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| Brig. Gen. John M. Wilson. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, December 9, 1902.
GEN. WILSON OBJECTS
To Lawyer Calling President Roosevelt "Teddy."
SUSTAINED BY THE CHAIRMAN.
Reduction of Price of Powder Figured In to Make the 1900 advance of 10 Per Cent—Increased Prices of Groceries and Provisions—Evictions of Tenants.
Scranton, Pa., Dec. -9.—Almost the entire time of the days sessions of the coal strike commission was taken up by the mine workers in presenting their side of the controversy with G. B. Markle and Co. The miners placed witnesses on the stand to show that the company refused to employ them because they belonged to the union, had evicted them from their homes, and other data relating to the subject.
The powder question came before the commission at the afternoon session and caused considerable discussion. It was brought about by Commissioner Clark asking for the recall of Paul Dunlevy, a Markle miner, who had testified at the morning session.
Mr. Clark read to the witness the statements of wages submitted by him in the forenoon, which showed that some months he owed the company money for powder.
Witness could not tell clearly how it was that he was in debt and added that in his way of thinking the 10 per cent increase granted by the company in 1900 was not an increase at all.
He explained that the company, along with the other coal companies, granted the men a reduction in the price of powder from $2.75 and $2.70
to $1.50, but that the reduction in the powder was to be considered in the 10 per cent increase in wages. In other words, they got a 2 l/2 per cent increase in wages and the powder reduction amounted to an increase in wages of 7 1/2, or 10 per cent in all.
Increased Price For Provisions.
J. W. Rittenhouse, secretary of the retail grocers' association, gave the prices of eggs, butter, meats and provisions for 1900, 1901 and 1902. The increase in prices ranged from 15 to 78 per cent, making the general average for groceries about 30 per cent higher than those of two years ago.
John D. Hughes, the Scranton manager for Armour and Co., gave wholesale prices for all meats, comparing them with the prices prevailing in 1900 and 1901. He showed that the prices of meats of all kinds have increased 23 1-5 per cent over the prices of 1900.
Ira M. Burns, lawyer for the independent operators, who in cross-examination tried to show the high grocery prices were due to short crops, making grain dearer for the feeding of animals, then took Mr. Hughes in charge and brought forth a rebuke from General Wilson. Mr. Burns said: "Don't you know that the rise in the prices of meats was due to the meat trust?"
Witness: "l don't know of any such institution."
Burns: "Do you agree with what 'Teddy' Roosevelt says about the trusts?"
Witness: "I believe in some of it."
Before the witness could finish his answer, General Wilson jumped up and with rising indignation said:
"Mr. Chairman, I object to any person before this board referring to the president of the United States in that manner."
Burns calmly replied: "He sometimes calls himself that."
Chairman Gray, however, smoothed matters out by saying: "I think the objection is well taken."
Boy Had to Pay Dead Father's Debts.
Mrs. Andrew Chippi, the mother of the 12-year-old breaker boy, who testified on Saturday that he had to work out the debt of his dead father, took the stand and substantiated all the boy had said. She gave the additional information through an interpreter that the Markle company wanted her to sign a paper waiving all right to sue the company for killing of her husband in their mines. The company promised her rent and coal free for six months, but she refused to sign. Upon her refusal to do so they charged up her rent and coal and the little boy was compelled to work at 4 cents an hour in the breaker, but as his wages are so small the debt is increasing.
Another Hungarian woman, whose husband was killed at the same time Mrs. Chippi's husband lost his life, told precisely the same story in every detail. Her son was given a job in the mines as a driver boy at 80 cents a day and in five or six months received only five dollars, the remainder of his wages being retained by the company for rent and coal. Both women received $50 each for burial expenses from the company, but the funeral expenses in each case were greater than $50. When their husbands were killed the company took out of the wages coming to the men the house rent and coal bill due the company.
The last witness of the day was Charles Holferty, another Markle employe, who was evicted with 12 other men. He said that each one of the evicted men was at one time or another on a grievance committee which called on the company to adjust differences.
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| 1902 Coal Strike Commissioners. |
THE STRIKE COMMISSION.
Counsel for Mine Workers Determined to Put Many Witnesses on the Stand.
Scranton, Pa., Dec. 9.—Counsel for mine workers before the anthracite coal strike commission are determined to put many witnesses on the stand to testify to the worst conditions in the mines of the various companies and they hope in this way to produce such a preponderance of evidence that the coal companies will cry enough or the commission declare that sufficient testimony on that line has been adduced. The worst has not been told, say the miners' lawyers. The testimony concerning John Markles' mines will probably be concluded today. There was no one to represent Markle at the hearing yesterday and the witnesses against them were only subjected to a light cross examination by counsel of other companies.
When the hearing was opened this morning, the death of Dr. Rice, an independent operator, was announced. Justice Gray in a few brief words paid a touching tribute to the dead man.
James MeMeigle, a miner employed by the Markle company, the first witness today told of the dangers he had undergone.
B. Gallagher, now employed at Jeddo in a Markle mine, said that since the strike he has been put on contract work in a bad vein and was only able to make from 50 to 60 cents a day. Before the strike he worked the same vein as a company miner at $2.27 with free oil, cotton and powder. Buying oil from the company, he had to pay 35 cents a gallon while in stores in Hazelton he could purchase the same for 18 cents. The company found fault when he bought oil from other than company stores.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
A Lesson in a Fine Art.
Little by little and slowly, as a child who is learning to read spells out the words and falters through a sentence, we are mastering the fine art of living. Often we make mistakes, and what is worse, keep on making the same mistake over and over again until by and by some one with a sane mind and a clear perception comes along and puts us right. Of course we resent the interference at first. But in the end we accept the correction and take a step toward the far-off goal of perfection.
All this preachment is in connection with the fact that the other day in New York a very rich young man abandoned idle luxury and began to devote his whole mental and physical energy to the task of bettering the condition of those who are living out their lives in that city's most congested quarter. It has been interesting to note how variously this departure from the conventions has been received. Many of us have looked upon the young man's venture as merely the passing fad of a pleasure-sated youth. More of us have spoken of him in a lofty, patronizing tone of approval. It is a way we have.
"Oh, yes, it's a fine thing for the young follow to do. But why shouldn't he do it? What else is left? Make more money? He has more money than he can use. He has taken the only path open to him, of course."
But is this attitude quite just? Here is a young man who has adopted for his sole purpose in life the helping of his fellow beings to a better understanding of the fine and difficult art of living. To be sure, we do not expect him to make over the world all at once. It is quite likely that if he sticks to it for ten years he will have seen, one by one, all his beautiful theories fade as fades the glory of the sunset. But in spite of that he will not have wholly failed. It is something fine to have made the effort.
Do we—you and l and Jones and Brown, who look upon him so patronizingly—do we make even the fraction of an effort toward solving the many problems still unsolved in the book of life? Do we give one serious thought to the manner in which our less fortunate neighbors, those in our street and around the corner, struggle along in the half light of the age? When we chance upon a mistake which the world has been making over and over for centuries, do we cry out against the wrong and take the consequences, or do we selfishly trudge along in the old rut and wait for some one else to set us right? Then let us not sneer at young Mr. Stokes, nor patronize him, but let us ask ourselves if we are doing our whole duty in this never ceasing care for Number One.
FRANCIS RAY DICKINSON
The Lad Who Drank Carbolic Acid Died This Morning.
Francis Ray Dickinson, the boy who drank carbolic acid by mistake last Sunday night, died at the home of his mother Mrs. Helen Dickinson, 41 North Main-st., Cortland, at about 5 o'clock this morning after thirty hours of most intense suffering. He was 14 years, 11 months and 27 days of age. The funeral will be held from the house Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. It will be remembered that the boy arose from bed Sunday night and went down stairs in the dark to get some peppermint. A bottle of carbolic acid was picked up by him by mistake, and a large swallow of it was taken.
THE PREBLE APPEAL.
Decision Rendered by State Tax Commissioners.
THE APPEAL IS DISMISSED.
The Town of Preble to Pay its Own Costs and the Expenses of the County in the Proceeding. County's Share will Amount to $1,000.
The appeal of the town board of Preble from the equalization of assessments made by the board of supervisors in November, 1901, has been decided and the county is the winner. The decision was received this morning by Attorneys Kellogg & Van Hoesen, who conducted the case for the county. The gist of the decision is that the appeal is dismissed and that Preble is assessed to pay its own and the county's expenses in the appeal.
The complete report of the state tax commissioners is:
In the matter of the appeal of the supervisor of the town of Preble from the act or decision of the board of supervisors of Cortland county, in the equalization of assessments, made Nov. 28, 1901.
Present—George E. Priest, J. Edgar Leaycraft, Lester F. Stearns, state tax commissioners.
The appeal made by the supervisor of the town of Preble from the act or decision of the board of supervisors of Cortland county, in the equalization of assessments, made Nov. 28, 1901, having been brought on to be heard at the courthouse in the city of Cortland, May 22, 1902, and Oct. 30, 1902, and having heard the evidence offered by the respective parties, and arguments of counsel having been made at the office of the tax commissioners in the capital at Albany on Nov. 18, 1902, and after due consideration, it is
Ordered, adjudged and determined that said appeal be and the same hereby is dismissed.
It is further ordered and determined that the reasonable costs and expenses of the said town of Preble on this appeal, which we hereby certify to be the sum of $1,000,as appears by the schedule of costs and disbursements hereto annexed, as allowed; and the reasonable costs and expenses of the respondent, which we hereby certify to be the sum of $1,000, as appears by the schedule of costs and disbursements hereto annexed, as allowed, be levied by the board of supervisors at their present annual session upon the said town of Preble, and paid to the persons entitled thereto.
In witness whereof the said state tax commissioners have hereunto set their hands at the city of Albany on the 3rd day of December, 1902.
G. E. Priest, Edgar Leaycroft, Lester F. Stearns, State Tax Commissioners.
CENTRAL SCHOOL.
Report of Regents' Examinations for June, 1902.
Diplomas and certificates have just been received as the result of the June examinations for the following pupils:
Seventy-two count diploma (This diploma is equivalent to six years' work in the high school and it is the first one earned in this city)—Morton I. Snyder.
Sixty count diploma (Equivalent to five years)—Morton I. Snyder, Max Smith Higgins, Nettie M. Kelley.
Forty-eight count diploma (Four years)—Cola M. Alling, Florence K. Brown, Marjorie Collier, Harold C. Crombie, Cora B. Edgcomb, Mary A. Fennell, Max S. Higgins, Frank H. Leech, Earl R. Maas, Harold W. Nichols, Addie W. Rynders, Daniel H. Sanders, John S. Sheerar, Sol. Simmons, Edward A. Stevens, Arthur J. Twentyman, Bessie C. Watson, and A. Marlea Wells.
Thirty-six count certificate (Three years)—*Iva M. Barnes, Florence F. Brown, Lillian H. Carty, Olive N. Cogswell, Marjorie Collier, Clarence Geer, George D. Lucy, *Adelaide E. Lowerre, Charles J . McAleer, Katharine O'Connor, Daniel Robert Reilly, Harold Sliter, and Addie D. Palmer.
Twenty-four count certificate (Two years)—*Olive N. Cogswell, Minnie L. Conrad, Gertrude I. Daily, Bertha A. Hough, George H. Higgins, Byron C. Ingalls, Jessica B. Miller, Gentry L. Oakley, Grace Odell, *Harry W. Pease, Wm. F. Quinn, Gertrude I. Ryan, Leo. J. Ryan, Ray M. Telford, Ford L. White and Edward R. Webb.
Twelve count certificate (One year)—Karl H. Beard, Florence M. Doolittle, Florence F. Eggleston, *Alta Graham, Merton Gerrard, Susie M. Hannon, Wm. Halloran, Raymond H. Kendrick, Ray C. Jones, Florence B. McMillan, Richard F. McNett, Anna M. Lyons, Harry W. Pease, Ellis N. Reed, Roma A. Staples, Agnes E. Sweeney, Ford L. White, Lena M. Wheeler, Merwin Webb, James R. Webb, Louie W. Winchell and Ethel Whiting.
Preliminary certificates (Admits the pupil to the high school)—Harriet P. Benedict, Florence Bliss, Edward J. Buckley, Margaret E. Burnip, Florence Byrn, Ethel R. Clark, Lucy Irene Coye, Charles F. Dailey, Fred Dickinson, Roy M. Gilbert. Etoile Gillette, Nellie L. Gilbert, *Louis J. Heath, *Henry K. Higgins, Florence [Hislock], Grace A. Howard, Elizabeth M. Jaquins, Lena B. Jennison, Ray C. Jones, Thos. F. Kernon, Clarence Knickerbocker, David G. McMillan, Russel R. Ogden, Hazel R. Peck, Edith Potter. *Rena I. Preston, Albert Quinn, A. Ray Reilly, Thomas Riley, J. Stanley Ross, George Russell, *Rose G. Ryan, William L. Short, *Francis Sullivan, Louis A. Smith, M. Louise Warfield, Grace Wallace and Roger K. Williams.
*With honor from the university, standings being 90 per cent or above.
TEN YEARS IN AUBURN.
Earl W. Smith Sentenced on One Indictment.
Earl W. Smith was arraigned late yesterday afternoon in county court and pleaded guilty to one of the three indictments against him for forgery. He was sentenced by the court to ten years at hard labor in Auburn prison. Officer James E. Edwards escorted Smith to Auburn today. The other two indictments against him were put over the term.
Mark Waterman, indicted for grand larceny in the second degree, pleaded guilty to the charge of petit larceny. Waterman, who was mixed up in the cutting of the bond wire from the rails of the Cortland County Traction company more than a year ago, has since paid the company over $100 upon its loss. Attorney C. V. Coon appeared and pleaded for the mercy of the court in passing sentence. Waterman will be sentenced later.
The jury in the matter of the person and estate of Mary A. Barnes returned last evening and reported a verdict. It found that she was incompetent to care for her person and property and that she had personal property to the value of $4834.50. At the coming in of the jury Attorney Fred Hatch asked for an order from the court appointing Jessie L. Barnes, a daughter of Mrs. Barnes, to be a committee of her person and property. The application was granted, bond to be filed later.
Mariano Lalla furnished proofs and became a citizen of the United States.
The case of The People against Alvin D. Wallace, indicted for violating the excise law, was put over the term.
The case of Willard F. Maine and Milbert F. Price appellants, vs. Leon L. Delmarter respondent, was put over the term in county court this morning.
Mark Waterman was arraigned and allowed to go upon his own recognizance until the next term of county court. His bondsmen were held until that time.
Court adjourned at 11 o'clock until 2 o'clock at judge's chamber at which time a citizen of the United States was made of Peter Zaharis, a Greek.
BREVITIES.
—The mercury registered 10 degrees below zero in Cortland this morning.
—The Fortnightly club will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock with Mrs. Edward D. Blodgett, 8 Argyle Place.
—D. C. Johnson was yesterday elected trustee of the Cortland Savings bank in place of the late H. D. Corey of McGraw.
—The annual election of officers of Excelsior Hook & Ladder company and Water Witch Steamer & Hose company will take place tomorrow night.
—The monthly meeting of the Junior Baraca Bible class of the Baptist church will be held this evening at 8 o'clock in the church parlors. All members are requested to be present.
—The new display advertisements today are—C. F. Brown, Leather gifts, page 5; Warren, Tanner & Co., Holiday goods, page 6; A. S. Burgess, Christmas suggestions, page 7; M. A. Case, Things for Christmas, page 8; Baker & Angell, "Holiday Hint," page 8; G. H. Wiltsie, Golf gloves, etc., page 6; Hollister Hardware & Plumbing Co., Carving sets, etc., page 6; McKinney & Doubleday, Bargains for Christmas, page 6; A. Mahan, Pianos, etc., page 4.
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