APPEAL FOR CUBA, SENATE'S BIG PAYROLL, OPENING RAILROADS AFTER STORM, AND LITTLE YORK, N. Y.

 

Major General Leonard Wood.

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 1902.

AN APPEAL FOR CUBA.

General Wood Urges Concessions to Cuban Sugar.

   Washington, Feb. 4.—A circular letter has been received by members of the senate from General Wood, military governor of Cuba, urging concessions on  Cuban sugar coming into United States. It is dated at Havana, January 30. General Wood says:

   "I desire to invite your most earnest attention and consideration to the economic conditions existing in Cuba today, conditions that threaten to bring ruin to her principal industries, sugar and tobacco, unless prompt and efficient relief is given. With the ruin of her two principal industries we must give up all hopes of a stable government, for unless Cuba can sell her products at a reasonable profit it is obvious that their cultivation must cease, bringing idleness and hunger to her people.

   "We have established a reasonably efficient government in Cuba with all those numerous adjuncts which pertain to a stable, civilized administration. The outlay for the maintenance of these necessary adjuncts to the government is necessarily large, and the revenues therefore are derived principally from materials purchased in exchange for sugar and tobacco. These great industries are now in a most critical condition, especially sugar, which is being sold at a price less than the cost of production. The planter must grind his cane, even at a moderate loss, for his entire fortune is in the fields and is liable to be swept away by fire or deteriorate from the effects of the elements.''

   After giving figures concerning the cost of production, etc, General Wood says that a reduction of 33 1-3 per cent will give an average profit of 48 cents on each 300 pounds of sugar produced and that such reduction should be the minimum. He further says:

   "Each day of delay in giving relief is dangerous. When once the crash comes relief will be of little value except to the speculator who may gather up the wrecks here, the people of the country, who have virtually reconstructed it in three years will be ruined and we shall have to step in and reoccupy the country or continue in occupation and to do over again the work which we have spent thousands of lives and much treasure in doing up to date. The situation demands relief and it should be immediate and liberal."

 

Theodore Roosevelt.

CUBAN RECIPROCITY.

THE PRESIDENT HAS HEART TO HEART TALKS

With Different Members—Now They Begin to Think Something Can Be Done—Speaker Henderson Still Holds Out, but Relief is Prevalent that He Will Yield to the President.

   WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.—President Roosevelt is using his persuasive powers, or his executive whip, to such good purpose that the members of the house ways and means committee are said to be falling into line with him on the question of Cuban reciprocity. At first the committeemen were disposed to sidetrack the matter. Then Mr. Payne, the chairman of the committee, after a heart to heart talk with the president, "thought" that some way might be found to help the Islanders at this session. Next, General Grosvenor, in an interview, agreed with Mr. Payne. Now it is understood that Mr. Dalzell has decided that the president is not so far wrong. Speaker Henderson is said to be still holding out against the desire of the White House. Unless Mr. Henderson comes over to the president in the matter, Cuban reciprocity may have some very hard sledding before it becomes a fact. The speaker is chairman of the rules committee and as such is absolute dictator of what shall and what shall not be brought up on the floor. It is believed scarcely probable, however, that the speaker will stand out alone against the president if the other Republican leaders fall into line with the presidents policy.

 

SMALLPOX IN NEW YORK.

One Case Has Appeared in Bellevue Hospital—Quarantine Imposed.

   NEW YORK, Feb. 4.—The board of health is alarmed at the spread of smallpox through the city. Fifteen new cases and five deaths have been reported in the past twenty-four hours.

   One of the cases developed yesterday in the insane pavilion at Bellevue hospital. The victim, William Barry, was found lying in the street in a semi-comatose condition, apparently suffering from alcoholism. Smallpox symptoms developed after he had been taken to Bellevue. The insane pavilion has been quarantined.

 

Orville H. Platt.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

The Senate's Big Pay Roll.

   Senator Platt of Connecticut says that the cost of the clerical and messenger force of the senate exceeds the salaries and mileage of senators, which foot up nearly $600,000 a year. Of course the committee and other work which falls upon senators requires the employment of a large force. Even if there were little work to be done the maintenance of senatorial dignity would make it necessary to have a small army of retainers. But it hardly seems necessary for a body of ninety men to surround themselves with so many clerks, messengers. Doorkeepers and other retainers as to make up a pay roll of $600,000 a year. No one believes that these employees earn that amount of money or that there is sufficient work for such a great force.

   If there be any senators who wish to shine as reformers and who have the courage to make themselves disagreeable to other senators, here is a field for their activity. Let them make a vigorous fight for the reduction of the army of senatorial employees. The senators who may be zealous for reform can talk about "economy in the public expense" and urge their associates to practice it in the senate by cutting down this enormous pay roll. Speeches are occasionally made in the senate in favor of economy, but the speakers rarely take the ground that economy should begin at home—that is, in that august body of which they are members.

   ◘ The recent explosion in the New York subway, by which five people were killed and scores injured and damage done to property amounting to something over $2,000,000, is a reminder that nearly every great engineering enterprise is attended by some fatality, but it hardly seems necessary that gross carelessness should be a factor in such enterprises, as was the case in the New York disaster.

 

Lehigh Valley train stuck in snow.

Opening the Roads.

   The E. & C. N. Y. R. R. is open now and trains are running as usual, though a little behind time.

   The Lehigh Valley R. R., has the west end of its road working well, but the east end is still snowbound. No trains have gone east so far today and the train due in Cortland from Canastota at 8:30 this morning had at 3 o'clock this afternoon progressed as far as New Woodstock.

   The Lackawanna trains are on time today.

 

OPENING THE ROAD.

Four Cars in One Train Pushing Forward on Electric Road.

   The Traction company is having a hard time digging out after this storm. The sleet with which it began transformed to ice makes a difficult roadbed to overcome. Yesterday four cars in a single train pushing forward at full speed drove the snow plow into drifts. A small army of men dug out the train which then backed up to try it again. But today nothing but pick and shovel will avail.

   The Homer line has today been open from the Messenger House in Cortland to James-st. in Homer. The extremities will be dug out later, though men have this afternoon been at work south of the Messenger House.

   All day long work has been in progress on the McGraw division and it is believed that by 6 o'clock tonight a car can be run through from Cortland.

 

BROKE HIS NECK.

Delivery Horse Has a Long Run—Winds Up on Railroad Bridge.

   A delivery horse belonging to Van Auken & Hetherington, proprietors of the Railway-ave. meat market, ran away this morning when left for a moment on Owego-st., Cortland. It ran up Owego-st. to Railway-ave., thence to the Lehigh Valley tracks by the way of South Main-st. Turning down the railroad tracks, the animal ran to the Junction and then turned and proceeded down the tracks of the Erie & Central New York Raiłway Co. until it got to the bridge across the river. Upon this the horse ran with great force, but at the first leap its feet went through between the ties and its neck was broken in the sudden fall, killing it outright. The sleigh was left behind before the bridge was reached and was not badly damaged. Before reaching the river bridge, the horse leaped clear over the bridge that covers the creek that runs down toward Hon. O. U. Kellogg's farm. This bridge is 12 feet long, and the leap across it by the animal is noteworthy.

 

THE PROTECTED HOME CIRCLE

To Have a Special Meeting on Wednesday Evening—Public Invited.

   The Protected Home Circle will hold a special meeting Wednesday evening in the John L. Lewis lodge rooms for the purpose of initiating fifteen new candidates, after which the meeting will be thrown open and a musical and literary program will be given. Ali members are urged to be present and to invite all their friends to the entertainment at 9 o'clock. The Protected Home Circle is a fraternal beneficiary society which admits both sexes between the ages of 18 and 50 years and has a membership of nearly 40,000 and a reserve fund of over $500,000. H. C. Hall circle, No. 439, of this city now has over forty members and is constantly growing and hopes soon to be placed upon the roll of honor. L. Scott Gale is the president of this circle.

 

Laundries Consolidated.

   George M. Houghton, who for the past two years has conducted the City Steam laundry, 7 Tompkins-st., has sold the business to J. M. Stearns of Homer, who has been interested in the Homer Steam laundry, and now he and his son-in-law, C. W. Severson of the Homer laundry will operate both places under the firm name of Stearns & Co. Mr. Houghton has not fully decided upon his course for the future, but expects to go to Syracuse and engage in the laundry business there. He will, however, remain in Cortland for some time and assist in the work here.

 

Cutting ice on Little York Lake.

Little York.

   LITTLE YORK, N. Y., Feb. 3.—The Little York Ice Co. completed their ice harvest Saturday night having filled their [storage] houses, besides loading a good many cars.

   Sig. Sautelle had five teams on the road last week drawing ice from Little York to Homer. Frank Pender and Dever Morse cut the ice.

   D. T. Bowdish has bought out Frank Salisbury's interest in the store. Mr. Bowdish took possession Feb. 1.

   Frank Salisbury has purchased the house now occupied by Mr. Bowdish.

   Mrs. Stella Eaton arrived in town last week. She will move her things into one part of her house, she having rented the other part to Mr. Holbon of Cold Brook. He will move in the 1st of March.

   Mr. and Mrs. Frank Pender and daughter were in Homer part of last week, called there by the death of his mother Mrs. Daniel Pender. She was 61 years of age and had been confined to her bed for the past twenty-seven months. The funeral was held Friday afternoon at her home on Hudson-st.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The Fortnightly club will meet tomorrow afternoon at 8:15 o'clock with Miss Grace Mead, 13 Argyle Place.

   —The Men's Bible class of the Presbyterian church will meet this evening at the home of Mr. F. D. Smith, 6 Argyle Place.

   —The fall term of school at the Normal was concluded today and the spring term opens tomorrow morning at 8:45 o'clock.

   —The rehearsal of the "Rose Maiden" chorus will be held at the Y. M. C. A. rooms tomorrow evening instead of at the First M. E. church.

   —The special revival services at the First M. E. church begins tonight at 7:30. The pastor Rey. Dr. Keppel will preach a short sermon.

   —New display advertisements today are—C. F. Brown, Drugs, etc, page 5; R. W. Mitchell, Meats, page 5; M. A. Case, Dry goods, page 6; E. M. Mansur, pickles, page 6.

   —The 7:09 train south on the Lackawanna railroad did not reach Cortland till after 11 o'clock last night, being delayed by the snowdrifts and a disabled locomotive north of Syracuse.

   —A. W. Edgcomb, the proverbial joker, must have had visions of Florida or some other warm place yesterday, as while wading through the drifts nearly up to his waist, and that was good ways too, he inquired of his friends if they purposed attending the band concert at the park last night.