The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-05

nent talents, character, and learning should be en-
trusted with powers like these And in times
like the present, when laws obnoxious TO particular
sections Of the country are opposed by violence and
the authority Of the courts openly set at defiance no
reasonable effort should be spared to secure the
services of judges who have not only the ability
understand their duties but the trmness to dis
charge them with fidelity. To obtain them just
compensation must be paid. And therefore re-
commend that such increase Of the salaries Of The
Judges be made as may be necessary to accom-
plish these objects.
In conclusion, beg leave to say that, in my
opinion, the public interests would be promoted
by the passage Of law constituting the Attorney
General the head of the department OF jnstice and
making it his duty to seal and c0untersign all
commissions for judges, marshals, and attorneys,
and to exercise the supervisory and appellate con
troll over all accounts connected with tue expenses
of the judiciary, which is now exercised by this
Department.
Public Buildings and Grounds
Various appropriations having been made by the
last Congress for the improvement OF the mall and
other public grounds in this city, it deemed
proper to have plan projected by competent
person, combining, as far as practicable beauty OF
arrangement with utility. For this purpose the
services of MIR. A. j. Downing, gentleman dis
dnguished for his judgment and good taste in the
establishment OF pleasure grounds, were engaged
lie has reported designs for grading laying out
and planting with trees, the mall and several of
the public squares, some Of which have been APP
proved and partially executed His plan for the
Improvement Of the mall appears to me admirably
adapted to carry into effect the views of Congress-
That portion OF it which applies TO the grounds
west OF Seventh street, having been approved, is
partially completed. But, the plan in regard to
tine section east OF Seventh street involved a change
IN The location OF portion of the canal for which
appropriation had been made, you did not feel
OF liberty to give it your official sanction until the
wishes Of Congress should have been expressed in
regard to it. The diagram exhibiting the design
in all its details, will be submitted to Congress;
and respectfully recommend its adoption, and
that the necessary apDrODrIatlOn be made a
it into effect.
The Treasury and Patent Office buildings have
been neatly painted, III pursuance of the order of
Congress. The work has been faithfully executed,
and will doubtless prove to be a great protection
to the walls against the action Of the atmosphere
The eastern wing of the Patent Office has b en-
placed under the direction and control of Mr. Tho.
mas u. Walter the architect of the Capitol and
will soon be ready for
No appropriation having been made by the last
Congress for completing the western wing, il re
mains as it was at the date of my last report.
have caused plan to be made out by Mr.. Wal
ter Tor Its completion, accompanied by detailed es
Inmates of the cost This plan contenplates some
changes in the original design, which will tend
greatly to improve the beauty, stability and con-
venience of the building The plan and estimates
will the proper time be laid before the Commit
tees OH Public Buildings of the two Houses Of Con-
gress. In my judgment the public interests re-
quire that appropriations should be made for the
completion OF that wing with as little delay as pos
sible. The present means of accommodation for
the public officers nsuticientin extent, incon-
venient in their location, and insecure from dan
ger by fire
The office of the Department of the Interior ia
now kept in rented building, which is i'll adapted
to such purposes, and contiguous TO private dwell
lng5, which constantly expose ii to casualties
The Pension Office is also in rented apartments in
the fourth story of ''Winder's Building"
The Indian Office is in the War Department. and
occupies rooms which the head of that Department
has assured me absolutely necessary for the
accommodation OF his branch of the public SER
vice.
The Land Office is in the upper story Of the
Treasury building, where ii 10 kept TO the great
annoyance OF the Secretary OF the Treasury, who
Is obliged to rent rooms in private buildings for
the use OF some of his bureaus. IL ia believed that
the rent now paid for the use of announcement and
unsafe buildings is nearly equal to the interest on
the cost oil constructing new one in all respects
suitable for the purposes of the Department. When
to this fact are added the loss Of time in commu-
nicatng with the heads of the bureaus, who are
scattered through five or six buildings, some of
which are more than quarter Of mile distant
from the office of the head OF the Department and
the increase of expense occasioned by the employ
mentof additional doorkeepers, messenger watch
men, and laborers, it will be found that true eco
nomy will be promoted by the erection OF suit
able building for this Department.
The eastern wing OF the Patent Office, including
the basement, ontains thirty rooms besides the
large saloon, two hundred and sxty-eight feet
long and sixty three wide, which is designed for
the display OF models. The Patent Office does not
now, and probably will not for years to come, need
one-thrd of these rooms. propose, therefore, ns
soon as that wing is ready for use, transfer to it
the officers attached to the Department proper,
and also those belonging to the Indian Bureau.
e When the west wing shall have been completed
it should be appropriated, with the exception of the
upper saloon, to the Land and Pension Offices.
The War and Treasury Depar. rnents would there
by be relieved from the Inconvenience to which
they are now subjected, and all the bureaus con-
nected with the department of the Interior would
be brought together under ono roof. If in the pro-
gress OF time the Patent Office should need more
roorn 1t could be supplied either by the construc
ton of building on the north eide of the square,
80 as to complete the quadrangle according TO the
original design OF by Withdrawing or more of
the bureaus TO some other building Many years.
however, will probably elapse before such a with
crawal will become necessary. The demand Tor
increase OF room will be for the exhibition of mod
els, and not for the accommodation of cerks and
as the plan which suggest contemplates the APP
preparation of two halls of the entire size of the
wings for that purpose it is hardly probable that
they will be filled for twenty years TO come.
Objection has been made TO the occupation Of any
part OF the Patent Office for purposes other than
those for which it was originally designed. It's
said that 1t was paid for out OF the patent fund and
that 1t therefore belongs to the inventors This OBJ
lection rests upon mistake both the facts of
the case and the inference which is drawn from
them But, it may possibly mislcad some who
are not conyersan. with the subject il is proper to
notice it.
IL is not true that the cost of the Patent Office
building has been paid out Of the patent fund. On
the contrary it will be found a careful exami-
nation of the accounts that but little more than
one eighth part OF the cost of the principal building
and two wings has been derived from the patent
fund. But, If the facts represented, they
by no means justify the inference derived from
them
The Government, for the encouragement of the
talent and inventive genius of our citizens grants
by patent, to the authors of books inventors of
new and useful improvements in machinery, &C..
an exclusive ownership in them for O limited time.
As consideration for the franchises thus secured
to them, the Government extracts from the paen-
tees fec or tax of thirty dollars, which is paid in
to the patent fund When the inventor gets his
patent he has received the consideration for his
money, and the transaction is at end.
The ground assumed by those who claim the Pa
tent Office the property of inventors, necessarily
involves the proposition that they arc entitled not
only to their franchises but also TO the price which
was paid for them Upon the same principle, tho
purchasers OF public lands might claim n right 10
control tho appropriation OF the money which they
paid for thcm; the consumers of dutiabe goods
the privilege Of regulating the expenditure Of the
revenue derived from cust oms.
EriensiOn Of Capitol.