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| Elihu Root. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, July 12, 1902.
WAS NO PROSELYTING.
Acting Governor Wright Has Investigated.
MR. ROOT ANSWERS COMPLAINT.
Secretary Says It Is the Purpose of the Government to Maintain in the Islands the Same Kind of Free Non-Sectarian Instruction Which Exists in the United States.
Washington, July 12.—Secretary Root has addressed an identical letter to persons complaining that teachers in the Philippines have been proselyting and attempting to convert Catholics to the Protestant faith. The secretary's letter first refers to his request to Vice Governor Wright to report by cable the facts bearing on the complaint and then gives Governor Wright's answer, which says:
"Manila, July 9, 1902.
"Secretary of War, Washington.
"Referring to telegram from your office of 6th instant, charges made by Catholic Times unfounded in every essential particular. Untrue that nearly all American teachers are Protestant preachers and proselyters. The fact is one division superintendent was preaching in the United States a short time, then became teacher. Possibly two or three similar instances among teachers. Bryan, head of normal school, was never clergyman and never occupied a pulpit here or anywhere. There are now two American Catholic teachers in school of instruction (normal school) and five in Manila city schools. Native teachers in city number 140, all Catholics.
"Untrue that teachers of normal schools are proselyting and that school graduates only Protestants. Exceptional that any graduate is other than Catholic. Untrue Filipino is taught that Protestantism brings enlightenment and Catholicism ignorance and tyranny. No reason to suppose that Stone, superintendent, and Oliver, principal, Manila schools, bigoted or anti-Catholic. Both deny it as also the statement that graduates of Catholic university have been refused place in Manila and sent into the wilderness. Private secretary of Commissioner Moses Catholic, also private secretary of Atkinson, general superintendent of public instruction, also three division superintendents.
"Have shown your cable to Rev. William D. McKinnon, Catholic priest, a member of the advisory board general instruction, who confirms the statement of facts made by me above.
"Law to inaugurate public school system forbids religious instruction in schools or school buildings by teachers, but allows same three days per week in school buildings by priests or preacher out of school hours, upon request of parents (sec section 16, act 74). This intended as concession to Catholic sentiment. There are about 3,400 native teachers employed in the islands, all of whom are Catholics. Teachers are selected without reference to religion and not allowed to preach or teach religion in schools. No discrimination against Catholic teachers. WRIGHT."
Secretary Root then calls attention to Father McKinnon's statement and notes that this priest was formerly secretary to Archbishop Chapelle, the direct representative of the Holy See in the Philippines and adds: "The statements of the dispatch appear to be further confirmed by remarks which are published in the newspapers this morning, as made by Archbishop Ireland in a speech delivered at a convention of the National Educational association at Minneapolis."
The secretary, after quoting part of the archbishop's address, closes his letter with these words:
"None of the prelates of the Roman Catholic church, whose duty it is to safeguard the interests of their church and who are familiar with the facts, have made any such charges as are referred to in the inquiry addressed to Governor Wright, and in his answer above quoted, I am confident that they know better what the true facts are than the unknown and irresponsible sources of these adverse statements.
"It is the purpose of the Philippine government to maintain in the archipelago the same kind of free non-sectarian instruction which exists in the United States and which has proved to be for the interest of religion and all religions. The government means, so far as it possibly can, to give education to the people of the islands and it will do this without any discrimination for or against any church or sect. It does not mean that any officer or teacher of the public school system shall use his position to build up or pull down any church whatever, whether Catholic or Protestant. The laws already enacted in the Philippine islands contain the following provision:
"'No teacher or other person shall teach or criticize the doctrines of any church, religious sect or denomination or shall attempt to influence the pupils for or against any church or religious sect in any public school established under this act. If any teacher shall intentionally violate this section, he or she shall, after due hearing, be dismissed from the public service.'
"Conformity to this provision in the spirit as well as in the letter will be strictly required."
Illicit Chinamen.
Ogdensburg, N. Y., July 12.—Twełve Chinamen captured on the Canadian border were brought here for examination by United States Commissioner Gray for being unlawfully in this country.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Getting to Work on the Canal.
The promptness with which the president and his cabinet have taken up the preliminary work on the isthmian canal is gratifying to the American people. The president must determine the sufficiency of the title that can be conveyed to the United States by the Panama Canal company, a treaty must be negotiated with Colombia securing the necessary rights, and a technical commission must be appointed to carry on the actual work of construction.
As a first step it has been decided to refer the matter of title to the attorney general, it being purely a legal question. It is intimated that the attorney general will attempt to secure from the French government directly, through the chamber of deputies in all probability, some legislative declaration which shall have the force of law and effectually affirm the legality of the acquisition of the canal property by the United States. There is some reason to believe that, while no formal assurances have passed, the French government has managed to let it be known to the president that it is willing to do everything necessary to quiet the question of title.
Assuming that sufficient title can be secured, the next step will be the negotiation of a treaty with Colombia, and there seem to be no obstacles in the way. The Columbians are apparently anxious that the canal shall be built through their territory. A Colon paper, in urging prompt action on the part of the government, says:
In view of the activity of the staunch supporters of the Nicaragua canal project, who have hitherto left nothing undone to affect the defeat of the Panama measure, it becomes our bounden duty to urge the national government not to procrastinate, but to proceed with as little delay as possible to pass the necessary legislation so that the president of the United States may put the law in execution by beginning the construction of a Panama canal without delay.
If, however, an unclouded title cannot be secured from France and the Colombians are disinclined to grant the necessary territory and rights promptly and upon satisfactory terms, we still have the Nicaragua route, the territory and rights for which the Nicaragua government has already tendered to the United States. Ultimately that may be the route chosen, and the American people will be just as well satisfied.
NEW TELEPHONE LINE
Now Being Built from Cortland to Binghamton, N. Y.
Work on the new line of the Tioughnioga Telephone company from Cortland to Binghamton has been started. The line will be started from McGraw and will connect with Cortland on the poles of the Home Telephone company's line. The poles are being placed between McGraw and Freetown, and about 3 miles of these are already set. From Freetown the line will go to Marathon and from there along the river to Binghamton.
The poles have been delivered all along the line, and a gang of twenty-five men is busy setting them. The Ithaca line will be started as soon as the Binghamton line is completed.
President William Martin of the company is out on the Binghamton line today, looking over the work.
NO PAVING PETITION
Being Circulated to Improve Port Watson-st., Cortland.
So far as can be learned there is nothing being done by the residents of Port Watson-st. in the matter of getting signers to the petition to pave the street. The board of public works has agreed to give 10 cents a foot in addition to the city's third of the expense of laying gutters and curbs. The engineer's estimate for building the cobblestone gutters and curbs is 28 cents a foot. Under this offer the city would pay 16 cents a foot and the property holders 12 cents a foot.
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| Theodore Stevenson. |
THE ELM-ST. PAVING.
Strong Communication from Theodore Stevenson.
A MEASURE OF ECONOMY.
Money Would be Thrown Away to Grade the Street with Dirt and Later Draw it Away to Pave—Easy Terms of Payment—A Personal Appeal.
To the Editor of The Standard:
Sir—Elm-st. to the front. To pave or not to pave, that is the question! For the owners of property on the said street to decide,
If in the Negative,
Then the street must be graded up with dirt at the expense of the Traction company and tax payers. A curb and gutter put in at the expense of those owning frontage on said street, that the water may be conveyed on and not allowed to settle in the low places along the said street and make mosquito or malaria breeding bogs. The board of public works has a right to order a curb and gutter, and enforce the collection of the same against the owners of the realty fronting or abutting on said street and this right is as plainly given to them in the city charter, and those persons who advise the owners on said street that the aforesaid board cannot order a curb and gutter and enforce the collection of the cost of the same against the owners of the property fronting on said street, either refuse to read the charter or willfully misrepresent the facts of the case.
Now a suitable curb and gutter will cost approximately 75 cents a lineal foot front: hence, an owner of a 100 feet front would pay a tax of $75, and 50 feet front of $37.50, all to be charged and collected with the 1902 tax, and paid next January, all at once! All you have received is a curb to hold your lawn and a gutter to convey the water into the river, and pay nearly half as much as a fine paving would cost.
Now, should the paving petition prevail at a little more expense, you could have as fine a street as in any city, the automobile and electric car passing, accessible to get to or from between the crossings. The bicycles would be off the sidewalk and then any one living on the street would be within dinner distance of any manufacturing establishment in the city.
Now, About the Cost.
The best asphalt paving has been let in Syracuse this year at $1.45 per square yard and, no doubt, it could be laid in Cortland at about the same figure, not exceeding $1.50 per square yard.
Now, suppose a 30 foot road bed was made independent of the Traction company which have to pave between the tracks and 2 feet each side or 8 ft. 8 in. in all.
The city paves one-third or 10 feet, the property owners on each side, 10 feet and one-third of costs of curbs. (The street paving includes the gutters.) For each foot front, it would cost, 11-9 yards at $1.50 per yard, making $1.65 1/2. Add for one-third the cost of curbing at 25 cents per foot. Add 9 1/2 cents for engineering and supervising, and interest on account bringing it up to only $2 per foot, or 50 feet front $100 and, if desired, ten years to pay for it at $10 per year, and you have the full benefit at once. Now, I have estimated asphalt paving. Macadam road would cost within 25 cents as much per foot front. Let us leave the choice of kinds to be decided later; but let us pave now, or sign for it now. Very likely, that all that can be done this summer is to get the street graded and sewer, water and gas pipes laid to the curb where they are not now laid all ready for paving next spring, then the board would have a longer time to advertise for bidders.
If the paving could be done this fall, the first installment would not be made until January, 1904, with the taxes of 1903. If it were paved next spring, then [pay] a year later. If you prefer, it may all be paid at once when the paving is completed.
A Measure of Economy.
It would cost about $2,000 to properly grade the street with dirt; and 6,500 ft. of curbing and gutter at 75 cents a foot, $4,775 more, a total of $6,775. And all to be thrown away when, eventually, the street would be paved. It can be done about $2,000 cheaper now than it could after it is all graded as some 6 inches of the top soil would then have to be carted off from the street, but now where high, would be sufficient to fill the depressions and lawns inside the curbs, thus keeping all the dirt on the street.
A Personal Appeal.
Men of Elm-st. and women owners of property, arise to the golden opportunity that will only present itself to you once in a lifetime. Seize your pen and dip it into the ink and sign a petition which will descend to prosperity as one of the noblest acts of your life; that will enhance the value of your property and cause the highway in front of your premises to be well cared for at the city expense. Remember that now is the accepted time. "Barcus is willing," viz., the board of public works are with us; public sentiment is with us; our own convictions urge us on to sign now, and you will never regret coming up to the standard and requirements of this glorious and progressive twentieth century in which we live.
Your fellow citizen,
Petition is Growing.
The paving petition on Elm-st. is growing rapidly. Nearly every hour in the daytime sees some additional names put down. Including two or three names, which have been promised and which only await a legal formality to secure them, only about 300 feet more are needed to make a majority of the lineal foot frontage, It seems altogether probable now that the requisite amount will be secured.
DELIGHTFUL MUSICALES.
Over Three Hundred Friends of Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck Entertained.
One of the most thoroughly enjoyable social functions of the season was a musicale, or rather two musicales, given by Mr. and Mrs. Geo. P. Hollenbeck at their home, 10 Church-st., yesterday afternoon and evening. On two previous occasions when Mr. Robert S. Kelsey of Oswego has been Mr. Hollenbeck's guest in this city a number of friends of the latter have been privileged to hear and enjoy that gentleman's splendid tenor voice. As he was to be here this week to spend Sunday Mr. and Mrs. Hollenbeck with rare thoughtfulness decided to give a larger number the opportunity of hearing him and also arranged for other talent of the city to assist. The result was a program that for genuine merit in selection, variety in style and composition, excellence in rendition and pleasure for the listeners would be hard to excel or indeed equal among amateurs in this or any other city of far more than its size.
Mrs. Hollenbeck's rooms open together in a way especially convenient for an affair of this kind, so many of them centering about the rear parlor where the grand piano is placed and where the musicians were stationed that very many could see and all could hear in an unusual degree. The rooms were beautifully decorated with cut flowers, crimson rambler roses, white roses, poppies and white lilies being especially numerous.
Mrs. Hollenbeck entertained ladies only in the afternoon and both ladies and gentlemen in the evening, nearly 350 in all being present on the two occasions. During the programs, which were quite similar and which included some of the same numbers both afternoon and evening, lemonade was served to the guests as they were seated and after the programs cake and ice cream. Nearly forty people including the musicians, the out of town guests and the ladies who assisted, were also entertained at tea at 6 o'clock. The evening program was as follows:
Piano Duet-Overture from William Tell, Rossini
This program speaks for itself and the singing and playing of those who took part is too well known to need comment. It need simply be said that it afforded a great amount of pleasure to all who heard.
Two Funerals.
The funeral of Dominico Tavano, who was killed by being thrown from a car at Wickwire's factory yesterday, will be held at St. Mary's church tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Burial will be made in St. Mary's Catholic cemetery.
The funeral of Mrs. William Lumbard, who died yesterday morning, will be held Monday morning at 9 o'clock at the house, 6 Taylor-st., and at St. Mary's church at 9:30 o'clock.
CORONER'S INQUEST
As to the Death of Dominico Tavano, the Italian.
NO ONE TO BLAME BUT HIMSELF.
Brakeman Gave Warning and It Was not Heeded—Was Lighting Pipe When Bump Came and He Was Thrown from the Car.
Coroner Santee held an inquest yesterday afternoon to investigate the cause of the death of Dominico Tavano yesterday morning at the Wickwire yards. Eleven witnesses were sworn. The coroner renders the following verdict which practically includes a summary of all the testimony adduced:
State of New York,
County of Cortland.
ss.—In the matter of the death of Dominico Tavano.
Inquisition taken at Cortland, N. Y., on the 11th and 12th days of July, 1902, before Ellis M. Santee, one of the coroners of said county, upon view of the body of Dominico Tavano, to inquire into all the circumstances attending the death of the said Dominico Tavano and by whom the same was produced, and in what manner, and when and where the said Dominico Tavano came to his death.
On the 11th day of July, 1902., the said Tavano was engaged, together with five other workmen, in unloading steel billets from a car into what is known as the rod mill at the Wickwire plant, in the city of Cortland, N. Y. They finished unloading a car just before 11 o'clock a. m. and four of them were waiting in the empty car for a loaded car to be brought up to take the place of the one they were in. The Wickwire Bros. have a private switch engine which is manned by an experienced railroad crew and used to transfer cars from place to place about their plant. The crew are instructed to observe all the standard railroad rules for yard work and in pursuance of these rules a brakeman had gone ahead to warn the men of the approach of the train that was coming for the car upon which these men were waiting for the exchange of cars. He testifies that he did so warn them; but these warnings soon become an old story and are little heeded by the men. Tavano was standing up in the end next the approaching train, facing it, engaged in lighting his pipe. The first time the cars bumped they failed to make a coupling and were backed off and came back again. . On the second bump Tavano was thrown violently to the ground, evidently striking upon the top of his head causing a fracture of the base of the brain; he then fell over on his back, his head and right arm south of the south rail and his body between the rails. The approaching car ran on to his right shoulder enough to fracture two of the bones and puncture the axilla in such a manner as to rupture the axillary vein, causing a hemorrhage from which he died in a few minutes.
This coroner finds that said Dominico Tavano came to his death at about 11 o'clock a. m. of July 11, 1902, at the Wickwire wire mills in the city of Cortland, N. Y., from a traumatic hemorrhage: that his employers and fellow employees were entirely blameless in the matter; and that no amount of human foresight could have avoided or prevented said accident.
In witness whereof the said coroner has to this inquisition set his hand and seal this 12th day of July, 1902.
(L. S.) E. M. Santee, Coroner.
BREVITIES.
—Mr. Robert S. Kelsey of Oswego will sing at the Presbyterian church at both services tomorrow.
—New display advertisements today are—C. F. Brown, Huyler's candies, page 4; Forepaugh & Sells Bros. circus, page 2.
—The Central school baseball team was defeated in Marathon yesterday, score 17 and 5. The team is playing in Syracuse today.
—The union service tomorrow evening will be at the Presbyterian church. Rev. T. E. Clapp of Syracuse will make an address upon the anti-saloon movement. No contribution will be asked.
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