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| General Piet Arnoldus Cronje. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, February 26, 1900.
CRONJE'S POSITION HOPELESS.
Reinforcements Beaten Back and 500 Boers Captured by the British.
BULLER SLOWLY ADVANCES.
Reported to Be Within Two Miles of Beleaguered Ladysmith.
LONDON, Feb. 26.—Perhaps never before in the course of the present campaign had such crowds visited the war office as went there yesterday. As The Times remarks today: "The dearth of news is somewhat trying at a time when a considerable success was generally regarded as imminent."
No diminution of confidence in Lord Roberts is felt, however, and the public is ready to believe that he has good reasons for not mentioning General Cronje in the official dispatches. Probably he is in no hurry to end a situation which is daily bringing small parties of Boers in a vain endeavor to reinforce General Cronje. These he can deal with in detail.
Lord Roberts has already captured over 500 Boers and, at this rate, he will soon have quite a respectable array of prisoners to hold as hostages for the 3,000 British already in Pretoria.
General Cronje's refusal to accept the offer of Lord Roberts regarding the women and children indicates either that the position is less desperate than has been supposed, or that he has been able to [find] an absolutely safe place for them.
A dispatch to The Morning Post from Kimberley, dated Friday, says:
General Cronje is reported to have plenty of provisions, but to be running short of ammunition. Mr. Rhodes is extremely hopeful that the war has reached its concluding stage.
The Lourenzo Marques correspondent of The Times says:
"The feeling in official circles at Pretoria borders on consternation. General Louis Botha and President Steyn are both urging President Kruger to sue for peace. At Bloemfontein General Cronje's position is regarded as hopeless."
Everything goes to show that General Buller's advance is most stubbornly contested and most cautiously carried out. It is hoped that he will soon be in a position where General White will be able to assist him materially.
The campaign is now approaching a most interesting phase. In about a fortnight the congress of the Afrikander bund will meet, and it is rumored that Mr. Hofmeyer will then propose peace terms on the basis of the republics retaining absolute independence, but offering to disarm. If these terms are rejected, it is understood that a manifesto will be boldly issued to the Dutch throughout South Africa cabling upon them to throw off their allegiance to Great Britain.
Probably these rumors are exaggerated, but there is no doubt that the greatest anxiety prevails in Cape Town regarding coming events.
Germany, through the semi-official Berliner Post, reiterates that all reports of German intervention are quite without foundation.
Captain Raymond Harvey de Montmorency, who was killed in General Gatacre's reconnaissance, was the heir of Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency and was the fourth heir to a peerage who has fallen in the course of the campaign.
DRAWING NEARER.
General Buller's Troops within Two Miles of Ladysmith.
LONDON, Feb. 26.—The Times publishes the following dispatch from Colenso, dated Saturday:
The British are now within two miles of being in touch with Ladysmith; but the ground still to be covered is the hardest part and very severe fighting must be expected.
FIGHT AT GROBLER'S KLOOF.
British Reach Crest of Hills, the Boers Contesting Every Inch of Ground.
COLENSO, Natal, Saturday, Feb. 24.—The Boers, who had been reinforced, made a stand on Thursday at Grobler's Kloof and on a range of hills running east. They had been forced from all their positions on the right.
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| Li Hung Chang. |
PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.
◘ Li Hung Chang has a new job. The dowager empress has commissioned him to desecrate the tombs of the ancestors of Kang Yu Wei. The latter is a reformer, and therefore the tombs of his ancestors must be desecrated. It is understood that Li expects to be busy desecrating for some time to come, as Kang had a long line of ancestors. It is probable that Li will also have a chance to put a number of his relatives on the pay roll at salaries ranging from $30 to $50 a week and let them have a little extra now and then for desecrating overtime.
◘ Since the first American troops landed in the Philippines 404 have been killed in action and 234 have died of wounds and accidents. Deaths from disease have been 891, making a total mortality of 1,529. The number of wounded who recovered is 1,952.
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| New York Supreme Court Judge Albert H. Sewell,. |
SEVEN JURORS SECURED.
THE COURT HAS HELD NO SESSION TO-DAY.
Railroad Accident Prevented Judge Sewell from Getting Back to Cortland—Two More Jurors Secured Saturday Afternoon—Case Will Now Be Pushed Forward.
THE JURY.
William Salisbury, mechanic, Cortlandville.
Elias Crampton, farmer, Homer.
Walter Moxie, farmer, Homer.
Wells G. Albro, farmer, Taylor.
Andrew Brooks, farmer, Taylor.
John Bowen, mechanic, Marathon.
David Ayers, mechanic, Cortland.
The murder trial of John Truck has been at a standstill to-day so far, because of the absence of Judge Sewell. He went to his home in Walton, Delaware county, Saturday night, expecting to return at 9:20 this morning. But an accident to a train on the D. & H. R. R. last night blockaded the road and delayed his train so that he reached Binghamton too late this morning for the train to Cortland. He is expected on the 4:39 train this afternoon, and it is altogether probable that an evening session will be held to-night. Judge Sewell wanted to hold an evening session Saturday night, but yielded to the persuasions of attorneys who wanted to attend the public city charter meeting at the Opera House.
Two more jurors were secured Saturday afternoon after The STANDARD went to press, making seven in all named above. At one time though, it looked as though this number was likely to take a tumble back to five.
Walter Moxie of Homer was feeling most decidedly unwell Saturday night and wanted to g o home, hoping that he might thereby by a little good care over Sunday avoid more serious results. Judge Sewell swore in a special officer to accompany him and see that he complied with the law. He is back to-day feeling all right again.
Wells G. Albro is the postmaster at Taylor Center and exempt from serving on jury duty if he chooses to take advantage of his privileges. He didn't think of it especially when being examined before sworn, but he knew it would be very inconvenient for his deputy to run the office alone. Attorneys on both sides urged him to remain on the jury as they thought he would be fair and unbiased. The judge also hoped he would not insist on being excused, though he owned that he could be excused if he did insist. But Mr. Albro concluded to sit.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AFTER 3 O'CLOCK.
L. A. Gardner, a stock dealer of Harford, was the seventy-eighth juror drawn. His father, Nathan Gardner of Virgil,n was one of the coroner's jury and he had since talked the matter over with his father. Excused by court.
Patrick O'Donnell, a farmer of Truxton, was the seventy-ninth juror drawn. Has been under physicians treatment more or less lately. Cannot stand confinement. Had stomach trouble for years. Excused by court with consent of both sides.
Ray Holl, a farmer of Cuyler, was the eightieth juror drawn. Had conscientious scruples against death penalty. Had held them ever since he had heard of this case. Could not render a verdict «f guilty when penalty is death. Excused.
John Bowen, a mechanic of Marathon, was the eighty-first juror called. Used to know Frank W. Miller and occasionally did work for him at shop. Satisfactory to both sides. Sworn as sixth juror at 3:19 P. M.
Ambrose Delaney, a farmer of Cortland,was the eighty-second juror called. Has conscientious scruples against death penalty on circumstantial evidence. Excused.
J. F. Blancher, a farmer of Willet, was the eighty-third juror called. Has conscientious scruples against death penalty. Would never render a verdict of guilty when punishment is death. Excused.
Patrick Caffery, a farmer of Solon, was the eighty-fourth juror called. Has conscientious scruples against capital punishment. Excused.
Horace Marble of Homer, was the eighty-fifth juror called. Had been subpoenaed as a witness for prosecution in this case. Excused.
Wayland Spencer, a farmer of Cortlandville, was the eighty-sixth juror called. Is also a witness for prosecution. Excused.
John Livingston, a mechanic of Homer, was the eighty-seventh juror called. Has conscientious scruples against death penalty. Excused.
D. J. Cottrell, a farmer of Scott, was the eighty-eighth juror called. Has conscientious scruples against death penalty. Excused.
A. D. V. Eaton, a farmer of Willet, was the eighty-ninth juror called. Had read of transaction in Cortland STANDARD and formed an opinion. Would hold that opinion till sufficient evidence was introduced to overcome it. Would give defendant benefit of every doubt and believe could render unbiased verdict. Peremptory challenge by defense. Excused.
Sam B. Morris, a commercial traveler of Homer, was the ninetieth juror called. Had heard of the case, but had been unable to form any opinion regarding it. Peremptory challenge by prosecution. Excused.
Seth Parker, a farmer of Lapeer, was the ninety-first juror called. Read the account of the affair in the Cortland STANDARD. Formed an opinion and still retains it. Believes could render unbiased verdict and give defendant benefit of doubt. Would prefer not to take responsibility of rendering a verdict in this case. Peremptory challenge by defense.
Neal Dobbins, a farmer of Cuyler, was the ninety-second juror called. Has always entertained conscientious scruples against death penalty. Excused.
Hermon Demond, a farmer of Cincinnatus, was the ninety-third juror called. Suffers much from neuralgia; taking medicine more or less for it all time. Doubts whether could endure a two weeks' trial here.
Judge Sewell laughingly remarked that it might be necessary to take some invalids on the jury if the attorneys persisted in excusing all the well ones by peremptory challenge. However, he would excuse this juror under the circumstances.
Frank Givens, a farmer of Virgil, was the ninety-fourth juror called. Had formed an opinion which he did not believe he could lay aside even with evidence. Excused.
Oliver Griswold, a farmer of Cincinnatus, was the ninety-fifth juror called. Excused by court without examination by consent of attorneys.
G. H. Holmes, a farmer of Cincinnatus, was the ninety-sixth juror called. Had formed an opinion in the matter, but believed he could be perfectly fair in rendering a verdict. Peremptory challenge by defense Excused.
A. F. Potter, a farmer of Taylor was the ninety-seventh juror drawn. Has conscientious scruples against death penalty on circumstantial evidence. Excused.
S. S. Eaton, a farmer of Cincinnatus, was the ninety-eighth juror called. Has conscientious scruples against capital punishment. Excused.
Harlow Bliss, a farmer of Solon, was the ninety-ninth juror called. Excused for illness by court by consent of court.
E. A. Dwight, a farmer of Solon, was the 100th juror called. Relative of one of the counsel. Excused.
Milo Thornton, a farmer of Solon, was the 101st juror called. Read account of tragedy in Cortland STANDARD. Formed an opinion. Could, however, put aside the opinion and render a verdict according to the evidence. Peremptory challenge by prosecution. Excused.
David Ayers, a mechanic of Cortland, was the 102nd juror called. Had formed an opinion, but was sure he could and would render a verdict according to evidence. Juror was satisfactory to both sides, and at 5:07 P. M. was sworn as the seventh juror in the case.
Emmett Finn, a farmer of Solon, was the 103d juror called. The prosecution submitted a number of hypothetical questions to the juror asking that if the court should so charge what would the juror understand them to mean. At one of the questions the court himself turned a deprecating look upon the attorney submitting the question and the auditors smiled broadly. The juror thought he didn't take in the bearings of the questions and upon request of prosecution the juror was excused by the court.
James Lombard, a mechanic of Marathon, was the 104th juror drawn. He had formed an opinion, but could lay it aside upon evidence. Would require that the defense of insanity must be positively proved in order to give defendant benefit of doubt. If, however, court instructed to give benefit of doubt to prisoner, in such case would try to do it. Peremptory challenge by prosecution. Excused.
At 5:30 o'clock the examination of jurors was stopped and the following were excused: Ira Lynde, hotel proprietor of Marathon; C. M. Armstrong, farmer of Homer; Seymour Hults, farmer of Lapeer; and Dell H. Bingham, farmer of Homer. Court then adjourned till Monday at 10 A. M.
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| S. N. Holden. |
CITY CHARTER MEETING.
FULL DISCUSSION AT OPERA HOUSE SATURDAY NIGHT.
Many Arguments Presented in Favor of it—Only Objection Appeared to be That People as a Whole Had Not Known all About it from the Beginning—Vote of Approval and Recommendation Passed.
The public meeting at the Opera House Saturday night called by Village President S. N. Holden to discuss the provisions of the proposed city charter for Cortland was called to order by President Holden who nominated County Judge Joseph E. Eggleston for chairman. The motion was seconded and Judge Eggleston was declared the chairman of the meeting. The judge thanked the people for the honor of being chosen as chairman of the meeting and said he would not make a speech as he was not there to talk but to preside. C. F. Thompson moved the nomination of George J. Mager for secretary; the nomination was seconded and Mr. Mager was duly elected as secretary of the meeting.
The Opera House at this time was pretty well filled, but before the meeting had long been in session every chair was occupied and finally standing room was at a premium. Manager Wallace estimated that 1,100 people were present.
HON. O. U. KELLOGG.
Judge Eggleston stated that the meetings had been called for the purpose of discussing the proposed city charter for Cortland and called upon Hon. O. U. Kellogg to state some of the reasons why a new charter is deemed necessary. Mr. Kellogg spoke for about three quarters of an hour. He pointed out the imperfections of the present village charter and referred to some of the many difficulties which were constantly confronting the board of trustees on this account. He reviewed the history of previous charters which had been framed and adopted for the village of Cortland and the difficulties which had been encountered in the methods pursued in the revision of old charters and the adoption of new ones. He maintained that the village of Cortland had outgrown its present charter and that a new city charter would be preferable to another village charter or amendments to the present charter.
Mr. Kellogg spoke in part as follows:
Mr. Chairman and fellow citizens: I appear before you, not to make a speech nor to discuss the motives of any man. I am here at the invitation of the board of trustees of the village of Cortland to explain some of the reasons why a new charter is necessary and to enumerate some of the advantages of a city charter. For one I should be proud to see our village elevated to a city of the third class. The present charter has proved inadequate to meet the demands of the growing village. Many obstacles and many serious difficulties have been encountered in the administration of the affairs of our village under the present charter and no one realizes this more than the present board of trustees and the village attorneys. Individuals are not responsible for this. The imperfections which experience has demonstrated exist apply not only to one but to all departments of the village government. In reference to paving, the provisions of the present charter are entirely inadequate. The matter of assessment and taxation presents many glaring defects. The board under the present charter can do nothing in reference to the care of surface water and has no authority in the matter of opening new streets.
Another defect. Last fall a necessity arose for extending the sewers on one of our streets. There is no provision made for such cases and private citizens residing on the street advanced the money for making the desired sewer extension.
Mr. Kellogg referred to the passage of the law known as the general village law and commented upon some of the provisions of that law and the effects of its provisions. Continuing Mr. Kellogg said the village of Cortland is part of the town of Cortlandville and pays 82 per cent of all the taxes of the town. This is in effect paying taxes twice.
An argument which has been presented to the board of trustees against the city charter is that it will do away with local option. A bill has already been introduced in the legislature to amend the Raines law and give local option to even the separate wards of a city.
Mr. Kellogg then reviewed the history of how Cortland became a village and the difficulties which had been encountered in the matter of former charters and referring to the action of the board in the present case said: The action of the board of trustees has been more hurried than was expected on account of the fact that it was learned that the [state] legislature was about to adjourn. He then briefly reviewed the work of preparing the proposed charter and answered some of the criticisms which had been put forth in reference to it. He also referred to the amounts for which bonds could be issued and the amount of taxes which could be levied under the new charter. Most of the criticisms had been made without a knowledge of the provisions of the instrument and instead of attributing wrong motives to the board in the matter the action of the board should receive the kindly regard and approval of the citizens of Cortland.
HON. D. W. VAN HOESEN.
Hon. D. W. Van Hoesen was next called upon and he gave figures showing the savings that were to be made, and how the expenses of the city would be more than $10,000 less than under the present village charter. He spoke of the dual system of taxation to which Mr. Kellogg has referred and gave the figures upon which the items of saving are based. Under the village charter the president and board of trustees receive salaries amounting to $700. The mayor and board of aldermen serve without pay. There is a saving in the collection of taxes. The town collector received for collecting taxes in 1889, $850 of which the village paid 82 per cent or $697. The village collector received $750 and the village treasurer $50, a total of about sixteen hundred dollars. Under the city charter there will be a city chamberlain at a salary of $900, a saving of over six hundred dollars.
In the same way there will be a saving in the assessment of property. One city assessor will do the work at salary of $300, instead of having three town assessors and three village assessors with a total expense to the village of nearly $1,400.
In place of a town board of health and town health officer at an expense of $100, and a village board of health and village physician at a cost of about six hundred dollars there will be one city physician at a salary of $300.
The place of greatest saving is in the administration of justice. We now have a police justice at a salary of $1,000 a year and four justices of peace at a cost to the town of $694—of which the village pays $569—beside the fees which go directly to the justices. The new charter provides for a city judge at a salary of $1,200, with additional duties and does away with justice of the peace, so far as the city of Cortland is concerned. The city judge will also collect fees which now go to the justices and which are estimated to be more than sufficient to pay the entire salary of the city judge. Under the village charter the salaries and fees alone amount to $10,640.30. The new charter reduces the number of salaried officers and the amount of salaries to $4,260, a saving of at least $6,380 on salaries and fees alone.
We now have three elections a year. The city charter does away with town meeting and the regular village election and all city officers will be elected at the regular fall election. The saving on this point alone will be considerable and can only be estimated.
Another saving will be in the expense of maintaining the public highways outside the city, of which the village now pays 82 per cent.
The village now pays 82 per cent of the sheep damage for the town. All this will be done away with under the city charter, and the figures show a total saving in the expense of conducting the city government of $11,154.
Mr. Van Hoesen had other figures to show where expenses could be cut down, but thought that those he had enumerated would prove that the proposed city government would be an economical one.
At the close of Mr. Van Hoesen's remarks Mr. Lewis S. Hayes said he would like to ask who built the Port Watson-st. bridge, the iron bridges on North Main-st. and Homer-ave. and the other bridges about the village. Mr. Van Hoesen replied that he could not answer that question as those bridges were built before he became a resident of Cortland.
A sharp tilt here took place between Mr. Hayes and Mr. Van Hoesen, in which Mr. Van Hoesen seemed to have the better of the argument.
REV. J. L. ROBERTSON, D. D.
The first speaker opposed to the proposed charter was Rev. Dr. J . L. Robertson. When Mr. Robertson arose to speak he was asked to come upon the platform, but he said he preferred to speak from the floor and assured the audience that he would speak so that all could hear him. He referred to the bit of history spoken of by Mr. Kellogg in reference to difficulties experienced with other charters and said that we should learn wisdom from the experience of the past. He referred to the city of Geneva and said it was nonsense to think that taxes would be lower under a city charter than under a village government. Experience in other cities proved that such would not be the case. Additional expenses would be sure to arise. Dr. Robertson said: I am opposed to the charter because of the way in which it has been put through and the methods pursued in attempting to force it upon the people without letting them know anything about its provisions. I have never surrendered my rights as a citizen and I do not propose to do so at this time. There is one place where opposition to such methods will be effective. I have more confidence in the man who sits in the executive chair, and who won honor at San Juan hill, than to think that he will approve of such legislation as this. Dr. Robertson spoke in the strongest terms, denouncing the methods which had been pursued in getting the charter through and said that the stamp of disapproval should be put upon it by the citizens of Cortland.
PROFESSOR E. C. CLEAVES.
Following Dr. Robertson Prof. E. C. Cleaves presented figures from city records showing the increase in the expenses of Ithaca since becoming a city, and gave a statement of the cost of running the city since it adopted a city charter in 1888. The budget has increased from $37,066 in 1887 under a village charter to $82,090 in 1899.
EDMOND C. ALGER.
Edmond C. Alger had statistics to show that the increase was due to public improvements and would have been necessary under a village charter and could not properly be attributed to the fact that Ithaca had become a city. When Ithaca became a city there were no public improvements of any kind; no sewers, no pavements, no all-night lighting. All these had come since. The population had also increased from 10,000 to 14,000.
A. J. MURRAY.
Mr. A. J. Murray was the next speaker. He was one who had made a demand for a public hearing on the charter and he was not ashamed to say that he had asked for a public hearing on a public charter. The people have a right to a voice in the government of the village. Mr. Murray wished it distinctly understood that he was not opposed to a city charter; in fact he favored a city charter. He was not even opposed to the proposed charter because he knew very little about it. He had not had an opportunity to know much about it. But be was opposed to the methods which have been employed in getting it through. It is un-American and directly opposed to our theory and system of government.
In reference to the provisions of the proposed charter relating to non-taxpayers not being allowed to vote on questions of municipal taxation Mr. Murray said that the man who works and pays his debts is good enough to vote and is just as much entitled to vote on all questions and to have a voice in the government as the largest tax-payer in the city, and he thought that the same qualifications should be applied to candidates for office as to voters.
B. T. WRIGHT.
Mr. B. T. Wright was the next speaker among those opposed to the charter. He contended that there were no defects in the present village charter that could not be met and remedied by amendments. He referred to the question of expense and said we had been promised great saving as the result of the new charter. He could not see how such saving was to result notwithstanding the figures that had been given. He objected to the appointment of a superintendent of schools and school trustees by the mayor and thought that the people could still be trusted to look after the interests of the public schools.
The wisdom of the provisions in reference to the jurisdiction of the city court and city judge were also questioned. He referred to the paving provisions of both the present and proposed charters and admitted that he knew very little about the new measure. He thought he ought not to be blamed for that, however, as he had not had an opportunity to examine the proposed charter and argued that all ought to have a chance for a thorough examination of the document before it became a law and with this in view he moved the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolved: That the proposed city charter have a clause added to it referring it back to the people at the next village election that may have a chance to vote and by their votes to say whether they approve or disapprove of the charter as now proposed.
The motion was seconded and Mr. Wright moved the previous question. The chair ruled, however, that the motion should be reduced to writing and handed to the secretary.
Mr. Van Hoesen was called upon for additional figures which he gave in reference to salaries of policemen, city engineer and city attorney and other departments which had been questioned by Mr. Wright.
H. A. DICKERSON.
H. A. Dickinson said that he was one of the gentlemen to whom had been delegated the task of drafting a new charter; and he was ready to defend his action. It had been pretty thoroughly demonstrated that charter-making by mass-meeting is a failure. Any citizen may draft a bill and present it to the legislature and ask for its passage and this is what has been done in this case. He then touched upon some of the leading objections that had been made to the proposed charter, defended some of the provisions that had been attacked by the opposition, maintained that the rights of the non-taxpayer had been amply protected, and declared that the new charter would provide a safe, proper, prudent and economical administration of municipal affairs.
NATHAN L. MILLER.
Nathan L. Miller said he came to the meeting to hear a fair and open discussion of the question of a city charter and was surprised at the spirit manifested by the opposition to the measure.
He had great confidence in the man who opened the discussion and was ready to take his word for the new charter. He denounced the opposition to the measure and charged that the opponents were not acting in good faith. He had read the charter and was ready to endorse it.
Dr. Reese then moved that the speakers should confine their remarks to the discussion of the question and refrain from personalties.
DR. J. M. MILNE.
The best and most convincing argument of the evening in favor of the new charter was made by Dr. James M. Milne. A large part of the work of drafting the charter has been done by Dr. Milne and no one knows better than he what it contains, or has given more time and labor to its preparation. He defended the action of the village board and related in detail the history of the new charter extending over more than a year and a half. He had visited various cities for the purpose of obtaining information and had procured charters from nearly all the third class cities in the state. He proved his statements from extracts from the records of a number of cities including Geneva, Ithaca, Johnstown, Waterliet and others. He had at first been opposed to a city on the ground of additional expense, but had convinced himself against himself. With the single exception of Little Falls there is no city in the state that is not run more economically than under a village charter. He defended in the strongest terms the provisions of the charter in reference to the school system which, he declared, should be entirely removed from politics. [Joke? CC Ed.]
In framing the new charter three essentials were constantly kept in mind in reference to the proposed municipal government:
1. It must be economical.
2. Every political heeler must be out of a job under the new system.
3. The schools must be protected.
He did not claim that the charter was perfect, but he believed that it would be an improvement. Amendments could be made to it from time to time as the necessity for such amendments arose. Dr. Milne's remarks were greeted with tremendous applause.
DR. F. W. HIGGINS.
Dr. F. W. Higgins followed Dr. Milne and said he was anxious to see Cortland a city and was in favor of a city charter, but was not in such a hurry that he could not wait another year for it if it was for the best interests of all concerned to do so. He asked several questions about the appointment of police officers and some of the other provisions of the charter and thought the necessary amendments should be made before the charter became a law instead of rushing the bill through the present legislature.
I. H. PALMER.
After Dr. Higgins had finished there were calls for I. H. Palmer. Mr. Palmer had had some experience with previous charters and was opposed to the new measure because the method of putting it through and thrusting it upon the people was thoroughly un-American. He said that he was very reluctant to discuss the charter because he did not know enough about the charter to discuss it intelligently. He did not think that he was to blame for this as he had never had an opportunity for finding out about it. He was opposed to the charter on account of its un-American principles. He believed that it tended toward centralization of power and he believed in the people having a voice in all matters of government. He was opposed to its principles of taxation and said it was a false theory that because a man was not a taxpayer he should not be a voter. Every man who pays his honest debts is a tax payer and is entitled to a voice in the government.
After Mr. Palmer had taken his seat Mr. Murray moved the adoption of the resolution presented by Mr. Wright. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wright.
Dr. H. T. Dana offered the following resolution as a substitute and moved its adoption.
Resolved, That we do hereby ratify and approve the action of our village board of trustees in reference to the proposed charter and do hereby unite with said board in urging upon the legislature of the state of New York the enactment of the charter already introduced in the legislature and do hereby urge our representatives there to use their utmost efforts to secure the early passage of the act.
The motion was seconded by Geo. J. Maycumber.
Mr. Murray suggested that the vote be by uplifted hand instead of acclamation and Messrs. Maycumber and Wright were appointed by the chair to act as tellers. Mr. Wright declined to act on the ground that he had taken too active a part in the discussion and Mr. B. L. Webb was appointed in his stead.
The vote on the amendment was called for, but it was found to be impossible to count the hands which were raised in favor of the amendment and Judge Eggleston decided to divide the house.
The result was an overwhelming majority in favor of the resolution presented by Dr. Dana and the motion was declared carried. At 11:45 the meeting adjourned.
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| Dr. Lydia Strowbridge. |
A QUESTION OF JUSTICE.
Dr. Strowbridge Urges That Women Who Pay Taxes Should Vote.
To the Editor of the Standard:
SIR—The present agitation of the question regarding a change from village to city government causes some of the taxpayers to ask the question which was asked in the beginning of our fight as a nation for independence, "Whence comes the power of a government?" And the answer comes, "All just governments derive their power from the consent of the governed." Now in the light of this year 1900 more than a century and a quarter since the great Declaration of Independence there are only four states out of the forty-six where the women of this great nation are represented in the government equally with men. They are governed, but have no voice in the government. They pay taxes on millions of property but have no voice in many of these states, in saying for what the taxes shall be paid. In our village there are scores of women who are taxpayers, but have no voice in saying for what their money shall be used. All this is wrong and now is an opportune time to right the wrong and give to women who pay taxes the right to vote on all questions of taxation. This is but justice and should be recognized whether our government remains as a village or is changed to a city.
LYDIA A. STROWBRIDGE, Cortland, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1900.
BREVITIES.
—Binghamton expects to get a new station on the D., L. & W. R. R. this year.
—New display advertisements to-day are—F. D. Smith, Everybody's choice, etc., page 6.
—The Celtic club holds a dancing party in Red Men's hall to-night. McDermott's orchestra furnishes the music.
—Two elegant new dining cars were on Saturday put upon day trains on the D., L. & W. R. R. between New York and Buffalo.
—The Oswego Y. M. C. A. basket ball team won from the Cortland Y. M. C. A. team at Oswego on Friday night by the score of 14 to 7.
—The Pastime club will hold a dancing party in Red Men's hall to-morrow night from 8 to 12 o'clock. McDermott's orchestra furnishes the music.
—The Ladles' Aid society of the Universalist church will meet at the home of Mrs. Olive Bucklin, 4 3 Madison-st., next Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock.
—The February number of New York Education contains another excellent article by Prof. T. J. McEvoy of the Cortland Normal school upon "Intermediate Language Work." The seventh grade work is treated upon in this number.
—The services at the First M. E., First Baptist and Congregational churches were omitted last night to permit the pastors and the congregations to attend the Presbyterian church to hear Rev. John T. Stone preach there for the last time as pastor of the church.
—Residents along the Scott road say that it
is almost a daily occurrence to see from fifteen to twenty teams following one
another in single file past their homes loaded with produce from Spafford, Borodino,
New Hope, Glen Haven, Sempronious and
Scott bound for Homer and Cortland, which are the nearest shipping points for
that section of country.
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