The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-06-18

Mr.. Enloe No, sir; | do not deny it.
Mr.. Lewis. Do you deny their ability
or wisdom in the premises?
Mr.. Enloe Well, if had to measure
the wisdom of Providence by the standard
from Mississippi | should have to admit
that Providence had lost the opportunity
to do some very excellent things. Laugh
ter The Government has entered upon
the business of revivinS the ancient science
of astrology When We passed the sundry
civil bill We inserted provision to appro
pirate $4,000, believe it was, 10 establish
and maintain the astrophysical observatory,
an institution which, as | understand. is
supplied with very delicately constructed
Instruments BY which calculations are made
in reference to the influence which the sun
and the moon and the stars exercise on the
conduct and actions of men.
1t is very important, Mr.. Chairman, no
doubt, that We should know what effect it
would have on mans statemanship to be
born under particular star, or at a partic-
ular season, and | think it equally impor-
tant, as the Government is undertaking TO
regulate everything, that We should also
have provision Incorporated into this
bill which will authorize some agent of the
Government, stationed in particular local
ity or neighborhood when he sees a cloud
coming over, charged with rain, to send up
his kite or other appliance with dynamite
bomb attached, and knock the rain out and
let it fall on himself and his friends. In
| IL .n,,ll aianrltr Il of
against those who are not friends Of the
Administration.
| Now, Providence, as we are Informed,
intended and so ordered that the rain
should fall alike upon the just and the un-
Just; but in this progressive age this work
to which the gentleman from Mississippi
alludes, of mankind improving on the in
telligent works of the Creator is>to be car
ried forward so that we can make rain
fall where we want it to fall, and in that
manner allow it to fall upon the just only,
denying any to the unjust.
1t is to make little amendment and
improvement on the plans Of Providence,
so as to provide for distribution of the
rain according to the Federal Administra-
ton | admit that it would be 4 most
powerful political agency if an Admins
tration had power and plenty of money to
send up kites all over the country, so that
Government agents might bring down rain
on any mans field who would agree to sup
port the Administration and discriminate
against those who are not in favor of the
Administration.
Mr.. Chairman, | want to say if the Gov
ernment is going to enter into this policy,
that it is perfectly consistent with its reg
ulation of the matter of taxation, because
there is no doubt but that the benefcence
of the Government reaches only certain
classes and enriches them with its blessings
at the expense of all others. 1t is consist
ent with a great deal of the modern teach
ings of political economy; and if this is to
be done as proposed here | want to get an
Administration in political sympathy with
me, and get control if possible of the rain
that is to fall on my section of the coun-
try, so that | can turn it to the advantage
of my friends and not for the benefit of my
enemies.
IF we can only distribute prosperity in
that way, why it will certainly be most
marvellous thing. We will go out here
and give Arizona rainfall that will make
that arid Territory bloom like a rose, and
when she comes into the Union as Demo-
cratic State we will give them all the rain
they want and make everybody prosperous
and happy. Then we will get rid of the
objection our friends from Kansas make to
the river and harbor bill. They have not
any water in Kansas, and therefore are
opposed to the improvement of the water
ways of the country.
Mr.. Simpson. | would like to correct
the gentleman from Tennessee in that state
ment.
Mr.. Enloe. But if we are able to give
them abundance of rain, then they will
after while want the Government to con-
struct waterways to carry off the supera-
bundance.
Mr.. Simpson. Perhaps the gentleman
does not know that we have two long nav
igable rivers in Kansas. But the Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors neglected
them.
Mr.. Enloe. suppose, then, that there
is nobobody living in that neighborhood or
we would have heard something from them
in the bill, and they would have got some
of the pork. Laughter.
Mr.. Simpson. We were not in it for
pork.
Mr.. Enloe. Now, Mr.. Chairman, talk
ing seriously about this matter, permit me
to say that it is no part of the business of
the Government to undertake to regulate
the distribution of rain. do not believe
in the first place that it is practicable to
do it. If any demonstration can be made
that we can create moisture in the atmos-
phere by explosions and then precipitate
it at the right point l admit that it would
be great, valuable, and an important
discovery very important discovery
But in the dry season when there is not
perceptibe particle of moisture floating
in the atmosphere these gentlemen in
charge of the experiments have not attempt
ed to produce rain. But when it is threat
ening rain, and everybody knows that there
is great deal of moisture in the atmos-
phere floating over in clouds, they have
undertaken TO precipitale it, and think il
possible that could be done if it is going to
rain in the neighborhood within few
hours anyway. The rain might in that
way be expedited, but that is very different
from producing rain in times of drought
MIR. Caruth Will the gentleman allow
question?
Mr.. Enloe Certainly.
Mr.. Caruth. Are you the member Of
Congress from Tennessee elected on the
platform of more rain and less taxation
Laughter.
Mr.. Enloe. No, sir. l discussed thi:
proposition before my constituents who
are agricultural people, and talked about
the abuse of appropriations made by the
last Congress to still farther enable the
Government to discriminate between classes
| believe that the people in my section Of
| .bo o,uofry haua haan conuincad fhat fhav