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| John Hay. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, January 24, 1903.
TERMS OF THE TREATY.
United States to Pay Colombia $10,000,000 in Gold
AND AN ANNUITY OF $250,000.
Lease of a Zone Six Miles Wide For 100 Years Is Granted—Renewable at the Pleasure of the United States—Venezuelan Situation—Anti-Trust Legislation.
Washington, Jan. 24.—The meeting of the cabinet was one of the most important held in several weeks. Subjects of great moment were discussed fully, the session continuing for two hours.
All the members of the cabinet were present, Secretary Hay leaving his home for the first time in several days to attend the meeting. He presented a draft of the Panama canal treaty signed Thursday evening, and both the president and his associates in the cabinet expressed satisfaction with the results achieved through the long and difficult negotiations.
The canal treaty provides for the payment by the United States to Colombia of $10,000,000 in gold and $250,000 annually thereafter. The lease of a zone six miles wide for 100 years is granted. The United States has the right to send troops to protect its property in case Colombia can not do so.
The treaty is identical with that drawn by this government several months ago and at that time submitted to the Colombian government with the single exception of the amount of the annuity to be paid Colombia for the right of way of the canal.
This government proposed an annuity of $100,000, while Columbia demanded $650,000. The Colombian government's demand was based, it is stated, upon the ascertained returns from the Panama Railroad company in port dues, etc., which Colombia did not desire to have reduced.
Larger Annuity Wanted.
During the several months of negotiations Colombia agreed to all the points in the treaty proposed by the United States with the exception of the annuity. That has been the point of difference for many weeks and at one time it threatened to break off negotiations entirely.
Secretary Hay communicated directly with the Colombian government, intimating that some agreement must be reached soon as the United States desired to enter upon the construction of the canal, if it were to be constructed by the Panama route. For several days active efforts have been making to secure an agreement, but not until Thursday were they successful. The Colombian government then, through Mr. Herran, the charge d'affaires here, agreed to accept an annuity of $250,000.
This was entirely satisfactory to the president and Secretary Hay, and while it is a larger amount than was offered at first it is believed by administration officials that the senate undoubtedly will accept the figure named in the treaty, particularly after it is made clear that a lesser amount would deprive Colombia of income which she is now actually receiving.
All other points than this one of money compensation remain as they stood in the original draft of the treaty and are completely satisfactory to the United States government.
The United States will have control of the canal practically in perpetuity, as required by the Spooner act; this result having been attained by the adoption of a plan for a lease for 100 years, renewable at the pleasure of the United States, and Colombia having nothing to say about the extension.
Police and Judicial Control.
The matter of police and judicial control are settled by a scheme of joint action, although it especially is assured that no citizen of the United States will be tried by any other than his own courts.
Control of the waters of the ports of Colon and Panama is vested in the United States just as far as may be necessary for the complete operation of the canal, and it is assured that our extra-territorial jurisdiction will be unquestioned as to waters and streams pertaining to the canal. All port dues on vessels passing the canal are to go to the United States by way of offset for the annuity payments.
The Venezuelan situation was discussed at length, but it can be said by authority that no change in the attitude of the United States is in contemplation at this time. This government will continue its policy of "sitting tight."
The bombardment by the German warships of Fort San Carlos is regretted sincerely by officials of the administration because of their apprehension that it may complicate seriously the pending negotiations between Minister Bowen as the representative of Venezuela and the representatives of the powers. However, while the administration regards the bombardment as unwarranted, the United States has no intention of taking official cognizance of it.
Some consideration was given to the proposed anti-trust legislation now pending in congress. Regret was expressed that the impression prevailed in some quarters that the bill reported to the house from the judiciary committee was an "administration measure." It is made clear that it is not an administration measure and does not represent entirely the views of the administration as to what anti-trust legislation should be enacted by this congress. It can be said to be the hope of President Roosevelt and his cabinet that anti-trust legislation along the lines indicated by Attorney General Knox in the bills which he submitted to the house judiciary committee may be enacted at this session.
Questions of policy regarding appointments in the South also were discussed by the cabinet. The administration has been considering the advisability of the issuance of an order regarding fitness of candidates for office and the president talked the matter over with his advisers.
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| SMS Vineta. |
GERMAN OFFICIAL REPORT.
Commodore Scheder Says He Destroyed the Fort on Second Attack.
Berlin, Jan. 24.—Commodore Scheder, commander of the German fleet in Venezuelan waters, officially reports the bombardment of Fort San Carlos from Maracaibo under date of Jan. 21 as follows:
"On the 17th instant, while the Panther was passing the Maracaibo bar, she was unexpectedly attacked by Fort San Carlos, which opened heavy fire on her. To this the Panther replied and a cannonade was exchanged for half an hour. Owing to the difficulties of navigation the Panther then desisted.
"In order to exact an immediate punishment for this attack, the more so as the Venezuelan government had proclaimed it a victory, I bombarded the fort with the Vineta on the 21st instant and destroyed it."
GERMANY'S MOTIVE.
Believed to be to test the Monroe Doctrine to the Limit.
Washington, Jan. 24. It is the conviction of government officials here that Germany, through a policy of repeated delays, hopes to make it impossible for Venezuela to meet the claims of her creditors, and thereby to render a grant of territory the only solution, and in this manner force the Monroe doctrine to a test, the most severe it has ever had. In this scheme she is trying to involve Great Britain, making the latter co-responsible for all of her own acts.
THE MAYOR'S REPORT.
A Great Record of Economy Set Forth in all Departments of the City.
A LARGE REDUCTION IN THE DEFICIT.
The Schools—Police Board—Fire Board—Condition of Streets—Cement Walks Laid—Board of Health—Normal School bonds all paid--Excellent gain in paying up the old Deficit which was a Heritage from the Village.
To the citizens and taxpayers of the city of Cortland, I respectfully submit the following report of the financial condition of the city on Jan. 1, 1903, also a brief statement of the work done by the several municipal boards during the past year:
This statement shows the taxpayers how well the police board have managed the finances of this department for the past year. In two years, under the present management, the board have paid all indebtedness accruing, and reduced the deficit from $3,580.39 to the small sum of $286.60. A total reduction of $3,293.79.
The expense of the Police Force, less fees collected for 1902, $3463.00
City Court, less fees collected, $76.01
Sheriff's fees, $56.00
Total, $4295.01
The fire board have reduced the deficit in this fund, in two years, $2,248.29.
Deducting the extra expenses of the fire alarm and system of charging the batteries, amounting to $1,167.05.
The net cost to the city for the fire department for 1902 is $2.862.73.
I am confident that the taxpayers of the city will approve of the manner in which the finances of this department has been managed, for the past two years, and place the credit where it belongs, viz: To the fire board, Commissioners Alley, Ellis and Warfield.
The work of the six companies is under the excellent discipline and management of Chief Sherwood, whose ability is conceded by all, and the fact that he was re-elected by the department in December is proof that the department itself approves of his ability as a fireman and disciplinarian.
The chief and his assistants, together with the fire board, are unanimous in recommending the purchase of a chemical fire extinguisher, to cost from $1,600 to $2,000, and from results in other cities, I believe the saving to property from water damages alone, would soon convince the people that the investment would be a good one. I trust that another year may see this addition to our fire department.
The department has 160 men available for fire duty, and a more efficient department will be difficult to find in the state.
Schools.
RECEIPTS.
City appropriations, $16,600.00
State, 3,789.85
Regents, 642.18
Tuitions, 555.63
State for library, 63.91
Interest, 15.36
Other sources, 5.00
$21,701.93
Total receipts on disbursements, $21,701.93
DISBURSEMENTS.
Teachers and superintendent, $15,982.00
Janitors, 1,483.50
Fuel and lights, 134.76
Water tax, 49.72
Insurance W4 03
Repairs, 434.88
Supplies, 187.36
Census taken, 50.00
Printing and incidentals, 1,021.05
$19,685.47
Total net gain, receipts over disbursements, $2,016.46
Deficit in this fund Jan., 1902, $7,817.14
Deducting balance, receipts over expenditures, 1902, $2,016.46
Total deficit Jan.1, 1902, $5,800.08
There is not the opportunity in this department to reduce the deficit that there is in the other departments, for the reason that all large expenditures are fixed charges, viz., for teachers, superintendent and janitors. Of the $19,685.47 expended last year, the three items mentioned amount to $17,465.50. Notwithstanding this fact, the board of education has reduced the deficit $2,016.46, during the past year, while the attendance of pupils has increased, necessitating the renting of a school room outside of the [public school] buildings, and furnishing two extra rooms on the third floor of the Central building, to provide for this increase.
The board of education is to be congratulated on so good showing, especially considering the conditions against which it has had to contend in the last year.
The addition to the Central building will soon be completed, the second floor is now completed, blackboards are the principal thing lacking, and it is expected that that part of the building will be ready for occupancy Feb. 1.
The report of the superintendent to the common council, which I will incorporate here, will be indorsed by all who are familiar with the circumstances and difficulties connected with the construction of the new building.
Central Addition.
Superintendent Smith says: "I wish to call the attention of the mayor and common council to the arduous duties of the board of education for the past year on account of the building of an addition to the Central school.
"Permit me to say that in my judgment this business has been conducted by the board of education as carefully and as well as any private business in the city. It has been the effort of the board to keep the contracts for this building below the appropriation. In this it has succeeded, in spite of rapidly advancing prices. I am sure that this will be a satisfaction to the mayor, common council and citizens of Cortland; and that all will take pride in this accomplishment in this maiden effort of our new city government. Many vexatious questions have arisen from time to time, and I have been surprised at the time and attention given to those matters by men who are very busy with their own affairs.
"Many harassing delays have occurred in the construction of the building. This has occasioned much extra work. The building is now nearing completion."
Number of pupils in public schools 1899, 1,087
Number of pupils in public schools 1900, 1,172
Number of pupils in public schools 1901, 1,244
Number of pupils in public schools 1902, 1,315
Average expenditure for all ordinary purposes per pupil based on average daily attendance, has been as follows: For the past two years—1901, $18.84 per pupil. For the past two years [sic]—1902, $17.97 per pupil.
The commissioner, Mr. F. E. Price, while taking care of our needy poor, paying the salary of the city physician, and himself, in two years has paid a deficit of $1,766.86, and now has a balance to the credit of this fund of $897.37.
The taxpayers, upon examination of the supervisors' journals, will observe that the former town of Cortlandville had been paying $5,000 per year, (at one time $6,500) for maintenance of the poor. Now, under the able management of Mr. Price, this has been reduced to less than $2,500, including salaries of $700.
I am sure the citizens appreciate the work done by Mr. Price, and the economy shown in his department, and I regret exceedingly that he could not retain the position longer, but owing to the fact that other duties will soon demand his attention elsewhere, necessitating his departure from the city. A new commissioner will take his place Feb. 1.
Street Lighting.
Our contract for lighting the streets and alleys of the city is $7.855.27.
Deducting the assessment for paying which the Traction Co. pays us to liquidate its indebtedness for paving ($3,194.02) between and 2 feet outside of its tracks, makes the net cost for lighting to the city, 1902, $4,661.25.
City Water for Fire Purposes.
Total cost of water hydrants, $4,912.50. This is an increase over 1901 of $216.65, by reason of several new hydrants having been placed during the year.
PUBLIC WORKS.
This board expended in 1902 as follows: $11,413.54
Sidewalk rebates, $[?],189.08
Sewer on East Main-st., 1,023.25
Cleaning pavements, 1,017.50
Sewer Inspector's salary 600.00
Engineer's bill for grades, 283.87
Water for flushing sewer nine months, 594.03
Repairs on bridges, 679.21
City sprinkling, 150.00
Rents of barns and office, 187.00
Cost of fill on Elm-st., 718.00
Cobble stone work on R. R. st., 451.00
Cement sluice under L. V. R. R. track, 150.00
Filling and grading on R. R. st., 410.00
Miscellaneous bills, 522.82
Labor and team work on streets, 1,484.21
Superintendent's salary, 1,000.00
Total amount of audits, $11,413.54
Cement walk built, 1901, 3 miles, 422 feet; cement walk built 1902, 3 miles, 442 feet; cement walk built previous to 1901, 4 miles. Total cement walk in city, 10 miles.
Amount of gravel drawn on streets, 1902, 1,233 loads.
A careful perusal of the above items will show the immense amount of work done by this department in the past year.
The deficit in this fund was reduced $779.22 during the year, and with the increased appropriation by the common council for 1903, we hope to see it entirely wiped out by Jan. 1, 1904.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Expenses of this board during the year as follows: $269.95
Fumigation, $43.10
Milk test, 10.00
Printing and notices, 35.25
Inspections, 97.60
Expense at dumping ground, 154.00
$269.95.
Premises have been cleaned by the board and expenses collected from each individual as follows:
Garrison block, rear, $15.00
Woodward property, Lincoln-ave., 6.00
Yates property, Owego-st., 1.50
Cortland House, sewers, 23.96
Estey Block, 2.00
Graham property, (3 houses), 17.00
Gridley property, 1.00
N. H. Winter's property, 6.00
B. A. Benedict property, 7.00
C. H. Warren property, 8.00
$88.06.
In each instance where the health officer has received notice of contagion, proper precautions have been taken, the patients quarantined, and at the termination of the illness, the house has been thoroughly fumigated, and in only one instance during the year has it been thought that a second case recurred after fumigation of premises.
Due credit should be given Dr. Carpenter for the prompt and efficient manner in which he has managed this branch of the health department.
BONDED INDEBTEDNESS.
City of Cortland, 184,290.64
Former town of Cortlandville (city share), 97,560.00
Total, $281,850.64
Bonds paid by the city, 1902, as follows: $27,144.03
City bonds, 21,453.03
Town of Cortlandville (city share), 5,691.00
All of the Normal school bonds are now paid.
By the same strict economy during the coming year (1903) which has prevailed in all the departments of our government since we became a city, I am confident all the debts of the former town of Cortlandvilłe which of course the city had to assume will be cancelled, except the school deficit, which will take a little more time for reasons before mentioned.
Respectfully submitted, Chas. F. Brown, Mayor, Cortland, N. Y., Jan. 22, 1903.
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RENEWED THEIR YOUTH.
Mayor Brown and Chief Clerk Vail Indulge in Acrobatic Feats.
Mayor Charles F. Brown and his chief clerk, Harry A. Vail, on Thursday evening heard that the boys were having a fine time coasting on Prospect hill, and concluded to take a look at the sport after time for closing the drug store. When they arrived on the scene all the boys had departed, but the hill was there and it looked attractive.
Both looked at it wistfully, but were silent. It was apparent that both were thinking of the same thing. The mayor was the first to speak. "Let's get a sled and try it," he exclaimed. "I'm agreed," responded Harry. A big sled was soon found and up the hill they went. Who should steer, was the question. Each declared that he had been a famous steersman in his time, though the mayor acknowledged that when he was a boy they coasted on West Court-st., where there was a straight course down to the Normal School grounds, and he didn't exactly like the looks of that big curve near the foot of the [Prospect] hill. Harry claimed that he had been more recently in the business than his chief, and that settled the question.
Off they went like a streak of lightning. All went well till the curve was reached. There was not only a curve there, but a great rut. This was too much and hadn't been counted on. Over went the sled and the riders shot off on a tangent. The mayor made a slide feet foremost several rods down the hill to the great detriment of his trousers. The long limbs of the chief clerk performed the wind mill act with a rapidity that would have been startling to many of his friends if they could have observed them carefully. And then all was quiet.
Slowly and with difficulty the two picked themselves up, made a careful examination of their bones and found them whole, recovered the sled and started for home. They didn't mean to say anything about it. But the trouble was so many people kept inquiring yesterday why they moved so slowly and with such apparent difficulty, and why their muscles seemed so stiff, and then little by little the story came out. Neither would tell the whole, but each had a little to say about the other and by a simple process of addition the details of the episode were brought together.
Next time the hospital is in need of funds if it can only get the mayor and his assistant to give an exhibition of coasting it may charge an admission fee and will be sure to net a handsome sum. Only it is probable that if the affair is to be repeated, including the slide act, the mayor will request permission to reserve enough from the receipts to secure a new pair of trousers.
At the meeting of the common council last night the mayor brought up the matter of coasting on Prospect hill, and the aldermen decided to call the attention of the police to the fact that a city ordinance was being violated and to instruct them to prohibit it. It is evident that the mayor considers this spot dangerous to the coasters or those who may chance to be in the way of runaway sleds, or else that he wants to guard against the possibility of being asked to give a public exhibition of acrobatic skill.
At any rate the whole thing is off now.
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