The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-03-06


West Bend 10 Sheboygan Falls, in that State which
was referred to the Comm'llee ON 'he ros' omce ana
Post Roads.
the civ OF New Orleans in the State of louisiana, asking
the establishment Of line OF mail packets from New
Orleans to Vera Cruz and Tampco, IN Mexico; which
was referred 10 the COMMITTEE on the Post Once and
Also, the memorial Of the widow and heirs OF Fulwar
Skpwh. deceased asking indemnity for losses sustain
ed and mpensaton for services rendered, while
ployed as public agent by the government; which
referred 10 the Committee oil CLAIMS.
wooDwoRTH's PATENT.
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, presented two petitions
from citizens Of Lowell Massachusetts,, asking repeal
Of the act OF July 8, lS45, renewing the patent OF Wm
Woodworlh Tor planning machine.
In presenting these petitions Mr.. d. sad The petit
stsssa ss ne 2 s that sS
worth Tor fourteen years In November, lS42, these let
ters extended by the Commissioner Of Patents for
seven years more In February, lS45, while this last
newal had something like five years run, they applied
70 Congress for further renewal Of the PATENT and in
mat year renewal was granted by an act OF Congress
extending seven years more making years
in all Now, the petitioners state that this last renewal
commenced its term on The 4th OF December lSi9, and
that the assgnees OF the patentee have here
for still further renewal at period when the last
newal has still nearly seven years 10 run.
Il is against this last renewal, anticipating time for
nearly years. that these petitioners remonsate
and, think with great proprety The state Of facts
claimants entitled to the further renewal which they
ask or whether this is an attempt to obtain monopoly
OF very great value and extent, as these petition
ers affirm. and that the proper motive actuatng this
application is. the very great revenue which is
derived from the monopoly They have not stated the
facts, sir; but have heard i stated from sources
TO which believe entire credit is TO be attached, that
after the renewal of seven years granted in 1916
Woodwork being then deadhis heirs sold out his inter-
est for the sum OF fifty thousand dollars do not know
the facts ot my own knowledge, but have been informed
that such the case and other senator's here have
derstood The same thing also Indeed it is my convc,
ton that the facts OF the had been properly before
Congress at the time of the renewal oi the patent in s45
that renewal would never have been granted ask
that without reading this petition should CO. with another
which hold in my hand upon the same subject. to the
Mr. DOWNS. 1 have petition in my hand upon the
subject and to the effect that presented by
the honorable senator from Massachusetts, which wish
TO have referred 10 the same committee.
Mr. DAWSON. | wish to state, as one OF the Com
mttee Patents, some facts which have come to our
knowledge in relation 10 this subject Tnis patent was
renewed in lS45 The renewal commenced running
from the 4h of December, is49 Before this last patent
to run, application is made here for still
another renewal. beginning in the year 1856 This ap
pcaon referred TO the Committee Patents and is
urged by counsel here and elsewhere Al
the renewal for years. which commenced to
the 4h day of last December that renewal sold for
the OF hundred thousand dollars, and not for
fifty thousand, the honorable senator from Massa-
chusetts IMr. DAvIsl has been informed, and we
now asked to this patent again, TO commence
from 1856, 10 run years from that period
which additional patent for seven years would again
be worth less than hundred thousand dollars,
according to the evidence which has been produced be-
fore the committee. have stated this to show how the
Congress OF the United States has been made in
srumen the hands OF spectators and designing men,
monopoes and levy upon the Industrious
day Of December. isas and now. before that renewal
commences 10 run, and after that renewal has been sold
for hundred thousand dollars, applied TO ior
dred thousand dollars These facts have to light
in the committee. and il their intention 10 bring
them, at proper me before the Senate; and am graft.
ned 10 see that all sections oil the country are awake IN
relation TO the subectBoston, New Orleans, and other
ctes where the interests OF the mechanic likely TO be
uniavoaby affected by action in favor OF the propo
ston 10 this patent
Mr.. SEWARD The senator says that application
has been made for the renewal of this patent and that
has been pernacsusly urged by counsel this floor
and elsewhere. This remark, falling from The senator
from Georgia, renders II proper that should make
word Of explanation with reference to myself pre-.
sumo the senator intended no reference whatever 10 me-
Mi. DAWSON, (interposing.) None whatever, other
wise than TO say that you the counsel OF the paien
OF the house The counsel 10 which referred
appearing before the committee was different; and
Mr. SEWARD. I suppose so and | am graii-
fed that | have an opportunity for this expa-
one which il is not my intention 10 give, but
simply TO state my own relations 10 IT, for the purpose
oil correcting some erroneous statements which have
ject In 1916, retained counsel by the assgnees
OF Woodwork, in relation 10 this patent, which was
then nearly useless because was the subject o ltga-
ton in the Supreme Court OF the United States and II
therefore, impossible for the patentee or his as
sgnees TO derive from il that benefit which TO be
the reward OF the inventor. The result OF the decision
OF the Supreme Court, 1916, was that II the patent
properly amended, il might be sustained 10 the
courts OF the United States, but not Otherwise The
patent amended IN such manner 10 give II ef1
cheney; but, in the ne the -paentee and his as
sgnees had os almost entirely the benefit of the orgi
nal grant The patent thus amended and renewed, went
successful operation, FAR the rewards TO be de-
rived from it concerned, about the year ls47 and
has been pretty generally sustained since that time Du-
ring that PERIOD and up the time OF my ARRIVAL here,
and that time, have been The counsel OF the as
signees.
When il was proposed 10 that should be assigned
TO place upon the committee in this house. 10 which the
subject might berefeued, by my friends upon the side OF
the house 10 which belonged replied that could not
take that place. because OF my connexion with patent
cases; and inasmuch as any reassgnment OF members
OF the committees al that time would disturb the whole
arrangement contemplated, was kindly excused BY my
friends and the Senate from serving upon any OF the CEN
mees in the house
/ 40 declined because was not willing to make my
public duties even seem 10 come in collision with any pr
vae duties that | might previously have assumed. 4
therefore resigned all claim to be upon committees IN
this house.
have seen il stated elsewhere--and il was for that
reason chiefly that have adverted to the subject now
hat have personal interest property IN this patent
state here in order put end TO all such rumors for
the future, that had any interest In this nor any
other paienttha expect TO have and tha never
will have any such interest And now, with reference 10
my action here have presented any petition in re-
ation 70 this subjects have never spoken one word IN
e. AI - A.e.es .e-I Al - .xa4