SUNDAY AT SING SING, AND THE CITY CHARTER

 

Roland B. Molineux.

Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, February 19, 1900.

SUNDAY AT SING SING.

Molineux Spent the Day in Reading and Smoking.

   NEW YORK, Feb. 19.—Roland B. Molineux's first Sunday in the death house at the state prison at Sing Sing, N. Y., was uneventful and similar to the Sundays passed by all other persons under sentence of death at the institution. They do not go to chapel with the other prisoners, and no one is allowed to visit them.

   Sunday is a dull day in the great prison, but more so in the death house than in any other part. To the convicts in general the day is broken by the attendance at either the Catholic or Protestant services.

   No visitor ever enters the death house on a Sunday except it is the Sunday before death, and then the man who is to die during the week beginning at the next midnight may see friends and religious attendants.

   Molineux spent the day exactly as his companions did. He and they read and smoked and reclined on their beds. They had roast beef, potatoes, bread and butter for dinner.

 

Molineux's Family to Live at Tarrytown.

   NEW YORK, Feb. 19.—It is believed at Tarrytown, N. Y., that General and Mrs. Molineux and also Mrs. R. B. Molineux will make their home in Tarrytown as long as Roland B. Molineux remains in the state prison at Sing Sing.

   This belief arises from the fact that George Gordon Battle telephoned to the Florence hotel here for accommodations for General Molineux. The hotel was unable to give Mr. Battle any definite answer owing to the absence of the proprietor, but General Molineux will receive the answer today. All information as to how much room was required and for what period was refused at the hotel.

 

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

   Most of the educational publications of the United States contain summaries of the general news of the period between the dates of issue. This is all right and is done undoubtedly to supply a demand, and, if so, the demand is significant. It is evidence that a large proportion of the schoolteachers do not read the daily newspapers and hence need to be told every now and then what has happened. It is commendable that the teachers should desire to be informed as to what is going on in the world outside their own realm, but this cannot be fully acquired by confining one's reading to the weekly or monthly publications devoted especially to educational matters. The danger run by all pedagogues is of getting out of touch with practical, everyday life. The tendency is to spend too much time on books and too little in keeping in sympathy with the world. Any teacher who fails to read the newspapers shows thus that he or she is too pedantic to be a successful instructor. In times gone by the pedant and bookworm were successful, but nowadays these are displaced by the wide awake teachers who know men and affairs as well as books.

   ◘ Minister Wu Ting Fang advises the Americans not to try to be too sharp in dealing with the Chinese. There is a certain old poem by Bret Harte which suggests that the caution might be mutual.

   ◘ Mrs. U. S. Grant is certainly a remarkable woman. Her tact has put an end to the bad feeling between the Mexican and Austrian ministers growing out of the shooting of Maximilian. It was General Grant who said, "Let us have peace," while Mrs. Grant has proved herself to be one of the greatest peacemakers.

 

CONTINUOUS FIGHTING.

British Said to Have Captured a Hundred Prisoners.

   DURBAN, Feb. 19.—The bombardment of the Boer position on Plangwana Hill was continuous yesterday and the fighting still proceeding at 6 this evening. It is said the British have captured a hundred prisoners.

 

William Goebel.

LEGISLATORS RETURN.

Democrats Hold Numerous Conferences Relating to Political Program.

   FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 19.—Many of the Democratic legislators returned here last night, and numerous conferences were in progress during the evening relating to the political program for today, when the Democratic and Republican branches of the legislature will meet together for the first time since the assassination of Goebel. The question of whether Lieutenant Governor Marshall (Rep.) or president pro tem Carter (Dem.) will preside in the senate today was as wide open last night as ever.

   Governor Taylor went to church yesterday without a military escort and spent the remainder of the day at the mansion with his family.

   Governor Beckham returned to the city last night with the Democratic legislators and will have his headquarters at the Capitol hotel.

   Justus and Arthur Goebel also returned and will remain here till the body of their dead brother is finally buried.

 

HEARING WILL BE GIVEN.

Copies of the Charter Will he Sent to Cortland for Examination.

   Considerable criticism is heard in many quarters—and not without reason—at the haste which is being used in preparing the proposed new city charter for introduction in the legislature. We are informed by those having the matter in charge that the reason for this is the unprecedentedly early date which the legislature has fixed upon for adjournment, and the fact that the bill had to be rushed more than was anticipated at first to secure for it any chance of its getting through this year. But we are also informed by the same parties that there is to be no snap game about this matter and that an abundant opportunity for a hearing will be given before the cities committee of the assembly, where any objections can be raised or suggestions made for desirable changes. Just as soon as the bill is introduced and printed a large number of copies will be sent to Cortland for examination, and we shall hope to publish it entire as a supplement to The STANDARD so that all can read it carefully and prepare to make themselves heard before the committee, offering any suggestions for evasions, additions or changes that may seem desirable or for the best interests of the community.

 

Seven Last Saturday.

  Miss G. Eileen Maher celebrated her 7th birthday last Saturday by inviting a number of her little friends to her home, 63 Railroad-st., Cortland, where she entertained them from 8 to 6 o'clock P. M. The little hostess was assisted in receiving and entertaining her guests by her mother and Mrs. F. H. Keohane of Fayetteville, Misses Anna May Corcoran, Mabel Ashworth, Anna and Katherine Colgan and Master Fred Ashworth.

   The rooms were tastily decorated with palms and potted plants. The prevailing colors were pink and green. At 5 o'clock the children marched in couplet, to the diningroom to music played by Miss Anna Coligan. Here they were served with dainty refreshments. The young ladies wore caps of pink and green.

   After the refreshments the children enjoyed themselves with games and ended the sports with a cakewalk by Miss Eileen, Masters James Corcoran and Fred Beaudry.

   The little people present were: Alta Callan, Dorothy Lucy, Grace Dowd, Lillian and Laura Hogan, Sylvesta Milks, Georgia Stilson, Marion Davern, Margaret Hyde, Grace Holloran, Ethel Lewis. Carolyn Delevan, Mary Kennedy, Bessie George, Helen Elliott, Mildred Smith, Enid Van Hoesen, Mary McHale, Glenn Bennett, Fred and Leon Beaudry, Carl Winchell, Joseph Smith, Louie and Arthur Dowd. Francis Maher, Francis Colgan, Porter and Thomas Keator, David Goddard, Arthur Lyons, Harold Flynn, Walter Maxon, Irving Keeler, Neil Quinlivan, John Watkins, Leslie Yager and James Corcoran of Syracuse.

 

THE CITY CHARTER.

Dr. Higgins Wants More Light Thrown on the Subject.

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   SIR—To all who had not been in the secret it came as a surprise on Saturday afternoon to learn that our village board has had presented to it a city charter and has already adopted it en bloc and in the rough; that to-day or to-morrow, if the typewriter working continuously [Saturday] and Sunday night has finished it, it is to have its first reading in the legislature at Albany; that our citizens if they wish anything to say in the matter must go to Albany and appear before a committee on cities.

   On inquiry it appears that the board adopted the charter last Wednesday evening at a special meeting called together that morning by telephone. No reporter was present and the proceedings of that meeting have never been published. This is probably the most important matter that ever came before the board—the elected servants of the people. It is certainly strange that they should have acted on the proposed city charter without even reading it over, and in secret session. Some of the features of the charter were presented to them. We have had some of the features presented to us.

   Suppose that it should be discovered that our state legislature last week adopted a new state constitution which had been presented by somebody, decreeing that, to save expense, New York state should hereafter be a limited monarchy, and then did not allow its action to be published! Fortunately the American people are so jealous of their rights that they will not live under a state constitution that does not emanate from themselves. In the matter of our entire local government which affects us financially and socially more nearly than any other it would be strange to see the people allowing themselves to be blindly led with no opportunity to voice their wishes. The fact that the new charter would compel us, bound, gagged, and delivered, to have as many saloons and liquor stores as could pay $300 for a license is only one of the reasons why a majority of the citizens would like to be heard in the matter.

   The proposed city charter may be for the best interests of the village. I do not know. Nobody who has signed for it knows, because none of them has seen it. But I do know that if it is a good one it will do no harm to have it read and accepted by the people whom it affects before it goes to the legislature.

   F. W. HIGGINS. [Dr. Higgins was a medical doctor and former village president—CC ed.]

 

Milton H. Yale.

THE CITY CHARTER.

M. H. Yale Gives His Ideas of Objectionable Features.

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   SIR—The public have learned through The STANDARD of a proposed city charter for our village. We have also learned of the favorable features of said charter, but have not learned of any objectionable ones. The town of Cortlandville, of which Cortland is the larger part, declared by a large majority that no saloons or hotels should be licensed in the town. The proposed city charter would absolutely nullify that vote and open up in our midst the thirty or more saloons and hotels which the people voted out.

   Who has the right to say that the majority shall not rule? Why was this charter prepared, presented to the village board and passed favorably upon by said board without giving the people a chance, not even a notice, that any opposition might be heard? Have we come to the time in our history when an act so radical in its provisions must be railroaded through the legislature, without any consideration for the rights of the large majority of the people it affects?

   The main argument is the saving of expense. Can you name a single city in our state where the tax rate is as low as Cortland? In the tax rate of the cities of the state, as published in the World Almanac statistics for the last three years, not one has a rate less than nearly twice the tax rate in our village with all its mismanagement. It will be said that the figures show the saving. I would rather trust experience for a guide than any set of figures made by interested parties.

   Another argument is that a city charter will give us a better government, a higher class of talent. What is the experience of other cities in the state? How many cities can you name that have a wise economical government? What would be the fate of Cortland with the proposed city charter, giving us six wards, four of which would contain the thirty or more saloons and hotels, and be under their absolute domination; certainly, we would have a model administration, like New York, Syracuse, Elmira, etc.

   If it is for the best interests of Cortland that we have a city charter, let us have a free and open discussion of the question and submit it to the voters affected by its provisions. If this is a free country, let us have freedom of thought, discussion and action, then none can complain.

   M. H. YALE.

 

Rev. Oscar Houghton.

MEETING FOR PROTEST.

The Secretary Gives a Report of Sunday Night Proceedings.

   At the morning service of the First M. E. church in Cortland yesterday Dr. O. A. Houghton, the pastor, called the attention of the congregation to the fact that an attempt was evidently being made to rush through a piece of legislation at Albany in the way of the adoption of a city charter for this village without giving the citizens an opportunity to be heard on the subject; that if he was correctly informed the passage of such an act and the adoption of a city charter by the village of Cortland would deprive our citizens of all the local option privileges which they now enjoy and sacrifice to the liquor interests all that has been accomplished along temperance lines in this village for years. He understood that a charter had been already prepared and that it was now in Albany; that few of our citizens had been consulted at all or informed in any way about the matter; that it was evidently being pushed in the interests of the liquor men to cut off all restriction to the sale of liquors in this town. He deemed it his duty to call attention to this matter in order that prompt action might be taken, and called a meeting of citizens to be held in his church at the close of the evening service, to which all were cordially invited.

   At 8 o'clock after the evening service, he repeated his statement of the morning and, in order that there might be a free expression of opinion on the subject, he called Prof. J . E. Banta to the chair and H. M. Kellogg was chosen secretary.

   Prof. Banta said that he understood the matter as Dr. Houghton did; that a petition had been quietly circulated among a few manufacturers and business men in the interests of the new charter and evidently in the liquor interests; and that he understood that the village board approved the new charter and its adoption without even submitting it to the votes of the people.

   Dr. Houghton moved the appointment of a committee of five to call upon the president of the village and ask that he call a public meeting at once, where this subject might be brought before the people and discussed openly. Motion prevailed and the chair appointed Dr. O. A. Houghton, Mr. A. J. Murray, Dr. F. D. Reese, Mr. C. P. Walrad and Mr. R. J. Lucas as such committee.

   On motion of M. L. Decker, this committee of five was authorized to appoint a sub-committee of two to ascertain the facts as they exist in the cities of Geneva and Ithaca as to the increase or decrease of taxation since the adoption of their city charters and report the result of their investigation at the public meeting to be called by the president of the village.

   On motion, the aforesaid committee of five was authorized to appoint a committee on legislation and also to circulate a petition expressive of the sense of this meeting.

   On motion it was

   Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting that we petition the legislature of this state now assembled in Albany that they withhold their approval from any measure looking toward the adoption of a city charter by this village until the same shall have been submitted to a vote of its citizens, also,

   Resolved, That we oppose by every honorable method the adoption of any city charter by the village of Cortland which does not provide for the permanent retention of all our local option privileges.

   Dr. Cheney said that for himself he did not propose to be gagged and bound and delivered over to the liquor interests of Cortland without a vigorous protest. He said he was in favor of progress, and when satisfied that a new charter was for the best interests of Cortland he would favor it, whether it did, or did not increase taxes, but he opposed, most decidedly, the surrendering of any ground gained in the years past by the enemies of the liquor traffic.

   Rev. Mr. Stone, Rev. Mr. Howell, Dr. Higgins, Mr. Yale, Mr. Keese and others spoke briefly and offered suggestions expressing themselves as in sympathy with the meeting.

   Mr. H. M. Kellogg asked Trustee Thompson who was present, if the village board favored the adoption of the new charter without submitting it to a vote of the people, and he admitted that they so favored it.

   A motion to adjourn was carried.

   After adjournment a large number of persons present signed the petition against the new charter in its present form.

   H. M. KELLOGG, Secretary.

 

A Business Change.

   Mr. H. A. Bennett, who for more than a year has been proprietor of Bennett's cafe on Railroad-st., has sold his complete outfit to Mr. Fred P. Barney, who will continue the business. Mr. Bennett was forced to go out of business on account of his father's health which is such as to require constant attention. Fryer Eugene Tanner, who formerly was with Mr. Bennett, will resume with Mr. Barney. Possession was given Mr. Barney at noon to-day.

 

Will be a Fine Party.

   Mr. and Mrs. N. H. Gillette who are to personally conduct a party to Europe the coming summer, leaving New York on June 30 on the steamer City of Rome, already have twenty-seven people in their party. The only Cortland member at present is Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt, though a number of others are well known to residents here have engaged passage.  Among them are Mrs. Isabel N. Tillinghast and Miss Susie D. Stone of Springfield, Mass., Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Muller and daughter and Miss Mattie Van Hoesen of Truxton. The Ober Ammergan exhibition and the Paris Exposition prove to be great attractions. About eight more will be received into the party.

 

SOME GRATEFUL PEOPLE.

Neighbors Have Replaced the House and Contents That Were Burned.

   To the Editor of the Standard:

   SIR—If there is a time in life when a man can feel the great throbbing heart of humanity beating on his breast it is when the demon of fire has destroyed his home and the people have gathered around him with wide open arms of sympathy and friendship. Our friends have been very kind to us since our house was consumed by fire. They have bought, moved and furnished another house for us. And for this reason we feel very thankful to the people, to Earl Champlin, to Emmet Davis and to the ladies of Groton City and McLean. We wish to extend special thanks to the merchants of Cortland, Groton and McLean and to all others who have helped in any way to perform this miracle on the stage of human life.

   MR. AND MRS. B. M. HOLLENBECK.

   The fire referred to, as already noticed in The STANDARD, occurred at 1 o'clock on the night of Jan. 29. Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck and a young baby lived alone in their little home on a farm of six acres 4 miles west of Cortland on the Groton City road. The fire started around the chimney and the house was thoroughly on fire before being discovered. The inmates had to get out in their night clothes and did not save a thing. Now as referred to in the above communication through the kindness of friends and neighbors they have a new home entirely furnished, and they are very grateful for the assistance.

 

BREVITIES.

   —Rev. John T. Stone will preach at South Cortland, Friday evening, Feb. 23, at 7:30 o'clock.

   —The regular meeting of Grover Relief corps, No. 90, will occur to-morrow, Feb. 20, at 2:30 o'clock.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—F. D. Smith, Hardware and stoves, page 6; C. F. Brown, Toilet articles, page 6.

   —Rev. E. E. Davidson of Newtonville, Mass., who conducted revival services with such great success a few years ago, is just about to begin upon a similar work in Auburn.

   —A regular meeting of W. C. T. U. will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 2:45 P. M. Consecration service will be led by Mrs. J. W. Keese, followed by usual business meeting and a program given by Mrs. Hinman and Mrs. F. M. Snyder, superintendents of county and local evangelist work.

   —Mr. D. Edgar Kinney has sold his farm of 100 acres one mile west of Cortland to Mr. I. J. Foster of East Homer. Mr. Foster does not himself expect to move upon this farm till the spring of 1901, and will then transfer his famous Crown herd of Holstein cattle to this farm. Until that time he will continue to reside at his present home in East Homer.