The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-12

for free coinage legislation Is better than the
conservative men in the Republican party
care to see. 1t has long been conceded that
free coinage bill would have majority in
both House and Senate. But 1t has been
generally assumed as true that the President
would veto such a measure aud that this
would be the last of il. But now there Is
more or less Of Tumor that the Presidents
veto may not be able to stop free coinage
bill. Tne free coinage people claim that
they have the twG-thirds majority necessary
to pass bill in the Senate over the Presi-
dents veto. More than this, 1t is insinuated
that there might be found in the House also
two-thirds majority in favor Of free COIN
age. IL hardly seems possible that such can
be the case, but 1t must be remembered that
there are many ,membr rs from Western
States who have been more or less waverlDg
upon the question for some time, but who
have been held in the ranks of the conserva-
tlves by the strong hold of party discipline.
But party discipline cannot be so effective
low as it was before the election. That
election has shown an Immense sentiment IN
favor OF free coinage all through the West,
aud men VINO formerly treated the coinage
question as more or less of matter OF theo-
ry, know now that it is one of tho live and
troublesome political facts Probably a free
Coinage bill will be stopped SImew here II 1t
starts this winter; but it will not do for the
friends of 5 lund money to feel too secure.
The chief examiner of the civil service has
made up his mind that. So far as fitness
for passing the civil service examinations is
concerned, women are a little smarter than
men. From January 6, 1886, until the Both,
of June, 1889, there were examined by the
civil SerVlce examiners about 1900 people,
exclusive Of those examined for the railway
mail service. Of this number about 5000
we're women. OF these women nearly four
fifths su .caeded, while Of the men only about
one half succeeded. But while the women
are smarter in passing the examinations
men are generally preferred in the depart
ments.
One of the largest street railroads In
Washington has begun preparations for
putting in the storage system of electric
motive power. All the electric railroads in
this country at the present time are Of the
kind used in Maine, the electric power be-
ing carried to the car by wire strung over
the track or carried beneath 1t. These wires
are charged with electricity from connecting
power houses. By the system to be used
by the Metropolitan Company of Washing
ton each car is fitted WITH a storage battery
holding enough electricity to last the car
while going Tor certain distance. When
the supply is exhausted new supply of
batteries are carried under the cars. For
the Metropolitan road which operates eight
or 10 miles Of road 1t is expected that two
power houses will be needed to recharge the
storage batteries for the cars. This system
is in operation in the cities of Paris, France
and in Birmingham, England.
When Postmaster Manley of Augusta, was
here the other day he met the famous Perry
Carson, who is an old friend of every man
who has been delegate to a Republican
National Convention for the last ten or
dozen years. Perry Carson is a character.
He is six feet or more tall, black as coal or
almost as black, with q hearty laugh,
bright eye and ABOUT as quick brain as:was
ever put into the head OF a negro or white
nan. Perhaps it is enough to say of Carson
that in this city of Washington, of 250 600 in
habitants, he is political duke who has
worSled such men of national reputation as
Ingersoll and Shellabarger. No matter who
opposes MIN, Ferry is always sure to carry
the caucuses when delegates are to be elected
to the national convention. The district of
Columbia has two delegates, and Perry gen.
orally takes with him some white man, some
times quite prominent man but Perry is
always master OF the delegation.
In the convention Of 1884 Perry had with
him an Irshman named Andy Gleason, who
is as much of an Irishman as Perry is of a
negro. They were both for Blaine, and to-
gether they made great team. Mr., Manley
tells some interesting stories Of them at the
convention. the best of which is about the
way Perry got himself on the Republican
national committee 1t is the custom at the
convention for the delegations from the va
ious states to settle each upon the
man who is to be committeeman
from the state. The district
Of Columbia Is entitled to a committeeman
with the rest. Perry and Andy could not
agree as to who should be the committeeman
Both wanted the place, so there was per-
petual tie when the District of Columbia
would attempt to make its choice of commit
teeman. But Perry knew the ropes of the
convention better than Andy did. So, when
the call of states for announcement of COM
mitteeman began, Perry contrived to have
| Andy called out of the hall. Then he wait
| ed for the District Of Columbia to be called
| AS 1t was called, some one who was friendly
| 10 Andy moved that the district be passed
| temporarily. Tie chairman ruled that no
| state or territory could be passed. Perry
knew that this would be the ruling, and the
chairman had hardly ceased talking when
| he big negro was on his feet with the an
n0uncement, "Mr Chairman, the delegation
| OF the District of Columbia present as their
| unanimous choice for member of the nation.
al committee, Perry Carson The whole
convention saw the point, and Perry was
made the committeeman just as Andy Glea.
| son came meandering in to see what all the
noise was about.