The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-02-14


The LOBBY PATENT BILL BEFORE CONGRESS
-SCBENEs FOR PATENT ExTESsIoSs.-The pro-
visions of the bill now before Congress for the
amendment Of the Patent laws fully illustrate
our assertions regarding the corruption of these
patent schemes. This bin is fair sample Of
the efforts which for several years have been
made to procure from Congress the extension
Of patents about expiring. or the renewal of
those already expired. The aggregate value OF
these patents we have recently shown to be
nearly fifty millions of dollars. or course this
vast moneyed interest, backed up by the lobby
and corrupt members, operates with immense
! power, and can only be eiiectually resisted by
the fearless expeditions OF the Independent
press.
There are many minor defects Of this mea-
sure which we do rot now propose to notice
in detail. There are too many fat snecures
contemplated. The ninth section contains a
CLAUSE. the practical operation Of which will be
TO prevent the Issuing of patent where the
Patent Office officials neglect application for
more than two years The sixteenth section
provides that court may render Judgment for
| three times the amount OF verdict Of damages
for the infringement of patent, and
the loose manner in which the bill ia drawn
will afford numerous loopholes for violations of
patents, and consequent endless litigation.
But, as We observed, these are comparatively
minor defects; they serve merely to demon
stratc that in the anxiety 10 secure the main
swindle of the bill, not even care has been
taken to cover up all the tracks 80 as to present
an apparently fair measure in other respects.
The main object of this bill is contained in
section iS, all the others being simply in
serted with the design Of concesling the real
intent, and, if possible. dstracting attention
from one Of the most vilanous schemes ever
coucocted by venal lobby. The section re-
| ferred 10 provides for the manner OF extending
patents. 1t Is a mass of verbage worse than
useless There are provisions for the formula
Of making applications; for extensions; for
! the publication Of notice of all such applica-
, tons for examinations of claims for oppo-
/ rents Of the extension TO show cause why the
| potent should not I've extended, and for the rem
dering, by the patcntee, of an account of the
! profits from the invention. But these do not
| affect the main question. II Is true that the
statement of the inventors profits may serve as
/ n basis upon which to levy expenses of exten-
sion but. in the words Of the bill. Z" the Com.
missioner shall grant or refuse tbe extension of
| the patent" (which shall be faal.' Here Is
the whole thing in a nutshell The Commits
sioner may, according 10 this bill grant patents
and extensions just az he pleases; and there il
| no appeal from his decision. The salary is by
no means large for 20 important position, aud
the palpable intent of the measure is TO give
the Commissioner ample opportunities for pay
ing himself and his friends. Il VIC have read
this bill correctly, il Is proposed TO give him
supreme power which, to q man not possessed
OF Godlkc integrity, would bc worth Millions
Of dollars in single year.
! In the passage of this measure amendments
will no doubt be proposed which will show the OBJ
icct Of the bill more clearly. Bad asit is IL will
be rendered worse in proportion TO the amount
Of support that can be secured for IL. The ap-
| parcntly equitable character of one or two of
| the clauses will bc made TO cover provisions
calculated TO subsorvc, in more positive man
nor, the particular interests which The bill IL
intended TO promote. We therefore warn all
| those members who are new to thor post on,
| OF who desire TO act honestly. :" Svare OF this
snake in the grass. The older hand are by
, this time all bought OF sold--boueht with the
mouey Of mouopslist rateut~' OF sold by The
! other seductive influences brought TO bear on