UNITED STATES CLAIMS AGAINST VENEZUELA, EXTRA DUTY IMPOSED, MORE COLLECTIONS, RUSSIAN PRESS, TOWN MEETINGS, AND MISS ANTHONY'S BIRTHDAY

 

John Hay.

Venezuela President Cipriano Castro and Herbert Bowen.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, February 18, 1903.

UNITED STATES CLAIMS.

Protocol Signed by Secretary Hay and Mr. Bowen.

TO BE ADJUSTED BY COMMISSION.

To Sit at Caracas and to Consist of One Member From Each Country and an Umpire Appointed by the Queen of Holland—Model For Other Claimants.

   Washington, Feb. 18 —Secretary Hay, for the United States, and Mr. Bowen, for Venezuela, have signed a protocol providing for the adjustment of United States claims against Venezuela by a commission to meet at Caracas.

   The protocol is expected to serve as a model for similar instruments to be arranged with the other claimant powers. The text of the protocol, which provides for the submission to arbitration of all unsettled claims of citizens of the United States of America against the republic of Venezuela, is in part as follows:

   "Article 1. All claims owned by American citizens against Venezuela which have not been settled by diplomatic agreement or by arbitration between the two governments shall be examined and decided by a mixed commission which shall sit at Caracas, consisting of two members, one of whom is to be appointed by the president of the United States and the other by the president of Venezuela.

   "It is agreed that an umpire may be named by the Queen of the Netherlands. Said commissioners and umpire are to be appointed before the first day of May, 1903.

   "The commissioners and the umpire shall meet in Caracas, June 1, 1903. The umpire shall preside over their deliberations and shall be competent to decide any question on which the commissioners disagree.

   "The decisions of the commission and in the event of their disagreement those of the umpire, shall be final and conclusive.

   "Article II. The commissioners or umpire shall investigate and decide said claims upon such evidence or information only as shall be furnished by or on behalf of their respective governments.

   "Every claim shall be formally presented to the commissioners within 30 days from the day of their first meeting unless the commissioners or the umpire extend the period for presenting the claim not exceeding three months longer.

   "The commissioners shall examine and decide upon every claim within six months from the day of its first formal presentation, and in case of their disagreement the umpire shall examine and decide within a corresponding period from the date of such disagreement.

   "Article III. The commissioners and the umpire shall keep an accurate record of their proceedings.

   "Article IV. Reasonable compensation to the commissioners and to the umpire for their services and expenses are to be paid equally by the contracting parties.

   "Article V. In order to pay the total amount of the claims to be adjudicated as aforesaid, and other claims of citizens or subjects of other nations, the government of Venezuela shall set apart for this purpose, beginning with the month of March, 1903, 30 per cent in monthly payments of the customs revenues of La Guaira and Puerto Cabello and the payments thus set aside shall be divided and distributed in conformity with the decision of The Hague tribunal.

   "In case of the failure to carry out the above agreement, Belgian officials shall be placed in charge of the customs of the two ports, and shall administer them until the liabilities of the Venezuelan government in respect of the above claims shall have been discharged.

   "Article VI. All existing and unsatisfied awards in favor of the United States shall be promptly paid, according to the terms of the respective awards.

   "John Hay, Herbert W. Bowen."

 

EXTRA DUTY IMPOSED.

President Castro Orders a War Contribution.

   Caracas, Feb. 18.—A presidential decree issued yesterday establishes a war contribution in the form of an extra duty of 30 per cent to be levied on oil imports. The export duty on coffee is made two bolivars per bag's weight; on cocoa 16 bolivars and on hides 4 bolivars per hundred pounds.

 

MORE COLLECTIONS.

Germany is Now to Move on Brazil and Colombia.

TO MAKE USE OF HER FLEET.

Monroe Doctrine Does Not Prevent Collection of Debts; These Countries Have Not Paid—Germany Jealous of United States and Would Prevent Panama Canal Scheme.

   London, Feb. 18.—A dispatch from Berlin this morning states that Germany has further use for her fleet now in South American waters. Brazil and Columbia are in debt to the kaiser's government and naval representatives, it is said, will be made to enforce payment.

   In the case of Columbia, it is pointed out, Germany has as a strong incentive, her jealousy of the United States government in the latter's negotiations for the acquisition of the Panama canal routes. Germany fears the successful competition of America when the canal route is controlled by the Washington government.

   The dispatch quotes an official of the German foreign office as stating that the recent allied action against Venezuela has plainly shown to the South American countries that the Monroe Doctrine does not protect them against the payment of debts. The official adds: "Germany needs and intends to hold and increase its trade relations with South America. The presence of a large fleet there is necessary to insure German commercial interests being properly guarded."

 

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.

Press Restrictions in Russia.

   Some weeks ago the cable brought information of the summary suppression by the Russian authorities of the proposed celebration in St. Petersburg of the second centenary of the Russian press. At first the promoters of the feast intended to ignore official warnings and hold their banquet at all hazards, but when they found that the dining hall had been seized and individual warnings sent to all the guests they concluded to yield to superior force.

   Later cable advices bring information as to the nature of the resolutions which it was proposed to introduce at the dinner, which undoubtedly furnishes the explanation of the government's interference. Here are some of the demands which were to have been made: (1) It is necessary that the system of preventive censorship should be absolutely and completely abolished; (2) a complete change is necessary in the system by which the government is able to inflict punishment on the press by administrative order; (3) breaches of law committed by press organs should be brought before a public and independent court of law; (4) it is necessary that the press should have the legal right of discussing freely social questions; (5) no concession should be necessary for the establishment of any organ of the press in any language; (6) the inviolability of copyright should be guaranteed by law; (7) the system by which publishers are required to deposit caution money should be abolished.

   In our own country, where the press is free to give utterance to anything it chooses short of downright treason and criminal libel, those demands would not be considered at all unreasonable, but it is quite another thing in autocratic Russia. The Russian editors should at least have waited until after dinner before framing their resolutions.

 

                                      THE TOWN MEETINGS.

                [This article is so large that we have decided to publish the original newspaper pages—CC ed.]

 

 

CHARGE TO BE PRESSED

In Following up [Depositions] Concerning the Park Hotel.

   No information has been given out as yet in relation to the nature of the depositions that were taken yesterday in the Park hotel raid matter, but District Attorney Thomas H. Dowd made the following statement this morning in reference to it:

   "The charge against the Park hotel will be pressed. An investigation is being conducted and it seems very probable that within a day or so arrests will be made. For some time complaints have been made to the police about disorderly resorts and gambling places in the city. The police force is determined to stop both of these evils so far as is possible. This will not be a spasmodic effort but will be continued."

 

1903 Oldsmobile curved-dash runabout.

WILL SELL AUTOMOBILES

City Cycle Co. Has Up-To-Date Machine On Exhibition.

   Mr. E. B. Richardson of the City Cycle Co. received yesterday and has now on exhibition at his store on Main-st. an Oldsmobile of the 1903 pattern. Mr. Richardson will handle automobiles this season in connection with his bicycle business and this is the first machine received. The machine was put together at the D., L. & W. freight house and with Mr. F. C. Parsons at the lever came up Railroad-st. yesterday afternoon, making the snow fly with the temperature down to zero [F.] and the wind blowing 30 miles an hour. The machine is now on exhibition and is a center of attraction to would be purchasers.

 

Susan B. Anthony.

MISS ANTHONY'S BIRTHDAY

Observed by the Political Equality Club and the W.C. T. U.

   A parlor social was held at the home of Mrs. Julia E. Hyatt Monday evening to celebrate the 83rd birthday of Miss Susan B. Anthony, the Political Equality club and the W. C. T. U. co-operating. The rooms were prettily decorated in yellow, the club color, and the American flag, emblem of justice and liberty for part of the people. At the entrance to an alcove, an easel stood on which was placed both Miss Willard's and Miss Anthony's pictures, Miss Willard’s decorated with a knot of white ribbon and Miss Anthony's with one of yellow. Over this was draped our suffrage flag of blue silk with four yellow stars, representing the states giving the ballot to woman. Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah—an emblem representing justice and freedom to all the people. The following program was presented, Mrs. Bentley, president of the club, presiding. Mrs. Greenman, president of the W. C. T. U., selected the last chapter of Proverbs, called the Woman's chapter, for her Bible reading, closing with a prayer from the service manual. Miss Libbie Robertson followed with a short sketch of Miss Anthony's birthplace and some of her characteristics. Music, "Give the ballot to the Mothers," was sung by the ladies' trio.

   Dr. Lydia A. Strowbridge then told why Miss Anthony voted and how she was fined $500 which was never paid.

   Mrs. Julia Hyatt followed with who Miss Willard said were opposed to suffrage, mentioning the element most opposed was the liquor traffic.

   Music, "The Saloonatic's cry, Don't let the Woman Vote," was sung by Miss Nettie Stout, who very sweetly sang the solo part, assisted by Miss Eggleston and Mrs. Bentley in the chorus. Mrs. Linderman, our first president of the club, delighted her hearers with a poem entitled "To the Front We Mothers Go."

   Mrs. Loupe then read what Clara Barton said to the soldiers, "When you were weak and I was strong, I toiled for you. Now you are strong and I am weak. Because of my work for you, I ask your aid. I ask the ballot for myself and my sex. As I stood by you, I pray you stand by me and mine."

   The remainder of the time was given to Miss Rathbun, stenographer at the Normal school, who was for a year Miss Anthony's private secretary. Miss Rathbun has a charming personality and told of her association with Miss Anthony in her own inimitable way. Her article was admirably written and  was brightly interspersed with anecdotes from memory. It is to be hoped that Miss Rathbun can be induced to repeat her article at some future time.

   The program was closed with a song, "Beautiful Flag of Liberty," by Ladies' trio.

   Light refreshments were then served and after singing some of the good old songs by the guests we left for our homes, each one expressing themselves as having a royal good time. Many thanks are due Mrs. Hyatt who so kindly opened her pleasant home and who did so much to make the occasion enjoyable. She also added to the decorations a number of bouquets of carnations. B.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The last day for the payment of taxes in this city without additional per cent will be on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

   —Three large frames of typical scenes from Mildred Holland's "The Lily and the Prince" which comes to Cortland tomorrow night, are now placed in the windows of the store of Warren, Tanner & Co.

   —New display advertisements today are—M. W. Giles, Special prices, page 7; G. H. Wiltsie, New gighams, etc., page 6; Perkins & Quick, Drugs, etc., page 5; C. F. Thompson, Fish, page 5.