Arizona republican., 1903-03-02
WIRELESS TELEGRkPHY OLD
The Idea Championed in Congress by
 Senator Anthony,

There is nothing new under tha sum- Wireless telegraphy is thirty years old according to the record. How much older it may be nc one can tell On January 16, 1873, the United States senate passed a bill incorporating the Loomis Aerial Telegraph company, and the act was signed by President Grant on January 21st of that year It ap- pears from the debates that Dr. Mahon Loomis of West Virginia was the in Ventor. and proposed to establish a sys- tenn of wireless telegraphy. The bill was championed by Senator Anthony of Rhode Island. and there was a dis position to make fun of it, as well as the entire scheme, and the word Laughter" frequently occurs. showing that senators regarded the matter as a freak. Senator Thurman of Ohio, while somewhat incredulCus, was Siv- ing the bill his support. Now, said he, "1 want to perfect the measure as well as l can, which, I am assured by the promoter of it, the discoverer of some new mode of telegraphing, will enable him to telegraph all around the world without any wires at all, with
 
 or anything of that kind. I have not the least objection to his doing it, if so great feat can be performed
 One section of the bill provided that the business and objects of said cor poraticn shall be to develop and utilize the principle of and powers of naturai electricity to be used in telegraphing, generating light heat. and motive power. and otherwise make and oper- ate any machinery run by electricity for any purpose" Referring to this provision. Senator Morrill, of Vermont asked: II desire to know whether the chairman of the committee on com merce has thoroughly studied this sub ject so that he has confidence In the re- sults?"
 In the course of a reply Senator Chandler of Michigan, who had report ed the bill adversely, said: II under stand that you only have to get up 14.O0O or 15000 feet above the earth, when you can commence telegraphing if you have the instruments. but the precise method of getting up I have never arrived at
 Senator Anthony remarked that "it is very common to laugh down great in- ventons. or what originators think are great inventions. but all great inven- tions have been illusions to begin with. Dr. Lcomis thinks he can telegraph without wires. and thinks he has made experiments to prove it, if he can get persons to contribute money to test the question:"
 Senator Thurman was still incredu- II egraphcd without wires 100 miles or 100 yards.
 The bill passed more as Q. compliment to Senator Anthony than anything else, and because it did not commit the gov ernment to anything or involve an ap~ propration. Senator Stewart is the only man in the senate then who is now here. and he voted for it. Among others still living who voted the same way are Corbett of Oregon, Davis of West Virginia. Edmunds of Vermont, Ramsey of Minnesota and Ransom or North Carolina. Well known men who voted for the bill. but have joined the majority. were Anthony Of Rhode Island, Simon Cameron of Pennsylva- ria, Zach Chandler and Ferry of Mich igan. Philetus Sawyer of Wisconsin, and Sherman of Ohio. Here also are some well known men who voted in the negative: Hamln and Morrill, of Maine, Howe of Wisconsin. Morrill, of Vermont. Salisbury of Delaware and Trumbull of Illinois.
 The Loomis wireless telegraphy was recalled by q resolution introduced by Senator Hoar extending to Signor Mar conf the thanks of congress for the in- vention of wireless telegraphy. Upon reading this, F. w. Whitaker wrote q letter to Senator Elkins claiming that q man from the senators state had in vented wireless telegraphy more than thirty years ago. He said that a for eigner had taken and 'perfected the ideas and invention of an American, who died a poor man through the fail ure of his countryment to recognize his genius" MT. Whitaker was the attor- ney of Dr. LComis when the bill was passed and also aided in securing pat ents for him.-Washingto Post.