I THE COLUMBIAN. BLOOMSBURO. PA. MED BEEP AT LAST Dr. V7. II. Daly Substantiates Gen. Miles' Charges. EE USE3 PLAIN LANGUAGE On f'n TriiiM t I' iimmn Iho Whole fc.li i ; liu.ltl Willi I ha StviK'h of 1!hI J.i i.l It MiH-llcil l.'kn a lliiKiii't of t .i.j!(ni - AiiHlyni I'l-iiveil Tlmt Meut Aha Chemically TrrutiMl, V ii;ii!in;t(in, Arvil Dr. V.'lltlam II. Daly wus the alar witness before the military court of Inquiry yoBterduy. He was a medical member of Gen. Miles'a taft In Porto Klco, und hud previous ly tetilled before the court, and was recalled to complete hla testimony then begun. After rc-luttng the extent of his ervlce with Gen. Miles, Dr. Daly stated, In response to questions from Major Lee, thnt he had been made President of various national medical societies of the United States and a umber of foreign societies In recogni tion of scientific Investigations by him elf, and without any asking on his part. Ills testimony dealt on this occasion, as on his first appearance, especially with the beef supplied to the army. He had, he said, made sulllclent observa tions to warrant him In submitting an ofllclal report, and after that time he had made an analysis which hud con firmed his suspicions as to the meat. Ills first observations hud been made on a transport at Tampa, before the smiling of the expedition to Santiago, when Col. Weston invited his attention to a quarter of beef hanging on the deck. Col. Weston's only remark was, "Here's a quarter of beef which has been hanging here for sixty hours in the sun; we are going to Bee what It will do." No reference was made to preservatives. His (Dr. Dal"'s) atten tion had Immediately been aroused. "I was rather pleased," he said. "I felt that If the beef could be preserved so long it was a good thing." He then cut off a piece of the beef and cooked and ate it next day. After that he became sick at the stomach, but he had not felt convinced that the meat had caused the sickness. Aftr some reference to his stay In Porto Rico, Dr. Daly detailed the par ticulars of the trip North on the trans port Panama last September, which was In his charge. The vessel had been provided on setting out with the best obtainable refrigerator beef, but the vessel had not gone far before It be came evident that It was not good. He did all that he could to quiet the com plaints, but they Increased, and the tench soon grew so strong that It per vaded the whole ship. The odor was Indescribable. He at last suggested a board of survey; and one being order ed, it had condemned the meat left, about 1,500 pounds, and he had it thrown overboard. Here Dr. Daly took occasion to pay his respects to the War Inkulry Com mission, before which he appeared. He aid the Commission had given out the Impression that the deterioration of the beef on the Panama was due to want of Ice. This was contrary to his testi mony, and the truth could easily have been ascertained. As a matter of fact, the Panama had an excellent refrigera tor, and it carried ten tons of ice to one of beef. He alBO referred to the criticism by the War Commission of his use of the expression in his report that the smell about the beef was like the odor of boric acid. "It Is," he said, "as difficult to say what a smell is like as It Is for an artist to paint a dying groan. If the phrase was offensive," he added, "I might have adopted the language of the soldiers, some of them mid it 'smelt like the devil,' while others compared It to a 'bouquet of cesspools.' " Dr. Dally said he had since made experiments upon beef sub jected to treatment by boric acid, and had found it to give forth about as foul a smell as could well be Imagined. Major Lee then read various reports made by Dr. Daly concerning official Inspections of the beef at the camps of Jacksonville, Lexington, and Chleka mauga. All these stated that the meat used generally looked well, but that there was a universal complaint of Its smelling badly. He had found the fresh beef to be apparently preserved by the Injection of some chemical which de stroyed Its natural flavor, and which must of necessity have been Injurious to the health of those eating It. It was to his mini impossible to preserve the meat without the use of acids, and ap parently the meat hud been preserved "by the Injection of chemicals to aid the work of defective cold storage." In one case he had found the otlor similar to that of a dead human body, and in another, speaking of the odor, lie said: "It was unnatural, mawkish, Blckly, like thut of a human cadaver after an undertaker had injected his embalm ing preservative." He was satisfied that the beef had been chemically prepared; that It had been embalmed, In fact. After his re ports had gone In, he had, In order to satisfy his own mind, made a chemical analysis of a residuum from the beef used on the Panama, and had found distinct evidence of the presence of boric and salicylic acids. He then referred again to the report of the War Commission, in which refer ence had been made to the use of these drugs, the intlmutlon being that a trace of them would not be Injurious. Re plying, Dr. Daly asserted that the chemicals were detrimental to health, and they could only be used at the peril of those taking them. "No matter what authority says these chemicals re safe, tray are not safe," said Dr. Daly emphatically. Here Dr. J'mly Introduced n Joint re iiort made by Dr. Clark, chemist, and Dr. Hlldebrsndt, chemist of the Geolo gical Survey, on an analysis made by them of residuum from the beef usel in the Panama. In this report they sail they had examined the powder furnished by Mr. Daly. "Both the name test and the turmeric-paper test Save distinct evidence of the presence of borlo acid," they said. "We also ob tained good reactions with ferrlc-i-hloride, showing the presence of sail jyiio acid. In response to a general question. Dr. Daly said that he had come Into much nformatlon confirmatory of what he lad testified to, but which had come o him In a confidential way, rendering it Improper tor him to give the names or those supplying the facts. In truth, a ban had been placed upon the Infor mation, lie thought that some forty or f'.fty persons had spoken to him In cor robation of what he had said. These were the proprietors of slaughtering houses and the manufacturers of chem Icnls. One monufacturer had told him that he would have been compelled to go out of business but for the patron age of the beef men. He said, after some questioning, that he would ascer tain whether he could give the names of these people to the court. SAMOA COMMISSION ASSURED. Acceptance by flrrnt llrltnln of tha Oen. pmt ri'iionli Inn, Washington, April B. Lord Salisbury has accepted the plan proposed by Germany for the settlement of the Samoan trouble by the appointment of a tripartite commission. The accept once Is of the broad principle only, and the details of the arrangement are yet to be ngreed upon. As the United States has already accepted the general proposition, there Is no longer doubt as to the organization of the commission. German Statement of the Situation. Berlin, April 6. Dr. von Hamann, Under-Secretary of the German For eign Office, was asked to-day for a statement regarding Admiral Kautz'a charge made against Herr Rose, the German Consul at Apia. He said: "That Is Admiral Kautz's view. The other view Is that tha whole trouble ; came by others Interfering In the royal ! election. We have no official news , about Herr Rose having Issued a pro- clamatlon. We cannot tell what Itt contents are. Impartial as we have been In Dr. Raffel's case, I can say . that If Herr Rose Issued a provocative : proclamation we shall disavow It. That Herr Rose protested at the Con suls' meeting we know, but that Is a different thing from a proclamation." When he was questioned as to the status of the negotiations on the sub- Ject of Samoa, Dr. von Hamann re- marked: "Dr. von Buelow (the Mln- I Ister of Foreign Affairs) has shortened his leave and returned to Berlin be- cause he desires to carry on the nego- ! tlattons himself. He had a long con- j ference yesterday with the British Am- bassador, and to-day he conferred with the United States Ambassador." He said that England had been holding back against Germany's proposal tc send a Joint commission to Samoa. HARRISON ELECTED IN CHICAGO. It Was a Three Cornered Fight and Part) Lines Were Broken. Chicago, April 6. Present Mayor Carter D. Harrison was re-elected fot a second term yesterday. ' Spring-like weather brought the vot- 1 ers to the polls with a rush, and a third of the total ballots were cast in several wards before 8 o'clock. Party lines ' were cut to pieces, for thousands of Republicans voted for the re-election of Harrison. On the other hand, many , Democrats passed by the regular Democratic nominee and supported ex Gov. Altgeld, who was running on Independent ticket, which Indorsed the Chicago platform of 1896 and munici pal ownership of street railways. ! Altgeld'a strength was an unknown quantity and baffled the political cal culators. Another complication was the fact that a large number of dis gruntled Democrats were voting for Z. R. Garter, the Republican candidate. From early indications the race seemed to be between Harrison and Carter. ' The early balloting was heavier than at any recent election, not excepting the Presidential contest of 1896. Alt geld showed unexpected strength In the stock yards district, where the packing house employes and railroad men recol lected the Governor's stand against sending Federal troops to Chicago dur ing the strike of 1894. The threatened trouble In the First Ward over Imported voters did not ma terialize. The police force in every pre cinct In this ward had been doubled, and np electioneering was allowed within 100 feet of the polling booths. In several of the wards over two thirds of the vote had been recorded by 10 o'clock. The registration approxi mated 361,000. , Metropolitan Rnailt Combine. 1 New York, April 5. The agreement of the Manhattan Elevated Railroad Company with the Third Avenue Rail road Company by which a complete Bystem of transfers Is established be tween the lines controlled by the two companies has given rise to all Borts of rumors In rapid transit circles. It was stated In many quarters that there would certainly be an extension of the combination In the near future to Include the Brooklyn Rapid Transit systems, which were recently consoli dated under the leadership of Roswell P. Flower. There was reason to be lieve that Mr. Flower was aware of the negotiations between the Manhattan and the Third Avenue Interests long before the result of the negotiations, as announced late yesterday afternoon, became public. Mr. Flower, however, disclaimed all knowledge cf the matter, and said that he had never considered for a moment the feasibility or desirability of such an extension of the arrangement which holds such lurge promise for the com panies already combined. When asked If he thought the con solidation of the Brooklyn system with the Manhattan and Third Avenue com bination was probable, ho replied Jocosely: "Give It up. "I know nothing about the arrange ment between the Manhattan and Third Avenue companies," he con tinued. Mr. Flower expressed himself last night as opposed to the subway scheme of the R'upld Transit Commission. "I do not believe in the tunnel scheme," he Bald. "I do not think It necessary or profitable. If the Metro politan and Manhattan were to com bine they could furnish all the rapid transit that Is needed In Manhattan." For the Coiuclenre Fund. Washington, April 6.1 The Secretary of the Treasury to-day received In an envelope postmarked New York three one thousund dollar bills, which came as an lnclosure In the following letter: "The Inclosed belongs to the United States Treasury. Conscience demands Its return, God knows the name anl the Bin." The Secretary also received from New York the sum of S5, with a note which said: "Conscience fund. Five dollars due the United States." mm) i A Proclamation Issued by ' the American Commission. HOME HULE IS PROMISED Nut I von Informed of the Olijects of the I'll I toil States ;iv'rnment In Assuming ti Sovereignty-No Ileul Conflict With Fili pino Hlghta nml Llhertlm- Ilntlre to Ascertain Native Opinion, Manila, April 6. A proclamation was Issued yesterday by the United States Philippine Islands by the peace treaty of the Philippine Islnnds to the United States, refers to the appointment of the Commission, assures the people of the cordial good-will and fraternal feeling of the President of the United States and the American people, and asserts that the object of the United States Government, apart from the ful filment of Its solemn obligations as sumed toward the family of nations by the acceptance of the sovereignty over the Islands, Is the well-being, prosper ity, and hupplness of the Filipino peo ple, and their elevation and advance ment to a position among the most civilized peoples of the world. The document Is as follows: The commission desires to assure the people of the Philippine Islands of the cordial good will and fraternal feijlng which is entertuined for them by the President of the United States and by the American people. The aim and object of the American Government, apart from the fulfilment of the solemn obllgiUlons It has as sumed toward the family of nations by its acceptance of sovereignty over the Philippine Islands, is the well being, prosperity and happiness of the Philip pine people and their elevation and advancement to a position among the most civilized peoples of the world. The President believes that this feli city and perfection of the Philippine people is to be brought about by the assurance of peace and order, by the guarantee of civil and religious liberty, by the establishment of Justice, by the cultivation of letters, science and the liberal and practical arts, by the en largement of Intercourse with foreign nations, by expansion of Industrial pursuits, by tra.le and commerce, by multiplication and Improvement of the means of Internal communication, by development, with he aid of modern mechanical inventions, of the great natural resources of the archipelago, and, In a word, by the uninterrupted devotion of the people to the pursuit of useful objects and the realization of those noble Ideas which constitute the higher civilization of mankind. Unfortunately these pure alms and purposes of the American Government and people have been misinterpreted to some of the inhabitants of certain isl ands, and as a consequence the friend ly American forces have, without pro vocation or cause, been openly at tacked. And why these hostilities? What do the best Filipinos desire? Can It be more than the United States Is ready to give? They are patriots and want liberty. In the meantime the attention of the people of the Philippines is Invited to certoln regulative principles by which the United States will be guided in Its relations with them. These are deemed to be the points of cardinal Importance: 1 The supremacy of the United States must and will be enforced throughout every part of the archipel ago, nnd those who resist It can ac complish no end other than their own ruin. Ample Liberty anil a Just Government, 2 To the Philippine people will be granted the most ample liberty and self government of reconcilable with the maintenance of a wise. Just, stable, ef fective and economical administration of public affairs and compatible with the sovereign nnd International rights and the obligations of the United States. 3 The civil rights of the Philippine people will be guaranteed and protect ed to the fullest extent; religious free dom will be assured, and all persons shall be equal and have equal standing In the eyes of the law. 4 Honor, Justice and friendship for bid the use of the Philippine people or the islands they Inhabit as an ob ject of means of exploitation. The pur pose of the American Government is the welfare and the advancement of the Philippine people. 6 There snail be guaranteed to the Philippine people an honest and effec tive civil service In which, to the full est extent to which It is practical, na tives shall be employed. 6 The collection and application of all taxes and other revenues wtll be placed upon a sound, economical basis, and the public funds, raised Just ly and collected honestly, will be applied only to defray the regu lar and proper expenses Incurred by and for the establishment and maintenance of the Philippine Government and such general Improve ments as the public Interests may de mand. Local funds collected will be used for looal purposes and not to be devoted to other ends. With such prudent and honest fiscal administration it Is believed that the needs of the government will, In a Bhort time, become compatible with a considerable reduction In taxation. 7 A pure, speedy and effective ad ministration of Justice will be estab lished whereby may be eradicated the evils arising from delay, corruption and exploitation. Uutoi'iim of K.very Description. - 8 The construction of roads, rail roads and similar means of communi cation and transportation and of other public works, manifestly to the ad vantage of the Philippine people, will be promoted. 9 Domestic and foreign trade and commerce, agriculture and other In dustrial pursuits tending toward the general development of the country, In the Interests of the Inhabitants, shall be objects of constant solicitude and fostering care. 10 Effective provision will be made for the establishment of elementary schools In which the children of the people may be educated, and appropri ate facilities will be provided for a higher education. 11 Reforms In alt departments of the government, all branches of the public service and all corporations closely touching the common life of the people will be undertaken without de lay and effected comfortably with right and Justice In a way to satisfy the well-founded demands and the highest sentiments and aspirations of the people. Such Is the Dplrlt In which the United States comes to the people of the Isl nnds, and the President has Instructed the Commission to make, this publicly known. In obeying his behest, the Commis sioners desire to Join the President In expressing their good will toward the Philippine people and to extend to the leading representative men an In vitation to meet them for the purpose of personal acquaintance and the ex change of views and opinions. JACOB GOULD SCHURMAN, United States Commissioner, GEORGE DEWEY, Admiral, United States Navy. ELWELL S. OT13, Major-Ucn., United States Army. CHARLES DENBY, United States Commissioner. DEAN C. WORCESTER, United States Commissioner. CERVERA'S SUNKEN FLEET. Wot lie nt Raiding tlie Vrmrli tilven t'p hy the Neptune Comhany. Washington, April 6. Acting Secre tary Allen to-day received a letter from the manager of the Neptune Company, the great Swedish wrecking corpora tion, announcing that it Is not possible to raise and repair the vessels of Cer vera's fleet sunk near Santiago. The conclusion is that In the case of the Colon the company cannot undertake to raise her unless the United States Government will guarantee expenses in the event of failure. The wreck Is ly ing In the surf-line, and save on ex ceptionally calm days It cannot even be approached by email boats. As to the Vlzcaya, the company finds that while it is entirely feasible to float her, she would probably not be worth enough to the Unltod States Govern ment to warrant the heavy expendi ture. The Swedish company having thus withdrawn, the Navy Department Is free to entertain any other solid pro ject that may be advancel for raising one or more of the SpanlRh ships. There is already pending a tentative proposi tion from a native corporation which has volunteered to deposit a bond to the amount of 140,000,000 to guarantee the successful prosecution of the work, and other more or less formal proposi tions have been advanced. If any re sponsible concern with practical ex perience behind It cares to venture upon the work, looking to Congress for reward in the event of success, the de partment will Interpose no objection. Up to this moment It has maintained Its claim to the wrecks, but unless some arrangement is speedily entered Into for raising them. It Is probable that It will allow Individuals to break up the bulks and recover such of the property as may be saved. Dread the Rainy Season In Cuba. New York, April 6. Many of the ex cursionists who returned here on the American liner Paris, from a month's cruise among the islands of the West Indies, said that the soldiers in Cuba and Porto Rico are anxious to be ordered back to the United States. They dread the rainy season which Is approaching, and expect many deaths among the unaccllmated from yellow fever and malarious diseases. Civilians also are anxious to leave the tropics during the rainy season. A recent ar rival from Havana says that clerkships In government departments in Cuba are very easy to get Just now. Many of the young men, who after the war rushed to the island from the United States and got good positions In the Quartermasters and Engineer Depart ments, are now resigning their posi tions, and making for home as fast as the ships can carry them. Even the talk of an Increase of 25 per cent, dur ing the rainy months has no effect In staying the departure of the men. In a few weeks, save for the regulars, Cuba wil be In possession of the Cubans." W. F. Leland Can Live but a Few Hours. New York, April 6. Dr. Pitkin stated this afternoon that Warren F. Leland, proprietor of the Windsor Hotel when It burned, was dying and the end was a question of only a few hours. Mr. Leland's great vitality has served to postpone the end. Dr. Pitkin stated that he had had a consultation with Dr. Hull. They agreed that there was nothing In Mr. Leland's condition to warrant any hope of his recovery. He has been sinking ever since the opera tion for appendicitis. Mr. Leland might live until 6 o'clock, he Bald, or he might die during the afternoon. With the dying man are CharieB W. Leland and Warren Leland, Jr. There were many callers at the Grenoble Hotel during the day to In quire after Mr. Lelnnd. Among them were ex-Governor Flower and Julius French. Canal Investigation Fails, Albany, April 5. The special counsel appointed by Gov. Roosevelt and Attorney-General Davles to examine the testimony before the commission which investigated the conduct of the im provement work on the canal system under the provisions of the $9,000,000 appropriation act have completed more than half of their labors. It is learned from a trustworthy source that two thirds of tho testimony taken has been examined, and the counsel have found nothing with which to Justify the in stitution of criminal proceedings ugalust former State Superintendent of Public Works George W. Aldiidgo or former State Engineer and Surveyor Campbell W. Adams. It will probably be near Juno 1 be fore their report will be submitted. ' Tried to K eal a Hill Denver, Col., April B. E. H. Dlcka Bon, chief clerk of the House, disap peared near the end of the session yes terday, and It was openly charged that he had stolen the public-utilities bill, giving the Councils power to buy or build water-works or lighting plants, In order to prevent Its being signed be foro adjournment. When found, Dlck ason was knocked down by a member of the House and dragged to the Senate chamber, where he wan forced to de liver the missing bill to the clerk. Each House passed an anti-Trust bill, but they fulled to agree upon a measure. us C iyrjZ VV j i v rv a R s w r ft. rxx x y "TP that leads vou t0 $f,ve Dr. Williams' P'nU Pills for Pale People a trial will prompt you to re fuse any substitute an unscrupulous dealer offers. A druddist who says he has "something just as flood, or "the same except in name" is dishonest and does not deserve yourtra.de. AUIermnnI,onlsV.Cnmp,of our pity, (ar : t i,i. fit tca. hrokpn down In health nnd utterly mlnernhte. I wn nnat.le to work much of the time nnd no bndly ulllloteu with a form of stomach trouble thai life was a verltalils nightmare. "I tried vnrloim rpmcdlr. but durlmr the six month of my ilrft nes I obtained no relief. 1 had always teen n robust, healthy man and Icknex bore heavily upon me. ,... mw tni ' About two years sito I was advised to try Pr. Williams rink Pills fnr I'nle People. I mirclmwl one ho and received so much benefit tlmt 1 lined five more nnd waxetitlrelv pared. vamrd twrntri-twn pnundn in five uwk. Dr. Williams' I'lnk Pills rostored me to health and 1 most lieartllT recommend them." . , A A .... L. W. Camp oa oath sieys that the fnreznlni statement Is i rn. r W. W. Msloak, .Vofury i'uAfio. From the liy-Stantler, Maeomb, III. Sold by all drug dists or sent post paid by the Dr. Williams Medicine Co, Schenectady, N.Y., on receipt of price, fifty cents pertox; six boxes, $ 2. 50. ALEXANDER BROTHERS & CO. DEALERS IN Cigars, Tobacco, Candies, Fruits and Kut SOLE AGENTS FOR Henry Maillard's Fine Candits. FresL Every Week. IPtsnsr's Goods Specialty. SOLE AGENTS FOR F. F. Adams & Co's Fine Cut Chewing Tobacco , Bole agents for the following brands of Cigars- Henry Clay, Londras, Normal, Indian Princess, Samson, Silver Adi Bloomsburg Pa. IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF CAKPET, 1ATTBMG, or OIL CLOTH, YOU WILL FIND A NICE LINE AT W. H. IIOWEI'S 2nd Door above Court llotibC. A large lot of Window Curtains in stock. When you want to look on the bright side of things, use APOLlO No-To-lluo for Fifty Cents. Guarnntoctl tohucoo Uablt oi.ro. inulics weak men strong, b.ooii pure. 60c, $1. All Urugsisla. "My stars!" cried the astronomer; "that man in the moon is as change able as a woman." Jealous rivals Cannot turn back the tide. The demand for Dr. Agnew's little pills is a marvel. Cheap to buy butdiamons in quality banish nausea coated tongue, water brash, pain after eating, sick headache, never grippe, operate pleasantly. 10 cents. 54. Sold by C. A. Kleim. You occasionally hear of a girl who has her choice among a hal dozen suitors, but the frozen facts are that there are six girls to every man, and the men are of inferior quality at that. Atchinson Globe. Ask for Allen's Foot-Ease. A powder to shake into your shoes. It rests the feet. Cures Corns, Bunions, Swollen and Sweating feet. At all druggists and shoe stores, 25c. Sam ple FREE. Address, Allen S Olm stead, LeRoy, N. V. 3-iC-4t-d "The O'd Oaken Bucket" is a song that owes much of its continued pop ularity to its title. It hangs on well. Dr. Von Stan's Pineai'ple Tad lets for the Itomach. New, con venient, positive, pleasant, harmless cure for sour stomach, Distress after Eating, Weight in the Stomach, Wind on the Stomach, Loss of Appetite, Dizziness, Nausea, Impoverished Blood, Sick Headache and all other stomach troubles directly traceable to indigestion. 35 cents 55. Sold by C. A. Kleim. OASTOnX-A.. Bears ths The Kind Vou Have Always BougH Common seri3e teaches tha-t & debilitated system cannot be built up py . continued purging which reduces the strenfitn of & body already weak ,ocallea blood builders are purdatives. ri w?nimO DinU DilU for Pale People do no act on the bowels. They buila up tne oiooa anu strengthen the nerves. The same dood sense Educate Your Bowels With C'8rreU. 100, 85o. II C. 0. C. (all, druRRlsts refund monj. A German scientist claims that the memory is stronger ''n summer thaa in winter. He says that among the worse foes of the memory are to much food, too much physical exer cise, and too much education. Dr. Agnew's ointment cures piles. Itching, Bleeding and BliuJ Piles. Comfort in one application. It cures in three to six nights. It cures all skin disease in young and old. A. remedy beyond compare, and it never fails. 35 cents. 53. Sold by C. A. Kleim. 1 ommy "Mamma, why have yoa got papa s hair in a locket?" His mother "To remind me that he once had some, Tommy." Tte Traveler's Weekly. Exposure to a sudden climatic change produces cold in the head arI catarrh is apt to follow. Provided with Ely's Cream Balm you are arrael against nasal Catarrh. Druggists sett it at 50 cents, or Ely Brothers, 56 Warren St.. N. V.. will mnii th or 10c. trial size, The Balm cure "mum pain, aoes not irritate or Cause SnpP7inr Tf .. If an irritated and angry surface, reliev ing immediately the painful inflamaiu ation, cleanses and cures. Cream Bal quickly cures the cold. Vistor to the show (to the little girf who takes the cash)-"I have made bet and want you to settle it. Is the bearaed lady your mother or your aunt?" ' Little girl "She is my father.1' O A. tt rn - v - 1 The Kind Voi t ma ma ton Have Always Bontft Noo. WWiM Mm Totwt ty
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers