FIRST CORTLAND STANDARD MOVE FAILED AND FILIPINO STATEMENT

 

William H. Clark, editor and publisher of Cortland Standard.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, January 27, 1899.

FIRST MOVE FAILED.

The Standard Will Not See Republican's Circulation Books.

   The laws of this state require the Board of Supervisors of each county to designate a paper representing each of the two political parties casting the largest vote to publish the session laws. At the annual session of the board held in November the Republican members designated the Homer Republican as the paper fairly representing the Republican party in this county and awarded them the printing of these laws.

   Mr. Clark of the Standard became very much enraged at the result of the vote of the Republican members in awarding the contract to the Homer Republican and immediately began to threaten the board with mandamus proceedings to compel them to reconvene and award the printing to him, or his paper. On the 17th of January the Standard Publishing company, through their attorneys, B. T. Wright and Kellogg & Van Hoesen, made their first move toward mandamus proceedings and obtained an order from Judge Lyon upon the petition of Edward Blodgett, which set forth that the Cortland Standard was the only paper entitled to recognition at the hands of the Republican party in Cortland county under a recent amendment to the law, which has been before explained in the DEMOCRAT, and should be given the patronage of the party; and praying for an order requiring the editors and publishers of the Homer Republican to appear before J. K Eggleston as referee, and testify as to the circulation of the Homer Republican and to give evidence of their private business generally.

   The order requiring Messrs. Stevens & Danes to appear before Mr. Eggleston was not served until last Friday evening and their presence was required at 10 o'clock on the following morning. Messrs. Stevens & Danes in obedience to the order made by Judge Lyon in this proceeding appeared in person before the referee and by Dougherty & Miller, their attorneys, who filed affidavits and made an application to the referee for an adjournment to enable them to examine the papers and move to set the order aside.

   An adjournment was granted by Judge Eggleston and on Monday evening Messrs. Dougherty & Miller obtained an order to show cause from Judge Walter Lloyd Smith, who was holding a trial and special term at the court house, requiring the Standard Publishing company to show cause why the order requiring Messrs. Stevens & Danes to appear and give evidence, should not be set aside on the ground that the Court had no jurisdiction to grant such an order.

   The motion came up for hearing Wednesday morning at the court house before Judge Smith and the legal questions involved in the proceeding were presented to the court; many authorities were cited by both aides and the court after due deliberation set the order aside.

   We are advised that this disposition of the matter will leave the Standard Publishing company to resort to some other process, the first move having failed.

 

FILIPINO STATEMENT.

They Take No Stock In Our Commission Recently Appointed.

   HONG KONG, January 28.—The members of the Filipino Junta here have issued the following statement:

   "The purchase by the American authorities of Hong Kong of a number of steam launches for river work in the Philippines is high handed, unnecessary and vexatious,

   "Domiciliary visits throughout Manila are exasperating the Filipinos. Their suspicions are aroused by such actions. Thousands of reinforcements is incompatible with peace and the appointment of a commission is only a pretext to gain time. The American secret police is acting offensively towards the Filipinos at Hong Kong, who are British subjects.

   "The Filipino congress at Malolos has unanimously vetoed annexation."

 

Felipe Agoncillo.

WILL NOT BE RECOGNIZED.

Agoncillo's Communication to Secretary Hay Will Be In Vain.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.—The presentation to the state department of the communication from Agoncillo, Aguinaldo's representative, as he styles himself, has not changed the attitude of the department toward him, and there is not the slightest probability that he will be officially recognized by the president [or] the department.

   It is conceded that the document is cleverly phrased with the intention to put the United States government in the wrong in the estimation of the world, and it is suspected, from the half-concealed arrogance of the demand to be informed of the purpose of our government in sending reinforcements to the Philippines, that this communication may mark the adoption of a new line of policy by the insurgents in the Philippines.

   The first manifestation of this, in case it is decided to resort to open hostilities, probably will be the sudden departure of Agoncillo and his staff from Washington and from the limits of the United States.

   There is an absence of advices from Otis, which led the officials at the war department to the conclusion that there has been no appreciable change in the conditions at Manila or Iloilo and some satisfaction is felt in even that style of negative assurance that the impending trouble at Manila has been at least postponed.

 

FROM EVERYWHERE.

  There are rumors that old horses are slaughtered near Camillus, New York,  by mysterious strangers, who are said to ship the carcasses to Philadelphia, where they are made into sausage.

   State fish hatcheries' representatives who have been at work on Canandaigua lake securing white fish spawn, have secured 15,000,000 white fish eggs.

   Attorney C. L. Stone, counsel for the Syracuse water board refuses to cut his bill of $28,000, as balance due him for legal services. He has already been paid $68,000. Small wonder that every cross-road of the country has young men studying law.

   The New York Central railroad has ordered 3,000 new freight cars. This has been made necessary on account of the largely increased business of the road. An additional order for thirty locomotives has also been placed with the Schenectady locomotive works.

   A fair estimate of tobacco grown in Central New York in 1898 is from 28,000 to 30,000 cases. Bringing on an average 10 cents per pound, allowing 385 pounds to the case, the result will be nearly $1,000,000 received by the growers this year. The tobacco section of Central New York embraces Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga and Wayne counties.

   Detective Sullivan, of the Lehigh Valley, who succeeded recently in detecting a gang of thieves who had systematically robbed the Lehigh and New York freight trains in the Geneva yards, has in his possession a number of Ithaca guns which were stolen over a year ago. They were found in the homes of the thieves when the police raided them.

   Myron Joslyn, Cazenovia's fur dealer, recently picked up near Peterboro a curiosity in the fur line. It is supposedly the pelt of a skunk, being of the size and having the general markings of a "half-stripe." It lacks the characteristic odor, however, and the color and texture of the fur is that of a stone martin. Mr. Joslyn is at a loss to name it, and will have it tanned for a curiosity.

 

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.

News About Our Neighbors as Seen by Our Exchanges.

   CHENANGO—An opera house company with a capital of $4,000 is to be organized at Guilford.

   Mrs. Diana A. Colwell of Sherburne has been granted a widow's pension of $20 a mouth.

   The appointment of S. B. Cloyes, to be postmaster at Earlville, has been confirmed by the Senate.

   Daniel E. Comstock has celebrated his 28th year as agent of the United States Express Co. of Norwich.

   A new postoffice has been established in the town of Smithville this county. It is known as Landers, named after Delos E. Landers, and is located three miles west of Tyner.

   The New Berlin Bee reports the failure of the Holmesville creamery, owing the patrons two months' dividends. Many of them were depending upon this money to pay their taxes.

   Mrs. Hatch, widow of the late James Hatch, who was shot and killed by Felix McGann in Sherburne in 1878, died in Fulton lately. Her son, Alonzo L. Hatch, died but a few weeks previous.

   Clinton D. Waters, a young man 20 years of age, who resides at Wood's Corners, was declared insane last week by Drs. Hand and Fernalid and will be transferred to the Binghamton asylum.

   A valuable dairy belonging to Jordan Searle at New Berlin is infected with tuberculosis and six [cows] have already been killed. Four others have been condemned, and it is possible that it will be necessary to slaughter the entire herd.

   D. E. Darrow of Utica, who owns a fine summer home at West Eaton, it is said, has purchased 50 acres of land at New Berlin, and will divide the same into building lots and boom the town. New Berlin is one of the promising towns in Chenango county and Mr. Darrow's influence will tend to build up the town and add to its prosperity.

   MADISON—Herbert Bristol of Bingley, a small place near Cazenovia, is missing and his relatives and friends fear he has committed suicide.

   The doctors' trust at Oneida has collapsed. One of the number who pledged themselves not to put in bids for the treatment of the town's poor has backed out and has signified his willingness to do the work for $200.

   Ex-Senator John E. Smith has recovered a part of the furniture and other goods stolen from his cottage at Hatch's Lake last fall, finding them secreted in the haymow in a barn on the place occupied by Frank Hartwell in Smyrna.  A large collection of stolen plunder was found, much of which has been identified. Hartwell is away, but will probably be apprehended and several others concerned with him in wholesale stealing will soon be arrested. Mr. Smith lost nearly $1,000 worth of property.

   TOMPKINS—Edward H. Sweetland of Dryden has been chosen captain of the varsity football team for 1899 at Cornell.

   Henry Hemingway or Dryden, was committed to the county jail last week for non-support.

   Town meetings in this county occur this year on February 14th, the second Tuesday of February.

   L. H. Dunham has secured the Nicholas Mineah farm near Freeville, and will move there the early part of March.

   Ex-Supervisor John H. Kennedy of Dryden has been appointed an assistant document clerk in the state assembly.

   Joseph Bishop, formerly a farmer about three miles from Ithaca, who has recently been conducting a livery establishment at Van Etten, was killed last week by the Black Diamond express.

   The Alanson Tallmadge estate, consisting of the eighty acre farm near West Groton, which was sold at administrator's sale recently, was purchased by Lewis Tallmadge, consideration $2,000.

 

John Raines.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

   Monday was the biggest, wildest day ever known on the New York stock exchange. More than 1,700,000 shares of stock were sold in the few hours the exchange was open.

   In four years we will elect a successor to Senator T. C. Platt. Sereno E. Payne may have eyes in that direction—who knows, but it will profit him little to think thereon for Democrats will then hold the reigns.

   Senator John Raines, author of the Raines' excise law, is in the field with an elaborate measure for the creation of a state machinery of elections with a bi-partisan canvassing board in every county and salaries for a small army of state officials.

   If a private had spoken of the merest whipper-snapper of a lieutenant in the army as Gen. Eagan spoke of Gen. Miles, he would be drummed out of the army in disgrace. The same law applies to every man in the army and the people demand that it shall be enforced.—Tully Times.

   Fortunately, it is not often that it becomes necessary to court martial a general of the United States army and Commissary General Eagan's trial will attract wide attention. The detail of officers forming the court is an exceptionally able one. Maj. Gen. Merritt will preside and Generals Wade, Butler, Young and Frank are among the members. Gen. Matthew C. Butler, the only officer detailed from the volunteer army, is the former senator from South Carolina and was in the Confederate service.

   That a ship canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific will be built through Nicaragua seems certain since the action of the Senate last Saturday. While the bill as passed may be somewhat amended in the House, it will still carry provision for the work and while it will not be built on Uncle Sam's territory, it will be defended at both ends by his strongholds which will be built in an impregnable manner. The need of bringing about easier communication between our eastern and western coasts by water was shown in the recent war and this move is one in the right direction. A Tennessee newspaper predicts that the construction of the canal will change the tide of the world's commerce, and will give New Orleans an advantage of 700 miles over New York and a corresponding advantage to all the Southern country.

  

HERE AND THERE.

   Ithaca prize winning band at the opera house to-night.

   Deacon Henry McKivette is seriously ill with pneumonia.

   Republican town convention in Firemen's hall to-morrow at 8 o'clock.

   Regents' examinations are in progress at the Central school this week.

   Vesta lodge, I. O. O P., held another of their popular hops last Saturday evening.

   During the day Saturday dust was flying in the streets in Cortland as though it was midsummer.

   Weather prophets are now warning us to prepare for a hard winter after January has passed.

   The great Kane Opera company of fifty people at the opera house in "The Grand Duchess" to-morrow night.

   Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Ingalls were treated to a surprise by about forty of their friends last Friday evening.

   The Loyal Circle of King's Daughters will meet with Mrs. Rindge, 57 North Main-st., Friday, January 27, at 3 P. M.

   McGrawville grange will hold a warm sugar festival at their hall Thursday evening, Feb. 3. All are cordially invited.

   Mr. Clayton H. Buell has severed his connection with the Syracuse Journal and will devote his entire time to the Elmira Telegram.

   Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Bosworth entertained a small company last Friday evening in honor of their guests Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Converse of Woodville.

   The lecture by Chancellor Sims last Friday evening on "The Typical American and How He Grew," was largely attended and everyone was pleased.

   Lincoln J. Carter's naval drama, "Remember the Maine," gave an excellent entertainment at the opera house last evening. The scenic effects were worthy of special mention.

   Governor Roosevelt will speak at the Chenango County fair, to be held at Norwich the first week in September. Here is a suggestion for the Cortland County Agricultural society.

   Patsey Conway and the Ithaca band of thirty-five pieces at the opera house to-night. The self same men who played in the [Binghamton] prize contests last summer will participate. The prices are low and the entertainment fine.

   Thomas Knobel of Homer is one of the leading tonsorial artists of this section and his work with a brush and colors in making signs, etc., cannot be beaten. He annually issues a calendar of his own designing for the convenience of his friends and his issue for 1899 is a dandy At its head is a pen and ink design of his own which is handsome and novel, excellent likenesses of Homer's five young men who are serving Uncle Sam in army or navy being surrounded by and woven among battleships, forts, flags, muskets, swords, etc.

GARLAND STRICKEN IN COURT AND CORTLANDVILLE TOWN OFFICERS

 

Augustus Hill Garland.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, January 27, 1899.

STRICKEN IN COURT.

Former Attorney General Augustus H. Garland Dead.

HIS DEMISE WAS VERY SUDDEN.

He Was Addressing the United States Supreme Court When He Was Stricken Down With Apoplexy and Death Resulted Within Ten Minutes Afterward.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—Former Attorney General Garland was stricken with apoplexy while addressing the United States supreme court and died within 10 minutes. The occurrence came with startling and tragic unexpectedness, changing the usual calm and dignity of the court into temporary confusion when the dying man was carried from the chamber in a futile effort to alleviate his condition.

   When the court convened at noon Mr. Garland resumed an argument in the case of Towson vs. Moore, which had begun the day before. He had read from a law volume and had followed with the sentence:

   "This, your honors, is our contention." As the last word was uttered Mr. Garland was seen to raise his hand and then gasp. He tottered and fell sidewise, striking against a chair and overturning it as he fell heavily to the floor. A succession of loud, deep gasps came from him as he lay on the floor. His associate in the case, Franklin Mackey, was at once by his side and with other counsel and officials the head of the dying man was raised, his shoes removed and a draught of water given him. A deathly pallor had overspread his face and this soon gave place to a deep purple which foretold the gravity of the attack. He was carried from the chamber across to the room of Chief Clerk McKenney and there placed on a sofa.

   Senator Gallinger, who is a physician, was near at hand. A glance told him that the attack would be fatal. Within 10 minutes from the stroke Mr. Garland breathed his last.

   Word of the tragedy was soon noised through the Capitol and senators and representatives hurried to the court room. The two Arkansas senators, Mr. Berry and Mr. Jones, were among the first to view the body and following them was a long line of persons high in legislative and legal circles who had been associated with Mr. Garland at various times in his long and notable public service.

   After the death of the former attorney general became known the supreme court adjourned for the day. This action was taken on the motion of Attorney General Griggs who in making it said:

   "May it please the court, it is my sad duty to announce to the court the sudden death of an ex-attorney general of the United States—Augustus Hill Garland. The sudden and unexpected death of this distinguished man comes with a shock of surprise to those of us who have heard of it, as undoubtedly it came to those of this court who witnessed his seizure. He was a man so distinguished in his profession, so distinguished as a statesman in political life and so connected officially and professionally with this court, to the last moment of his life that I deem it proper that I should suggest to the court that out of respect to his memory they should take a recess until tomorrow and I make that motion."

   Responding for the court Chief Justice Fuller said:

   "The court learns of the death of Mr. Garland with sincere sorrow and concurs in the suggestion that has been made. Out of respect to the memory of this distinguished member of the bar an adjournment will be taken until tomorrow at the usual hour."

   The news of General Garland's death produced a profound sadness in the senate where he had served for many years as one of a galaxy of distinguished men. While in the senate he had been a member of the committee on judiciary and he had taken rank with the strong men of that day. He gave the greater share of his attention to legal questions as the natural tendency of his mind was in that direction. Of recent years he had practiced his profession almost exclusively in the supreme court of the United States. It was here that he won his most pronounced triumphs and since the end must come, all recognize that it was most fitting that it should have come while he was performing his duties in this great forum.

   The detailed arrangements of the funeral have not been complete, but services will be held in the parlor of the Colonial hotel, where General Garland lived, on Sunday after which the body probably will be placed in a vault at Rock Creek cemetery to be removed later to Little Rock, Ark., where interment will be made. The remains of Mrs. Garland, who died 20 years ago, now rest there.

 

William McKinley.

M'KINLEY CRITICISED.

His Acts a Subject of Debate In the Senate.

HOLDING BACK INFORMATION.

Senators Gorman, Vest and Hoar Attack the President Who ls Defended by Senators Spooner and Platt. Treaty Speeches In the Senate Will Be Cut Short.

   WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.—The executive session of the senate was consumed in discussion of the failure of the president so far to send the senate the documents in his possession and on file in the state department, bearing on the Paris conference.

   Senator Gorman raised the point as soon as the doors were closed that the resolution had been adopted several days ago and addressed the senate at some length on the failure of the president to respond to the senate's request for information.

   The attack of the Maryland senator was followed by similar speeches by Senators Vest and Hoar and they were replied to by Senators Spooner and Platt. The five senators engaged in a running debate, the opponents of the treaty contending that the senate was entitled as a part of the treaty making power to all the facts bearing upon the case, and the supporters of the document holding that the president could withhold any papers which he did not consider in the interest of the general welfare to give out.

   Senator Spooner cited the precedents to show that the president could withhold information of this character at his pleasure and that such a course frequently had been followed in cases in which the president deemed it unwise to communicate facts bearing upon international complications when to do so might prejudice the country's best interests and promote the very evils which it was sought to ameliorate.

   The point was also made that the president might feel more free to communicate with the senate if he could be sure of privacy in doing so. No one professed to speak by authority and all the senators who were heard in support of the president's course expressed confidence that the president's action whatever it might be would be for the best interests of the public.

   Replying to this latter point, Senator Hoar said that no one could excel him in admiration for the personal qualifications of the president, or in confidence in his patriotism. At the same time he contended for his original proposition that the senate was entitled to the president's full confidence in passing upon a question of so much importance as the acquisition of territory thousands of miles from our own shores and with millions of people totally unlike our own population. He thought there must be some reason for putting the Philippines on a footing so different from the footing on which Cuba had been placed in the treaty.

   The opinion is generally expressed that the time allowed for debate of the treaty in executive session will not be by any means consumed as very few senators on either side desire to make speeches behind closed doors.

   The friends of the treaty profess increasing confidence for ratification but there is some talk of adopting a negative resolution to the effect that the treaty does not bind the United States to the adoption of a colonial policy.

 

CUBANS ON A STRIKE.

Road Makers Dissatisfied With the Wages Paid Them.

   SANTIAGO, Cuba, Jan. 27.—Two hundred men who had been engaged in road making in this district went on a strike. They had been receiving $1 per day and want $1.25 with rations. It is believed that two men have been guilty of inciting them to strike, and as soon as these are discovered they will be placed under arrest. Unless the strikers return to work at once, as it is expected they will, other laborers will be employed.

   The United States armored cruiser Brooklyn, Captain Cook, arrived off Santiago harbor and hove to outside Morro castle. Captain Cook with several other officers came up in the harbor to the city in the Brooklyn's launch. The cruiser, which had come from Havana, proceeded later for Key West.

 

Admiral George Dewey.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

Dewey on Senate Delay.

   There in no one in the far East, or elsewhere, whose opinion on the conditions in the Philippines is entitled to more weight than that of Admiral Dewey. Before that May morning when opportunity revealed him to the world he was known to few. The few, his intimates, estimated him at his real worth, a cool, brave, far seeing, able man. The battle of Manila bay confirmed that estimate, and events since have strengthened it in the estimation of all men.

   While talk resounds in the "upper chamber" at Washington, what is Dewey's view of its effect in the Philippines? A letter received from the admiral by his nephew, W. T. Dewey of Montpelier, a few days ago, said that Aguinaldo was fast losing his strength with the natives and could be disposed of as a disturbing factor in a hurry were it not that he is bolstered up by the hope that congress will refuse to ratify the treaty, and that in some way he will personally benefit by the stand he has taken for independent recognition.

   Mr. Gorman, leader of the opposition to the treaty in the senate, professes readiness to vote. He believes he has enough senators with him to defeat the treaty. He counts in the ranks of his followers two Republicans—Senators Hoar and Hale—two men who should hesitate to defeat a treaty of peace, to prolong a state of war and add to the difficulties which Dewey and Otis and their brave men face in the Philippines.

   Admiral Dewey would hesitate to say to a newspaper correspondent what he wrote in the confidence of relationship to his friends at home. He is too thorough a sailor to criticize in public the course of congress or the senate. But the people will be grateful that he wrote to his nephew and to the latter for making public his words. The delay of the senate and the speech of the antis encourage the insurgent leader to hold out against the authority of the United States. Refusal by the United States to accept the treaty of peace means to Aguinaldo, and is interpreted by him to his followers, indecision, fear of the insurgents, gain to him and his immediate following. Ratification he would understand to mean an end to his pretensions, and in the judgment of the American admiral quick acceptance by the nations of American authority.

   Senators who prevent this consummation take a heavy responsibility. They can not justify their conduct by the plea of opposition to expansion. The treaty does not decree expansion. It declares peace, and opens the way to a determination of our policy toward the Philippines. Refusal to ratify it continues and augments the difficulties of our soldiers and sailors, and exposes the United States to loss of prestige with the nations of the earth, as well as with Aguinaldo and his band of insurgents. It is exasperating, lamentable and humiliating, that a few senators can thus hold up the United States. The people are with Dewey. They demand that the treaty be ratified.

 

   ◘ Miss Clara Barton of the Red Cross society has written and published a book in which she gives her experience of the war in Cuba entirely from the point of view of an executive and ministering angel. Of her self-sacrificing labor and noble purpose in her share of the work in that campaign there can be no question, but in her capacity of critic of the government and of the military operations she allows her womanly sensibilities to make her rather querulous and at times unreasonable. She complains of the government and the commanding officers for results that are incident and always will be incident to war, for war is, at the best, the clash of physical forces that entails waste, destruction, suffering and death inevitably. In reading her book one sees that the point of view is curiously feminine, and one feels that the author regretted very much that war was not carried on with the tidiness and comfort that a woman would command in a sickroom in her own house. Mistakes there were in prevision and in execution. But when was there a war devoid of them? That they would have been reduced to a minimum if we had had such a ponderous and exact martial machine as has Germany is quite likely. But would the game have been worth the cost? Miss Barton's book will hardly excite any fresh official investigations. Army men look upon it indulgently as an exhibition of very valuable sentiments which in actual service are very apt to be disarranged by the rush of events.

 

TOWN OFFICERS.

Communication from "A Taxpayer" Mentioning Numerous Candidates.

   To the Editor of The STANDARD:

   SIR—As the time approaches for our annual town-meeting I observe great activity among the candidates for the various offices to be nominated at the coming Republican convention. There is no lack of material in this respect. On the contrary there are "candidates galore" for all the offices, with the possible exception of that of supervisor. For this place I have as yet heard of but one name, the present incumbent, D. F. Wallace, who seems to have discharged the duties of that office in a manner satisfactory to all factions. There seems to be a desire on the part of all good Republicans, that harmony should once more prevail in their ranks, and the nomination of Mr. Wallace who was elected last year on the Independent ticket, would surely seem a step in that direction and, if wise counsel prevails and good, careful, competent, clean men are nominated for the various offices, there will be no question as to the result.

   Now, as I understand it, there are to be elected this spring, a supervisor, two justices of the peace, three assessors, a  collector, a town clerk, a commissioner of highways, two overseers of the poor, and five constables, the justices of the peace being elected for four years, the other officers all for two years.

   One of the most important offices in this town, in my judgment and one that the taxpayers should consider very carefully is that of overseer of the poor, as we all know by an action of the board of supervisors in their session a year ago, the care of the poor now devolves upon the towns, that is, each town has to support its own poor, instead of being as heretofore, a county charge. This is a matter of serious moment to the town of Cortlandville, of vital interest to every taxpayer, and there should be selected for these offices not only humane men, but men of good judgment, men who will investigate each and every application for relief, men who cannot be easily imposed upon, and will not through hasty, careless and injudicious expenditure of the people's money create an increase in the numbers of those who call for help.

   I sincerely believe this to be one of the most serious problems that confront us, just what to do, and how to do it. I learn from those having the matter in charge that it has cost this town the past year including overseers' fees, nearly $6,000; of this amount the overseers have expended in temporary, or out door relief, nearly $5,000 as follows: Mr. Cummings has issued about 250 orders amounting to about $800; Mr. Wheeler has issued between eleven and twelve hundred orders amounting to upwards of $4,000. We paid between four and five hundred dollars for the maintenance of this town's inmates at the countyhouse. This is a large item and one that will appear in our taxes each year. If we elect the right men for the office I do not doubt but that these figures might be very materially reduced, and at the same time no worthy applicant turned away.

   We as citizens have a sacred duty to discharge to the unfortunate and needy, and I am sure have no disposition to shirk, in the least, our obligations in this respect, but we do object, most emphatically, to supporting people in idleness who are able to work, or who, when they do work, spend their earnings for beer or whiskey.

   Without making any comparisons, or assuming to criticize, permit me to say right here that no more competent, careful, humane and painstaking man can in my judgment be found in this town for one of these offices of overseer of the poor than A. V. H. Cummings. His record speaks for itself. No worthy applicant was ever turned away by him, while the idle, vicious, loafing, unworthy, intemperate class have found "Botchy," as he is called, a hard man to work. Mr. Wheeler has many friends and is a strong candidate for renomination. Mr. O. P. Miner who made such an excellent superintendent of the poor, is also a candidate, and so is Mr. M. L. Alexander, who is abundantly competent to fill the office,  so there will be no lack of good timber.

   The office of highway commissioner is also an important one, and has not always been filled by men of character and good business qualifications. These are essential qualities for the wise administration of this office, for it is one of grave responsibility, and the election of an incompetent and unworthy official for this place might easily result in largely increasing our burden of taxation. Give us an upright, clean, temperate man for this as well as for all offices.

   But how about the assessors? Ah! Here again we are all interested, here again we want men, upright men, broadminded men, fearless men, men who cannot be brow beaten or coerced, independent men who are not subject to the rule or call of any faction, or set of politicians, men who are familiar with valuations of property and have the courage of their convictions, who cannot be swerved from discharging their duty in accordance with their solemn obligation, men who have no personal axes to grind, who will under any consideration allow any personal prejudice to influence them. Where could we do better I would ask, than to re-elect Mr. B. S. Conger for the center, Mr. D. H. Crane for the east part, and Mr. Frank H. Sears for the west part. The name of Mr. William Bell for the west part has also been mentioned. Mr. Conger and Mr. Crane are both members of the old board, while Mr. Bell, I believe, possesses in an eminent degree the qualities described above, as being essential in the makeup of a good assessor.

   Two justices of the peace are to be elected in place of Justice Parker, whose term expires this year, and Justice Kelly, whose term expires next year. I have heard of no name but Mr. Parker's to succeed himself. He is one of the oldest of the town officials, has held this office for many years and has a good record. He is an upright man, a conscientious justice, and has filled the office with honor to the town and credit to himself.

   For town clerk, the names of Thos. H. Dowd and Fred Kingsbury have been mentioned as being candidates, either of which I believe would make a good official and be acceptable to a united party.

   For collector, well, here the "woods" are simply crowded. I won't take up too much of your valuable space by enumerating the names of all the candidates for this office. Among others I have heard the names of Frank Phelps, Mr. Van Gorden, and Mr. Hammond, but "there are others." May the best man win, i. e., the man who will collect the closest, who is competent to do the work, and not, as is too often the case, the man who needs it the most. It is a far wiser plan for our town to help men who are incompetent for this office in other directions. Let's have our taxes collected.

   Five constables are to be elected and according to an unwritten law of the Republican party of this town, one should be selected from Blodgett Mills, one from McGrawville, and three from this corporation. We have had, with few exceptions in the past, honest, upright straight-forward, competent men for these offices. There is no doubt but what some of the present officials in this office will be renominated, some of them I believe should be. Gentlemen of the convention, delegates duly elected by the caucus, let me urge you as citizens, as taxpayers, to be careful as to your pledges. Better yet, make no pledges, look the ground over with great care, consider the men, their standing in the community, their character and fitness for office, make us a good ticket and we will all stand by. The dark clouds of discord which have disfigured our political horizon for so long a period, will disappear as we march once more together, side by side against the common foe, to victory.

   A TAXPAYER.

 

TEN-CENT STAMPS

Must be Placed on Marriage Certificates by the One Officiating.

   Paragraph 31, relative to stamp act under schedule A, act of June 18, 1898, reads as follows:

   "A marriage certificate, to be returned to any office of state, county, city, or town, to constitute part of a public record, requires no stamp. A marriage certificate issued by the officiating clergyman or magistrate and given to the parties, if required by law, must be stamped at the rate of 10 cents."

   There seems to have been some misunderstanding regarding the law relative to stamping marriage certificates, but the above is the text on the subject issued by the commissioner of internal revenue at Washington. A number of local clergymen have acknowledged that they have not stamped the certificates at all, and it is generally conceded that all the clergymen have been dilatory in this matter.

 

BREVITIES.

   —The sixth assembly party will occur in Taylor hall to-night.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—A. Petersen, Rosenthal, page 5.

   —The regular meeting of the Sons of Veterans will be held this evening at 7:30 o'clock.

   —Regular conclave of Cortland [Templars] commandery, No. 50, at the asylum this evening at 7:30.

   —Binghamton has awarded a contract to the Groton Bridge company for a bridge to cost $40,000. It is to span the Susquehanna river at Tompkins-st.

   —The Kane Opera company arrived in the city this morning after a most successful engagement in Ithaca. They produce Offenbach's "Grand Duchess" at the Cortland Opera House Saturday evening.

   —D. W. Field, G. E. Keith and P. B. Keith have each given $10,000 towards the new building of the Y. M. C. A. at Brockton, Mass., and thus added three more names to the list of large givers to association work.

   —Clayton H. Buell has resigned his position as the Cortland correspondent for the Syracuse Evening Journal. Mr. Buell assigns no reason for his action. He will continue his spicy reviews of Cortland events in the Elmira Telegram, however,

   —A large audience saw "Remember the Maine" at the Opera House last night and was delighted at the scenery and mechanical effects which were thought to be about as fine as anything ever seen here before. The play was very fair and the company produced it well.

   —The public schools of Cortland open for the last half of the school year on Monday, Jan. 30, 1899. Parents wishing to get their little people in school for the first time should send them on the above date as first grade people are not received except in September and January of each year.