The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-04-09
SPECIAL SESSION OF THE SENATE
April 8, 1863.

FRIDAY, April 8, 1853.
The Senate met ct two O'Clock, and forthwith
proceeded to the consideration of Executive bust
ness when the doors were opened,
Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, reported back from the
Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent
Expenses OF the Senate the resolution referred to
them, proposing to appropriate fifteen hundred
dollars to enable Mr.. Henry Johnston to construct
in the Senate chamber his newly invented machine
for taking yeas and nays.
Mr.. HOUSTON expressed himself in favor of
the machine, believingit to be good thing, and
was ready to answer any objections which might
be urged against it.
MIR. DODGE, of Iowa, was opposed to adopting
this machine, and was disinclined to try experi.
ments with it for the benefit of the House Of Rep
resentatlves. 1t might be suited 70: the purposes
OF the last named branch, but not for the Senate,
it being small body, and where there are no COL
ilslons such as there frequently occur.
Mr.. HAMLiN thought it was better to take the
vote in the old way. The Constitution recognises
but two ways of voting-uiua Uoce and by ballot;
and he did not know but that this mode involved
an innovation on the Constitution. He thought the
whole matter ridiculous. and might as well be
treated in that way. He could imagine nothing
more appropriate, should the machine be intro.
duced, than the Presiding Officer to order, s.Sena-
tors in your places; you all ready? "and, very
much like militia training. to range them in line;
and when all things are prepared, to order them
to 'shre," by touching the keys. Laughter. ]
Among his other objections was this: that they
who required file-leaders might make mistake in
voting.
Mr.. MALLORY was opposed to the resolution.
The voting uiua voce was one of the safeguards OF
the minority. Besides, by this machinery, one of
the pages might touch the key attached to the
desk OF senator' and thus important questions be
HoUsToN) said, this invention. by economixng
time, would enable more speeches to be made he
ehouid vote against the resolution, If that was the
only reason for its adoption.
Mr.. BUTLER said, if the machine is to be adont
ed, It would be necessary to amend the resolution
by adding that spiritual medium be appointed To
direct how the votes shall be given. Laughter
Mr.. HOUSTON replied to the Senators who pre-.
coded him, and pointed out the advantage of the
mac hine, which, he said, wss an invention credit.
able to the age, and expressed himself in favor of
rewardlng genius.
The question was taken, and the resolution re-
jected
The Senate took up the resolution of Mr.. Hous
TON, heretofore offered-that unless the President
of the United States has further Executive commn
nicatons to make, the Senate will be ready to ad.
jOurn on Saturday next,
On motion of Mr.. MASON, the resolution wa.
laid upon the table,
The Senate, after brief Executive session, ad-
lourned until to. morrow afternoon, at two O'Clock.
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ELEcrRlcIrY.-A Curious and Beautiful Ezpey;
ment-The Philadelphia Ledger speaks of beau
tiiul and curious experiment through the instru.
mentality OF electricity, which the editors have
seen, of lighting gas With the tip Of the finger
"This experiment may be easily periprIned, and
mas been py Mr., James Swain, OF this city, repeat.
eddy in connection with the beltinge of the engine
and shaftngs of the Philadelphia Ledger press
room, and it is far more astonishing than the spirit
rappings which are setting so many people crazy.
Friction, it is well known, will produce electricity
in certain substances, and the friction of gutta
percha or common leather working belt upon the
fly wheel or pulleys of steam-engne and shaft.
ings produces it in considerable quantities II
person will insulate himself by standing upon a
board fixed upon glass nsulators-common porter
bottles would answer-and bold an iron bar, a
number of iron spikes in his hand, he may, by ex-
tending the opposite hand to gas burner, light it
with the tip of bis finger easily as with match
He will feel eensihle shock paes through him,
pricking sensation in bis finger joints, and see
brilliant spark pass off with cracking sound to
the gas bprner. The electric fluid will pass
through several persons joining hands. the same
as with an electric battery, and the last may FIRE
the burner, We have heard that the same thing
may be done by rubbing the feet rapidly upon
green baise, so a. to charge the body with cleo.
tricity, but cannot answer for its practicabiity.
The experiment with the belts VIC have both seen
and performed. Any mandatory in the city
whore gas 10 burned may be lighted BY the work
men In this manner, and the experiment is worth
trying as singular and beautiful effect of pyip,
ciple which man is destined to make yet naFe sub
servient to bic gses.''