New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-02-16
THE ALCOHOLIC MQUOR TRAFFIC.
Mr.. PRICE IN SEARCH OF A COMMISSION

H.
THE GROWTH OF THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
[FRoM An SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. Feb. 15.-WIliam T. Price,
OF Wisconsin, believe, Is the only elected to the
present House 8yOwed PrOhibitionist He Ia a
member OF the Committee Alcoholic Liquor Traffic.
Mr. Lindsey OF Kingston, N Y, 10 tho only other tenn
perance that committee, 80 careful was the
Speaker 60 pack IL In the interest OF the liquor men,
Nevertheless, the committee having been allowed a
ele H. is going TO work its chairman and will soon
hear Neal Dow and otner tenperance advocates III
support Of the bill 10 provide for commission on tie
subject OF the alcoholic liquor traffic. There seems to he
no good reason why such a commission should not be
authorized. The bill has Leen Presented In many
Congresses repeatedly passed the Senate but thus
far has failed become law. Its leading purpose Is to
tho OUCH and authoritative investigation OF the
facts In regard the evils OF the trahc In alcoholic
liquors Speaking this subject Mr.. Price said: we
have had a pleurO-pneumorig commission, steam
boiler commission for which 500 600 was appropriated
a silver commission tariff commission. cholera COM
mission, a cotton commission, a grasShOpper
scourge commission and sun Try other commissions OF
or less Importance. all OF which have been APP
pointed since men began 10 ask Tor ths
commission a decade ago one committee IN tls
Just reported favor OF yellow fever COM
mission to visit South America Now all these are good
In their way but why should not have this commits
sion TO report for the benefit Of the hundreds OF
thousands are being ruined body and soul by the
liquor traffic : Hitherto the brewers nave OPP
posed us. am told this year thoy Will favor the
commission. don't why they should oppose u.s. IL
the liquor traffic in itself good thing It will be SHOWN
by an IMPARTIAL investigation. In that case the tranc
will benefit by a careful and thorough exhibit OF the
facts"
Professor Cleveland Able OF the Signal Service VINO
has been in Bureau since 1t was established mas
great faith in the Increasing usefulness Of the work
Speaking the degree OF certainty atainable Ill the
congratulations feature he said 1--WE making -ow
progress above the 50 per cent which We Thought was
very good some year, ago think - per cent should
be attained now. think may get to 80 per cent but
1t is long way ahead think that ought to be sat
whether o prediction is verified Is often
grave and complicated question. We have adopted
"A system Of rules and under that uniform system we
know that We are improving. and we know we are lar
ahead OF any similar department IN the w"rId. lhe
attempt respond to the public demand ana
the better we do our work. tho they want OF u.s.
10 not why we should IA tho country
grows meteorological owledge grows, rs the post
Office system grows tho telegraph system grows ara
"a everything else IN the country grows. | antici-
pate the time when any aud every one shall
have the right TO pay ten cents and demand his
special weather telegram precisely no pays his
two aud demands to have his letter carried by
mail or S35 and onands his letters patent All our
scientific work Is capable of beng OF the pract
cal importance to the pcope. How make
special detailed predictions for the differ
eut localities IL question which
has long occupied attention. We have hitherto been
unable to make than general predictions for
state and the question IA how to make local predictions
and to get them to people TO be of use to
them. That is the problem We are now sowing