The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08
IMPORTANT INVENTION.
ELECTRIC DEVICE FOR PREVENT
ING RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
Interesting Practical Test Over the Bal.
timore and Ohio RaiIroad-The silver
Bill Passed by the Washington


\ most Interesting practical test was mad
here to-day Of the invention Of a Richmon
man In the presence of more than bundre
witnesses. IL was a test Of the electric dc
vice for preventing railroad accidents in
cnrporated under the title Of the Universe
Electric Railway Signal Company wit
a capital Of half million dollars. Most O
the s,ockis owned in Richmond. Genera
Manager O'Dell, Of the Baltimore and Obi
Bailroa'h is president; X. G.. Cabell, Jr., 0
Roanoke, is vice-president; James II
Brunch, Of Richmond, is secretary an,
treasurer. George Il. McAdams, james
Lamb and ID. G. Richardson. of Richmond
an! l.. ii. Simmons and J. +. Christian, o
RJlnDke. are directOrss~s zses t.
Al4t3e officers OF the company were pre-
sent to-day. Three miles Of one Of tn,
tracks Of the Bsltimore and Ohio were pre-
pared for the test, which was made with en-
tire success. Two engines, each having
car attached, were used. and they were un
| der orders tO run towards each other at /;
height OF speed, when more than mile
apart-tbe telephone bell in each engine be
gan to ring the alarm. This device was the
invention Of Mr. Walters, OF Richmond
who was drowned in the canal there. Iii.
family own stock, and, besides these already
named, some Of the leading merchants o
Washington are stockholders.
After the test, the company served a
I lunch at the ShOreham. at which Secretary
Branch presided. Ii was the universal
opinion that the Richmond company has q
bonanza.
THE DEVICE.
1.t f.. 70. t..l (.
Universal Electric Railway Signal Com
pany of Richmond. Va. consists Of an elec-
Iric circuit formed hy a Brush contact un-
derneath the engine with an iron rod. laid
between the rails, and the rails through the
metal and driving wheels Of the
engine. With suitable batteries and tele-
graphic apparatus. the engineers Of trains
coming from the same or opposite direc-
tiOns. within miie or mile and half OF
each other. are notified Of the proximity Of
their trains. with unerring certainty, by
the ringing of an electric bell; and then as
soon as this dangerous proximity is noted.
telegraphic communication through the rail
and rod can at once be established, and the
engineers. after stopping their trains. NAV
talk with each other.
The tests made this afternoon i'm the pres
ence Of a number Of newspaper correspond
eDts and electrical experts were highly sat
isiactOry, and will undoubtedly result in
the adoption by the Baltimore and Ohio
road, OF a cheap and certain extra precau-
ton against collisions Of all kinds. which.
in spite OF OfeXtraOrdinary care are likely to
happen, and do sometimes happen on all
railroads.
AN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY.
Representative O'Neil. Of PENNSYLVANIA.
to-day introduced by request "a bill for the
establishment of ''i'he American Uniyor-
sity' in the District of Columbia, to COM
memOrate the four hundredth anniversary
the discovery II America. The pr0yis-
IOn- Of the bill are similar in many re-
spects 10 those Of the bill to establish ma
tional university, recently introduced in the
senate by Senator Edmund-.
CHARGE AGAINST THE PENSION COMMIS-
sIONER.
NE,G comm nSJ v&snT'. to.I @,r is'''~I,"eA
i,'.,i, into and report TO the House certain
CHARGES that have been widely circulated
through the newspapers rejecting upon
the management of the Bureau ot fen-
sions. Tue preamble Of the resolution
states that reports are being widely
circulated through the newspapers re-
necting upon the management OF the
Bureau OF Pensions, in which 1t l.
charged that the present Commissioner OF
Pensions has been engaged IN selling 10
certain employees of the Pension once
shares Of stock in corporation or com
paDy Of which he Is president, when Is or
ganized for the purpose Of introducing
patent refrigerator which it i claimed j.
impracticable and worthless, and that III
consideration Of such purchase said en-
ployes are promoted in Office.
Congre. sionai Proceedings.
The senate consumed the day in passing
a number Of unimportant bills and l2O pen
sion bills, and at i:lj adjourned.
HOUSE.
Before the debate on the Silver bill began
in the House this morning. Mr. COnger. OF
Iowa. On charge OF the bili) at the sugges-
ton Of Mr. PaysOn, Of Illinois, modified MS
substitute - as 10 provide that the Treas
ury notes. issued in pursuance Of the bill,
shall be an absolute legal tender.
Mr.. Payson then took the floor, and said
in spite Of his objections he would support
the substitute. not because he believed IN II,
but because he had assurances that the OBJ
iectionable feature Of it would be changed
in the Senate, and the House given an op-
p0rtunity 20 vote on amendments.
Mr.. Mutchler of Pennsylvania opposed
both proprOsitiens pending before the House.
Mr. Hatch. of Missouri. said no Secretary
# the Treasury, Republican or Democrat,
had eyerfeXecuted the law Of 1873 in the in
tarest Of the people. II had been executed
entirely in the interest OF Wall street. Be
fore The sun set this day more representa-
tiycs would have betrayed their constituents
and violated their cOnscences than ever
before. To-day the House was witnessing
the lump Of the Republican machine, which
was running rs il never had run before,
with a man 10 control II with more BRAN.
more nerve, and more recklessness than any
man who had ever had control before.
MIR. Baltine, Of Nevada. said the attitude
of the Republicans on this question ana
credit neither 10 their heads nor TO their
hearts.
Mr. Cannon. Of Illinois, said he stood upon
the platform Of the Republican party. lie
had always favored the rise Of the Two
metals. and he would not willingly vote ioi
any law that he was satisfied would BRING
the country 10 the use of eitherto the eNclu
/ sion Of the other.
MIR. Anderson. Of Kansas, favored free
silver coinage. The only men who would
be hurt by il were the men who loaned
money. IL was not an issue between Dem
ocrats ard Republicans. The pending Dl
demonetzed silver and he could not ano
would not vote to demOnetze silver.
! MIR. Perkins. OF Kansas, saiu ne NVu'
vote for the bill because he recognized th'
| fact that if the country must have anY ies
/ islation on the silver question, 1t must D'
had under the provision Of the order reported
by the Committee on Rules.
| Mr.. Funston, OF Kansas, said that II th'
gentleman on his side of the house, wh'
were apOlOgizing for the bill, would vote ac
cording 10 their convictions. the ll0usl
would pass free coinage bill in one hour
| Applause.
MIR. Brewer. Of Michigan, said that tn
bin met with his entire and hearty approba
tion. as il tended to bring together the colne'
gold dollar and the coined silver dollar
Mr.. Mckinley, Of Ohio, said that the bil
would utilize every dollar OF the silye
product Of the United states. Ii provided
also that the instant silver was on part.
with gold; that very instant there would D
free and unlimited coinage OF silver. con
! gress must see that the money provided 10
tne people must be absolutely safe iron
financial wrecks and from commercial con
yulsions. and b. absolutely safe and secur
in the hands of the holders.
The hour of o'clock having arrived, I'd
previous question vas considered as ordei
ed. as amended by the substitute.
Mr.. Bland, OF Missouri, moved to COMM
the bill-the motion 70 recommlt defeated
| veas tlG. uays. TO-