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| General Frederick Funston. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, March 15, 1902.
HAGUE PEAGE TREATY.
Senate Ratifies Convention After Short Discussion.
MATTER OF THE USE OF SPIES.
"Dumdum" Bullets Prohibited—It Is Forbidden to Use Arms or Material of a Nature to Cause Superfluous Injury—25 Countries Have Signed the Convention.
Washington, March. 15.—The senate spent an hour in executive session on the convention growing out of The Hague peace conference relating to the conduct of war on land and sea, and finally ratified the agreement without a division.
The discussion turned entirely on the conduct of the war in the Philippines and related especially to General Funston's capture of Aguinaldo. Senator Teller inquired whether if this treaty had been in force at the time the method of Aguinaldo's capture could have been justified. He quoted the provision in the treaty relating to the conduct of spies and said he did not mean himself to say that General Funston's course would not have been regular, but merely to secure the opinion of senators who had given attention to the treaty and who also were familiar with the details of Aguinaldo's capture.
Senator Burton replied to the inquiry speaking especially for General Funston, and said he was sure the proceeding on the general's part had been not only humane but that it had been in accordance with the rules of civilized warfare. It was true, he said, that General Funston and his force had acted somewhat in the capacity of spies, but what they had done had been in the line of honorable warfare.
Senator Hoar also spoke at some length regarding this provision in the treaty. He referred to Aguinaldo's capture and said that he believed the adoption of the treaty would have a tendency towards elevating the conduct of modern warfare. Some of the members of the committee on foreign relations said briefly that the ratification of the treaty would place this country in accord with the highest thought of the times and expressed the hope that the treaty would receive the unanimous support of the senate. Those who raised questions apropos of the discussion disclaimed any intention to prevent favorable action.
The countries party to the treaty are Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, the United States, Mexico, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Persia, Portugal, Roumania, Russia, Servia, Sweden, Norway, Turkey and Bulgaria.
The provisions of the treaty are binding only on the contracting powers in case of war between two or more of them, and cease to be binding when a non-contracting power joins either of the belligerents. The most important feature of the treaty, the contents of which have been generally known, is that prohibiting the use of "dumdum" bullets. Among other things specially prohibited are:
To employ poison or poisoned arms; to kill or wound treacherously individuals belonging to the hostile nation or army; to kill or wound an enemy who, having laid down arms, or having no longer means of defense, has surrendered at discretion; to declare that no quarter will be given; to employ arms, projectiles or material of a nature to cause superfluous injury; to make improper use of a flag of truce, the national flag or military ensigns and the enemy's uniform, as well as the distinctive badges of the Geneva convention; to destroy or seize the enemy's property, unless such destruction or seizure be imperatively demanded by the necessities of war.
Ruses of war and the employment of methods necessary to obtain information about the enemy and the country are considered allowable.
The treaty provides as follows regarding spies: "An individual can only be considered a spy if acting clandestinely, or on false pretences he obtains, or seeks to obtain information in the zone of operations of a belligerent with the intention of communicating it to the hostile party.
"Thus soldiers not in disguise, who have penetrated into the zone of operations of a hostile army to obtain information, are not considered spies. Similarly, the following are not considered spies: soldiers or civilians, carrying out their mission openly, charged with the delivery of dispatches destined either for their own army or for that of the enemy. To this class belong likewise individuals sent in balloons to deliver dispatches, and generally to maintain communication between the various parts of an army or a territory."
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| Christy Mathewson. |
Course in Forestry.
Ithaca, N. Y., March 15.—It was announced here that "Christy" Mathewson, the baseball pitcher, will enter Cornell university for a course in forestry. He will register with the junior class at the beginning of the next year. Mathewson was in Ithaca for three or four days last week, being the guest of Hugh Jennings, Cornell's baseball coach.
BOULDERS ON TRACK.
Fell in Night—Fortunately Discovered—Trains Stalled.
FISHKILL LANDING, N. Y., March 15—The New York Central railroad at this point was blocked for some time. Half a dozen or more fast trains were stalled on either side of Breackneck tunnel. During the night two massive boulders fell across the tracks, impeding traffic in both directions. It may be hours before the tracks are cleared. A track walker discovered the boulders in time to prevent accident.
The boulders weigh about 500 tons each, and covered both tracks. They fell about 8 o'clock this morning, just after the Montreal express had passed north.
The tunnel at the entrance of which they fell is about 200 yards long and is on a promontory of the Hudson river. The northbound track was cleared at 9 o'clock, but no mails or papers had got through north up till 9:45.
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| Guglielmo Marconi. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Wireless Telegraphy.
The steady progress of Marconi in enlarging the area of wireless electrical transmission, says the New York Times, challenges attention as a rapid movement in the direction of complete commercial utility. Indeed, the results he has already attained in the equipment of ships with apparatus permitting them to communicate with shore over gradually increasing distances up to 1,551 1/2 miles, for what may without misuse of terms be called articulate messages, and 2,099 miles for signals, leaves very little room for skepticism as to his warrant for confidence that within another half year he will be maintaining a regular exchange of messages across the ocean. The idea is impressive. The waves of etheric disturbance launched into space from the transmitting mechanism may be compared to a giant voice crying in the wilderness, and needing only an ear sufficiently sensitive to hear it at any distance to which the ever-widening circles of its undulations may reach. To make the voice loud enough to traverse the Atlantic and the ear sensitive enough to catch its message have ceased to be problems of the discoverer and become those of the mechanician. That they will be solved practically seems no longer a matter of reasonable doubt.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
PETITIONS FROM RESIDENTS OF THE FLOODED DISTRICT
Ask to be Relieved at Once from the Difficulties—Board Would Have City Engineer Submit Maps and Plans—Resolution to Clean up Ashes—Cesspools Considered.
At the adjourned meeting of the board of health last evening, Messrs. Theodore Schiele, J. R. Birdlebough, E. J. Warfield, G. F. Dann and D. C. Johnson, the committee selected at the public meeting of residents of the vicinity of Dry and Otter creeks, appeared and presented a petition of property owners in the section affected by the overflows, asking that immediate action be taken by the board of health to remove nuisances which are now existing. The petition is signed by eighty-six property holders. The petition is also endorsed by four physicians. It follows:
To the Honorable Board of Health of the City of Cortland, County of Cortland, N. Y.:
We the undersigned residents and property holders of the said city of Cortland, would hereby petition your honorable board to take immediate action to abate a public nuisance, dangerous to health, which does now, and has existed for some years past in the section of the said City of Cortland, near and adjoining the streams of Dry creek and Otter creek, in the north western part of the city, and that the bed of Otter creek has been obstructed by narrowing and filling the bed of the stream until not of sufficient width to carry the amount of water required during times of high water, causing the banks to overflow, doing damage to adjoining property and filling the cellars throughout the neighborhood, causing danger to life and health; also the obstructions in Dry creek cause this stream to overflow, covering the adjoining property with surface water, and filling those cellars in this section also with water which remains therein for a period of from two or three days, to one or two weeks, putting out furnace fires and leaving the dwellings in this section in a condition very dangerous to the health of the inhabitants. And it is the belief of the undersigned, that there now exist in this section, cases of sickness, traced directly to the cause of cellars being flooded with water, from the cause above stated, which otherwise would be dry. Therefore, we the undersigned would earnestly request your honorable board to take immediate action, and cause the banks of both streams referred to, and the bed of said streams thereof, to be put in proper condition to protect the adjoining and surrounding property from a condition dangerous to life and health.
(Signed)
Theodora Schiele, J. R. Birdlebough, E. J. Warfield, G. F. Dann, D. C. Johnson, Eli Stafford, S. M. Witherell, H. L. Rixon, M. Hopkins, J. F. Miller, Lucius Davis, F. P. Litz, Ł. W. Bachelder, W. H. Batten, Fred Bowker, J. E. Barrows, Wm. Howe, C. Fuhrmeyer, H. W. Gazlay, L. N. Hopkins, Ł. D. C. Hopkins, J. H. Gunn, W. C. Wolcott, H. M. Dickeraon, Ida E. Gray, Mary A. Cantine, Mrs. J. C. Haworth, Nathaniel Meager, Merton Z. Tuthill, Charles S. Leonard, Egbert Peak, Ł. Mand Smith, L. Łumbard, James Vail, E. D. Parker, F. Sexton, M. V. Hills, A. M. Gilbert, M. L. Loring, Fred Gifford, A. S. Fox, A. L. Stevens, T. J. Kennedy, J. R. Kennedy, George Dickinson, A. B. White, L. A. Bloomer, George A. Łoucks, M. Ł. Glover, John A. Nix, R. B. Stone, F. H. Winter, C. S. Kelley, W. L. Seeber, Mary E. Persons, J. L. Dean, Smith Clark, Frank Whiting, J. W. Petrie, B. F. Rice, P. T. Dwyer, W. T. Colwell, O. P. Miner, S. G. Stevens, L. J. Higgins, William H. Schouten, Wallace Goodell, A. E. Wetherell, H. W. Post, J. H. Ryan, Daniel Geer, Milton O. Clark, J. F. Bosworth, M. W. Giles, S. L . Palmer, B. B. Terry, Mrs. M. A. Lane, Chester Aldrich, L. B. Ball, Thomas Donnelly, James Grant, W. B. Scheneck, F. R. Birdlebough, W. R. Weld, G. D. Wilson, A. W. Delaney, H. I. Jenkins.
We, the undersigned physicians of the city of Cortland, do believe and have knowledge, that the conditions as stated in the within petition are true, and the facts that the cellars of dwellings in this section of the city referred to in this petition are flooded with water at various times and in condition herein stated, leaving said dwellings in a very dangerous condition to life and health. And we also believe, that for the protection of the health of the inhabitants of this section, that the proper authorities should immediately proceed to cause said nuisance to be suppressed.
CHARLES D. VER NOOY, M. D., FRANK D. REESE, M. D., F. W. HIGGINS, M. D., W. J. MOORE, M. D.
Mr. Schiele presented the petition, saying that the committee had come to the conclusion that the board of health was the proper body to act in the matter. The commissioners hold that they are responsible only so far as the obstructions become nuisances and endanger health.
Commissioner Stockwell was of the opinion that the facts of the case should be thoroughly looked into, and he thought the city engineer should be instructed to investigate the two streams. The following resolution was therefore offered by him:
Resolved, That the mayor be requested to have the city engineer make an examination of Dry and Otter creeks to determine:
First. What conditions exist that have allowed water to cause damage to property and produce conditions detrimental to health.
Second. What work should be done to correct the difficulty.
Third. The approximate cost of such work, treating such stream separately and making two …, one for a final condition to be … worked out, and another for … in better shape the worst places or what would be called a partial working out of the first plan.
Fourth. Assuming that property owners adjoining the creeks have not obstructed them. who should be taxed to cover expenses of putting said stream in proper condition?
Fifth. That report be submitted to the First and Second ward committee, appointed to investigate this problem, and to this board as soon as practicable.
This resolution met entire satisfaction on the part of the committee, and the action of the board in adopting the measure seemed to them to be a good start in rectifying the conditions.
The matter of cleaning up ashes and garbage was discussed, and the board favored the plan of getting rid of these at once, before the sun has had a chance to dry them out and before they become obnoxious. In relation to this Commissioner Santee offered the following motion which was adopted:
Resolved, That all property owners be notified to place their premises in a sanitary condition as soon as possible, and that the health officer be instructed to employ an inspector to see that this notice is complied with.
Cesspool building came in for its share of consideration at the hands of the commissioners. The health board is antagonistic to all manners of cesspool drainage, but it does not wish to seem unnecessarily arbitrary in the matter. It was thought best to make the rule that as soon as a cesspool is filled up to allow no more [building] on the premises if there is a sewer in the street adjoining the property. This matter was left over until the next meeting.
Thomas Howard, in a written communication, asked to be appointed inspector of crosswalks in the city. The communication related the many qualifications for the position that the applicant possesses, and the board readily agreed that he is just the man for the place. The board held though, that it would be for the board of public works to make such an appointment, so the former votary of the turf was told to make his application to that board through Mr. Duffey of the board of public works. This was satisfactory to the applicant, and he left with the promise to see Mr. Duffey at once about the appointment.
To Build a New House.
Mr. S. A. Summers has purchased of the Hatfield estate the lot at 134 Tompkins-st., at the head of Duane-st., where he will soon begin the erection of a fine and modern residence. Architect M. F. Howes is now at work upon the plans for the residence. The structure will cost in the neighborhood of $2,500 and will be an ornament to the street.
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| Cortland County Almshouse and Farm. |
COUNTY ALMSHOUSE
Inspected and Approved by State Board of Charities.
The twenty-ninth annual report of the state board of charities has been made public and the following extract refers to the Cortland county almshouse:
Cortland County—The committee reports extensive papering and painting during the past year, and considers the present needs of the almshouse to be better protection against fire, and nurses for the sick.
The almshouse was visited by the assistant secretary, in company with a member of the committee, June l 2, 1901. The institution was found to be greatly improved since the previous visit from the central office. The buildings are all kept clean and orderly, and the management seems to be kindly and efficient. Additional paid help is an urgent need, especially a nurse for the sick women, many of whom are now cared for, or neglected as the case may be, by a feeble-minded woman who is said to be bad-tempered. The old hand laundry should be replaced by a steam laundry. As the laundry building is near the boiler-house, the two could easily be connected and the same engine serve for both.
BREVITIES.
—On and after this date the stores of McKinney & Doubleday and Smith & Beaudry will be open evenings until further notice.
—Rev. Samuel McBride, D. D., of New York will preach at the First Baptist church tomorrow morning and at the Memorial Baptist church in the evening.
—Miss Lucy I. Marsh has so far recovered from her recent illness as to be able to enter upon her engagement tomorrow as soprano at the Presbyterian church.
—New display advertisements today are—Glann & Clark, Shoes, page 6; E. M. Mansur, New maple sugar, page 6; City Cycle, Bicycles, page 6; C. F. Brown, Malt Extract, page 6.
—Superintendent of Public Works E. L. Becker expects to start his force of men at cleaning the pavements and drawing away the dirt next Monday morning. This announcement will no doubt be received with pleasure by all the citizens of Cortland.
—News has been received in Cortland of the death at Washington, D. C., of Mrs. S. C. Colton, to whose illness reference was made yesterday. The remains will arrive in Cortland Monday morning at 9:45 o'clock and will be taken at once to the cemetery for burial.
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