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| Lt. Gen. Henry Clark Corbin. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, November 8, 1902.
OBSOLETE FIREARMS.
General Corbin Wants Better Guns For National Guard.
REPORT ON ARMY REDUCTION.
Casualties During the Year—Army and Navy Maneuvers—Work of Signal Corps.—Against Early Marriage of Young Officers—Favors Restoration of Canteen.
Washington, Nov. 8.—The annual report of Major General H. C. Corbin, adjutant general of the army, deals with every feature of the army and begins with a statement showing how the army is to be reduced by Dec. 1 to 60,020 men, of which 2,877 belong to the staff departments.
The report shows that during the fiscal year there were 35 officers killed in action or died of wounds and disease, 21 resigned and 68 retired.
Of the enlisted men, 1,227 were killed or died of wounds and disease, 35,806 were discharged on the expiration of service, 5,698 were discharged for disability or dismissed by order of court martial, 4,667 deserted, two were missing and 203 retired.
In reviewing the reports of the officers who participated in the army and navy maneuvers last September General Corbin says that much valuable information was acquired. He says:
"The maneuvers have proved that the rank and file of our army can be depended upon in every emergency; that apparently impossible tasks can be accomplished under the spur of necessity, and that there is an immeasurable gulf between practice and theory. The lessons learned by both officers and men were of more practical value than years of ordinary garrison routine and instruction."
He strongly recommends that similar exercises be conducted annually and made to embrace each year a new theater of operations so that the benefit may be shared by the different garrisons in the several fields of defense.
Wireless Work of Signal Corps.
"The wireless work, as conducted by the signal corps, established the fact that wireless telegraphy is an important factor in the defensive operation of an artillery district, increasing by many miles the extreme distance at which the enemy's approach can be detected and his ships located, thereby affording to the artillery commander ample time in which to perfect his own offensive operations."
The adjutant general has obtained the number and kind of arms in the hands of the National Guard in the several states and finds less than 4,000 United States magazine rifles in their possession. Of the multitude of other types, he says:
"This heterogeneous collection of obsolete arms is a very serious detriment to the efficiency of the entire National Guard, which in organization, drill, instruction, etc., assimilates closely to the regular army and should be armed with the same arms as the latter. If called into service under this deplorable condition much trouble and vexatious delays are involved in providing the different kinds of ammunition required, and in urgent or unforeseen contingencies may lead to disastrous results."
General Corbin recommends legislation providing that Major Generals Merritt, Brooke and Otis, now on the retired list, be given the rank of lieutenant general and that Colonels Gilmore and Williston be given the rank of brigadier generals on the retired list. He has the following to say concerning early marriages in the army:
"The early marriage of the younger officers of the army, many of whom are entirely dependent upon their pay and allowances for support, is greatly to be deplored and should be discouraged. A young officer should have but one allegiance. and that should be to the service. Those without private means must necessarily divide their pay between the demands of their office and family. A considerable number are required for service in the Philippines, where living is expensive, and the accomplishment of this tour of duty results in actual hardship to officers with families.'"
Restoration of Canteen.
General Corbin has the following to say regarding the canteen:
"The restoration of the exchange as it existed prior to the passage of the act of Feb. 2, 1901, prohibiting the sale of beer, is desired and urged by the great majority of officers and men and by none more than those of pronounced temperance views. Numerous reports confirm the views long held by this office that the old exchange contributed to sobriety, health and contentment of the men. The increase of desertions and of trial for infractions of discipline is, by those best informed, attributed to the abolition of the former privileges of the exchange."
In conclusion he says:
"The instruction of our men in vocal music would be a step in the direction of contentment and better discipline. Every regiment should have its marching song. Frequent practice in singing, particularly during the long winter evenings, would do much to make our men satisfied to remain in quarters and away from the baleful influence of the barrooms that exist in too great numbers in the vicinity of all our military posts. These barrooms are under the protection of the license and laws of the several states and are beyond the control of the military authority."
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| Estavan A. Fuertes. |
Professor Fuertes Resigns.
Ithaca, N. Y., Nov. 8.—Professor Estevan A. Fuertes, who for 30 years has had charge of the department of civil engineering at Cornell, tendered his resignation to the executive committee of the board of trustees, giving ill health as his reason. The resignation was accepted. Before coming to Cornell, Professor Fuertes was chief engineer of the Croton aqueduct and later was for three years consulting engineer to the City of New York. He will be assigned to the lighter duties of professor of astronomy and will be given charge of the General A. C. Barnes observatory.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP TEST.
St. Louis Soon Will Operate Electric Light Plants for Municipal Buildings.
St. Louis, Nov. 8.—Within sixty days the city of St. Louis will try an experiment in public ownership. Two electric lighting plants, owned and operated by the city, will be running. President Phillips of the board of public improvements has prepared plans, to be approved by the board, for the plants. Bids will be let within ten days.
One plant is to be operated at the City hall, lighting that building, the old City hall, the four courts, the court house, and Engine company No. 6 on Ninth-st. The other plant, located at the insane asylum, will furnish light for that institution, the poor house, the female hospital, and Engine company No. 35. The construction of the two plants will cost $45,000. Heretofore the city has paid $35,000 a year for lighting the public institutions named. It will be seen therefore, that in less than a year and a half the city will save enough to pay for the plants.
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| President Theodore Roosevelt. |
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
Approval of President.
Senator Platt is quoted as saying of Tuesday's election: "The Democrats all over the United States played their strongest cards to win control of the next house of representatives. They failed, and the Republican victory is important and significant. President Roosevelt has much to do with holding the next congress for the Republicans. Many men all over the country were at heart voting for President Roosevelt when they voted for Republican congressmen."
The accuracy of the senator's observations, says the Elmira Advertiser, cannot be questioned. The president's attitude on expansion, on Cuban reciprocity, on dealing with trusts, defense of the army, his fidelity to the basic principles of the Republican party, have the approval of the American people. The election of a house of representatives friendly to the president midway in his term is an extremely rare event. Leaving out of consideration the civil war time, it occurred only once before since 1837—a period of 65 years, reaching from the Jackson administration to that of William McKinley! The experience is repeated in what began as the second administration of McKinley and has been continued by his successor on the lines he marked out.
This rare occurrence is a vote of confidence and approval. The people were close to William McKinley, as he was to them. They are sensitive as to things done in the administration which he began, and it is proof positive of the feeling that President Roosevelt has kept the faith that they elect a congress in party accord with him at this time. The reason for the rule to which these two exceptions have been made has been given as disappointment with the distribution of offices, opposition to policies pursued, hard times, and indifference. The exception is a positive vote of approval. "Men all over the country" in voting for Republican congressmen were "at heart voting for President Roosevelt."
Continuance of undivided power in Republican hands imposes undivided responsibility. The people have declared their confidence that a Republican administration and congress will do that which is best.
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| Ferdinand E. Smith. |
THE SCHOOL CENSUS.
Children of School Age in the City 1,888—A Slight Gain.
The complete returns from the school census, taken in Cortland by order of State Superintendent Skinner, have been received and tabulated by F. E. Smith, superintendent of schools in Cortland.
The returns show a total of 1,888 children between the ages of 4 and 18 years of age.
In 1898 the school census showed a total of 1,823 between the ages given. This gives an increase in the past four years of sixty-five.
A comparison of the figures of the census of 1898 and the one just completed shows that, while in 1898 there were fifteen more girls of school age than there were boys, now the boys are in the lead by a majority of six.
The census of 1898 showed that at that time there were 904 males and 914 females in Cortland between the ages of 4 and 18 years.
The tabulated report of the census just completed is as follows:
Total number of males between the ages of 4 and 18 years, 947; total number of females, 941; grand total 1,888.
Number of Caucasian males, 944, females, 939; Ethiopian males, three; females two: total, 1,888.
Number absent from school between the ages of 4 and 8 years, males, 95; females, 100; total 195.
Number at work during school hours or absent from other lawful causes, between 8 and 12 years, males two, females two; total four; between 12 and 14 years, males, two; females three; total five; between 14 and 16 years, males nineteen; females ten; total twenty-nine; grand total, thirty-eight.
Number of truants from school between 8 and 12 years, males two; females none; between 12 and 14 years, males one; females none; between 14 and 16 years, males 1; females 0, totals truants six.
Number between 12 and 18 years who cannot read or write English, males none; females none.
The enumeration was taken by Messrs. J. R. and F. R. Birdlebough and was done in a very thorough manner.
FEAR THE DAM.
Citizens of Ithaca Make a Great Protest to the Common Council.
A large delegation of citizens of Ithaca appeared before the common council of that city Wednesday night to protect against the building of the 90-foot dam in Six Mile creek for the reservoir for the city water works. They feared a flood and great damage if the dam should give way. The engineer was present and answered questions. He pronounced the project a safe one. The citizens said the value of property would be depreciated and residents would remove from the course of the water in case of a break. The matter was discussed for four hours and no decision was reached.
PROF. E. A. FUERTES
Resigned One Professorship, Appointed to Another One at Cornell.
Prof. E. A. Fuertes, for thirty years director and dean of the college of civil engineering at Cornell university, resigned that position Friday. The resignation was accepted by the board of trustees, but Prof. Fuertes was immediately appointed professor of astronomy in charge of the A. C. Barnes observatory. The trustees were determined not to do without the services of Prof. Fuertes in some capacity in the university.
THE OLDEST POSTMASTER.
Roswell Beardsley Dies at North Lansing After Seventy-four Years' Service.
Roswell Beardsley, postmaster of North Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y., since July 14, 1828, died at his home in that place yesterday morning at the age of 93 years. The funeral will be held Monday at 2 o clock. A sketch of Mr. Beardsley appeared in these columns a few weeks ago.
THE DEADLOCK BROKEN.
Alderman Yager Finally Votes to Confirm Mr. Baker
AS SUPERVISOR IN THE SIXTH WARD.
Aldermen Skeele, Richards and Pettigrew Stand by R. C. Duell Till the Last—Mayor Decides the Tie—Aldermen Had Tried to Appoint Without Mayor's Nomination—Declared Illegal—Mayor Brown Declares That in All Fairness He Would Appoint no One but the Supervisor elect, Following Precedent Established in Fifth Ward.
The appointment of Harvey J. Baker by Mayor Brown to fill the vacancy in the office of supervisor of the Sixth ward and was not confirmed by the aldermen at the adjourned meeting of the common council last evening. Alderman Yager was not present, but the appointment was held up by Aldermen Richards, Pettigrew and Skeele. After sending out a delegation to visit R. C. Duell and learning his wishes in the matter, the opposers of the mayor's appointment adjourned the meeting until today at 12:15 o'clock. Mayor Brown and Aldermen Wright and Scudder opposed this movement on the ground that the common council ought to be above the toadying to any one man, no matter who he might be, and that it would be better to let the matter drop and have a vacancy in the office rather than to lower the dignity of the board by adjourning from time to time at the bidding of an individual.
Alderman Would Appoint.
At the opening of the meeting last evening Alderman Pettigrew stated that "Dick" refused to withdraw from the fight, and he at once moved to appoint him to fill the vacancy. Alderman Skeele seconded the motion. A point of order was raised as to whether Alderman Scudder's motion of the previous evening would not first have to be disposed of. Alderman Wright seconded the motion, which was that Mr. Baker be confirmed, and this motion was allowed to stand.
Mayor Brown said he thought that Alderman Yager ought to be present to vote upon the question, and Mr. Yager was telephoned to, but answered back that he was too busy to attend the meeting.
The motion was then put, and Alderman Skeele called for the ayes and nays, which resulted as follows: Aldermen Wright and Scudder, aye; Aldermen Richards, Pettigrew and Skeele, nay. The motion was declared lost.
The previous motion, that R. C. Duell be appointed to fill the vacancy in the office of supervisor in the Sixth ward, was then brought up by Mr. Pettigrew, but Mayor Brown declared the motion out of order, as he alone had the power to make appointments. Alderman Skeele then referred to the wording of the city charter in relation to the filling of vacancies in elective offices, as follows:
"Other than as provided in this act, if a vacancy shall occur in any elective office of the city, otherwise than by expiration of term, the mayor and common council shall appoint a person to fill such vacancy for the balance of the unexpired term." Part of Section 20, title II.
Alderman Pettigrew called for his motion under this clause of the charter, declaring that the common council had the power under it to make appointments to fill vacancies in elective offices.
Only Mayor Can Appoint.
Mayor Brown held that the clause did not take from him the power of nomination, and as the city attorney was present the matter was referred to him.
City Attorney Hatch said that he had looked up the matter of the method of appointing to fill vacancies under the provisions of the charter, and he thought the procedure of the common council in filling vacancies in elective offices did not differ from that of filling vacancies in appointing officers, where the charter stated that the mayor shall make the appointments and such appointments must be confirmed by the common council. He held that the mayor had the power of appointing in this case, because if it had been the intent of the charter that vacancies in elective offices should be filled jointly by the common council, of which the mayor is a member, the wording of the clause would have been to the effect that the common council should appoint to fill such vacancies, rather than its reading to the effect that the mayor and common council shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy. As the mayor is a part of the common council, and in view of the fact that it speaks of him first and separate from the common council, he thought that it would be held by any court to mean that the mayor had the power to nominate and that such nomination must be ratified by the common council.
Mayor Brown said that he did not believe the board could afford to stand on technicalities. He had been visited by many prominent men who had advised him against appointing Mr. Duell.
Alderman Pettigrew said that he could not account for the change of front on the part of some of Mr. Duell's former friends.
Mayor Brown stated that some of the supervisors of the city had been to him and said that they would hand in their resignations in case he appointed Mr. Duell to the board of supervisors.
"That is queer," rejoined Mr. Pettigrew, "Dick could have been nominated and elected supervisor in the Sixth ward as well as not."
The mayor said that he did not see how he could well change his course without giving Mr. Baker and the Republicans of the Sixth ward a slap in the face. He said he could readily see why Mr. Skeele would not feel like doing any different from what he had done in asking for Mr. Duell's appointment in view of the fact that he had been helped by Mr. Duell, and he thought that seeing Mr. Pettigrew and Mr. Duell were warm friends that perhaps Mr. Pettigrew's course warranted, but he could not see why Mr. Richards, who was elected by the Republicans of the Third ward should not turn in and help Mr. Baker who had been elected by the Republicans of the Sixth ward. He called upon Mr. Richards to break away and support Mr. Baker.
Alderman Richards replied by saying that he believed Mr. Duell to be a good man; that he was no thief and that he had done nothing crooked. He thought Mr. Duell should be given the place.
Mayor Brown said that he believed the people had expressed confidence in him by giving him a larger majority by over 200 votes than he had two years ago, and he could not do anything that would not be fair to his friends. As long as Mr. Duell would not withdraw from the contest, he should refuse to put the motion after the city attorney had given his decision.
Committee to see Mr. Duell.
Mr. Richards suggested that a committee be appointed to wait upon Mr. Duell and see if he would not withdraw. Aldermen Pettigrew and Scudder went out on such mission.
Mr. Pettigrew reported back that Mr. Duell wished for time to take counsel in the matter of the decision of the city attorney in relation to the appointment. The board thereupon adjourned until 12:15 o'clock today.
Mayor Brown said in relation to the adjournment that Mr. Duell, in asking for time, practically says that our city attorney does not know where he is at. He thought that it was beneath the dignity of the board to be held up time and time again by one man.
Mr. Pettigrew said that all the aldermen who were holding out for Mr. Duell had promised him their support. Mr. Skeele thought it was no worse for Duell to have defeated Hall in the Sixth ward than it was for others of the party to have defeated Davis for city judge.
Mr. Brown was of the opinion that it would be better to let the office go by default rather than to dilly dally along the way they were doing. The adjournment, however, prevailed.
In speaking of the situation Mayor Brown said that he had not heard any criticisms upon Mr. Skeele for the position he took, but the censure he had heard was upon the Republican members of the board, who had been elected by the Republicans, for not turning in and helping another Republican that had been elected as they had been.
Alderman Yager Yields.
At the adjourned meeting this afternoon at 12:15 o'clock, all the members were present, and Alderman Yager broke the deadlock that had been formed between the mayor in refusing to appoint any one except Mr. Baker and the four aldermen in failing to ratify the mayor's nominee.
The motion was put by the mayor at the opening of the meeting, and Alderman Wright called for the ayes and nays. The result of the vote was: aye Aldermen Yager, Wright and Scudder; nay, Aldermen Richards, Pettigrew, and Skeele. The vote was declared a tie, and Mayor Brown voted for the appointment and declared the motion carried.
Alderman Yager, before voting, stated that he voted for the appointment of Mr. Baker because he had supported the Republican ticket.
Mr. Yager moved, and it was declared carried, that the compensation of the election officers or guards be placed at $2.50.
Upon motion of Mr. Yager, Mr. R. H. Davis was appointed to be commissioner of deeds.
The board adjourned until the next regular meeting night.
BREVITIES.
—The Central school football team went to Manlius today to play the St. John's military school second team.
—Evangelistic services will be held at the Homer-ave. M. E. church every evening next week at 7:30 o'clock. A special invitation to be present is extended to all.
—The new display advertisements today are—Opera House "The Show Girl," page 5; Baker & Angell, New shoes, page 4; Opera House, "The Gus Sun Minstrels" page 5; Opera House, "The Katzenjammer Kids," page 5: Baker & Angell, Shoes, page 6.
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