National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-05
ON THE AVENUE.
smnli TnIk Almond nIen nnd NIenaurcs

Small Talk About Men and Measures.
Congressman fully, of California, was read
ing papers in which the word tariff" seemed
to occur quite frequently Therefore the
Avenue Man asked him how he was inter-
csted in the tariff question. "We raise wool
in California" said he, land we produce
borax and quicksilver, and we have TO COM
pete with the quicksilver mines Of Spain aud
Russia, where labor is very cheap. Then we
produce wines and dried fruits in California.
That state will soon DO ono of the greatest
rasin producing countries in the world. 1
think that these things arc entitled to some
protection. / don't believe that tho manufac-
turors ought to have all the protection"
"Thcn you don't consider California free
trade state?'
Certainly not"
"Have you seen the published Carlisle
Morrison programme in which California's
electoral vote is to DO given to the demo-
Gratis on free trade platform ?"
81 haven't seen the programme, but will
say that anybody who figures on tho propo-
sition that California is free trade state
will be sadly mistaken. Don't make me
speak for my colleagues now, Pm only giving
you my own opinion"
re
They were talking about the new gas,
electric light, and fuel company which is
trying to get charter from congress to do
business in tho District of Columbia. One
gentleman said tho now company showed
that it did not inteud to sell out to the old
company, because it offered to give heavy
bonds not to do So "That offer amounts to
| II ID, nsc-in bA
new company can bind itsolf as a
corporation not to do o certain thing, but
how are you to prevent the stockholders of
one company from selling their stock to the
stockholders of another company? 1t can't
be done. l don't mean to say that this pro-
posed new company Is not perfectly honest in
its intention not to combine or pool with tho
old company, but what 1 do soy Is that no
scheme has yet been invented, and from the
nature of the case none ever can BIO invented,
by which the company in its present state of
mind can so bind itself that when it changes
-. .->:-.I - cannot -slAass itsolf.p
Then the gentleman from Pennsylvauia
Clipped: "There was considerable talk the
other evening, l learn, before the subcommit-
tee by Bartol and McIlhenny about the now
companies oil over the country selling out to
the old ones. Mighty fow people understand
the true inwardness OF tho thing. Most, If
not all, of these new companies propose to
make gas by tho Edgerton patent process.
The material for tho Edgerton gas is naphtha
1t is claimed that gus can DO made by it
for 80 cents thousand feet, which is
about onc-third Of the cost under old
systems. l knew Edgerton years ago,
when he had patented his process, but didn't
have cent to push tho thing. Ho tried to
got everybody with money to go in with him,
but for long time he was unsuccessful
Many people thought no was a crank. l lost
sight of him for little while, and then
learned that he had sold his patents for sum
that is q fortune even in these days, and the
purchaser was the Standard Oil company, or
rather new company with the same stock
holders as the Standard Oil company. In
addition to the price received for his patents,
Edgerton was engaged at big salary
to introduce his now system throughout
the country. And this Standard Oil
company has been going to every gas COM
pany in this country and urging it to use tho
Edgorton patent and make their gas out of
naphtha. If o gas company refuses to use the
new process the Standard Oil company says !;
AL right All wo want is to have our oil
used, and if you don't use it we will. Well
start q new company, make gas for one-third
what it costs you, and run you into tho poor
house, The result is that sooner or later the
old company has to give in and use the Ed
gerton patent. In 30 doing it buys its naphtha
of the Standard Oil company. That's why
so many of the new companies are now SELL
ing out to the old ones"
~
Mcssrs. Sousa and Taber have returned
! from New York, whore they went to see q
rehearsal of their new opera "Desiree" at the
| Casino by Col. McCaull's company. Sousa
: like all other leaders and composers, is gifted
, with voice that would scarcely bring O
fortune to its possessor on the operate stage
! 1t is something between q fog horn and the
| gentle buzz of a cross-cut saw 1t seems that
) Sousa and Taber had written a new song for
Marie, the contralto part, which they
considered equal to anything in tho opera
and wishing Col. McCaull's opinion
: SignOr De Novellis tho musical director
, played the accompaniment on the piano, and
y Sousa omitted certain sounds. 1t has since
transpired that he was singing the song.
: When no had finished, Col. McCaull said
0 "sousa that won't do at all. 1 don't like
0 that song. It's not up TO the standard of the
: opera"
S "But," said Sousa, surprised, "althougt
8 your Judgment is generally good, think yor
arc wrong this time. Mr., Taber and have
4 given much thought to this song, aud we
a think it is as good as anything We have
h DONE"
J. THE words arc all right" said the mana
: ger, 'but don't think the melody fits tho
situation, It's too plaintive"
h. "Colonol," said Tabor, haven't you go
o somebody who can sing theBong. Maybe tina
r would make a difference"
# "Well," said tho colonel, "theros Mis-
n Leighton. She lives near here. I'll send 70
o her"
Is Miss Rose leighton sings tho Countess il
@ tho "Beggar Student at the Casino, has
very nice voice, and reads music readily a
l. sight She was sent for and soon arrived
20 and sung tho song very prottily, When sh
7. had concluded the manager said: "Excellent
/ That is just the thing, But l could neve
|, have discovered IL from sOusa's singing.