The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-06-15

to rldlcule, MS set forth In the Con-
gressional Record, give a fair idea OF
how seriously the proposal was taken
One of the chief points Of the debate
was made upon the question OF
whether the resolution should he re-
ferred to the committee on foreign
affairs Of the house or to the COM
mittee on commerce, the decision be-
ing rendered in favor of the latter body
after a discussion which was carried
on with burlesque sOlemnity for some
hours. II Is interesting to note that
the presiding officer on that occasion
was none other than Representative
James A. Garfield of Ohio, who later
became president of the United States.
Incidentally there is strange SINH
, larity in the conduct of the house
then, as related in the Record, ana In
It's actions in the present day.
Representative Conger read an ar
ticle from the since defunct Sunday
Chronicle of April IA, 1872, which, de-
spite the fact that it was laughed at by
congress, seems to have had a realiz-
ing sense of grace in considering the
project Of wireless.
The serious attempts of the Sunday
Chronicle to plead the cause Of wire
less was the signal for a chorus of
presumably humorous remarks some
what like those leveled at the two alb
surd Wright boys Orvllle and Wilbur,
when they gave up profitable bicycle
business out in Dayton, o., some years
ago and started fussing around with a
ridiculous contraptiOn that they
thought they could make fly like a
bird. whereas all the wiseacres there
ahouts knew it was all plumb foolish
ness and couldn't he done. Everybody
knows what CHASTITY failure the
Wrights made of flying.
The butt of most of the jokes hurled
at the LoOmls invention was Repre-
sentative Holmes of Indiana, who had
helped Mr.. Bingham introduce the res
olutiOn, and who was one of the few to
believe that wireless communication
was really possible. He made a speech
amid n chorus of groans, jeers and in
terruptiOns of all sorts, representa-
tives continually insisting upon read
ing articles from publications not
so farseelng as the Sunday Chronicle,
and all poking fun at "Wireless
LOOmiS."
Mr.. Bingham also had his turn, and
his speech, like the others, appears in
the Record, although the disorder in
the house made it impossible of hear
ing for most of the members. He, too,
could see the possibilities of wireless,
and stoutly maintained his position.
Mr.. Bingham's extreme earnestness
carried with it II measure Of cOnvic-
ton, and the unruly house at the end
accorded him some measure of serious
attention. Whether it was owing to
his speech or a certain feeling that it
would do no harm to let LoOmis try
his stunt, since it could not hurt any
thing, at any rate the resolution was
passed a few nights later and the
dentist-electrician started in to form
the company to exploit his idea.
In many respects Doctor Loomis'
plans for wireless development were
more ambitious than any proposed be-
fore or since. He not only aimed at
communication by telegraphic meth
DDS, but he likewise expected to util-
ize the power for lighting and heating
purposes. In July, 1872, he secured
a patent from the United States patent
office which so far as is known was
the first ever granted Of its kind. The
text of 1t is interesting.
'Be it known that 1, Mahlon LoOmis,
dentist, Of Washington, District of Co
lumbia," it says, "have invented or dis
covered a new and improved mode of
telegraphing and of generating light,
heat and motive power, and l do here
by declare that the following is full
description thereof:
"The nature of my invention or dis
cOvery consists, in general terms, of
utilizing natural electricity and estab-
fishing an electrical current or circuit
for telegraphic and other purposes,
without the aid of wires, artificial bat
teries or cable to form such electrical
current and yet communicate from
one continent of the globe to another.
"As in dispensing with the double
wire" (Which was first used in tele-
graphing) "and making use of but one,
substituting the earth instead of wire
% form one-half of the circuit, so l
,ow dispense with both wires, using
he earth as one-half the circuit and
continuous electrical element far above
the earth's surface for the other
part of the circuit. I also dis