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| Senator George F. Hoar. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, April 18, 1900.
CONGRESS' BUSINESS.
Hoar Delivers Forceful Speech in Senate.
SPOKE AGAINST IMPERIALISM.
Adjusting of Accounts Between the United States and North Carolina Agreed to. Consideration of Alaskan Code Bill Resumed—Proceeding in House.
WASHINGTON, April 18.—For more than three hours yesterday Mr. Hoar occupied the senate in a speech in op position to the policy of "imperialism" on which, he maintained, this government has embarked. As prepared, the address was 50,000 words in length, but Mr. Hoar omitted much of it owing to an incipient attack of the grip from which he was suffering. He spoke for three hours, and while it was a tremendous strain on him, the more important passages of the argument were delivered with force and vigor.
The speech was brilliantly written, was illuminated with splendid rhetorical figures and was rich with citations from history.
A resolution offered by Mr. Tillman of South Carolina was agreed to. It directs the secretary of the treasury to adjust the accounts between the United States and South Carolina.
Consideration was then resumed on the Alaskan civil code bill, the pending question being the amendment offered by Mr. Hansborough as to alien location, holding and transfer of mining claims. Mr. Spooner of Wisconsin opposed the amendment.
Mr. Carter, in charge of the bill, announced his opposition to some portions of the Hansborough amendment and offered as a substitute for it one which he said would protect the citizens of the United States in the location of mining claims and give them the first right to locate them in territory of the United States.
Without reaching a conclusion the senate went into executive session.
In the House.
WASHINGTON, April 18.—The second day's debate upon the naval appropriation bill in the house yesterday was confined closely to the subject matter of the bill and was as a rule devoid of interesting features. The question of armor plate and the building of war ships in government yards, as on the previous day, attracted most attention. The speakers were: Messrs Dayton, Loudenslager, Adams, Vandiver, Elliott, Rixey, Fitzgerald, and Wheeler.
General debate was closed and today the bill will be read for amendment under the 5-minute rule.
STRIKE HANGS ON.
Laborers Not Satisfied, but Contractors Confident That Worst Is Over.
CROTON LANDING, N. Y. April 11.—The strike of the Italian laborers on the new Cornell dam in the Croton valley is still on, and the contractors claim that it will soon be over.
Everything points to either a speedy settlement of the difficulty with many of the strikers going back to work or else a prolonged session of wearisome and fitful days, If not worse. The killing of Sergeant Douglas has changed the aspect of affairs very much to the disadvantage of the laborers, who are clamoring for an increased scale of wages.
The contractors, so far as reliable information has pointed, decided to put new men to work today and the whistle blew at 7 o'clock as it has done for years back, as a signal for work to begin. So confident are the contractors that Sheriff Molloy has dismissed over 200 extra deputies, leaving his regular assistants about 40 strong to help the soldiers. As the discharged deputies were on their way back to Croton Landing they indulged in a good deal of horseplay on the road and many of them discharged their loaded revolvers in the air. This fusillade caused some little excitement at the time, but the incident passed over without being the cause of bringing the military or the deputies to the spot.
RURAL TELEPHONE.
How Wire Fences May Be Used to Convey Conversation.
We live in an age when many and complicated are the inventions, but few are so simple and yet so complete as the barbed wire telephone system now in service between Anderson, Pendleton and Ingalls, Ind., a distance of 15 miles, says the Detroit News. Pendleton, a little village, is the home of the man whose genius has made it possible for a conversation to be transmitted over ordinary barbed wire fence. Its inventor, builder and sole owner, Cassius Alley, has six subscribers at $50 a year. The time is not far distant when there will be tenfold this number.
A clothing company at Anderson with branch stores at Pendleton, and the Wagner Glass works, with office at Anderson and factory at Ingalls, are using the system in business affairs exclusively. They use the line frequently, and in both cases it amounts to a private wire. They have privacy by plugs so arranged that when one is using the line he can cut out the others except in Mr. Alley's residence, which is used as a central station.
It is no exaggeration to state that the barbed wire telephone system is quite as satisfactory as the copper circuit of the Bell. Ordinary telephones are used with no special strength of battery, and there is very little trouble with the lines.
In constructing the top strand of the barbed wire the Big Four railroad fence is used until the corporation limit is reached, and then ordinary telephone wire is used to connect with the offices in this city. In many instances where the posts have rotted, it is necessary to paint the wire and post with rubber paint to insulate the wire, which is fairly satisfactory and puts the line in shape to be used as well in wet weather as at any other time. The inventor expects to put in a newly invented form of glass insulator which is very cheap and the only one which has ever been found that can be used on a fence wire line.
On the line wagon roads are crossed 37 times and railroads six times. At these crossings the line is either carried through a gas pipe conduit, with insulated wire, or by building bridges, which is done by merely nailing a piece of timber 15 feet long to the last fence post and extending perpendicularly high enough to allow clearance for traffic. In these crossings especially is the insulator which is mentioned above useful. It is simply put up and attached, having no screw pins and having perfect insulation. A great number of buildings are also crossed on the line, and in each instance where insulation is necessary the new glass insulator is used.
The whole line of 15 miles was built at a cost not to exceed $100, and the outfit for houses, receiver, transmitter, battery, call, etc., costs not over $10. The magnet bell style of call is used.
The barbed wire line is connected with the Independent long distance telephone line at Ingalls; hence Indianapolis and Greenfield are also connected to the above mentioned towns by the rural telephone.
The line has been in operation since Dec. 22 and has not been out of order except for a few hours, when a fast train on the railroad struck a cow, threw her body against the fence and broke the wire.
A telephone communication by this simple method is placed within the reach of every community and will be operated in this section of the country to a great extent. Farmers who do not have wires leading to their residences are supplied with a small telephone instrument about 6 by 6 by 8 inches at a very small cost. This little contrivance is so arranged that it can be attached to the main barbed wire at any point, and thus the rural friend is enabled to come in contact with his city neighbor with a greater convenience than he has ever known before.
TRUCK ASKS FOR AID.
APPEALS TO JOHN COURTNEY, JR., TO TAKE UP HIS CASE.
His Letter a Remarkable Statement—Copy Sent to Judge Sewell—Mr. Courtney Declines to Interfere—Thinks the Case Will be Appealed—Many Good Lawyers Would be Glad to Take up the Case.
A STANDARD man called on Attorney John Courtney, Jr., at his office yesterday afternoon to get farther information in reference to the letter which Mr. Courtney had received from John Truck, asking him to take up his case, and if possible, secure for him a new trial. Mr. Courtney stated that he had decided not to interfere in the case. His health has not been of the best for the past month or six weeks and he does not feel equal to the task of undertaking the amount of labor involved in preparing the case for a new trial. He had shown the letter to Mr. Miller who assisted Mr. Hyatt in conducting the defense, but both Mr. Miller and Mr. Hyatt have announced that they can do nothing farther and that they will not appeal the case.
The letter from Truck was received by Mr. Courtney a week ago. It is not in Truck's own handwriting, but is signed by him and he states that the letter is dictated by him and is written at his request. The letter is a long one and in some respects Mr. Courtney considers it a remarkably effort. The statements it contains are of sufficient importance to cause Mr. Courtney to have a copy of the letter sent to Judge Albert H. Sewell, who presided at the Truck trial.
Since receiving this letter from Truck, Mr. Courtney has received another letter from a party in Auburn who has interested himself in the case urging him to take steps for an appeal. Mr. Courtney has answered these letters, telling Truck of his decision in the matter and yesterday received a second letter from the condemned man thanking him for his prompt reply and asking him to return his first letter, as he wished to submit his statement to other attorneys if Mr. Courtney could not take up the case in his behalf.
When asked if he thought the case would be appealed Mr. Courtney replied: "I shall be very much surprised if it is not. There are very many good lawyers in Central New York who will be glad to take it up." Mr. Courtney then went on to state what may not perhaps be generally known that the matter of an appeal and stay of proceedings in a case of murder in the first degree differs from an appeal in all other cases. Section 528 of the code of criminal procedure provides that when a person is convicted of murder in the first degree an appeal may be made from the verdict of the jury trial direct to the court of appeals and this appeal acts as a stay of proceedings until the appeal is decided. So that all that is necessary for any attorney to do who wishes to take up the case is to file a notice of appeal in the county clerk's office and serve a copy of such appeal on the agent or warden of the prison where the condemned man is confined. Since this provision of the law went into effect all cases of this kind with only one exception have gone to the court of appeals before the execution took place.
Truck seems determined to get some one to take up his case and it is therefore probable, as Mr. Courtney says, that an appeal will be taken. He claims that the "insanity dodge" was no defense at all and he wants the case tried on its merits.
OBSERVE THE QUARANTINE
And See That Scarlet Fever Spreads no Further.
There are quite a number of cases of scarlet fever in the city and the homes where the patients are ill [and] are quarantined, but unless the quarantine means something and people are absolutely prohibited from going in and out and then mingling with the public at large, the cards might just as well not be posted and we may look for a marked spread of the disease. So far there has been but one death this season from this difficulty, and one other death resulting from an after-effect of the disease after the patient had been thought to have nearly completed convalescence, but there is no reason to think that more will not follow unless means are taken to enforce the directions of the health officer.
Monday night Mrs. C. C. Lord of 11 Evergreen-st. died from scarlet fever and was buried yesterday afternoon. Other members of the family are ill with the same disease and the father is taking care of them. This morning one of the boys was out doing errands at various places and coming in contact with people constantly. He was in one business place twice about a half hour apart. The second time he acknowledged that he had come right out of the sick room and had been there talking with his father, the nurse, since he had been at that place the first time. He had been in and out since the illness began and had been mingling with people. A better way than this to spread the disease could hardly be imagined.
Dr. Didama, the city physician and health officer, says that when he posted the card upon the house and instituted the quarantine be expressly forbade the occupants of the house from going in and out, and he left with them some printed directions in regard to the quarantine. The health officer can hardly be expected to stand guard over the house to see that his directions are enforced, but if the people themselves in quarantined houses deliberately disregard the quarantine and the express directions of the health officer it would seem to be time that the city authorities took the matter up and stationed an officer to guard the houses.
One of our most prominent physicians this morning called attention to the strictness of the quarantine kept last year over the Dr. Moore smallpox case, and he expressed the opinion that the danger of contagion from contact with scarlet fever cases was fully as great if not greater than in smallpox cases.
It is possible that in the other quarantined houses in the city there is the same laxity as in the case mentioned. We would respectfully refer the facts to the mayor and suggest that he set the proper machinery in operation to enforce a quarantine.
KEEPS TRACK OF CORTLAND.
Reads the Standard and Will Examine the Historical Souvenir.
Mr. M. W. Boone of Galesburg, Ill., a former resident of this county, takes a keen interest in everything that concerns his old home. Many will remember his communications in these columns in regard to the Galesburg brick when-the subject of paving was first considered here. Two years ago he spent some weeks in this vicinity and called upon all his old friends. He writes now to renew his subscription to The STANDARD and to secure a copy of the Historical Souvenir, and says:
With the pictures to look at and the reliable news of The STANDARD at hand, I shall feel quite near to my old home interests.
Allow me to congratulate you on the new title "City of Cortland." I have always felt that the terms, "village of Cortland" and "president of the village board" were rather inappropriate appellations for a place that is known all over the West for its carriage and other factories. Now with your beautifully shaded paved streets and enterprising citizens you may yet become a city of the second class.
I wish to congratulate the jury and people of Cortland county for their faithful efforts in the conviction of John Truck—one of the worst murderers I have read of. Mrs. Ives' account of the trial of O'Donoghue was very graphic. I well remember attending the trial as a mere boy and of being present when O'Donoghue received his sentence. His words to the judge when sentenced were "Faith, and ol hope yees'll not live to see that day."
With many good wishes for the success of The STANDARD, I am, Yours Respectfully, M. W. BOONE.
COUNCIL IN SESSION.
Fire Hose Accepted—It is North Greenbush-st.—Clinton-st. Paving.
But little actual business was transacted by the board of aldermen last evening at its regular session held in the office of the city clerk. With the exception of Alderman Yager of the First ward, the officials were all present at the meeting and took a hand in the discussions that arose.
Committeeman on Fire Supplies C. Fred Thompson reported that the thousand feet of hose purchased of the New York Belting and Packing Co., and the Eureka Fire Hose Co. had arrived and been tested, and was found to be perfectly satisfactory. Concerning the coupling, which Alderman Wood said the firemen kicked on, Mr. Thompson was of the opinion that it would be well liked as soon as they became used to it. He had tried it under a 140-pound pressure and found that two men could make the coupling and turn it with their hands so tight that it would not leak a drop. It could also be turned off by hand. Mr. Wood thought the firemen had the impression that the connections could not be made as quickly as with the old couplings and he asked if this was the case. To this Mr. Thompson replied that the couplings could be made quicker because they could be put together by hand, no wrench being needed for the work. By resolutions introduced by Mr. Thompson and seconded by Mr. Wood the fire hose was accepted.
The matter of changing the names of Railroad-ave. and Railway-ave. was then introduced. Alderman Wood presented a petition signed by ten residents of Railroad-ave. and asking that the same be called North Greenbush-st. Mr. Wood said that this name seemed pretty generally agreed upon by the people of the street, yet one man had suggested that it be called McKinley-st., to which one of the aldermen replied that it was hardly good policy to name a street after a live man. Mr. Wood moved that the petition be accepted and that the street be called North Greenbush. This was unanimously carried after having received a second by Mr. Thompson.
The name of the other street was left unchanged, awaiting an expression of the people of that street.
Incidentally the paving of Clinton-ave. was brought before the board and it was ascertained that a good many of the property owners along the street were quite favorably disposed toward this movement, and it may be that Clinton-ave. will be among the thoroughfares that will get a coating of asphalt this season.
The board adjourned to meet the first Tuesday night in May.
THAT SOUTHERN TRIP.
Party of Cortland Men Captures a Southern Camp.
The STANDARD recently mentioned the fact that a small party of Cortland citizens was sojourning in Virginia. We have just discovered, quite accidentally, one little circumstance connected with their trip which they have been too modest to mention. Very likely there are others. From a Richmond, Va., paper of recent date we glean the following, the spelling of the names being according to the paper, not according to the way we know the parties here:
"The Pickett camp of Confederate veterans had quite an experience at their regular meeting last evening. They were invaded, attacked, and one might say captured by a small detachment of New York men led by Captain [Taylor]—a veteran of the army of the Potomac. Although the skirmish was a short one, there was some rapid firing done and some good hits were made. It is perhaps proper to say that the weapons used were jawbones; and also that the Northerners with the possible exception of Captain Taylor were evidently more familiar with the use of that weapon than any other.
"Private Milne delivered the first assault in the most approved and effective manner. We understand he is a poet at home and his scheme of fighting is to create such a brilliant display of verbal pyrotechnics as to dazzle and confuse the enemy.
"Privates [Van Hoesen] and [Duffey] parried with less pretensions, but with well delivered attacks, each hitting the mark several times with solid shot that brought down the house.
"The Pickett veterans were at first surprised by the rocket-like brilliancy of the attack, and although greatly handicapped in the matter of weapons, managed to rally in good shape and to hold their own by bringing some of their heaviest guns to bear.
"On the whole the occasion was both spirited and inspiring. If all Northerners had always been as fair and liberal and courteous and chivalrous as this group of New Yorkers, there would never have been any war. To confirm our theory we need only say that at the proper time last night both sides gladly saluted each other as fellow Democrats and then "retreated" to the commissary department."
BASEBALL HITS.
Work on the Field—National Games Tomorrow—Notes of the Leagues.
The big 5-ton roller is doing effectual work on Athletic field to-day. Yesterday's rain soaked the ground so thoroughly that to-day as the iron wheels are hauled over the grounds every little hump or stone is pressed out of sight and the field is left in tip-top good shape. The diamond, too, is getting its share of improvements and when the work on the field is completed, there will not be any better grounds in the state on which to play the national game.
To-morrow the National league will open the season, and games will be played as follows: Philadelphia at Boston, Brooklyn at New York, Pittsburg at St. Louis, Chicago at Cincinnati.
Shop Ketchum will leave Cortland for Wilkesbarre, Pa., next Saturday. Ketchum is in the pink of condition and will be ready to go into active service at once. He will be missed by the Cortland management and the fans with whom he was exceedingly popular.
In City Court.
Two travelers who had indulged extensively in drink appeared before Acting City Judge Lyman H. Gallagher this morning and were fined $10 a piece or ten days in jail. They were obliged by force of circumstances to take the latter. One of the pedestrians [tramps] claimed to be from Utica, the other preferred to say that he was from Pittsburg.
BREVITIES.
—The First Presbyterian church of Auburn took up a collection last Sunday of $661 for the starving people of India.
—To-morrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock there will be a meeting of the Kindergarten association at the Normal school.
—The choir of the First M. E. church will meet at Mr. Bowen's studio at the Conservatory of Music this evening at 7:30 o'clock.
—The installation of Rev. Robert Clements as pastor of the Presbyterian church occurs at that church to-night at 7:30 o'clock.
—New display advertisements to-day are—Burgess, Men's shoes, page 8; Bingham & Miller, Many a well dressed man, page 7; Model Clothing Co., If you have 10 or 12 idle dollars, page 4; Mitchell & Strowbridge, Fresh fish, page 5.
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