The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-28


would have said Yes because expressly made provision
for doubling the pension in instances, and in others
for more than doubling them.
A SENATOR. Make the motion TO lay the bill on the
table.
Mr.. KING said he would no, make any motion with re-
gard to H. He desired merely call the attention of the
Senate to the provisions Of the bill
Mr.. JOHNSON OF louisiana said that there were before
tho Committee Pensions twelve fifteen cases of SOL
ders and officers mulacdn the of the country bv
the loss of limb limbs; some Of them had lost both
arms others eye, and all of them more lnbs
The honorable from Alabama had said that the bill
exuayagant. Under all the special of this
kind four times the amount proposed by the bill had
been allowed, beginning "a far back 1915 For
a soldier who had lost limb they gave forty dollars
whereas law allowed him only eight dollars SO with
regard to the officers There who had lost both
arms, with injury to the other, and such
ceved no than the officer who had been slightly in
jured This bill had been recommended by the depart
nen,. IL had been fully examined and recommended
The committee had graduated the pay according TO the
injary received, fixing certain amount in each case
IL of the most important bills presented and
would relieve Congress Of great deal Of labor every year
As law formerly stood, had taken large portion of
the time of Congress decide upon particular case,.
whereas this bull authorized the claims be presented u
the Pension Office, with proof Of the Of injury re-
ceyed. There twelve fifteen of that kind
instead of reporting special bills for each case the COM
mi,tee had reported general bill which had been pre-
pared after great attention and examination by the
War Department. If the bill should be passed, in.
stead Of the being brought up from year year.
they might be decided at at the Pension Office.
of those had been pending for four or FIVE
years. BY that bill the Commissioned of Pensions would
be authorized decide upon them without delay with
taking the time Of Congress.
MIR. CAM ERON said that a bill which would
discussion, he would move that it lie the table
The question being taken the motion lay on the
table, i, was agreed to on divson-yeas "a nays Is.
GEORGE porNpExrER
Mr. JO NSON of Louisiana moved that the Senate iske
up for consideration the bill for the relief of George Pon
dexter; which was not agreed To-.
RENEWAL PATENTS.
On motion by Mr.. BRIGHT, the Senate as in committee
Of the WHOLE proceeded the consideration of bill to au-
thorizs the renewal of patents in corain cases.
Mr.. BALDWIN inquired whether the Committee ON
Patents had reported this bill.
Mr.. IVES rCOTr said that it House bill recon-.
mehded the last session of Congress by the Commis-
soner of Patents and he Of that the form
bill had been suggested the House committee by the Com
missioner of Patents When came into the Senate the
last session. referred to the Committee Patents
and majority of that he thought had acquiesced
in the policy and attempt had been made the
the last session. take up and pass The from
Massachusetts at that time member Of the committee
and expressed doubt the proprety of of
the provisions the BILL which he could advert
The arguments in favor Of this bill may be briefly saed
The petition for the renewal had Of late become
frequent be almost public nuisance and interfere
with the business Of Congress Very few ohose applications
thought worthy Of being granted The proportion
than FIVE, and there objections these
special applications Congress; for of all bodies upon
face of the earth Congress- unfit decide upon
such matters This bill proposed refer the wal Of
patents the United States the Commissioner Of Patents
in order prevent the necessity Of the policy Of making
law has expired II extended the discretion of Com
missioner Of Patents in regard the renewal of patents
and placed where under all the circumstances he may
grant the removal of the patent if he thinks be just
and reasonable He could not advert the Arguments Of
the from Massachusetts, whose opinions of
great weight upon the subject but he presumed the hon.
orabe would repeat them if he thought necessary
Mr.. FOOTE expressed the hope that there would bs
further discussion upon the subject and that the bill would
Mr. DAVIS Of Massachusetts, was not 90 fortunate a.
hear all the remarks made by the from Florida
and of those made by tho senator from Mississippi
He did not remember at that moment the precise obec-
ton which he had formerly stated the bill but he
satisfied of the great objections to the bill from the
remarks he had just heard The proposition was
confer upon the Commissioner Of Patents the pow
the patents at any time within years
after they had expired For the various which
enumerated there, it would embrace, substantially, every
patent, he supposed which should out The Jaw pro-
vdes that patent shall extend fourteen years for
the Senate consider whether this will be extending
that period years. il the party apply any time
within three years offer the patent 1t seemed
to him that that very Objectionable The
principle understood by the public that when
patent renewed at the expiration Of fourteen years
the public into possession, by the Of the law
ITSELF Of the invention 1t then part and portion Of
the public interest When patent had run out for three
years, and the public had enjoyed it for those three
years, he would ask the Senate whether it well to
revive monopoly which had ceased for three years,
and all the confusion which would necessarily follow
policy like that He would state that the Commissioner
of Patents might at the end Of fourteen years. extend the
patent for seven years That provision intro
privilege inventors for fourteen years. and terminated
there; but when this law passed. they gave the
Commissioner the authority to extend tho patent seven
but ii not anticipated then, and seemed
him to be very doubtful policy, that the Commissioner,
any else might patents after they had run out
for years. What the reasoni The he under
stood from the from Florida be this Congress
encountered with applications Of that description which
become and troublesome. He doubted whether
they would get rid of the difficulty by this law Would man
who had failed get renewal Of his patent for years
come here and imporune you, after you have
passed this authorizing the Commissioner OF Patents 10
take this responsibility from your shouders' lie apprc
hendsd that the for Congress to hold this
power its hands, consider the which came
before them and try them according the circumstances
which presented themselves. He held be very doubtful
travel back the space Of during which the IN
venon had become public property, and thus to renew inc
monopoly. created great difficulties the progress Of
manufacturing, or any interest Of public utility II an In
dvidua had thought earlier of the necessity Of renewing
his patent, appeared him that presented questio-
for the deberaon of Congress that ought be very care
fully delberaed upon before it should be adopted For
that he did feel authorized TO extend the law
Mr. BRIGHT As the law now stood, every patentte
was prccudod from selling his patent of having ex
tended, unless he applied within the fourteen years Inc
object of that bill give the pasnee the right asr
the expiration Of the fourteen years. apply within three
years for that extension. The gentleman had said tha
would lead to litigation Il would lead more under
the decision Of the of than under tho
action Of Congress-
They proposed merely transfer the to the Comm
soner OF Patensa very competent officer He was 10 eS
anime the facts, and to decide whether the me
t4rous ono. He had his own,eye where an ndl,
vdual had applied for patea and between the day OF
application and the issue Of the patent he died. and hi. heirs