Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-02-04
mrs OF wAsHrNerOv LrFE.
Minor scenes and Incidents sketched
m ths snot


tempt the poorest hobo Of the Empire
state. The famous Amen corner il as
voiceless as a tomb. and the equally
famous express once, % Broadway, has
new tenants. On top Of these wrecked
temples OF former greatness rises Mrs.
Plat, defying the aged senator by insti-
tuting suits against washington papers for
$4,000 damages for publishing the story
Of last summers tour in which Coachman
Hedges Inquired as valet and guest. This
episode is supposed to have caused the
separation OF the Platts. widely reported
last fan To stir up the mess in the courts
of Washington within earshot Of the SEN
ate is the cruelest cut of all and lends a
touch of pathos to the figure Of the bowed
senator participating in the opening pray
ers Of the senate.
Indulging In "reminiscences of times that
are past the old inhabitant said to a party
OF friends that the coming Of a member
OF the Hebrew race to congress from the
west In the person of Mr.. Guggenheim Of
Colorado, would be somewhat OF an in
noyation. There have been Jews In both
houses OF congress. but as far back as 1
can remember" he remarked to a Wash
inston Post interviewer, there have been
none OF the tribe Of Israel from the far
west. There have been from other sec.
lions, and they have ever been faithful
and industrious men.
ITO the south alone" he continued. ''be
longs the palm of having sent the greatest
man OF all Judea's clans to the United
states senate. I allude to Senator Benia-
min OF Louisiana, named after the ancient
and honored patriotic Judah, the progeni-
Tor OF a noble race. Judah p BENJAMIN
was an orator among orators, and l have
heard his silver tongue in debate for the
demands OF the south when the whole SEN
ate seemed spellbound.
TO my dying day." he assured his lis
teners, II will remember his valedIotorv
when his state, louisiana seeded from
the union. There were great men in the
senate from all parts OF the country On
that day, and they were all in their seats
on the occasion. The galleries were
crowded, as they always were at that per-
ilous period in the nations history. Bents.
min was short, chunky man, somewhat
OF the build Of Stephen A. Douglas. He
had very black hair, an olive complexion.
and bright, piercing dark eyes. with ali
ne was the personiication of dignity and
courtesy / recollect part of his perora-
tion-the ending of 1t, on that day sYou.
ne said addressing the republicans of the
senate, of whom William H. Seward was
propabiy the most conspicuous, you may
conquer US, you may defeat us, you may
nu'nllate u.s. but you can never, never
suoJugate US! Never! Never! Never! He sat
down, and there was for a moment a pro.
found silence. After a few seconds a man
In the gallery clapped his hands together
III FIR
OF applause such as 1 never heard before
or SINCE, and have seen the galleries IN
both houses of congress stirred bevond
proper limits many times t,
II Is queer idea James Wilson has. IN
this day Of graft, with respect to the duty
an inventor who uses government time and
materials has toward that government He
holos that whatever the man invents should
De patented for the benefit of the whole
people and be given to them for their use
without price. -. : i"
Two Of the scientists under Wilson. re-
lates the Pittsburg Dispatch, have per.
fected mechanical apparatus to be used
In ascertaining the amount of fnoisture IN
grains. 1t is to be used In the grading q,
corn, wheat and oats when the farn,e,
brings them to market ANY intelligent
layman will be able to use IT. secretarv
Wilson ordered it patented and dedicated
to the people of the United States 70,
their free manufacture and use. The peoplf
OF foreign countries have to pay ROYALTIES
on 1t.
With that apparatus the farmer will he
able to tell the grade OF the grain ne takes
10 market and compel payment for thai
quality instead Of being paid for No.
nd
where he sold It disposed of IL as No I
which has been the practice in the north.
west to such an extent that congress- tool
charge of the grading of grain and NM
the work into the hands of Secretary VIII.
son.
Wilson's scientists have patented q tox,r
that destroys the germs of hog cboIara
and process for the propagation and dis
trioution OF nitrogen-gatherinR bacteria
winch enables farmers to fertilize fiaId,
that nave been robbed OF nitrogen without
lnoculating them with pieces of sod brought
from lands known to have the little in.
sects needed to restore the proper amount
or nitrogen by taking It from the air. tn,
two inventions would have made the IN,
ventors millionaires, but Wilson comneIled
the inventors who were working on gov.
eminent time and using government labors
tories, to dedicate their discoveries IN m.
free use of the people OF this country.
That appears to be the quintessenoe nj
a square deal for the people who are nav.
ing the bills. II is notable. however. he.
cause OF the different practice In the wa,
I and Navy departments.
| In the army and navy when an ohaca,
who has been paid for his time and ba,
used government materials and laborn.
tories to perfect an invention It is the Gus
tom for the officer to give the free MS,
OF his invention to the government ~ IN,
government as an organization desires n
/ use his patent. II It does not-and the,
usually see to II that 1t does not-the In
ventor Ia held to be at liberty to sell hi,
Invention to firm or corporation which
| will use II and compel the government II
pay royalties.
That is the exact condition with respeet
to the smokeless powder used by the navy
! The patent Is owned by a naval oficer
/ The Navy department has the right 10 us,
the patent, but Il refuses to do so. So tn,
ofiieer has transferred the patent 20 In,
\ Powder trust, which exacts 70 cents 4
! pound for powder which reliable powde,
makers win contract TO furnish for not e
exceed 40 cents a pound, II permitted q
use the patent worked out on the time OF
= the ROVernmAnt ana With IN. -.o.o-t.t 4.