New-York tribune., 1896-03-29
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
A CRUSADE AGAINST MACHINE-MADE
PETITIONS.
PRIVATE ALLEN vICTIM-soNATAs As
DEvERAGE-sONGs WITH COFFIN ATTACH

DEvERAGE-sONGS WITH COFFIN ATTACH
MENrs"-THURBER's UNPOPULARITY.
Washington March 2S (speciaD.-"The crusade
which Senator Hill Is now engaged In against wnat
no calls machine petitions Is no new thing.
remarked an old Senate official. I'm past times
It much worse than 1t Is now. The SUNDAY op-
servance and temperance petitions which nave peen
coming In Of late years while numerous, are noth-
Ing as compared to those Of twenty-five years ago.
The Senate has devoted days and days discussing
the matter, but far the so-caed sacred right OF
petition has never interfered with. The great
est number OF petitions came about twenty-five
years ago. They were against what was known as
the Sewing Machine Combination and were In
tended to- and finally did, defeat the extension or the
patents for the four-motion feed. The four Leading
sewing machine companies Of the day, the Wheeler q
Wilson, tho Singer Home and another. the WILCOX q
Gibbs 1 think It was depended for their con-
tinuance upon the extension OF the patent on the
four-moton feed. which all used and 1t was alegeo
that they had made combine to secure IT, Inc
patent had been extended once, so that 1t ran
twenty-eght years. 1t contended by the peti-
TONERS that extension of the patent meant the
keeping up Of the price Of sewing machines TO the
then existing price OF about $50. There was EVIL
dence that the cost price OF sewing machines was
only little over sl2 and that II the combination
defeated. by declaring the four-mot!on feed TO
be free, machines could be placed upon the market
facturers as well as a proper commission for those
who sold the machines The petitioners. however,
never dreamed that machines would ever reach the
existing low prices. The first brought be-
fore the Commissioner OF Patents. The evidence be-
fore tho Commissioner nearly overwhelmed him.
Commissioner Leggett In refusing an extension
said I am asked to read the testimony in this
case 1t would be better that some provision should
be made for the extension Of my life one or the
exhibits In the case is a mass OF printed testimony
and argument, as much as Is contained In four VOL
unes OF Websters Dictionary. There are other ex-
hib!,s and have calculated that to read IT all, 1t
would take me. reading four hours each day. nearly
twenty y-one years. 1t Is simply preposterous.'
The combination then. by the aid Of their thou
sands Of sewing machine agents throughout the
country began to have petitions sent into Congress-
There was a petition handed every one they came
In contact with for signature. The argument was
used that as machines expensive more at
tentlon and were given them. and the result
tho users in the end. To offset this the smaller
sewng machine ", who no haa aae 20 eou pay use
the i fee feed prncps Argued
could not @ Compete vi tn the combination in prices
patents were made free. The fun began when tho
petitions began coming In THOUSANDS ana u. tnou
and cities For a time the petitions were referred
20 the on paen but % IN % f9s 'oq op
more the eommlttee,ro9ms were piled up with mS them
much so that tney became a huiSaHce SONY y.
hundred OF times Some things to an end
and this was OF them. Congress refused to
extend further the paten the big machines are
To-day sewing machines can be bought al the way
from s. up. the machine which is pro6aap!y IN most
general use costing noi more tnan w Wc .o,s =,
them wero filed away, but the great quantity or
them went for junk. They had performed their
purpose"
Private" John Allen. OF Mississippi. was stand
Ing near the corner OF Delaware-ave and First-st.
waiting for car TO take lin home after the
are!uous labors OF the day In the HOUSE OF Repre-
sentatlves. when a man wAo had his hand on MS
stomach came and said:
beg pardon but you have the look OF phy-
sicien-an eminent physician"
"Oh. I'm no Doctor" modesty replied the IupeIo
statesman.
Sorry for that but perhaps you can give me some
inrormation What are the symptoms Of poison
ing?"
.'Iavo you been posonedr' exclaimed Allen.
thoroughly alarmed.
We'll have queer feelings In my stomach. the
remarked.
rs 1t a burning sensatlon?" sympathe;lcally in
quired the MissssIppIan.
10 you have spasmOd!c pans?"
Feel shivery. with great thirst and heat"
NO, nothing Ike that. feel a complete gone.
ness for about foot up and down here and every
time i think Of ham and eggs my mouth waters"
why. II may be hunger, suggested the Pri-
vate" with much concern.
II shouldn't bit wonder II II was, being
sn ny4Gs join % '4x n as Rs Surveyed
the man three or four times. and then handed MIN
"My friend better get some new scheme. 1t
takes too long 20 come TO the point in this