THE LOCOMOTIVE MUST GO

New York Central Engine No. 999 in Syracuse, N. Y..

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 26, 1896.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Locomotive Must Go.

   Rufus Hill, master mechanic of the Pennsylvania railroad recently made a statement which shows that the substitution of electricity for steam on the railroads of this country is much nearer than the public have supposed. He says that probably within five years the greater part of the entire Pennsylvania railroad system will be operated by electric locomotives in place of steam.

   That railroad has been experimenting with electricity for power with entire success, and on a short line in New Jersey the time schedule was made at a rate of over sixty miles an hour with frequent trains. The service has been of a superior character and economy in operation [and] has been fully demonstrated.

   The construction of short trolley lines competing with the Pennsylvania's branches has cut down the latter's business in some cases as much as 50 per cent. This has stimulated the company to thorough investigation as to the feasibility of the proposed change. The most serious obstacle hitherto has been the difficulty involved in the transmission of power. Under existing systems it would be necessary to establish power houses every thirty miles over the entire railroad system of the company. That was an insuperable difficulty, but Mr. Hill believes that Tesla's researches and inventions have opened a way out of the difficulty.

   It would be with a feeling of regret says the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, referring to this coming innovation, that one would contemplate the disappearance of the magnificent locomotives of our day. These splendid monsters, throbbing with life, resplendent in the glory of their metal limbs and heart of fire, the product of several generations of inventive genius, are so impressive in their aspect and performances that the world has grown fond of them. To substitute for them a cold and apparently lifeless electric motor seems like putting a dummy in the place of a real man.

   Yet the electric engine would far surpass in real comfort and convenience its predecessor. It does its work almost in silence. It emits no smoke or cinders and in other ways it is superior to the present monarch of the rail. The question as to what will become of the skilled engineers is one that will touch many households at a tender spot. Many, no doubt, will anticipate the change and qualify themselves for the new departure.

  

Tesla caricature.

    ◘ Nikola Tesla claims to have perfected his electric light on which he has been experimenting for a long time. The illumination in secured by means of a needle which vibrates with very great rapidity in a vacuum tube, or bulb. There are no films used, or any of the attachments necessary in existing lights.   The bulb is simply attached to a wire connected with a street current. When the latter is turned on, the bulb becomes a ball of light, one three inches long giving out an illumination equal to 250 candle power. The present incandescent light gives only 3 per cent of illuminating power, the other 97 per cent being wasted in heat. Tesla's light gives 10 per cent of illuminating power, and he believes he can increase this to 40 per cent, so that the waste of energy will be only 60 per cent. Another economy of the new light is that it does not have to be renewed, the same bulb serving for a long time. Photographs can be taken by it as easily as in sun light.

   ◘ Minister Dun is probably good authority for Americans on the subject of

Japanese industries, and his assurance that the mikado's subjects are not making bicycles at a price so low that they can be laid down at San Francisco for $25 each will cause considerable satisfaction among American manufacturers. Whoever invented the story of cheap Japanese bicycles competing with American wheels possibly only anticipated. The Japs are starting many new industries, and if they see a chance of making money in the bicycle business, it will not be long before they undertake it.

   ◘ For some reason that is not very clearly stated, the newspaper supporters of President Cleveland seem to be mortally afraid that McKinley will be nominated. Perhaps they don't want to make another campaign on the question of protection to American industries, in view of the calamitous record of the Cleveland administration. They may be assured, however, that whoever is nominated at St. Louis will stand on a protection platform as solid as the hills.

   ◘ President Cleveland has removed the sister of President Lincoln from the office of postmaster of Elizabeth, Ky. Some people are surprised—many more are not. What does Cleveland care for Lincoln.

Thomas Brackett Reed.

Walter Wellman, journalist and explorer.

BOUND HAND AND FOOT.

The Senate Is a Very Clannish Organization.

RULES FOR OBSTRUCTING BUSINESS.

Why That August Body Looks Askance at Speaker Reed—Unwritten Law and the Constitution—Why Mr. Reed Does Not Care For the Vice Presidency.

   WASHINGTON, May 26.—[Special.]—The United States senate is a very clannish body. It is bound hand and foot by traditions which its leading members do not appear anxious to get rid of. For a couple of weeks past there has been a great deal of discussion as to what would be the effect of electing Thomas B. Reed to the vice presidency, thus making him the presiding officer of the senate. Many argue that Mr. Reed might do in the senate that which he did in the house during his first term as speaker. It is said he would find a way to change the rules of the senate so that there might be a way to limit debate and to proceed to a vote. Some of Mr. Reed's admirers have a blind sort of faith in his prowess and are confident he could twist the senate about his fingers as easily as he did the house of representatives.

Prejudices in the Senate.

   But the senate is one of the most peculiar legislative bodies on earth. I have by careful inquiry discovered two extraordinary features of the present situation in the senate which appear to have escaped attention up to this time. One of these is  the prejudice against Mr. Reed which exists at the north end of the capitol. The speaker has but few friends in the senate. It did not escape observation a few weeks ago when Mr. Reed paid a visit to the senate chamber and was permitted to sit all alone for a quarter of an hour, no senator caring to talk to him. This meant much more than appeared on the surface. Mr. Reed is not popular even with the men of his own party in the senate, and the Republican senators are apparently quite willing that the fact should be known.

   One reason for the senatorial dislike of Mr. Reed is the criticism which he has passed upon the upper branch at various times in the past. During his first term as speaker Mr. Reed was much disgusted with the senate and did not hesitate to say so. His caustic comments have not been forgotten. When the talk of nominating Mr. Reed for vice president first sprang up, it was greeted with derision in the senate. When it apparently became a little more serious, the senators paused to explain that it would never do in the world. They did not want any Reed in theirs. One senator, a Republican and a leader, said to me:

   "It would not do any good to send Mr. Reed over here as vice president. He could not accomplish anything. If he attempted any innovations, no one would support him on one side of the chamber, and of course no one would on the other side. The people who think because Mr. Reed instituted a parliamentary reform in the house he could do the same thing in the senate are greatly mistaken. Mr. Reed is not popular in this body, and from the first moment of his appearance in the vice president's chair he would be under suspicion. If he attempted anything not provided for in the rules, there would be trouble."

Power of the Vice President.

   The other feature of the situation in the senate to which I have referred is a impersonal matter, but in the same line. There exists in the senate a very strong prejudice against permitting the vice president to have anything to do with the proceedings of the body. Even the party friends of the vice president share this prejudice and in pursuance of it decline to consider him one of them. They do not invite him to their caucuses, nor do they informally consult him about party matters. The theory on which this prejudice or tradition is based is an interesting one. It is, in effect, that the vice president is apart from the senate, above the strife of parties, a figurehead, a mere moderator of order on the floor, an impartial, judicial officer who has nothing to do but to follow all the written rules as he finds them in the manual and to respect all the unwritten laws or traditions of the senate as they may be interpreted to him by the veteran senators.

   This idea is carried to such an extreme that leading senators have told me a vice president will not be permitted to preside when any serious question of parliamentary practice or of changing the rules comes up for consideration. The tradition commands that at such critical moments the senate be presided over by a senator, by the member of the body who has been elected vice president pro tempore. A leading senator said:

   "If the rules of the senate are ever changed so as to provide a means of cutting off debate and proceeding to a vote, it will be done without any advice, assistance or interference from the vice president. It will be done by the senate itself, and the vice president will not even preside when it is done."

"Unwritten Law."

   "But the vice president is by the constitution made the presiding officer of the senate, and who could prevent him presiding if he wished to do so?"

   "It is true the constitution makes him the presiding officer," was the reply, "but there is something stronger than the constitution, and that is the unwritten law. He might persist in presiding, but this act would destroy his influence in the senate, would interfere with his usefulness, mar his career and make his service a source of unhappiness to himself. He could not afford to do it and therefore would not do it."

   These are among the peculiarities of the senate, the distinguishing features which make it unlike any other body in the world. Many people believe there is a great deal of fudge about the traditions of the senate. They believe the system which now prevails is an absurd one because it places the majority at the mercy of a minority. They believe the time has come for putting the senate on a practical, businesslike basis. They also believe that Mr. Reed is the man to do it.

   It is apparent, however, that if Mr. Reed were to become vice president he would have to do one of two things—either fall into the groove of stereotyped dignity shorn of influence and power which the traditions of the senate have provided for the constitutional presiding officer or go in and raise Cain and have a merry war on his hands. Though it is true, as I happen to know, that Mr. Reed has had the vice presidential suggestion under consideration, he will be likely to think a long time before he accepts, either horn of the dilemma. WALTER WELLMAN.

Newspaper Mistakes.

   Many laughable mistakes, says an exchange, occur in the composition of a paper and they sometimes escape the watchful eye of the proofreader. Here are some that did:

   A journal of repute had meant to say of a lady at a ball who has not considered to have shown her usual taste in the style of her dress, that "Mrs. Brown wore nothing in the nature of a dress that was remarkable." But one can judge of Mrs. Brown's horror upon reading the next morning—"Mrs. Brown wore nothing in the nature of a dress. That was remarkable."

   A lady contributor to a fashion paper wrote the other day that "white pique costumes are now popular." The compositor set up, "white pine coffins are now poplar."

   A very remarkable advertisement appeared in one of the daily papers a short time ago, which would almost lead one to believe that owing to the scarcity of provisions, cannibalism may possibly be adopted:

   "Good roast cook wanted immediately."

Decoration Day Orators.

   Rev, J. A. Robinson and Judge A. P. Smith speak at Virgil Decoration day,

B. T. Wright will deliver the address at Marathon. Scott people will listen to School Commissioner Nathan L. Miller. Rev. J. A. Hungate of Homer will deliver the address at Cortland. Rev. J. J. Cowles of McGrawville speaks at Blodgett Mills and Mr. A. B. Seymour of McGrawville at East Homer.

Cortland Forging Co. rebuilt buildings.

THE CONTRACT LET.

Frank Groat to Build the New Works of the Forging Co.

   The Cortland Forging Co. yesterday let the contract to Frank Groat for putting up their new buildings. Work was begun at once and is to be completed by September 1. The buildings are to be of brick, except the forging room, and all one story high. The roof will be of iron. They will occupy the site of the old buildings and will be of much the same form. The frontage on the north will be 120 feet. Two wings will run back from this front building which is quite shallow. The west one along the Lehigh Valley road will be 340 feet long. The east Wing will be a little shorter. A shipping and crating and japanning building will be 100 by 80 feet. The storehouse which was built since the fire will be moved into a convenient place and will continue to be used as a storehouse. About 20,000 square feet of surface will be secured in the buildings when completed.

   The contract was let yesterday for a new electric plant for the works. It is to be furnished by the Thompson Electric Welding Co. of Lynn, Mass. Mr.

John W. Orr goes to Lynn Thursday to superintend its construction.

   The company will also use the aerated fuel oil system in the new works.

BILL BOARDS DOWN AGAIN

And the Way They are Replaced Indeed Forms the "Greatest Show on Earth."

   All of the Barnum & Bailey circus bill boards which were found down yesterday morning and which were set up again during the day, and two of the smaller Robinson-Franklin circus bill boards succumbed to the terrific wind last night and bit the dust, or rather mud. Yesterday when they were put up a second time the advertising car was still here and new bills were promptly pasted over the ones mutilated by the fall. But to-day the car has gone and the carpenters who are officiating in restoring the boards to their

perpendicular position do not seem to thoroughly understand the circus business or the anatomy of some animals found in a menagerie, and the results of their efforts to get the individual boards back in their proper places and to make the pictures look right would almost make the veteran showman turn in his grave in his anxiety to know where some of the awful monstrosities could be procured which his people now seem to be advertising.

   Girls without arms, clowns without heads, animals without legs, men with whole sections of their bodies taken out and replaced with a circus tent or a band wagon or a piece of an elephant are now quite in order. If Barnum & Bailey actually exhibit what they now seem to be advertising the show will indeed be all that is claimed for it, "the greatest show on earth.''

Died in Michigan.

   Mr. F. H. Cobb left Sunday night for Kalkaska, Mich., in response to a telegram announcing the death that day of his mother, Mrs. Juliet Cobb. No particulars of her death are yet known in Cortland. The remains will be brought east for burial and are expected to arrive at Homer Thursday afternoon on the train reaching there at 2:55. Burial will follow at once in the Atwater cemetery between Cortland and Scott.

BREVITIES.

   —A new plank flooring is being laid on the Port Watson-st. bridge.

   —Mr. D. F. Wallace has established his office at 12 Wallace building, a room on the third floor facing Main-st.

   —The Wesson-Nivison Mfg. Co. will close their works to-morrow afternoon on account of the bicycle races.

   —Mr. Melvin Harmon, an old and respected resident of the town died at 12:30 o'clock this morning at his residence, one mile west of Cortland toward McLean, aged 69 years. The funeral services will be held from the house at 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon.

   —New advertisements to-day are—J. A. Jayne, great opening sale, page 6;

L. R. Lewis, plumbing, page 6; Bingham Bros. & Miller, the watch word of the day is economy, page 8; Tanner Bros., a good sale of capes, page 6; Miss Atwater, hand reading, page 7.

   —The rain of last night coming off warm as it has, though it promises ill for the Cortland Athletic Association race meet to-morrow, gladdens the heart of all farmers. It is just what was needed. It soaked right in, and was almost the first soaking rain of the season. Farmers were beginning to look grave over the prospects for a hay crop and newly seeded pieces had hardly started at all. This will help out in every way.