The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-14

House proposes an appropriation Of 100000 more out Of
e patent fund. which will make $4,000 out OF that
fund altogether for last year and this Now lei us look
a. the financial question connected with the patent Iuna
for conemplates taking the money out Of the treas
ury OF the United States The arguments Of the Comms-
soner and the language used in Congress al the time OF
thas ,be aaS would j. sustain the Whole
charge II was considered self sustaining fund Now,
suppose sou take the amount estimated by the architect
necessary for completing the structure out Of the patent
fund, which, when we commenced upon il, was only
2646S SO taking out enough to cover the lowest est
mate. it will swallow up the patent fund q commence
WITH and leave debt OF $3s3,531 II, which, with in
terest six per cent would be $230ll 81, with net
annual income Of only 3o36 s4 taking last year as a
guide to pay with Such would be the result Of taking
the 100000, if larger sum- .'out Of tho patent fund
is clear that neither the executive department nor Con-
gress intended TO authorize any such structure.
Burke, % upon WI which Congress acted. made up BY Mr.
Mills the architect, who conducts the present pian and
on file in the Patent Office:
amendment giving the dimensions ofthe building and the
cost at $l50,000.
3D. The small amount appropriated compared with the
4th That The expense OF the addition was to be aksn
out Of" fund amounting TO only about third the
lowest estimated cost Of the present planthe cost being
100000 and the fund 'out OF which 1t is to be taken
100000.
5th The absence of all recommendation from any
quarter whatsoever, for such addition, of all know
edge that any such work contemplated, and Of all
necessity for it for any purpose and especially the pur
pose for which the appropriation was recommended and
actually made, to accommodate the business OF the Patent
But Mr. Ewbank, the present Commissioner. speaks Of
it in this way
proper business of the office but intended
date other branches Of the government and those better
% Ios g o As e I
sorb what has always been considered the inventors
the upper saloon Of the present building (more than one
third and by far the best part of the whoie) temporarily
the National Institute, is Office. on the COM
pletion OF the Smithsonian lnstute to which the collection
Is be removed, further accommodation, regards
room, will be required by this bureau"
suppose he speaks cathedra, but would like to
know on what authority Certainly not upon authority
derived i from Congress THIS work as have sad' was
this official says only that intended for the
Patent Office but that il was intended for department
ing Why, then, did they not say at FIRST, and not
take the money out of the patent fund This fund was
appropriated or intended to be appropriated to purposes
OF science and ii this additional structure is intended
for department better able pay the expense, they
should have paid it, and not taken the money from the
patent fund Sir, this was heard OF in the
muncaions from the Patent Office any executive de-
partmen and 10 the language of Mr. Farrelly who re.
ported the amendment in the other House, Is significant
clear and dsnc and shows that was intended for the
But, further Mr.. Ewbank says:
mo further accommodation, as regards room, will be
required by this bureau-that Is, the Patent Office
the Patent Office al ALL but for other departments better
able TO pay than that office is; and have bill before
us appropnatng 100000 Of this fund, belonging to invent
ors Tor the purpose OF making this structure, OF
ubuting toit, Tor the benefit OF another department that
is better able to pay.
Sir, the Secretary OF the Interior, in his annual report
speaks this subject follows:
''The report Of the Commissioner Of Patents which will
be presented early day, wilt show large surplus fund
Appropriated the last OF Congress towards
erection OF the wings OF the Patent Office budine. No
Office Instead OF thus directing this fund general pur
pose Of the government would seem but just apply II
the Commissioner recommends other
the wisdom OF Congress may suggest, encour
Of the inventive and tie reward Of successful
Now, inquire emphatcay and significantly, where
did the suggestion originate that this building TO be
erected Tor any other purpose than for the Patent Office
II y was not wanted for this purpose, there ugen
cy for II, and certainly might have rested without detri
ment until the meeting OF Congress, when IL could have
explained the meaning OF the law, il could not be
desiood but II seems TO there difficulty in the
matter, in the way OF any one who would examine it.
have no feeing SIR, on this subject, except an official
one. All who connected with this building are
strangers to know not the lace Of single indi.
vidual, at least did not until this under
my consideration rs member OF this committee Nu-
merous friends have desired that the work has
commenced and gone far 20 on because other.
wise s stoppage would give rise much expense But,
cir for that very reason would not allow II 10 proceed
propose that this work should be carried in the
manner in which IL intended TO be carried out in the
original BILL am for bringing il back in conformity 10
that Ofcia and authentic plan oil the Commissioner of
Patents would cheeruliy pay these honest laboring
men, have estimate made with the contractors and
after settling with them, start out anew. After this
ter shall be stricken out propose to offer amendment,
providing that the building shall go up on the plan rec.
commended by Commissioner Burke, the plan adopted by
the House OF Representatives originally, taking down
such paris go beyond this. ! shall propose in my
amendment 10 appropriate the OF fifty thousand dol
lars; and il that not enough the of one hundred
thousand dolars al any rate amount sufficient 10 pay
contractors aud aborers TO complete the work. and lake
down what was unauthorized and is useless | wish,
sir, 10 be record, IN the most unmsakable terms,
against this out door legislation, In making appropriations
that against all know that the contractors
do not complain; for that is the with all contract
and am for ndrmnyng all honest contractors for
all the labor done, and all damage actually sustained by
change.
The amendment, as have before said which propose
10 introduce in the place OF the present amendment pro-
ydes that this work shall proceed and be finished in con
formiy 10 the intention aud plan of the last Congress-
which made the appropriation that has now out, re-
erring TO the plan of the Commissioner which certainly
cannot be msaken for which for quarter OF CEN
tuIy had been sleeping, and only exhumed when
Congress had closed its session. II then found be
so controlling to admit OF no delay or modification |;
and, although il contemplated dark rich stone il was
found convenient and iusthabe 10 change il for ghosy
and garing white marble, which, conirasted with the
grayish stone OF the building on street. is in my
view, in very bad taste TO say the least
trust, sir, that have made myself understood am
opposed 10 taking tins patent fund construct buildngs
for any other purpose than for the purpose OF the Patent
Office. know i may be said hait is Objectionable that
IT should pay rent have spoken on this subject here
oiore am opposed 70 the system Of paying rent BY