AN ELECTRIC RAILWAY SCHEME AND CORTLAND VILLAGE ELECTION NOTICE

Northwestern Elevated train northbound in the year 1900.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, March 2, 1894.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

An Electric Railway Scheme.

   What the east bank of the Hudson river is to New Yorkers the shore of Lake Michigan north of their city is to Chicagoans. There are built the summer villas of the millionaires, and there are laid out the parks and the sites for schools and public buildings of various kinds. The empty wastes all along the shore between Chicago and Milwaukee are being rapidly reclaimed from sand and barrenness and planted in grass and trees preparatory to selling them out in building lots. Property is rapidly rising in value on the north shore, as it is called in Chicago.

   Appreciating these facts, a company a few years ago obtained a charter for what was called the Northwestern Elevated railway of Chicago. The road was to run through the streets in the northwestern portion of the city. But that was only one end of it. The other end, it has been discovered, is to stretch out till it covers with a four-track iron girdle all the north shore as far as Milwaukee. The road will be only partially elevated after it leaves the city. At crossings it will be sufficiently elevated for wagons to pass under. The point of interest to the general public is that its trains are to be propelled by electric motors, and that they will run a mile a minute.

  

◘ The solution of two problems at one time seems to have been reached when penitentiary convicts began to be employed at street and road making. The contract system of letting them out was a wrong to the honest laborers with whom their unpaid labor came into competition. The system of keeping them idle and feeding them at state expense was worse yet. In road and street making they cannot come in competition with outside labor, for counties and cities usually have not money enough to pay for this work.

   At the same time the crying need of the country is for better roads. In New York state it is agreeable to know that this kind of road building has been successful. Seventy-eight convicts at Clinton last year constructed nearly a mile of macadamized road, and a first class road too. The expense to the state was slightly additional. But this need not be. The inhabitants of a district thus favored by having a road built for it would doubtless be glad to defray all the additional expense. If also a sum were added, so as to pay the prisoners themselves a small wage, to be sent to their families or to be saved for them when their time was out, the plan  would be well nigh perfect.  

◘ Timbuctoo is the latest country of Africa to be aimed at by the white man. French soldiers marched to Timbuctoo. Timbuctoo negroes killed 80 French soldiers. The next thing will be that in the interests of civilization France will say she feels herself forced to take possession of the land of the missionary and cassowary. So it goes. The people who have the inestimable privilege of living in 1994 will see probably not a patch of land large enough to make  one county belonging to the original negroes.

◘ Elihu Thompson, the mechanician, discourages the hope that we shall soon have ships speeding over the ocean propelled by electricity. He says it would necessitate the carrying of such enormous storage batteries that their weight would sink a ship. But Mr. Thompson does not make sufficient allowance for the power of inventive genius in the latter half of the nineteenth century. It has wrestled with and overcome difficulties apparently greater than that. Mr. Thompson does well to add to his negative prediction this: "It should, however, be borne in mind that a new discovery might at any time change the aspect of every prophecy based on present knowledge and conditions."

A French Lesson.

   Why is it that financial panics are scarcely ever heard of in France? The copper syndicate failure and the Panama canal swindle, both of which within the last five years robbed the poor of France of millions of their savings, would have convulsed, almost wrecked, any other country. In France they cause a commotion in financial centers, a burst of rage and disappointment from those whose savings have been swallowed up. Then in two months' time everything settles down again. Seasons of long continued monetary stringency, such as we are now undergoing in America, are practically unknown in France. The careful, industrious people go to work earning and saving again when a financial bubble bursts and wrecks their hopes. In an almost incredibly short time they have some more money saved, some more investments made.

   The French are the ablest economists in the world, from the humblest peasant woman to the minister of finance. It is born and bred in the bone with the whole nation that they are to put by money. The French private citizen does not run into debt as the American does. Consequently as a nation France does not have panics. When the individual American learns to live within his means, saving in any event a portion of his income and investing only the money he has actually in his possession, then the United States, too, will be spared financial panics. If the present one shall teach us as a people this lesson, it will be worth all it has cost. The only way to become permanently prosperous is to come square down to hard pan and a cash basis.

   A law permitting divorce was passed in France in 1884, chiefly through the efforts of Senator Naquet, who himself wanted a divorce in order that he might marry again. Before this law was enacted there was only legal separation in France. Under the divorce law the petitions for mere separation have fallen off considerably, discontented married couples evidently preferring divorce out and out. In 1890 the proportion of divorces to marriages was 24 to 1,000. Cruelty and desertion were the causes assigned for divorce in a majority of cases, the greater number of petitioners being wives. The largest number of petitions was lodged by the class of ordinary working people.

Postmaster at Cortland.

   One of the most gratifying appointments made by President Cleveland last week was that of Benton B. Jones for postmaster at Cortland. Mr. Jones has for some thirty years past ably conducted The Democrat, the organ of the party in Cortland county, and has worked early and late for the success of Democratic principles. He was for years chairman of the Democratic county committee, and is an acknowledged leader among his political friends. He is popular with all, irrespective of party, and his appointment gives very general satisfaction. "Bent" has many friends in Norwich and vicinity, who unite with The Union in extending congratulations.—Chenango Union.

Notice of Election.

   Notice is hereby given that the following is an estimate of the moneys deemed necessary by the board of trustees of the village of Cortland to be raised by tax the coming year and at the next charter election of the village of Cortland on the 18th day of March, 1894, and the several purposes and amounts required by each.

ORDINARY EXPENSES.

For interest on bonds (Union and Normal school), $1,697.50

For principal Union school bonds, $3,000.00

For fire department, $2,500, itemized as follows:

Services of engineer and janitor, $600

Fuel, $300

Fire alarm, supplies and repairs, $300

Ordinary repairs, $300

Seven companies, C. F. D., $700

Salary chief engineer, $100

Emerald Hose Co. for bunkers, $75

Hitchcock Hose Co. for bunkers, $75

Orris Hose Co. for fuel, $25

Protective Police Co. for fuel, $25

For salaries for village officers, $3,500.00

For contingent purposes, $2,000.00

For lights for streets, $5,000.00

For highway fund, $4,800.00

For water, hydrant rental, $4,200.00

Total Ordinary Expenses, $26,697.50

   The foregoing ordinary expenses are raised by tax upon the taxable property and inhabitants of the village of Cortland for the coming year pursuant to the resolution and direction of the board of trustees of said village as authorized by law.

PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES.

Resolution, No. 1.

   Resolved, That the sum of $11,000 be raised by tax, for the purpose of defraying the current expenses of the Union schools of the village of Cortland for the coming year, itemized as follows:

For teachers' wages, $6,500.00

For janitors, $1,100.00

For fuel, $1,300.00

For repairs, $600

For supplies and incidentals, $1,000.00

For library, $100.00

For supervision, $400.00

[Total] $11,000.00

Resolution, No. 2.

   Resolved, That the sum of $700 be raised by tax for the purpose of purchasing new fire hose for the fire department of the village of Cortland: $700.00.

Resolution, No. 3.

   Resolved, That the sum of $1,500 be raised by tax for the purpose of purchasing a new hook and ladder truck for the fire department of the village of Cortland: $1,600.00

Total special purposes $13,200.00

Total ordinary expenses $26,697.50

[Total] $39,897.50

   The three resolutions (above set forth) to raise taxes for special purposes will be submitted to vote by ballot at the next annual election pursuant to the requirements of the charter of said village.

   CALVIN P. WALRAD, Pres.

   THOMAS C. SCUDDER, Jr.,

   HARRY SWAN,

   JOHN HODGSON,

   ROE A. SMITH, Trustees.

Firemen's Hall next to First National Bank on west side of Main Street.

Village Election.

   Notice is hereby given that the annual election of officers of the Village of Cortland will be held on the 13th day of March, 1894. The polls will be open from 9 o'clock A. M., to 4 o'clock P. M., of that day.

   The following polling places fixed and provided by the Board of Trustees in the respective wards of the Village are as follows:

   First Ward.—The south store of the Squires Block on the west side of South Main-st.. formerly occupied by J. O. Reid for a meat market.

   Second Ward.—Firemen's Hall, Main-st.

   Third Ward.—The office and store of Harrison Wells on Clinton Avenue.

   Fourth Ward.—Nottingham's shop on South Main-st.

   The officers to be elected are:

   A President, in place of Calvin P. Walrad.

   A Trustee in the second ward, in place of Roe A. Smith, (to be elected by the electors of the second ward only.)

   A Trustee in the fourth ward, in place of John Hodgson, (to be elected by the electors of the fourth ward only.)

   An Assessor, in place of Beman S. Conger.

   A Collector, in place of George T. Latimer.

   A Treasurer, in place of Frank J. Peck.

   Three Commissioners of Cortland Union Free School, District No. 1, for the term of three years each, In place of H. A. Dickinson, C. F. Brown and A. S. Brown.

   Three Inspectors of Election for the first ward, (who shall be elected by the electors of the first ward only.)

   Three Inspectors of Election for the second ward, (who shall be elected by the electors of the second ward only.)

   Three Inspectors of Election for the third ward, (who shall be elected by the electors of the third ward only.)

   Three Inspectors of Election for the fourth ward, (who shall be elected by the electors of the fourth ward only.

   CALVIN P. WALRAD, President.

   THOMAS C. SCUDDER, JR.,

   HARRY SWAN,

   JOHN HODGSON,

   ROE A. SMITH, Trustees.

BREVITIES.

   —The senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of B. B. Jones to be postmaster at Cortland.

   —The Democratic caucus to nominate village officers will be held to-night in the Democratic club rooms in the Democrat building at 7:30 o'clock.

   —At a regular meeting of the Independent Order of Forresters [sic] Mr. D. F. Waters was re-elected financial secretary of Court 1,077 [sic] for the year 1894.

   —Four Cornell students were placed under arrest yesterday for refusing to answer questions at the coroner's inquest in the chlorine poisoning case.

   —The little five-year-old boy of C. O'Brien of Lansing-ave. has been very sick with the croup.

   —Senator Coggeshall on Wednesday introduced a bill appropriating $100,000 for rebuilding and furnishing the Oneonta Normal school, recently destroyed by fire.

   —The Old Homestead quartet and Miss Alice Girardeau close the Y. M. C. A. course for this season with a grand concert at the Opera House to-night. They are said to be very fine and a rare treat is anticipated.

   —No Sunday-school superintendent, Sunday-school teacher or person interested in Sunday-school work should fail to read the very excellent paper in another column [page 4] upon primary work read by Miss Cornelia L. Brown of Cortland at the recent meeting of the Cortland County Sunday-school association.

   —The number of notaries public to which Cortland county is entitled is not full, and any person desiring the office and who is ready to pay the required fee to the county clerk on swearing in should send his name to Hon. B. F. Lee, Assembly Chamber, Albany, N. Y., with the request that it be added to the list to be acted upon.

   —Cortlandville has given Ithaca city an example for loyalty and persistence, in a good cause. For the third consecutive time the town has elected its no-license candidates, and will try again to prohibit the sale of intoxicants in its borders. The members of the excise board are: Alonzo W. Gates, John W. Keese and John H. Phelps.—Ithacan.

 

THE LIBEL LAW

Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, March 1, 1894.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Libel Law.

◘ The New York Herald is earnestly engaged in an effort to amend the libel law of the state so as to make it conform, in some degree at least, to the intelligence and decency of the closing years of this century of progress. In this work it deserves the cordial assistance not only of every newspaper editor and publisher but of every public-spirited and liberal-minded citizen.

   For some unaccountable reason law-makers have generally been found in sympathy with an illiberal and unreasonable libel law. The old doctrine of "the greater the truth, the greater the libel" was simply infamous, yet it stood its ground in this state against all attacks till the people in constitutional convention inserted in the fundamental law of the state, what legislatures would not enact, the following:

   SEC. 8. Every citizen may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right; and no law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the liberty of speech or of the press. In all criminal prosecutions or indictments for libels, the truth may be given in evidence to the jury; and if it shall appear to the jury, that the matter charged as libelous is true, and was published with good motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted; and the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the fact.

   Could a better protection for a scoundrel be conceived of than the doctrine of "the greater the truth, the greater the libel," backed up by the presumption of malice on the part of the person publishing the truth? What a club such a rule would be in the hands of a Boss Tweed or Boss McKane! Where would freedom of the press be under such a rule? When this rule governed, however, the press was a small matter compared with what it is to-day, and freedom of every kind was much more limited.

   Yet the condition of the press at the present time is only a single step in advance of what it was under the old rule, so far as civil suits for libel are concerned. If a newspaper publishes an article, except a true report of some public or official proceedings, which, if it were false and malicious would properly be actionable—though it may be gospel truth and written under a high sense of public duty—the law infers that it to both false and malicious, and the editor or publisher who gives it to the world to held to be guilty till he proves both the truth of the article and the absence of malice. A murderous brute caught in the very act of butchering his victim is presumed innocent till he to proven guilty, but an intelligent and conscientious journalist who attacks a political scoundrel or an official thief or a public abuse, if some thrifty [missing line at bottom of news page—CC editor] individual is mixed up in it, is presumed to be a liar and a malignant assassin of a spotless reputation till he clears himself of the charge. And any candidate for cropped hair and prison stripes who is shown up in his true light is privileged to strike hands with some shyster lawyer and put the man who has unmasked him to all the trouble and expense of which the complicated machinery of the courts is capable. The bare statement of such a condition of law ought to work its change, but ultra-conservative legislators have thus far in this state been successful in continuing it.

   If The Herald is unsuccessful before the legislature it should carry the fight into the constitutional convention. The people have taken a hand in this matter once before and it is time that they did it again. The man accused of libel should at least be given as fair a chance as a horse thief, and his accuser be made to prove both the falsity of the matter complained of, the malice of the person who published it, and his refusal to retract and correct when the truth was brought to his knowledge. And if retraction has been made, the person aggrieved should be allowed to recover only such actual damage as he can prove, and not be entitled to "smart money." The present law is barbarous, unreasonable and out of harmony with the simplest and clearest principles both of law and equity. It should be wiped out at once and forever.

  

◘ The question of consolidating New York city, Brooklyn, Staten Island and several outlying towns on Long Island into one vast city—Greater New York—will be submitted to the voters of those districts next November. They might vote in favor of it just to make New York greater than Chicago.

  

◘ A melancholy report comes from the Marquesas and other French islands in the south Pacific. It is to the effect that the natives of those islands are being exterminated by opium. Mr. W. Hoffner, formerly manager of the French Commercial company there, says of them:

   "The natives are dying off like flies. In 10 years, if the present rate of mortality keeps up, there will not be one of them left." The French government itself introduced opium to the natives 20 years ago, and the present deplorable state of affairs is therefore directly due to France. Now the authorities are trying to stop the deadly traffic, but in vain. When a whole race becomes so depraved, deteriorated and dirty that it to a menace to the rest of mankind, nature summarily snuffs it out, as she is doing with the Marquesas and Dominique islanders now. But what should be said of the civilized French nation that anticipated and upset nature by destroying with opium a fine, strong race of savages who might have become a credit to civilization, just as the new style of Indian will be in America?

Attend the Caucuses.

   Republican caucuses are to be held this evening in the several wards to choose delegates to the convention to nominate village officers. Every Republican should attend them. A wise, energetic and economical administration of the affairs of the village is as important in its way as a similar management of national affairs is on the broader field of the country. The way to secure officers fitted for such conduct of village government is to turn out at the caucuses and see that delegates are chosen who will nominate them. To grumble and complain and curse the officials after they are elected, or to vote the ticket and help elect other candidates who are less desirable than the regular nominees is no way to correct real evils or to make it clear that fancied ones do not exist.

   If the duty of attending the primaries were as faithfully met as is the most important business obligation, there would be less grumbling at village government, partly because there would be apt to be less cause for it and partly because a larger number of citizens would share in the responsibility of nominations. When the time comes that district and ward associations are formed, all Republicans enrolled and only those enrolled allowed to vote at caucuses, far more interest will be taken in primaries than now, but even under the present somewhat informal and hap-hazard system there is no reason why every Republican voter who means to do his full duty as a citizen should not turn out and make his influence felt. A good start in the right direction cannot better or sooner be made than this evening.

HE TOOK PARIS GREEN.

A Summerhill Minister was Tired of Life.

   James W. Miller, a sort of travelling missionary preacher of Summerhill, took Paris green in Syracuse yesterday and nearly put an end to his life. He fell upon the street overcome with the poison. Prompt medical attendance saved him. He had lately been married to a nineteen-year-old girl of Pompey. Miller is twenty-four years old. Later he learned that she had been married to another man within two years and had been divorced from him. She had since become tired of Miller and had gone home again. That made Miller tired of life, and he concluded to put an end to his existence. He was taken to the House of the Good Shepherd, and will undoubtedly recover.

DONJON CONVICTED.

The Letter Writing Crank Sentenced to Eighteen Months.

   BALTIMORE, March 1.—Joseph Donjon was convicted by a jury in the United States district court for violating a section of revised statutes in regard to mailing threatening postal cards. Donjon mailed a postal card in Baltimore, Dec. 20, 1893, to Vice-President Adlai Stevenson demanding $25, and threatened to kick the vice-president out of office if he did not send that amount back.

   Lieutenant Lewis H. Hallenberger and Richard E. Weeden of the Washington detective force testified that Donjon admitted to them that he wrote the card.

   Donjon testified in his own defense that he was born in Austria, came to this country in 1882, was a molder by trade; that he had written the vice-president, before Senators Sherman and Gray, the senators of New Jersey and President Cleveland and had not been charged with doing anything wrong. He did not mean to injure anybody.

   His counsel tried without avail to have the court declare the indictment invalid because it omitted the fact that he refused to ask for the money "for expenses." Judge Morrison sentenced Donjon to 18 months in the penitentiary.

Caused by a Broken Rail.

   SING SING, N. Y., March 1.—The through mail and express train on the New York Central & Hudson River R. R., due at the Grand Central depot at 6 o'clock this morning, was wrecked about two and one-half miles below Sing Sing at 5:30 o'clock. It was a heavy train with two engines. The first engine went in the river and was badly wrecked. The other engine, with two forward cars loaded with express matter, also left the track and are [sic] badly damaged. No one was seriously injured. The cause of accident is said to have been a broken rail. Travel was blocked for three hours.

John Y. McKane.

Off For Sing Sing.

   BROOKLYN, N. Y. Mar. 1.—Sheriff Buttling announced this morning that he would start with McKane for Sing Sing shortly after noon. McKane's brother James was at the jail this morning. He will have charge of his brother's affairs. There was a crowd around the jail to witness the departure.

BREVITIES.

   —The first day of the almanac spring.

   —March comes in like a lamb. How will it go out?

   —The telephone rate [each call] to Syracuse will hereafter be thirty cents, instead of thirty-five cents.

   —Members should remember that the regular meeting of the Wheel club occurs at 8:30 o'clock to-night.

   —Mr. W. S. Copeland yesterday purchased Mr. L. J. Fitzgerald's interest in the Cortland Water works.

   —A sleighload of about twenty couples drove to Preble last night and spent the evening at Mr. Seeber's.

   —The Alpha C. L. S. C. will meet with Mrs. J. O. Reid, 128 Main-st., Monday, March 5, at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Republican caucuses to-night from 7 to 8 o'clock. It will be a fine night and there is no excuse for any Republican staying at home.

   —Mr. F. N. Harrington shipped this afternoon a fine, large chestnut gelding to Mr. George H. Barlow of Binghamton. Consideration $400.

   —The regular meeting of the board of managers of the Hospital association will be held at the hospital Monday, March 5, at 3 P. M. Let every member be in attendance.

   —Seven couples drove to Mr. David Fox's at Preble last evening and spent a part of the night in dancing. Mr. John McDermott's orchestra furnished the music. They returned at about 4 o'clock this morning.

   —Mr. A. M. Jewett has souvenir spoons of the Cortland Normal, which are models of neatness. In the bowl is carved an almost perfect reproduction of the Normal buildings and the handles are of the latest patterns.

   —Just forty people started on the 3:15 train for Elmira this afternoon to attend the athletic contests of the Twenty-sixth Separate company, N. G. S. N. Y., in that city to-night. Various teams from the Cortland Athletic association are entered.

   —Mr. A. S. Perry has accepted a position with the well-known firm of Messrs. Wanamaker & Brown of Oak Hall, Philadelphia, to represent them as salesman. Mr. Perry is a young man of sterling business quality and has an excellent reputation as a worthy and honorable young man.

   —The Epworth leaguers from this part of the country will go to the convention at Cortland on a special train on Thursday afternoon at 3:30. It will stop at all stations to and including Van Etten, and then only at Ithaca. Not less than 100 will start from Elmira. The train will return Saturday morning. Elmira Star.

   —Teachers' examinations for first and second grade certificates are to-day being held by Commissioner Miller in room 215, Normal building. Thirty-four people are taking the examinations, Examinations for third grade certificates will be held in the same place to-morrow.

Opens To-night.

   The Epworth league convention opens in the First M. E. church to-night. This evening's program consists of an address of welcome by Dr. F. J. Cheney. This will be responded to by Dr. E. M. Mills of Elmira, president of the league. Chancellor J. R. Day of Syracuse university is also expected to be present and deliver an address. Should the Methodist church not be large enough to accommodate the great number who are expected to be present arrangements have been made to hold an overflow meeting in the Presbyterian church. The program for to-morrow as previously published in The STANDARD will be carried out.

The Mozart Society.

   Last Saturday evening Miss Covil's advanced pupils met at her studio and organized a musical society which will be known as the Mozart society. They elected Miss Covil, president, Miss Ruth Carpenter, secretary, Mr. Dell Kingsley, Miss Maude Pike and Miss Sadie Hatler as executive committee. The society will meet once a month, when a program of vocal and instrumental music, with readings and recitations will be given. The first meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. N. Jay Peck, the last of March.

To McLean and Return.

   The following young people enjoyed a sleighride Tuesday night to McLean: Misses Grace Stark, Gussie Randall, Lena Sanders, Jessie Fowler, Rosa Goldsmith, Lena Rittenhouse and Messrs. Bert Stark, Fred Goldsmith, Bert Klotten, Arthur and Charles Williamson, Harry Weatherwax, Andy Warwick, Clarence Gridley and Charlie Mead.

A Pleasant Company.

   Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Geer entertained a few friends at their home on Pearne-ave., Tuesday evening, in honor of their guest, Miss Jennie A. Clark of New York City. Progressive euchre was played. The evening passed very pleasantly until 10 o'clock when the prizes were awarded. Miss Jennie S. Weyant carried off the lady's first prize, a lovely pink and white workbasket, and Mr. O. W. Monroe the gentleman's, a handsome photograph case. Dainty refreshments were served at 10:30 o'clock.

   Those present were Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Winchell, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Gladding, Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Monroe, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Lanning, Mr. and Mrs. W. Seamans, Misses Jennie S. Weyant, Mae Hollister, Kittie May, Messrs. Earl Tanner and Will Hollister.

   Miss Clark returns to her home in New York the latter part of this week.