The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-06
WASHINGTON NEWS
D
IMPORTANT TO PATENTEEs-THE CALIFoRNiA Mar
MTsCETT

IMPORTANT TO fArENFEEs-THE CALIFORNIA MAIL
MISCELLANEOUS.
1t has just been ascertained that an amendment
was Incorporated into the Civil Approximation bill
on the eve of the adjournment, by Senator Davis
OF Mississippi, which strikes directly at the me
cnanlcal genius of the country. 1t positively pro-
hlolts the purchase, either by the Navy or War
Department, of any patented article, however ne
cessary may be, for the of those departments
without special authority of Congress- naming at
the same time the article required. The action Of
Mr DAVIS IN this matter in injecting into the Civil
and Legislative bill matter which conld not have
been adopted in either the Navy or Army bills is
unheard OF in the history of legislation 1t was
enacted during the late session of Congress that
all purchases and contracts, when the public ext
genclas do not require immediate delivery of the
articles, shall be made by advertising for proposals
respecting them. No contract or purchase is here
alter to be made, unless the same be authorized bv
law or under an appropriation adequate to its fHi-
hlment, except in the War and Navy Departments
for clothing subsistence, forage, fuel quarters or
transportation, which, however, shall rot exceed
the necessities OF the current year. No arms or
military supplies whatever, which are of patented
invention, shall be purchased, nor the rirht of
using or applying any patented invention, unless
the same be authorized by law and the appropra-
therefor explicitly set for tn.
The course pursued by Commodore Vanderbilt
In refusing to take the California mails, renders it
absolutely necessary for the Post Office Department
to accept one of the propositions submitted to
them. The Postmaster General favOrs the San An
tonic or I'll Paso route 1t being the cheapest, and
in the present condition of affairs on the Plains
growing out of the Indian wars decidedly the
most advantageous to the Government. The sub
ject has been under advSement by the Cabinet to-
day, and ar early decision NAV therefore be ex-
pected. The Vanderbilt interest is here endeavor-
ing to prevent any arrangement by overland but
they will fail in their efforts. Vanderbilt bv his
bu-headedness, has made himself very obnoxious
to the Administration, and they will show him no
favor hereafter.
The Attorney General has recently rendered an
important decision in regard to the construction of
an Congress requiring that certain amounts be
paid on the production of satisfactory vouchers
He maintains that the word ''vouchers' does not
necessarily signify receipt paper to whom
money was paid by claimant but any kind of
evidence showing that the party is entitled to the
credit he demands. satisfactory voucher is any
evidence which will satisfy the judgment and CON
science of the officer whose province it is to settle
the accounts that the money actually paid,
whether receipt is produced or not
1t is fully conceded here now, that there will be
no compromise whatever between the Douglas and
Breckenridge parties, but that war first and last
will be carried to the fullest extent. An effort
now being made, to compromise the electoral ticket
in inia phohIr T,;I