list of nominations that had been prepared by the committee. They were voted for separately, but as a whole they are as follows:

   For President—Benj. L. Webb.

   For Trustee, Second Ward—Dr. F. W. Higgins.

   For Trustee, Fourth Ward—Dr. C. D. VerNooy.

   For Treasurer—H. M. Kellogg.

   For Assessor—Robert McMillan,

   For Collector—R. J. Lucas.

   For Commissioners Union Free School District No. 1—F. E. Whitmore, O. A. Kinney, C. A. Lowell.

   While these nominations were submitted at this meeting, in order to have them legal they must be made by petition and a petition signed by at least 100 names of citizens must be secured to enable the nominations to be placed upon the ballot. These signatures were largely secured last night with the affidavits with each, and the list will very shortly be completed.

   M. H. Yale was appointed committeeman to fill any vacancies that might appear on the ticket.

   Dr. Houghton moved that the committee previously appointed for the purpose ask the president of the village to call a mass-meeting at the Opera House within two days after the return of printed copies of the charter from Albany, to discuss the charter and give the people an opportunity to know what it contained, and if the president failed to do so that the citizens committee be authorized to call the meeting. The motion was seconded and carried. The meeting then adjourned.

 

W. C. T. U. Parlor Meeting.

   A parlor meeting under the auspices of the W. C. T. U. was held at the rooms on Saturday evening, Feb. 17. The exercises were commemorative of the life and work of Frances E. Willard and consisted of brief papers on various phases of W. C. T. U. work, recitations, vocal music and an earnest and inspiring address by Dr. O. A. Houghton on the subject, "Our Organization a Monument to Frances E. Willard."

   Refreshments were served at the close of the program. There were about forty present. The receipts of the evening were $5.50 of which $2 is to be contributed to national work.

 

BREVITIES.

   —A special meeting of the Cortland Science club is called for this evening at 7:30 o'clock sharp, at the office of the Traction Co. Ladies are invited.

   —The Epworth league of the First M. E. church will hold a patriotic parlor meeting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Gladding, 78 Clinton-ave., to-night.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—F. D. Smith, Red Cross stove, page 6; W. J. Perkins, Vim, vigor, vitality, page 7; C. W. Cudworth, Repairing glasses, page 5.

   —To-morrow is Washington's birthday and a legal holiday. The postoffice will be closed except from 7 to 10 A. M. and 6 to 7 P. M. There will be but one complete delivery by carriers, and the last mail will close at 7 P. M.

   —At the John L. Lewis lodge of Odd Fellows last night the second degree was worked upon six candidates. Visitors were present from Vesta lodge and from McGrawville lodge. Refreshments were served during a social hour at the close of the exercises.

   —One very sure evidence that Cortland is growing is the fact that there is scarcely a house in town to be rented. Everything is occupied. Several of the large factories are running nights with double shifts of men. In Homer several men recently come to town to work in the Brockway shops are unable to find houses in the town into which to move their families.

BOER GENERAL CRONJE SURROUNDED, MARQUESS OF QUEENSBERRY, CITY CHARTER BILL, AND STORMY SESSION OF VILLAGE BOARD

 

Piet Arnoldus Cronje.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, February 20, 1900.

CRONJE AT BAY.

Boer General Reported to Be Hopelessly Surrounded.

BRITISH FORCES CLOSING IN.

General Buller Captures Federal Positions South of the Tugela.

   LONDON, Feb. 20.—A member of the cabinet told H. W. Lucy that the war office had received a telegram announcing that General Cronje was hopelessly surrounded.

   Mr. Wyndham was beset by anxious members of the house, but would only reply that the government's news was extremely satisfactory. The sole explanation of the government withholding good news is that confirmation and more details are awaited.

   The situation as disclosed by correspondents over the Free State border is tantalizing to the public expectation. The elementary facts are that the Boers are trekking eastward toward Bloemfontein, with slow moving baggage trains and that they are pursued by Lord Kitchener with General Kelly-Kenny's division. General MacDonald with the Highlanders made a forced march to Koodoos Rand ford and on Sunday pushed 20 miles eastward.

   General French left Kimberley Saturday, going east along the Modder river. Lord Kitchener is trying to outmarch and to outflank the Boers, thus checking their retreat, if possible, and driving them back into the hands of MacDonald and French.

   The war office message communicated to Mr. Lucy seems to indicate that Lord Kitchener has either got ahead of the Boers or is about to realize his plan and that the war office waits to announce a decisive result.

   Meanwhile Commandant Delarey, with the Boers from Colesberg, is hanging on to the right flank of the British pursuing column, seeking to delay their movement and so to assist the Boer wagon trains to escape.

   Students of topography think the Boers will hardly risk a fight until they get into the rough country north of Bloemfontein.

   A Daily Mail correspondent who was with the British convoy attacked by the Boers at Riet river ford wires:

   "Ultimately the British abandoned the convoy, in order not to check the advance. Thus 200 wagons and 600 tons of stores fall into the hands of the Boers, though it is doubtful if they will be able to carry them away."

   General Buller has achieved a real success, seemingly, in capturing the range of hills south of the Tugela. It makes more feasible another attempt to relieve Ladysmith.

   The queen has sent a direct message to Lord Roberts congratulating him and his troops. General French and Colonel Kekewich have been acquainted with their promotions,.

   Dr. Leyds at Brussels says the Free State troops who were besieging Ladysmith have withdrawn in order to defend their homes. In this way he accounts for General Buller's success against the weakened forces. He will forego his projected trip to Rome, he says, because of "decisive events now taking place in the theater of war."

   Lord Roberts' generalship was conducted with such secrecy, says a telegram from Modder river, that even the senior officers who took the Sixth division through the preliminaries of the operation did not know what they would finally have to do.

 

WORK OF THE MAINE.

American Hospital Ship Crowded With British Wounded.

   NEW YORK, Feb. 20.—Lady Randolph Churchill has cabled to Mrs. Cornelia Adair, now in this city, saying that the American hospital ship Maine, now at Durban, Natal, is nearly full of sick and wounded. The cable says that the most difficult cases are sent to the hospital ship, owing to the excellence of her arrangements.

   The ship has many Irish soldiers on board from the Dublin Fusiliers, and also men from the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Eighteenth Hussars, the Rifle brigade, the West Yorks and the Fifth Lancers, and among them some stretcher bearers.

   Lady Churchill says the staff are all hard at work and that all is satisfactory on board the ship.

 

John Douglas, Marquess of Queensberry.

BURIED AS AN AGNOSTIC,

Strange Codicil in Will of Late Marquess of Queensberry.

   LONDON, Feb. 20.—A codicil to the will of the Marquess of Queensberry, who died on Feb. 1, made the following provisions:

   "At my death I wish to be cremated, and direct that my ashes be placed in the earth unenclosed—earth to earth, ashes to ashes—in any spot convenient that I have lived.

   "I particularly request that no Christian mummeries or tomfooleries be performed at the grave, but that I be buried as an agnostic. If it should be comfort to anyone, there is a plenty of friends who would come to say a few words of common sense.

   "No monument will be required, nor any procession, as the ashes can be carried in a man's hand. If the places I mention to my son should be inconvenient for burial then any place would suffice where the stars shall ever shed their light and the sun shall guild each rising morning."

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Government of Hawaii.

   The bill before the senate for the government of the Hawaiian Islands provides that they shall be known as the territory of Hawaii; and that all persons who were citizens of the republic of Hawaii on Aug. 12, 1898, are to be deemed citizens of the United States. The legislative power is vested in a senate and house of representatives. The senate is to consist of fifteen members, who shall hold office for four years. Senators must be at least 30 years of age and must have resided in the islands at least three years. The representatives must be at least 25 years of age, with three years' residence. There will be thirty of them. The governor is to be appointed by the president of the United States on the advice and consent of the senate, and will hold office for four years. He will appoint the chief justice and the associate justices of the supreme court, the judges of the circuit courts, the attorney-general and other important officials. There is to be free trade between Hawaii and the United States, except that dutiable articles not the growth of the islands imported by Hawaii and then sent to the United States, shall pay the duties levied in our tariff. All vessels that carried Hawaiian registers on Aug, 12, 1898, are to be entitled to register as American vessels upon the passage of the act. So far as possible, the laws of the United States shall apply to the territory.

   There is no doubt that this bill, or one similar to it in all important respects, will become a law at this session of congress, and probably at the next session Hawaii will be represented by a delegate in congress.

   ◘ While addressing a peace meeting in England recently Henry Labouchere was hit in the head by a flying chair, and a number of his hearers had to be taken home in ambulances. The fiery editor of London Truth appears to be one of those who will have peace even if they are compelled to fight for it.

 

CHARTER BILL INTRODUCED.

Hearing Before Cities Committee of Assembly Tuesday, Feb. 27.

   The Cortland city charter bill was introduced in the assembly last night by Hon. George S. Sands, was read once and referred to the committee on cities. A hearing upon the bill before the committee has been set down for Tuesday, Feb. 27. The STANDARD this morning received the following telegram from Mr. Sands:

   ALBANY, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1900.

   Cortland Standard:

   Cortland city charter bill introduced. First day committee hearing could be had is Feb. 27. [Assemblyman] GEORGE S. SANDS.

 

S. N. Holden.

A STORMY SESSION.

VILLAGE BOARD VISITED BY CITIZEN'S COMMITTEE.

They Demand a Public Meeting at Which the Proposed Charter May be Discussed—Sharp Tilts from Both Sides—The Tax Budget.

   The village board meeting last evening afforded a spectator a fair idea of the stormy scenes enacted in the parliaments of the Stuarts. The usual, smoothly gliding plow which has characterized the progress of the weekly meetings of the board was interrupted by the visit of a committee from the citizens' meeting, held Sunday evening, who came asking for a public discussion of the new charter.

   Scarcely had the board settled down to the tax budget, when the committee, composed of Messrs. Murray, Reese, Higgins, Houghton and Lucas, came in to talk over the proposed city charter. Mr. Murray, as chairman, stated that they had been chosen at the meeting held the previous evening to wait upon the board of trustees and ask for a public meeting, at which the provisions of the new city charter might be discussed. To this President Holden replied that as soon as |he charter was acted upon by the proper committee it would be printed and sent out and appear in the local papers. It was his opinion that the charter ought to be in the hands of the people before a meeting was called to discuss it.

   Dr. Reese inquired as to whether or not the board had passed upon the charter, and was told that the board nominally approved the charter, in fact, the charter was officially acted upon by the board. Dr. Reese then wanted to know if the bill originated with the board, and received the information that the board had discussed the inadequacy of the old charter and that the new one was framed to meet the situations which could not be met under the old charter.

   Trustee Wood asked the delegation if it was not a fact that the only interest the committee felt in the matter was the local option clause. This brought out some heated discussions concerning that part of the charter, and while the committeemen claimed that some signed the petition without knowing what it contained, the board defended its position by asking if these men were not 21 years of age and their own guardians.

   Dr. Reese said that the committee was contending for a public meeting to discuss the matter. In his opinion it was wrong for the board to send the charter to Albany to be acted upon before the people had seen it, and he wished to know if it was not a fact that the board was trying to put the bill through without giving the people a chance to express any opinion upon it. President Holden assured the committee that he would call a meeting, if they so desired, when the copy of the bill came back from Albany. He was asked if he could not assure the committee that the meeting would be called before the charter was acted upon by the legislature, to which he responded that he could not make such a promise for the bill might now be a law for all he knew.

   Dr. Higgins stated that he did not oppose a city charter, but he did oppose the taking away of local option without the consent of those who had voted under it. He had been interested in the movement and added, that he had thought he should have a little look at the charter before it passed. Mr. Holden assured the committee that a public hearing would be given as soon as the draft was returned.

   Mr. Duffey of the Traction company moved to waive the submission to the people of a proposition for more street lighting and leave the matter to a future board to decide upon. Mr. Pearce of the Traction company gave some interesting figures upon street lighting. Ninety-five lights for 300 nights till 1 o'clock would cost $7,837. Ninety arc lights for the same time would cost $7,225. Ninety-five all night lights, Mr. Pearce estimated, would cost $9,600.

   Mr. Duffey also spoke of the tracks the company had on Groton and Homer-aves. and wanted the privilege of taking up the Groton-ave. track just before the street should be paved. Then the company would not have to grade the road and thus it would save a useless expense.

   The following motion was passed:

   Resolved, That the Cortland & Homer Traction company be allowed to take up its tracks road and appurtances from Groton-ave. and Homer-ave., on condition that said company shall leave the road in good condition on Homer-ave.

   The following appropriations for the tax budget were approved by the board, these lying within the jurisdiction of the board:

  

 

Soldiers' Remains Brought Home.

   The remains of Reed Lucas, a private of Battery K, Second U.S. Artillery, who died of yellow fever in Havana, Cuba, Aug. 26, 1899, arrived in Cortland on the early train this morning and were at once placed in the vault of the Cortland Rural cemetery awaiting burial. Mr. Lucas was a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Lucas. He enlisted in the service last May at Syracuse and went directly to New York and within ten days was in Havana. He made a good record for himself as a soldier and won the respect and approval of his officers and comrades.

 

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED

By the First Baptist Church and Sunday-school.

   WHEREAS, God in his inscrutable providence has removed from us, by his sudden, and seemingly untimely death, our beloved brother, Eugene M. Van Hoesen, we as members of the First Baptist church, Sunday-school, and class of which he was teacher, do now express the regard in which he was held while with us, and the respect and love with which we cherish the memory of his life and work among us, by the adoption of the following resolutions:

   Resolved, That in the death of our friend and brother, Eugene M. Van Hoesen, the church of which he was a faithful and highly esteemed member; the Sunday-school in which he was an intelligent and helpful worker; and the class of which he was the capable, and beloved teacher, have sustained a loss which will be long and deeply felt.

   Resolved, That our recollections of his consistent Christian life; his ready, generous and cheerful performance of  duty; his firm, and fearless adherence to principles of righteous, and needed moral reform, his refined, and pleasing manner in social life, should be to us a worthy example, and helpful inspiration in our purpose, and effort to act well our part in the various spheres of life and labor to which we are by providence assigned, making it our first, and prayerful purpose and effort to be, as we believe he was, faithful in service, and ready for the Master's call from the labors of earth to the rest and rewards of heaven.

   Resolved, That we extend to our beloved and sorely afflicted friend and sister, Mrs. Van Hoesen, our deep and prayerful sympathy under her great bereavement, and expression of our confidence that her and our loss is his eternal gain.

   Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the records of our Sunday-school; and that copies of them be furnished to our bereaved Sister Van Hoesen; and for publication in the daily STANDARD and Cortland Democrat.

   GEO. H. BRIGHAM, Mrs. F. D. REESE, N. P. WALWORTH, Committee.

 

Y. M. C. A. AUXILIARY

Adopts the Calendar System for Raising Money.

   The members of the Y. M. C. A. Auxiliary were most delightfully entertained last Saturday afternoon by Mrs. T. H. Wickwire at her home on Tompkins-st. The meeting was called to order by Mrs. C. F. Brown, devotional exercises and an interesting Bible reading were conducted by Mrs. T. D. P. Stone. The financial condition of the auxiliary was presented by the treasurer, Mrs. C. C. Darby and the calendar system of raising money, which was adopted by the auxiliary at the last regular meeting of the organization was briefly outlined by Mrs. Brown. This system consists in one lady taking the year at a stated sum of money, she finding twelve other ladies who become responsible for the months. They in turn find four who take the weeks, and the latter find seven ladies who will take the seven days. They each find ten ladies who will take a working day of ten hours. The amount of money ranges from $1 for the year to 5 cents for a working hour.

 

BUSINESS MEN'S CLASS.

THE ONE FORMED BY PROF. WANGER TO BE CONTINUED.

The Professor's System to be Taught at Y. M. C. A. Gymnasium by Director A. D. Mosher and Floyd W. Stoker—A Chance for Every One to Learn it.

   Every member of Prof. Wanger's class who took his course in physical culture is feeling well repaid for the investment of time and money which it cost. And almost every, if not every, member, is also anxious to have the exercises taught by the professor continued, in order that the benefit gained in muscular and chest development and in general health may be retained and increased. In order to meet this general wish, the Y. M. C. A. authorities have arranged to have four hours each week in the gymnasium devoted to a business men's class, to be conducted according to Prof. Wanger's system by Physical Director Mosher on Mondays and Wednesdays, and by Mr. Floyd W. Stoker—one of the professor's star pupils and a fine all around athlete—on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The gymnasium will be reserved for this purpose on the days named from 5:15 to 6 P. M., and the classes will be open to all businessmen who are or may become members of the Y. M. C. A., and who will also be entitled to all other gymnasium and bath privileges enjoyed by senior members of the association.

   The fee for membership in the Y. M. C. A. is only $5 a year, which is much less than the members of Prof. Wanger's class paid him for fifteen lessons. The association generously donated the use of their gymnasium and bathrooms to the professor's class, hoping that the interest in physical culture aroused by him in business and professional men of the place would, in the end, result in benefit to the Y. M. C. A. itself.

   A meeting of all members of Prof. Wanger's classes who are now members of the Y. M. C. A. or desire to become members, and also of all others who are or wish to be Y. M. C. A. members and join the new class, will be held to-morrow (Wednesday) afternoon at 5:15 o'clock at the gymnasium, and a cordial and general invitation is especially extended to such of our business and professional men as feel the need of exercise and wish to take it under competent instruction and at small expense. There are few gymnasiums in the state outside of the large cities, and not many even there, which offer such advantages in this line as our Y. M. C. A., and those who join it and the new class will not only do themselves good but help sustain an institution which is doing, in its way, as great a work as any church in town, and a work which but for it would be left undone.

   There ought to be a large turnout to-morrow afternoon and we hope there will be. It will not be necessary for business men to attend the class every day, but the instructors will be there on the days named, ready for any and all members. Mr. Stoker has also very kindly consented to be at the gymnasium every Friday afternoon at 5:15, and instruct any new members or others who may want personal assistance in getting hold of the movements in proper shape.

   As an encouragement and inducement to joining this class, we hope to publish to-morrow a statement of the notable increases in measurements made by a number of Prof. Wanger's pupils, though every one in his class showed marked gains. Messrs. Mosher and Stoker have gained a good knowledge of his system, and are abundantly competent to instruct in it.

 

WITH THE SHELLS.

Major Sager Entertains the Science Club—A Large Collection.

   Last Saturday the Science club, upon invitation of Major A. Sager, met at his home, 22 Lincoln-ave., to pass the evening looking over the major's large collection of shells. Of this collection, which numbers about ten thousand and which represents about three thousand species, Mr. Sager had a great number arranged upon a large diningroom [sic] table and, with his guests seated about the table, he explained the shells and gave their names. The collection is scientifically listed and the major is perfectly familiar with the names and classifications. Aside from these his collection contains many rare fossilized shells and other curiosities.

   A very pleasant evening was enjoyed by the members of the club and their wives and each one present came away feeling much better acquainted with the tenants of the water world than when he came.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The citizens' village convention occurs at 7:30 o'clock to-night in Fireman's hall.

   —Revival services at the Free Methodist church will be continued during this week. No services on Saturday evening.

   —Next Thursday will be the 168th anniversary of George Washington's birth. He was born in 1732; he died Dec. 14, 1799.

   —The sun rises in South Africa about seven hours earlier than in Ithaca, and about thirteen and a half hours earlier in Manila.

   —The Wide Awake Literary club and the Opposition club will be entertained at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Yan Yost, 39 Fitz-ave. this evening.

   —McGrawville lodge, No. 320, I. O. O. F., expect to visit John L. Lewis lodge this evening to see the second degree conferred on several candidates, after which refreshments will be served and a social time will follow. All Odd Fellows are invited.

   —Mr. F. Daehler has rented the Goodrich place on Tompkins-st., possession to be given April 1. Mr. and Mrs. F. L. MacDowell will then take possession of the house now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Daehler, which is owned by Mrs. MacDowell's parents.

   —The regular meeting of the Fortnightly club will be held at the home of Mrs. W. R. Cole, 6 Argyle Place, Wednesday afternoon at 3:30. Miss Skidmore will read a paper on the Tissot painting which are next week to be exhibited in Syracuse.

   —The time for holding the Democratic village caucuses was altered yesterday afternoon too late to make a change in a notice that had been previously handed to The STANDARD for publication. Consequently the time appeared wrong in the paper yesterday. The corrected notice appears in another column to-day.

   —In the Syracuse public schools the eighth grade pupils are taught the follow-step and two-step dances as part of their regular physical culture work. From fifteen to twenty minutes each day are devoted to it, and the results seem to be beneficial upon health and in adding grace to the movements.

   —The ladies will soon have to be on the watch lest they become liable, under the law for carrying dangerous (though hardly concealed) weapons, for Assemblyman Phillips introduced a bill in the assembly last night amending the penal code to include as a dangerous weapon any hatpin over three inches in length.