Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-22
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

proposition 10 extend the celebrated revol er
patent of Samuel Colt for seven years longer.
This monopoly is said to have been paving Mr..
Colt perhaps 100000 per annum for several
years past, and t he courts in adiudic atinc upon
questions of infringement upon it, have made
some strange decisions. Or at least decisions
ayerring that Colts patent covers many things
which all others engaged in making repeat
ing firearms insist are not rightfully the in
vention or property Of Colt. However, be has
command of extensive means ard employs
the cutest lawyers in the country to carry his
points. The consequence is, that nobody has
so far been able to maintain his cause against
him, Colt 1t very certain that this patent
has already paid hundreds of thousands of
dollars. We hear that the plea upon which
its re newal is asked, is, that the invention has
no reference to necessary article, but to a
luxury, as it were This will not hold water
Firearms are necessary articles, more espe-
cially in newly settled sections of the Union
Besides, it never was contemplated in the
spirit of the patent laws of the United States
that any patents should be renewed which had
already paid heavy dividends to the inventor
As the prize contended for is worth at least
800, 600, it is TO be expected that everything
that money and social Establishments can do
to put the bill through, will he essayed in this
case.
The HoN. Il. NJ. T. HUNrER.-It is now
thought by many politicians, of both parties,
in Washington, that this gentleman aided in
fastening the Sentinel newspaper on the
Treasury only in order to have it as a sort of
Eunter-organ, in the work of getting the Dem
ocratic nomination for President in 1855; all
concerned in it being written down to be en-
phatic Hunter men. Mr.. ii. is believed by
many to be bent on getting into the White
House on that occasion. Yet we hardly think
he can be Gerry anxious about the nomination,
IN view of the fact that his previous political
career indicates that he prefers splits. He
was elected to the Senate originally by his
nominal political opponents and handful of
US, that if he is after firmly establishing Il
Hunter-organ here, his expectation is to kick
up very general fuss in the party. which
will throw the election into the House of Rep
resentatives, where Wing vote will go Is far
as Democratic vote in the way of landing
him in the Chief Magistracy. A year or two
since, MIR. II. was regarded rs about the
iffest-backed States Rights man in public
life. He has, however, lost something Of that
reputation in Washington, since; it may be-
unjustly. But, gentlemen who have their
eyes fixed on the Presidency, have to be all
things to all men, it will be recolected. So.
it is not to be expected that his ambition will
permit him to stand on trifies, where great
interests in ''the party, or out Of it, are to be
sonciliated.
A SOLDIER ADDITIONAL (MEIIT) PAY.-We
gathor from a recent Treasury Department
action, that soldier who had received a Ger
ti6cate under the law of March 3, 1S47, and
who deserted, was apprehended, tried and SEN
fenced 'to forfeit all pay and allowance, due
at the date of the PRONUNCIATION of this sem
tence,'' is still entitled to a continuance of
the additional 50 per month under that ccrti-
ficate, if he enlists before or at the expira-
ton of his term. His future pay is not affect
cd by the sentence, and so long as he remains
in the service unintcrruptedly, by Successive
enlistmonts, this additional pay is continued;
as promul gated in General Order. No. So
Nov. 20, 1851.
The Secretary of thu Treasury is dispatching
the following circular to all the United States
Collectors of Customs, in order to systcmatize
the returns Of those officers, We take it:
SIR [ have reason to believe that there are
material defects in the forms and times of
rendering the returns required of Collectors
by the act of the Goth February, 1920, as well
as in the mode of entering, keeping and ex-
hibiting the matter contained in the same in
the Registers Office and DESTROYS to intro
duce such improvements may be practical
bic and may secure greater cxactncss and
promputude in the exhibits required by the
act, my object in addressing you is to obtain
such information and aid as may be conducive
to that end
There Is now much Diversity on the part OF
Collectors in reporting the articles imported
and, consequently, delay and difficulty in the
Registers Office in assimi Eating and distribu-
ting such articles to recognized species or
or classes. To remedy this evil, it seems to
me to be necessary for the Department to
frame nomenclature Of articles to notify
the list to all collectors for their observance
and for it to be varied only by authority, from
time to time, as the importation of new arti
Giles, to be reported by collectors or other cir
cumstances, shall render expedient. TO en-
able the Department to construct a proper no
menclature, will thank you as soon as may
be, to transmit to this Department d ta1le in
alphabetical order. showing
LIST. The names of each variety of all art
cles imported, whether enumerated or non.
enumera ed, subject to duty, or free.
I'd. The commercial or scientific denomina-
ton of the general class to which such varie.
ty belongs.
Sd. The place Of growth, production, Of
manufacture.
| Atm Inc rate OF duty, it any, on such arti
| Gle
| 5th. Such information Of the character Of
articles not in common or familiar use. ant
OF the purposes to which they are most usual
| ~ applied. rs it may be in your power to fur
nish- Appended to this list you will add q
list OF such articles, rs in your opinion may
be aggregated Or classified, for the reason.
contained In the prOviso to the Sd section 81
| the act referred to; and similar list, and
appendix, of the articles exported At the
same time it may be proper to revise and re
arrange the list of countries to and from which
our commerce passes; and l will thank YOU
to look into this branch of the subject also
and favor me with table, in alph abetica
order, OF the places proper, in your opinion
to be recognized and established as the places
of trade contemplated by the act in these re
! turns.
1t is understood that a difference Of pract;c,
prevails likewise, in respect to the times whcI
the importation is assumed, in the returns, t.
take place. With a view to the most proper
rule upon this subject, and especially to uni
formity between the different custom houses
L will thank you to state what the practice o
your district is in this regard and if you
| opinion, upon inquiry shall be in favor o
continuing such practice, the grounds of suci
opinion.
The same in respect to the time when it
assumed the exports take place.
am not aware that any change except il
al i, Al.