Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-21
TIMELY TOPIC TALK.
If Electricity is to be Taxed What
About Thunderstorms?
GOSSIP ABOUT TIE HARRISONS.
Pittsburg Goes Scot Free In Buehanan's
Coming Cataclysm.
THE DEATH PENALTY FOB MURDER

WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPATCH.I
And now it is proposed to amend the tariff
bill so that Canadian electricity pays its
passage over the border. This is all right
from protectionist point of view. but
apprehend that there will be some difficulty
in forcing the prohibition or collecting the
tax ad valorem. So far as the human prod
uct is concerned no great opposition may
be met, but what in the world are we to do
about the natural element? Quite q num-
ber of our severe electric storms take their
rise in Canada. They are distilled or
brewed in the Queens dominions, and come
skipping over the border without asking
permission from anybody. A serious ques-
tion here presents itself to the statesmen of
our country. What has the magnetic man
from Maine to say about thisY
Five dollars per horse power would GER
tainly produce quite revenue, es-
pecially in such season as we
have just experienced. The correct
measuring of such a mighty force
opens up many an avenue of use illness for
the Edisons of the age, but until it is
demonstrated how the object can be at
tanned the problem remains unsolved. Look
ing at the matter with an unDreJudiced eye,
there seems to be only one way out of the
difficulty, and that is friendly reciprocity.
OF courfe, Canada will have the advantage
so far as the natural electricity Is con-
cerned. Very few storms travel from the
United States over into that country. In
this emergency, SO that an equilibrium may
be maintained, how would it do to send on
a periodic lecturing tour few such men as
Cannon, Kennedy and Ingalls,. Surely
there is some way of balancing the matter,
an equalizing the reciprocal principle.
X e
1t Is Not Toadyism.
Some newspaper writers are apt to be
critical. if not cynical, over the attentions
paid to the President of the United States.
All his movements have an interest to the
people. His health, and that OF his family,
is precious, and every little irregular pulse
beat is noted and flashed over the wires. The
people "want to know" as the Yankees say,
and the only way they can know is through
the newspapers. l do not believe that this
is man worship. 1t is the nations tribute
of respect to a grand ideal In our Presi-
dent we see the embodiment of a noble
principle, and it will be sad day when the
country ceases to respect and venerate the
man who holds such an elevated position by
the will of the people. We Americans think
nothing of fawning upon visiting Prince
or duke, or even little shallow-pated lord
ling. 1t is certainly out of place to criticise
us for having feeling of esteem tor the
Office of the President.
That it is not the man but the Office that
is thus respected and reverenced is proved
by the fact that as soon as the man ceases to
occupy the position he is practically for
gotten. One In while we hear something
about Mr.. Cleveland, but how little interest
his movements create in comparison to
what they did. 1t he was to catch salmon
as big as crocodile not many people would
know Of it, but if President Harrison hooks
a mlnnow it is telegraphed from Dan to
Beersheba. There are very few Presidents
who command attention after they leave
the Presidential chair. Now, there is Mr..
Hayes, for instance; all we have heard of
him lately'is that he is raising good breed
Of chickens. The nation does not 60 into
ecstacies about it, and all the people are not
studying ehickenology. Now supposing
President Harrison were to engage in rais-
ing some peculiar kind Of poultry, every-
body in the country would be building
chicken coops, and quarreling with their
neighbors about chickens. Their would be
rooster fight in somebody's back yard
every day in the week, and every hour in
the day. 1t is tine office and not the man
the people worship. I would rather be
President of the United States for four years
than wear England's royal bauble for halt
century.