THE OMAHA DAILY BEE : SATURDAY , FEBKTJAltY G , 1807.
Iko 2-4-07
LIFE I ! OF ? A / CONGRESS ? \ llii \
Traced by the Experienced Ha
Thomas Brackett Reed.
DISTANT VIEWS FAR FROM THE
Old mill Sew Member * nnil Their
1'eriilrxlnw linden % tlth the Do )
lllCMtH llflclCHN SlIPCCllCH
Morale of the HUIIHC.
Hon. Thomas D. need , speaker
house of representatives , contrlbi
Youth's companion an Interesting ski
the llfo of a member of congress ,
sported with chunks of advlco am
clsm. Speaker Heed snyn :
In the constitution of the United
the senate and house of rcprcicr
together arc called "tho congress. "
In strictness , senators and rcpreson
arc alike members of congress ; but In
day language the name Is given I
rescntitlves only , and they alone wi
C. after their names. It la the life
representative only which I shall
sketch , and of that life I can hope
but the "merest outline.
It Is a fact of almost universal app
that \vo ECO the bright side of ever ;
man's occupation , and seldom the
side. The dark eldo of our own II'
clearly know , and we arc quite as
exaggerate Us blackness as wo arc t
nlfy the good another enjoys.
Probably a great many young
think that the life of a member of co
with $5,000 a year. Is a lite of plcasur
fort and luxury , full of power and e
If they do not , they have change
much from the young people of m
Of course they have changed In othci
and much for the better , but probal
In this estimate of things.
Of colirse , the young people are rig
\i \ honornblo duty I
measure. Iti on
form that of representing 1BO.OOH or
pcoplo In their relations with the
000 of other people In a great natli
prosperity of which may be affected
representative's wisdom , cither In
good advice or following good advlct
by others , cither In acting or rcfus
act.
PERSONAL DUTIES.
Hut the plcturo has some shadows ;
as lights. A congressman has labors
fprm as well as position to enjoy , ni
man gets older he sets less and less vi
place and position.
The duties ho has to perform are
any means uniform. They depend uj
wants and needs , real or Imagined ,
district. All districts arc not cquallj
csted In things at Washington. Son
trlcts , especially those In the east i
the Atlantic coast outside of the great
have very little to do with the burc
Washington.
In the west , and especially In the
rcttled states , and relations with the. 1
department , and particularly with tli
office , are very close and very Itnpor
the Individual constituent. To have :
ters a day , all relating to business
the departments , Is not an uncommor
rienco for a member from Kansas i
braska , for In those states all land
come , or are to come , from the govcr
and many of them have to be finally
cated at Washington In case of dUpuU
All the members have much to d
pensions. They bring special cases
notice of the bureau , and hasten tic
Here , again , the western member la
more harrassed than wo of the east , 1
to many of our soldiers , broadened I
tact with brother soldiers from all o-
United States , were emboldened to tr
fortunes In the' frontier communities
So all the distribution of revenue ra
taxes along the rivers and harbors , I
dians , the navy , agriculture , public bu
and all other Items of government c :
turo make much correspondence and b >
for members.
In addition to these labors , It may b
tloned that any one of the 150,000 const
la at perfect liberty to write his vli
religion or finance to his member , a
pecta at least an acknowledgment. I
nowadays , thanks to reform In Hie civ :
Ice , considerable time Is saved which i
go to the Eervlce of those who wished
Blst their country by holding Its offices
NEW MEMBERS.
The official duties may bo inoro c
according tU the prominence of the m
Every now member , llko a young law
merchant newly come to town , has ti
vhat there Is In him and win his own
Distinction .won In ether fields of en
will gain n man a hearing for the firs
but not afterward. If ho wishes to ta
bo listened to , ho had bettor have son :
to say and know how to say It.
Most men are not listened to. Most
long speeches sent to constituents h ;
effect on the house , and might as wcl
been delivered In an attic or poured
fanning machine. That they arc dcllv <
all Is largely owing to the strange ti
wlrtch our country has not got over-
good member must be'an orator. Newman
man wants to be thought a good mi
hcnco ho spechlfles In the "Congrc
Ilccord. "
In early days , when there was little
and few mombsrs , no doubt the countr ;
much of Its education to such specclu
In these days debate that sort of sp
In which-a man says only what ho kn
well that ho does not need to put It on
'Would ' seem to be a far more advaiit ,
consumption of time. General cdu
such as It Is and I do not under-valt
comes from newspapers and ether souri
The early Impression a new membc
when he listens for the first few we
that there are In the house an aston
number of men who know how to talk
but after awhllo ho sees the llmltatl
each man , and finds tbcro are In the
but few Clays , Dlalnes , Schencks am
fields , who cau talk well about many
tors.
Another thing which rather surprls
now members Is that the votrt does not
to follow the argument. Ho docs not
prebend that people who do not tall <
think , and may not think to the sann
elusion as those who talk. Nor does lit
prebend the tremendous dlvernlty of
rats In the house. Ho knows vaguclj
tlila Is a great country ; Indeed , ho hn
qucntly heard persons say an , and ha
GO himself ; but ho docs not imderatani
n thousand miles of distance Is a treine
change of , tlui point of view.
If we could only make the Intelllgcn
nil over the country realize ( he sec
differences of opinion which our grci
occasions , the whole pcoplo uoujd looV
more reasonableness upon ttosn who
do what Is feasible , and with less pa
upon those whom only the wlnlo cui
the way of legislation will content.
The new member In his first term
often long afterward , flnda the rules i
pctiml stumbling block and rocU of ol
He wants to talk and to get his met
before the house , and somehow ho
can. If ho stops to reason about It , h
Awarded
Highest Honors World's Fc
DR.
BAKING
MOST PERFECT MADE.
A pdreCtap * Oeam of Tartar PowJcr.
lorn Ammonia , Alum or any other adultc
iO Years the Standard ,
find himself again In contact with the greatto
. . > tl , , , „ ( , .
ness ot the country.
Three hundred and flfty-slT membci
to be a large number to collect toget
purposes of deliberation , and number
great hindrance to that deliberation
means frequent speaking aoil voting ,
pcoplo wonder why each decade the i
Is Increased Instead of diminished , 1
increase Is likely to go on for som
In the future.
Largo as our number ot rrembers Is
Britain and France , with half our popt
have each a great many moro.
Indeed , when you look at the const !
the wonder ceases. Each member i
grcss represents ICO.OOO citizens , i
many districts 200,000. The business
alt these people have In Washington
In the congressman , and as I have i
pointed out , It makes to ; him pic
work. So great has this woik bccor
by law each member has a clerk. AI
the expense to the nation Is not trlflli
the assistance was voted with sonic fi
trembling on our part , there has neRO
RO far as I know , the slightest critic
the act.
MEASURES I1EFOIIE CONCHIES
Of what congress docs In the way >
lie acts , everybody has some Idci
great questions which agitate the
come there for final settlement. Ot
the settlement Is always on some
which the members think will sail
or most of the people. That often tu ;
to bo a mistake , for people often thlr
want what they do not want at a
they are always ready to punish leg
who give them the bad things they t
they wanted.
Appropriation bills settle ft good
congressional questions. Uy them ,
lake commerce , f
stance , our great
by Improvements in rivers and h
has been built up until It much su
the great foreign commerce which w
with the whole outside world ; anil
Madison and Monroe thought wo coi
constitutionally do at nil wo do eve
Blon with the full agreement ot be
lltlcal parties.
All these great questions , like the
plo Just given , arc known and notl
many of the people. Ilut one grca
docs passes i
ness which congrpss
anybody's notice. Congress Is the grt
general court. All the complaint
mands and wishes of the pcoplo comi
In the great majority of the cases i
Is done , but ot 10.000 proposed law
haps C per cent or less become law.
a court of justice many cases are b :
and but few tried.
Ilut the existence of a court wher
plaints can ba made with a chance
ilress la a great help to human life.
an\l after a man has brought his s
fact that he con have even an unsut
hearing goes a great way toward c
his spirit. So In congress. If a m
have a. committee examine his case ,
no remedy Is found , he becomes more
died to the Inevitable.
TEMPER OP THE HOUSE.
Members of congress , even when
bled In performance of their duties ,
always behave amiably. Some people
their behavior Is growing worse , bu
not so. Such collisions as occasional
place have always taken place , fro
tlmo when Grlswold and Lyon cncoi
each other on the floor down to ov
They all happen In the same way ; rr
heated mentally , and sometimes phy
then they are bad tempered , they
where they are , and they make specie
themselves.
Ono of the worst scenes I ever saw
liouse was only the culmination on
Jay In July of the bad temper of t
months. A hundred degrees In the si
the boiling point of men.
Perhaps there never was a house t
lived on the edge of a volcano as <
liouso of the Forty-fifth congress ,
body was angry with everybody else- ,
was the. congress after President Hay
Dlccted , when everybody thought eve
Blae had been cheating , and nobody
strike because In striking ho must
Ulj blow not orly at his enemies ,
those with whom his reason taught 1
liad to act In the future. Yet In tin
that there was no row , because eve
telt that wo could not have one will
'jclng ' too big a one.
It seems rather a misfortune that t
tlon has so little Idea ot what really f
In congress. There are no regular rep
my of our papers which will enable
student to acquire a knowledge of vihi
an from day to day. Even a membci
for a week can hardly make out wh
happened. In London you know evci
ivhat Parliament has done the day bef
The difference Is caused by two
England has but ono center , and that 1
Ion. We have Now York , Boston , C !
San Francisco , New Orleans and
others. Then we publish at public exi
journal of all wo say and da , and mnk
i -waste-basket of the "Record" th ;
people have the patience to look at It
larly.
If wo left tha history of our del
private enterprise , the public would
ipon and demand and C'btaln regular r
: ondensed so as to bo within the EC
mman endeavor , which would "bo " o
hlng for both congress and the country ,
s now It Is rather a forlorn territorial
aturo which Is not as well reported
: ongress of th ; United States. I spc
: ourso. ot regular da'lly reports and
special topics.
All legislative bodies suffer In publi
nation , because of the perpetual crl
.o which they arc obliged to submt ( \ \
my chance or" opportunity of reply ,
ho popular idea of such bodies is
ewer than Is Just.
A representative body has to do th
t cau to reconcile with the terms
iroposcd action all the prejudices <
vhole people , and to take Into accounl
vrong views as well as their rght |
lenco It Is that , Individual members E
TO able to vote anything more thai
nodtflcatlon of their own Ideas whlcl
losslble to enact. Of course , this fa :
hort ot the freedom of an editorial ,
ermon , or the speech of a reformer.
Where things are done In the minds
ho best can always bo done ; where
ra done In a world full of conflicts a :
losing opinions , results fall far short
jeal best.
MORALE OF THE HOUSE.
Thatl there are legislatures which ar
upt I hardly doubt , but that many ot
re corrupt I do not believe. So far ,
ouso ot representatives of the United
3 concerned , I quit agrco with what
> cl J , Randall once said to me after tears
oars of experience : "I believe I could
n the fingers of ono hand all the i
inpcct could be bribed. "
Of course , all men are Influenced I
pinions and power of other men ,
cprcsentatlvo body Is no exception.
Uo , men llko to repreient the vie
lielr people , for thereon depends tilt
Inuanca ot their olllclal life , Of con
oed many of them in times of cxclt
ro deluded by mere volume of noU <
ilstake stage thunder for the roar of
n'a artillery ; but as a rule they ar
onahly patriotic , and quite capable of
Ight when to bo so Is dangcrouu.
If you will reflect a moment you wl
hat members of congress , from the i
t things , arc , as a rule , men of stand
ho communities In which they live ,
lilng has caused each ono of them
romlncnt among the 30,000 or 50,000
vcr the age of 21 whom they rcpr
'hat something may not always bo
? ct. It certainly is not always rich
Irth , or control ot great Industrial
rises. In any event each membpr ha
tie gauntlet of a nominating convi
nd of an election afterward.
Probably each congress Is the peer
rcdecessor in the relation which It
) the Intelligence of the country ,
uo that the growth In wealth and ex ]
are in this country has drafted Int
ustrlil and commercial enterprises
ble men who have preferred riches to
itlve work end KB fame. Many ot
len would \n \ the earlier days have
olltlcs a profession. I
Uut there U yet g'.araor enough turr
) R public life , though It has been eti
t rlcbes , to induce many able men to
endure Its dlsu
> r Its honors and
IKCS. These men are thus made me :
t congress , whllo they are , as a rule ,
t standing , education and ability , are
ed by the wishes ot their conitlt
nd the general progress ot the nation
In some of the large cities Iba coi
ioual representation may and does pa
t the degeneracy of municipal po
ut oven there men like Samuel J.
all , William I ) . Kelley and S. S. re
peak only of those dead , quite often
to the front and so far toward redeeming
their Htnn .
THE ASSEMBLED HOUSE.
The appearance of the house of repr
lives when assembled Is not very
In its favor. It seems and is n turn
and disorderly collection ot men ,
on those rare occasions when a KT
bate culminates In the speeches of tli
most men. Then decorous silence
The galleries cease whispering and tin
bers sit Intent In their scats.
It would be Impossible that this
be so cvcr > day. Three hundred ar
men , with 100 more of clerks , ex-m
and others , with noisy galleries above
could not possibly keep still. For re
the bad order , however , the physical
lions are responsible.
The hall ot the house Is simply hugi
galleries alone can scat 1,500 people
than 100 spectators are or can bo m
to ths gallery of the House of Comm
In the house ot representatives It
volco as well as Intellect to bo
Some of our best men cannot roach i
of the members. This la no small :
tune. It helro to render true dcbat
cult , if not Impossible. Men will
their eyes a long tlmo to see , but no
ears to hear. Hcnco conversation on
cral restlessness spread over the sci
The size of the hall also prcclud
use of needed space for the retiring
which would naturally attract mcmbc
relieve the house as they do the
It Is to be feared that taking the dcs
would not bo a remedy , since the grc
and the largo galleries would rcmali
The members of the British Hou
Commons , approaching 700 In numbi
lodged in a hall 45 feet by 75 , and
high. Our hall Is 93 feet by 139 , and
high. To bo ncard by all present a
bcr of Parliament has to cause to
138,000 cubic feet ot nlr , whllo a n
of congress must set In motion 465,00
The only real remedy would be to e
hall Into three parts , using the centi
for assembly , and the other two foi
anil rccopllon rooms. The center hall
bo as wldo and 15 feet longer than th
llsh hall , which nan 417 seats. U I ;
true that we should In this way lo
Impresslvcucss of the vast hall , and 1
Inspiring spectacle on the great days
sllcnco reigns. Uut for everyday
congress In a. suitable hall would bo
more pleasantly Impressive than cc
In an acre lot.
If the greatness of the hall was In
to reflect the greatness of the coun
signally falls , for the lltllo republic o
Ice , moro than 300 years ago , had an
has a council hall 175'/j fcot long , 84
wldo and 6U4 feet high.
This article Is rather long olread ;
yet I must have another paragraph w
to say that the members of congress
whole fairly represent the people
they undertake to represent. If tin
not all Solomons , either Individually
Icctlvely. their constituents are also
sons of David or Bathshcba. If you
to any radical overturns at any time
history , and say that the rebuked mi
not represent their constituents and
not up to their level , then I venti
suggest that the people themselves
not have known what they wanted
they had experienced the effects ot
they mistakenly thought their legli
should give them.
< n
Something ( o Know.
It may bo worth something to knoi
the very best medicine for restorlt :
tired out nervous system to n healthy
Is Electric Bitters. This medicine Is
vegetable , acts by giving tone to the
centers In the stomach , gently etlrt
the Liver and Kidneys , and aids the
Kans In throwing off Impurities In the
Electric Bitters Improves the appetlti
digestion , and Is pronounced by thos
have tried It as the very best blood p
ind nerve tonic. Try it. Sold for SOc eKING
KING OSCAll OP SWEDEN.
.V Mini of ( IT , u Philosopher ,
.MiiHlcIuii nml Author ,
An Important figure In the Vene :
controversy is ono of the most res
monarchs In Europe , says the San Fra
Examiner. Oscar .11 , king of Swedei
S'orway , Is a man ot 07 , with a bene
: ountenanco , a full gray beard and a
ivart figure. In his youth ho was a
jnd hostill retains the bluff manners
follower of the sea.
Ho Is the fourth sovereign ot the 1
Charles Jean Bernadotte , who. by a i
! ar accident , was raised from the stat
j simple burgher to that of a marsl
Napoleon's army. At the death of C
Kill the Parliament of Sweden , acting
orders from the all-powerful conq
: hose Marshal Bcrnadotto to succeed
md ho ascended the throne undo
lame ot Charles XIV. Ho had wit e
' .o cut alocf from the emperor who
alter rushed on to his doom , and tl
.ho reconstruction which followed h
.allied his crown and bequeathed It '
ion , Oscar I. That politic monarch
iged to keep out of the Schleswlg-Ho
llspute , and retained the good will ol
Missla and Denmark ; so ho died at
vlth all men , though sore'ly strlcki
) oJy , In the year 1859. He was succ
jy his son , Charles XV , who -united S'
md Norway , and reigned until 1872 ,
ho present sovereign ascended the thr
The duties of reigning are not cone
o Oscar II. Ho Is a poet , a musician
nan of science. Ho has written many
iomo of which are as good as If the
lot been written by a king. He wi
Irama In French , -which has bcon pla ;
ull houses. Ho ta at corresponding m
if the Frankfort Acadorcy of Sciences ,
nomolr of Charles XII holds , a high pi
ilstorlcal literature. His Inaugural ai
o the Rlgsdag contained some st
> assagos.
"I am deeply penetrated , " said he ,
ho scnso that the royal crown , whlc
alien to mo as heir. Is not lent to n
aero outer splendor ; rather , I know ai
nit that my responsible royal mlssle
\1ilch \ tbo crown Is a symbol , haj bee :
the welfare o
ipon in a to promote
irother nations. May Uicso words b
notto , Rrodrafolkcno Val ! "
The task \yhich fell upon his shoi
i-aa , Indeed , ono which might have ap ;
, less Intrepid soul. Her bad to adml
ho government of two nations whlcl
leon artificially put together In ha
nd whoso alms and temper are as far
s the poles. Ho had to contend at
tieh political foes as Ibsen and Bjoi
'ho latter once actually challenged the
0 mortal combat. Ho had to handle
ouses of parliament two In Sweden
n Norway , There has hardly been a 0
ils reign when ho did not need to n
ilmsolf of his own apothegm "a king
vcr know how to subordinate all tli
linatlons of his character , however 1
late , to the exigencies of political po
Whenever he could , Oscar has sougl
let from the cares of public business
mmtry houseIn the Sound ot Helslni
'note , with his wife , the bt'uutlful and
ophla ot Nassau , and their four sta
oys , ho has led the llfo of a studious
ry gentleman , working out problcn
rctlc navigation and writing verses or.
oral themes. There they sit at an
rludow , breathing the strong air o
orth , inhaling the summer breezes an
Ing the se-a vapor fan their brows. An
ng covers a veranda , bordered with 11
athed in sunshine , from which a
tretch of sea rolls under their eyes.
lie king tells his family the old , st
' and carries them
igaa of Sweden's past ,
j the days of Wodln and the Nortl
lo has a well-chosen'llbrary , full o
ivorlto authors. Here bo loves to
oetry and science and legend with a i
A brother of Oscar , Eugene , Is stu
> ' bo a painter , and proposes to cstabl
tudlo in Paris. His aunt , the king's c
lugenle , Is the Lady Bountiful of Sw
'hen ' she failed In obtaining from the
tad an appropriation for a work houto
'as badly needed , she sold her dlan
nd put up the building. When the
iw it. he cried ; "But , Eugenie , whe
arth did you get the money to gratify
him ? " i
When It was agreed to submit the
ima controversy to arbitration , It was
c-ated by Great Britain that it shoul
itt to a European sovereign , or to thor
r to the emperor of Brazil. Tbo U
tatca offered to leave It to the preside
lexlco or Switzerland , An agreement
nally reached ( hat several powers s ,
loose each an arbitrator learned In the
nd that their joint verdict should bo
luslve. The arbitrators were five In
cr , and were chosen by the United S
rcat Britain Italy , Switzerland and B
; is this precedent which has been foil
1 tbe Venezuelan CM * ,
TITI I 11 I' ? . TMflT IMI'.III Tfifl'LTM I IK 'F I rfTDTPITV VI , I It 11 ,1 I 1
Annihilation of Timat in Tolog
Between Now Yfark and Ohicag
ELECTRIC AND STEAM LOGON
Extraordinary I'lfiRrvna In Kip
Science In Itroant Ycnrn li
trlcnl I'lnnliiK A Dlvcr'n
1 To It-phone.
Wh.it Is tbo limit of speed In tele
The question has been answered man
but In oa'ch case It has been found
sary to revlso the answer soon aftei
given , as a few inoro seconds wore
oft the record. When the name of t
nor of the Derby Is known In No
a quarter of a minute after the
Is over , when the result of an
tlonal yacht race Is announced li
gow forty-fair seconds after the wlm
across the finish line In Now York'
bay , It seems as though the practlci
hllatlon of tlmo was accomplished ,
men who spend their tlmo In trying
provo the telegraphic service have n
satisfied with these astonishing rccoi
have tried to drive the time limit stll
the vanishing point. An a result <
efforts , It may bo said that It tli
not wall for any man It will at least
stand still sometimes.
The fastest service , both In the
and special work of the Western
Telegraph company , has regularly b
twcen the great exchanges , cspeclo
Stock and Produce exchanges of No
and Chicago. This has been so | :
because It has had to bo so , that Is
because the demo ml for the fastest
service has been stronger here tin
where else. The limit , for the time t
least , has now been reached by an li
ment which was recently made In t
nectlon between the produce exclm :
these two great centers of Amerlcnr
The floors of the two exchanges h
* long time been connected by dlrec
so that only a few seconds were co
In Bending Information from ono
) ther. Some tlmo ago , however , the
srn Union's manager In New Yoi
jested that time might be saved In
luotatlons" If a telegraph apparatus
up In the wheat pit Itself. Thla
saving a trip of perhaps fifteen f
iween the wheat pit and the tele
3ooth , but In slicing off seconds on
: ut exceeding thin and even the s
; hlngs have to bo taken Into accoun
: hanga brought about by the adop
; hlfl suggestion may ho best obser
.aklng a peep Into the New York ea
it the opening of business.
CHOPPING OFF SECONDS.
At one side of the circle known
vhcat pit stands a high box , which lo (
in old-fashioned pulpit , and In will
ncn are sitting. In front of one of i
L telegraph Instrument , the wire Iron
uns directly to the floor of the Chic
ihange , and before the other Is a set (
: ontrolllng the big Indicator at the
ho room , which announces at every i
if the day the ruling price of wheat
leer of the exchange. As soon as t
> ld Is offered , before the sound of the
rolce can travel across tlio floor of
ihange , the operator in the pulpit pros
if his keys , and the big Indicator
; reat dial flies around to tlie figures n.n
he first transaction. In the second
vc have been watching the pcrformar
'reporter ' , " who has been standing Jus
ho pulpit among the brokers , has EC
he same figures on a yellow slip , has
his sheet up to the man above him , i
ipenlng price In New York Is wrlttt
ightnlng flash at-.the Chicago end
vlre.
The'booth In 'whichUho"wire ten
m the floor 'of the ( .Chicago erfehangi
, next to the
> ne side of the room
loard on which the New York qUotatli
Isplayed. The slip on which the n
s received la handed directly to the
he- board , who chalks down the flgun
ho speed that long practice has
ilm. The whole transaction occuple
apj five seconds , and Is repeated eve :
fresh transaction Is made throughc
ay. The difference between the t
akes a message to travel across the :
lie Now York exchange , lers than 1 (
nd to Chicago , 1,000 miles away , Is sc
hat the announcement may be said
mde simultaneously In both places ,
epresents the perfection of telegraphl
lunlcatlon as carried on at present.
REMARKABLE SPEED.
It Is probatly true , also , that a re
lay be- sent and an answer recalved tl
ho public offices on the floors of thi
hangos more quickly than In any
fTlcea. It Is a realtor of record that
igs has been sent from New York t
ago , delivered to a broker on tin
f the exchange , and an answer re
i the sender in New York , all In
econds. In fact , this has been don
ral times. The New York manager
I'ostern Union Is authority for the
lent that In sending the thousands c
ages which travel back and forth hi
110 two exchanges the average tin
ivosn receiving a message and dell
a answer Is not moro , than two n
nd one-half. It Is an Interesting fa <
' a New York business man send
lessages at the same- time , ono add
) the > uptown district of his own clt
19 other to the business portion ego
* go , or any of the great cities , the c
ro that the second message will
s destination first. The reason fo
i simply that the facilities for si
10 second message are better than f
rst.
rst.Of course In accomplishing the qulcli
hlch has been described the comple
C the connection Is not the only
lough It Is very Important. The opi
Tiployed In this work arc all men win
aen carefully picked from the most
11 operators In the service of the
my. the transmitters and receive :
' the latest pattern , and every prec
used to secure accuracy and speed
le slightest lack of either may inea
iss of thousands.
CLECTIUCITY BEATS STEAM ,
A writer In Cassler's Magazine saj
lost striking thing about the behav
10 electric locomotive Is the cortatntj
hlch It may be moved over short dlst
irying from a few Inches to a few fee
jedlcncc of the motors to tha contra
radically instantaneoim , thus doing
I ono stroke with ono of the chief
tcks to steam switching engines -with
lore Is a noticeable delay between the
hen the throttle valve Is open and tli
HIS begin to move , In this way often
ig the engineer , no matter how care
lay be , to overshoot his mark. This
i action , whllo generally only a fev
ids In cadi case , amounts up serlou
10 course of a whole , day's work and
ilcf cause of the proverbial latent
'eight ' trains which .havo much cwli
i do at Intermediate stations. Kror
tct that the movement of the electric
otivo can bo graduated so nicely , i
ilrd of the time usually occupied by
comotlves can be isaved.
A DIVER'S'TBLEnilONn.
An American Inventor has pcrfecte
i tented a highly Ingenious form of
jono syetem for the ueo of tubn
ivcrs. The device can bo used In
sep or shallow water. '
Tlio first requisite , of course , In a <
Icphono should be that tho1 added mi
m can change no conditions wbatevei
T as making any demand upon the <
gllanco or activity. In other won
lephonlo arrangements must not 1
wed to bumper the person with when
o connected , < The Do Vcau invent ! '
'inpllstics ' this. The receiver of tho' '
within the helmet , close to the le
the wearer , and Is of the ordinary i
.60 type , No. 8V4. The transmitter I
IOYO the diver's1 head. The circuit Is f
r two wlref the lines running throut
inter of a. manlla rene .Attached t
'Imct , There Is , outside tbo heln
: tlo junction box , and a little collar
might come o
JVC tbo strain * that
.ble. . Special pains were taken wit
Irals of the itrandi lying closely like
a spring. Unuiual protection Is
vcn to the Insulated wires within
The uiau on deck carries a box , str
hla body , within which Is the Ind
111 for the system , and all the nccee
four cells of Mesco's batter . To
Including
call the attention of the man bel , , , , , .11
that has to be done Is to jerk the II
The deck set weighs only about four
and that carried by the diver adds enl
ounces to the weight of the helmet. >
to ay a great gain In the speed of
operations -will bo the certain result
now submarine telephone.
EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS
During the last two years , when
branches of business have been st
still , the electrical distribution of
has grown as It never grew before.
development of electric railways I
United States , nays the Boston Her
the product of the last ten years. 1
there were only thirteen such road !
barely 100 cars. Writing two years i
electrical engineer estimated that
were then SCO electrical roads , opi
over 9,000 miles of track and 23,00 !
and representing an Investment of
of over $400,000,000. Another profc
authority , writing the other day , plat
present electrical railway mileage at
miles of track , equipped with not Ics
30,000 motor cars. The railway mol
present In UEO aggregate fully 1 ,
horse power , and the generating
clcso to 500,000. Last year's contrlbu
electric railway construction was 1,001
of track and nearly G.OOO motor ca
Is stated that this Increase means
grcgato Investment of something Ilk
000,000 , a very respectable sum to bo
to a single Industry In a year so lit
markable for Industrial expansion.
The authority last quoted , Dr. I :
Newton Center , estimates the probal
tnl of stationary electric motors or
by central or scattered stations and
transmission plants at 250,000 horse
Including railway work , he thinks It
to say that the gro < is power of the c
motors used In the United States Is a
crlt not less than 1,250,000 horse
Comparing such a list with the small
of power plants that were runnln
'
yearn ago , the strength of th'o buslnci
has scored such gains In hard times I
evident. The saving secured by tl
of electric power Is so considerable
ordinary prudence has , In many casi
nianded an Investment sulllclcnt to
an advantage that covered , under sue
dlllons as have recently prcvallei
whole difference between profit ant
This has been especially the case In
to mining plants situated where coal 1
expensive and water power plenty. A
pie Instance Is cited In which an elc
Installation for mining purposes hai
for Itself at tne rate of 5 per cent a i
Hut , remarkable as have been tl :
vantages already made In the dcvclo
by electricity of the natural power res
of the country , we are still only at t !
ginning of this movement. Every
seems to add something to the dlstanc
can bo successfully overcome In power
mission. California led the way In tli
vnnco the long-dUtanco plants
the generating station In San
tonto canyon to Pomona and
Bernardino being the most
portant of the kind attempted up to
Two years ago what is known as the Fc
Sacramento three-phaso plant went In
cratlon , furnishing all the power and
used In Sacramento , twenty-three
away , and malting the longebt comm
transmission that had yet been lust
Still later came the transmission of
trlcal power over n distance of thlrt
miles Into Fresno. This bears the r
so far , aa the longest commercial trar
slon yet accomplished , the line froti
agnra to Buffalo being eight miles sh
Of course , with every new demonsti
of the commercial possibility of ovcrci
long distances the field for the emplo ;
of electrical power becomes cnorn :
widened. This fact has a bearing not
on the possibility of utilizing the 5,0
hydraulic horse-power available In this
try , but also on that of converting the
anthracite culm heaps into electricity
of making the coal mines themselve
scat of great generating 'stations w
power might bo transmitted flvcr a
area of surrounding territory.
ELECTROCUTING THE WHALE.
If certain accounts received from
Scotia are to be depended upon , wli
will soon be deprived of much of the
of danger which has always made It
or. exciting occupation. Hitherto ihc '
has In the majority of cases tal ; ° n a
lively part In the affair , and has no
frequently managed to escape from his
suers , even after being harpooned , but
now proposed to give the hunted eel :
no quarter. The electric harpoon ha
some time been talked of and It Is said
Captain Hcrshell. an old whaler of Ha
has at length taken counsel with the
trlclans and devised a practical appa
for the electrocuting ct whales. The
paratus consists of a dynamo of 10,000
capacity , to which Is attached a wire
Ucavlly Insulated , and of sufficient It
to be run out for a distance of 10,000
from the side of the vessel. The hai
attached to tlio end of this wlro Is , of cc
of rubber-covered wood , otherwise the
would get the shock Instead o
pooner
whale. The insulated wire Is run thi
Lhe center of the wooden harpoon , aivl
tnlnates at the end In a sharp steel Epeai
feet long. When a school of whales Is
spouting , the whaling ship Is steered In
llrectlon. When within a convenient
tanco a boat 15 lowered with the crew
slectrlc harpoon and tbo 10,000 feet of
ror maintaining the connection with
ship's dynamo. This wlro reels off ai
joat ncars the whale. When within str
llstance the harpoonlst will hurl the i
in regulation style , but the whale will i
itnow what has struck him , for , as th
Dt the spear touches his body , ho wl
shocked to death.
PRIZES FOR ELECTRIC PLOW ! ' .
The Germans are very much In ca
ibout electric plowing. Their Natlona
Icultural society has arranged a prlr.c
ictltlon among power-driven plows , Inti
and develop the i
to encourage
ipeclally
; atlon of electric power to the workli
Mows and other agricultural Implem
nonelectrical plows will
n the trials
that a , comparison ma
) o tcteJ , so
of the d
nade of the relative efficiency
will bo tcstc
mt systems. Only plows
t Is considered that the power could <
applied to other Implements with
10
Special attention wl
light alterations.
conveyance of the outfits
> ald to the
Icld to field. Ono prize of 3,000 mark !
mother of 1,000 marks will be given fo
icst plow driven by any kind of pi
md there will be a special prize for the
ilectrlcally driven plow. A piece of 1
ind a piece of light land will bo assl
or tilling to each competitor. Points
10 given for (1) ( ) the tlmo taken for
ilowlng ; (2) the weight of earth mi
fuel by the in
the consumption of
3) )
between the i :
consumed
4) ) the power
of the plo\
, nd the Plow ; 15) ) the cost
ncludlng fuel , water , lubricants , at
, nce , repairs , Interest and depreciation
constitutional disease an
Catarrh Is a
remedy like II
constitutional
iarsaparllla lulres a , which prllle" the blood.
Silt , -\VII.SO.VS nBXBUOSITY.
itrlUliiK IiiflilPiK f > f HI" Career In
Mr , Wilson of Iowa , who will bo
etary of aprlcilturo ) under McKlnley ,
luded his career In congress on the n
ng of March 4 , 1SS5 , by a dramatic
ilbltlon of generosity that will never be
ot'cn by these who witnessed It. He
1
lectcd to the Forty-eighth congress
[ lalorlty1 of just twenty-throe votes over
' , Frederick , the candidate of a fusion o
cmocratln , greerback and labor parties
i-as a democratic house , and the comm
n elections reported In favor of Frcde
. ho contested Wilson's scat ; but tbo
determined that W
lubllcans were
hould not be turned out , and were flllbu
ng to prevent a vote , The late Samu
tandall comedown the aisle , uhlle the h
- terrible state of confusion ,
, -aa in a
sked to ba heard. He delivered a brief
loquent eulogy of General Grant , who
ay dylnsr. and said that be held In bis !
bill which had passed the senate restt
Irant to the rank of general of the a
nd placing him upon the retired lUt.
"Mr , Speaker , " he said , "I ask unanli
onicnt of the houto to offer that bill , a
love that the rules be suspended In c
bat It may be taken .up for action wit
ebate. "
Mr , Covlnglon of Kentucky objected.
ehemently declared that the only orde
uilnss before the house was * the reiolv
t the committee on elections Keating
'rederlck In place of Mr. Wilton , and
o other business could be transacted i
_ - 's Picnic ,
Gracious ! what a lot of big men there are. More of'em
came in here yesterday than we'd see in a month ordi
narily , They came in twos and threes and sixes and
they took the pants away as if finding pants to fit 'cm
was a novelty. Come to think of it it's a good deal of
a novelty to sec big men's pants selling at small boy's
prices , and that's what all the fuss was about. Plenty
probably to last over Saturday
on hand yet , too enough
day but the earlier the call the better the picking.
Here's the story again for those who haven't heard
abput it : About 500 pairs o ! large size pants 38-40-
42 waists left over from suits and going at about the
value of the bare cloth that's in tftcm $1.75-52.00 and
$2.50 for pants that are easily worth $3,00 to $5.00 at
The Nebraska. 'Tis an opportunity not to be over
looked , as the chances are you'll find a nair to match'
the identical coat and vest you're wearing.
Orders by mail will have prompt attention.
Spring Catalogue nearly ready. Name now to make certain.
The Low Prices.
different Rockers' ' at
ioo co Comblnolion Book Cases at these low
prices : tlO , $12 , ? 14 , ? 1G. ? 18. $20 , $25 , } 39/ /
CHAS. SHIYERICK & CO. ,
12th and Douglas. ,
that case was disposed of. Mr. Covlngto :
threat was received with Jeers on one si
and cheers on the other. Mr. Wilson cllml :
and when the house at h
Into his chair , ,
consented to listen to him , he said :
"Mr. Speaker , If this house will vote
retire General Grant I am ready to
sacrificed , and with that understanding
hope that my friends will offer no furtli
i's the report
"
the committee on elections.
The house took him at his word. Witt
five minutes , by a viva voce vote , Mr. Wlls
was unseated and Mr. Frederick became
member of the Forty-eighth congress.
Mr. AVllson's request the republicans did c
even call for the yeas and nays , and li
mediately after he had surrendered his cc
In congress for the benefit of his old coi
mander Mr. Randall renewed the motl
and the bill to place General Grant upon t
retired list v\as pass -A by a vote of 19S ye
for Mr. Wllsc
to 7D nays. Out of vejpect
Mr. Frederick voted yea. i
Why Is It that people UBO Salvation Ol
Answer : Because It Is the best llnliuci
ATTACKS A TIIA1N.
Thrilling ; lint tic ; Mllh n Mountain M <
on a Itnllrouit Tn-xtlu.
To do battle with a huge mountain lie
seven feet in length and 233 pounds
weight , on a trestle at night , Is the thrllll
experience that has just befallen Edward
Cascade dlvlsl
Depow , an engineer on the
of the Great Northern railroad. The flur
beast leaped at the engine and narrowly c
capcd crashing through the window of t
cab. Altogether the episode was one
the most exciting that a. railroad man h
over experienced.
A correspondent of the Philadelphia Tim
prevailed upon Engineer Depew to write i
account of his adventure , believing that a
dltlonal Interest would bo lent by the fa
of the story coming from his own pen.
Mr , Depew's statement Is as follows :
I was the engineer In charge of engine N
which was c
219 of the Great Northern ,
tacked by a monster cougar , or mounta
Hon. You cam have little Idea of the herr
of the experience. The glistening of tl
beast's eyes , as It lay crouched on the ral
all prepared to make Its powerful sprln
was awful to behold. I frankly confess th
I was so frightened that uiy hair seemed
stand on end. I would have shouted , I a
terrified to do EAt
sure , If I had not been too
At the tlmo of the adventure ' I was pullli
the overland passenger train'going east , ai
as wo were a few minutes late , we were tr
After we hi
Ing to make up a little time.
left Lowell , and almost two miles tast
there , about half way across a long trcstl
dow
Jumped
my fireman , George Lawrence ,
sh
off his seat box and came quickly to my
of the engine. I noticed u startled look c
win
his face , and turning quickly , asked
was the matter. The Intensity of the situ ;
tlon can be understood only by a man wl
engine dashing at a hie
has traveled on an
wli
rate of speed through the darkness ,
only confidence to keep his mind at case ,
something was wrong , and
knew that
mllllc
short minute a
seems as If In that ono
flashed through my mind. Agal
thoughts
what wa the matter , bi
Lawrence
asked
I
seemed flxej
ho did not speak. Ills ryes
tl
All ho could do was to glare through
window of the cab and point ahead ,
cold perspiration broke out on my brov
A
I looked ahead and sa.w , through the dail
ness , eomo black-looking object on the trucl
obstruction n
My first thought was of eomo
the thought i
eccond
the track. For a
jumping flashed through my mind , but
banished It ,
This tajtes quite a while to tell , hut
could only have been a few seconds , at th
most , In which It all happened ,
tli
obstruction on
the
As soon as I saw
track I felt that a possible accident was i
hand. Nothing could be done. Wo were tc
close to the danger end the fright had th
same effect on mo that It had on Lawrcnci
Ir
of speech.
U took away ray power
stlnctlvcly I crawled out of the cab on to th
sideof the engine.
The train dushed on , and an Instant aftc '
I bad discerned tha form I saw the monster'
flashing through the darkness , grno
eyes
and yellow by turns. Lawrence was still I
the cab , specchUds , with fixed eyes , an
finger outstretched toward the animal. HI
expression wan frightful to look upon. Tli
\\hole Bceno was to horrifying that It wa
photographed on my brain so clearly ai t
jnake me able to describe every detail tha
occurred in those few ihort necondi.
As the tialu approached the lion I coul
* ee It prepare to spring , and finally , when Ih
eap was made , the situation was i
dramatic as to bo almost theatrical in tttec
The headlight of the engine throw its ray
on tbo crouching unlmal. aiil when I
Plunged into the Quod ol light it looked a
RAYMOND
Taking 25 to 50 per cent
olt nearly every article
in the store , includincr
Watches , Jewelry nml
Cut Glass -means some
thing at Kuymcmd's ,
whoso prices wore al
ready below everybody
olso.
RAYMOND ,
Jewclci' . 15th and Douglas
UADIMG
I UM3D. & . 1 DfNIIST
3d Floor I'nxton Illocli.
Open TucKJay and Thursday evenings.
Lining ; , $1.00 up |
( Lady Attendant. Tel. 1085.
! its mission of death would surely bo
UCCRESfUl.
The force of the jump was aslonlHhlng ,
ml as the body of the beast crashed Into the
dgo of tha englno fiont the bound echoed
lirough the sllcnco again and again. To
limp tliC'ii was certain death , for we wcro
Ight In the center of the trestle , and yet ,
s the lion inado Its leap , I cnuld almost feel
H hot breath on my throat.
When the engine crashed Into the beast ,
r It crashed Into the engine , whichever way
on wish to put It , the lion fell back on to
ho tri-Etle , writhing as If In frightful agony ,
nd then , for the first ( fine , I realized that
fie danger was over.
I learned afterward that the cougar , after
o had btruck It , lodged In the cross ( les at
10 trestle. It was found there by the train
rew of engine -108 , who picked it up and
rought it to Bkykomlsh. There U was
dnnecl. The claws were taken jiy some
t the other firemen and engineers , who had
atch charms made of them , which ere very
[ tractive and look somewhat llko the cm-
leml worn by tlio Knights Templar ,
The beast was still allvo when the men ot
'o. 498 discovered It , but Its hind Icga wcro
.it off , and when the men got down to In-
pstlgato they kept at a eafe distance until
WOK known to bo dead. In fact , Foreman
3 > m C. Wright would not go near It until
s had emptied a couple of chambers of hla
ivolver Into It. Then they fastened It to
10 cowcatcher and took It to BkykomUh ,
This la the whole story , and I assure you
do not want to pans through another such ,
[ pcrlcnce ,
Knglneer Depew la a fine specimen of man-
iod , and his statement that bo felt fright *
icd is not looked upon here , where tie li
town , as any expression of cowardice.
Dpew Is ( Ivo feet nix Inches In height ,
elghlng HO pounds , and Is well known an
o champion of the oppressed or weaker.
Jo In any dispute that calls for his action.
U record as an engineer has on muny oo
BlonB ahown him to bo a inoro thai *
dlnarlly bravo man.
Flatulence IB cured by Deecham'a P.lllu. '
SIx-Tlilrty I' . 31. Train.
ot the
CI1IOAUO
MILWAUKEE
& 8T , PAUL IlY.
licit service ,
ELECTING LIGHTS ,
Dining car.
City office : 1004 I-'arnsm.
\V < > 111 t-ii It reel vo Diploma * .
At the Philadelphia hospital recontlr
'enty-ono bright young women receive
plomuv an trained nurses ,