The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-15
Colts Patent Congress ard Patent Mouopo'
iics-Tie Came for the spp,ls.

Colts Patent Congress and Patent Monopo-
iics-Tlie Came for the spp,ls.
The Washington Union, the great central
organ Of the Cabinet and the spoils system, IN
GLIDING land monopolies and patent monopolies,
continues to keep up the fire with the zeal of
paid lobby member, in behalf Of the extension,
by a special act, Of the patent Tor Colts revol-
vers. The Cabinet organ is thus using the
whole influence Of the administration directly
to push through Congress one of the largest of
these enormous patent monopolies
This is perfectly consistent with the whole
programme Of the spoilsmen. But what are the
grounds for this call of Mr.. Colt for this special
extension, after its refusal by the proper depart
ment? His justification is simply this; that he
has invested the profits Of his patent thus far in
the erection of more extensive factories, includ-
ing large factory in England for the manu-
facture OF revolvers for the British army. Tha
is to say. hy special act of Congress Mr.. Coli
is 10 be further secured in his monopoly at bomt
until he shall have realized handsome dividend
from his English factory in London. BE has male
million of money out Of his patent thus far
that fact appears in the evidence before he
Patent Commissioner; but having invested it
in several large factories, including the Lonlon
factory, lie now simply asks such an extension
by a special act, as will enable him to max,
five or six millions. The title of the bill before
the House, therefore, should read: A bill to
put FIVE or six millions of money into the
pockets of Samuel Colt, by tax upon the
community, in continuing his monopoly for an
additional term of years."
The application for renewal of this patent
was rejected by the Patent Commissioner. &C.
cording to the intent of the patent laws, which
provide that after monopoly offourteen years,
if it shall appear that the patentee has been
literally paid for his invention, the patent shall
become the common property of the people.
Colt has been literally paid-or il a million of
profits is not large enough, we should like to
know what is. The introduction of the bill,
then, in Congress, against the Judgment OF
the proper department. for the special
benefit of this pistol monopoly, savors strongly
Of wrong principle in legislation of the worst
kind. 1t is monopoly legislation and is of piece
with the special bills to land; jobbers, railroad
iobbcrs, and contract, jobbers, ell of which con-
stitute the spoils system of the present admin
istration.
But grant this extension to Colt, where is
this business to end An adverse report has
been made against Woodworths planning ma
chine, on the plea that he has had the monopo-
" long enough, and that its further extension
would, in single year, make the people of
this country pay fifteen millions of dollars for
work which, in abolshing the monopoly, could
be procured for three millions. But why this
discrimination between Colt and Woodwork.
or anybody else? Invade the established policy
Of the Patent Bureau with special case of IA
voritism, and the established policy is broken
down. There were, we believe thousand pa
tents granted by the Patent Office during the
last year hundred of these may turn out to
be useful and profitable to the inventor Grant
special act to Colt, and how can Congress re.
fuse the same thingin any one of these hun
bred or five hundred, or thousand cases?
II will not do TO say that the Presidents
message recommends this special legislation
for Tie benefit Of certain monopolies, to the ex-
clusion Of Others. 1t will not answer to say
that wealthy monopolist is to be continued ii
his monopoly by special act, while the poor