The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-11

ment of pamphleteers or an army Of parsons.
II, after making the tour of the country, Nc.
Forrest should still determine to retire from the
stage, it is not possible that he can remain idle.
he is IN the prime of life, full of varied talent
rich In mental requirements. Why should hs
not appear in the political theatre! Some years
ago we remember that he declined Congress
sional nomination; but he may not row be Of
the same mird. He would be most valuable
member, and would not only teach cur legisla-
tors how to speak intelligibly, but also how u
behave properly. Mr. Forrest would not be toe
old, either, for the Presidency. We will be
bound that he would make better chief magis-
trate than the crdeuaM rail splitters and broksa
down political hacks who are continually in.
triguing and maneuvring to make their devious
paths end at the door of the White House.
Sewing Machines-RsPo ported Extsnsion %
Howe's Patsnt-Outrage on the Public.
1t is rumored, we know not with how much
truth, that the Commissioner of Patents has
granted Elias Howe, Jr., further extension u
his sewing machine patent for seven years.
This, unfortunately, the Commissioner has power
to do without reference to Congress. After the
first term of fourteen years, to which the pa
tentee ia entitled, has expired, discretionary
power to the above extent is given to the de-
partment, but for any further privilege the ap-
plicant must go to Congress.
The impolicy OF extending patents after the
first term, unless under peculiar circumstances
of hardship, is now generally admitted In
justice to the public interests we must protest
against the action of the Commissioner In Mr..
Howe's case, which does not at all fall within
this category He has received, according -
his own admission, upwards of half million
of dollars for inventions which are simply I'm
pl ovements, and which, If he had never entered
the field at all, would have infallibly suggested
themselves to any ingenious mechanic. We do
not by this mean to depreciate the practical
value of his discoveries We merely
mention the facts a. an answer to the argu-
ments used before the Commissioner In sup.
port Of the claim, and which arrogate to Mr..
Howe the entire merit Of the economy In Labor
effected by the invention Of sewing machines.
We repeat that bis combination Of the needle
and ehuttle, though ingenious, was but small
step In advance on the original invention, which
must Of necessity have been Immediately arrived
at by other makers, and 1t Is merely the priori-
ty that be had in patenting simple idea that
has brought his name 80 prominently before the
world. For the labor bestowed on II he hes
been magni6cently remunerated, and II y to
be hoped, in the interest Of public policy, that
the extension said to have been obtained By
him will turn out to be unfounded.
If the argument on which the Commissioners
is reported to entertain favorable opinion Of
Mr.. Howe's claim be correctly stated, 1t will
not be found In conhstence with the view
taken by Congress Of the expedisncy
Of patent extensions In general. Judg-
Ing from the quantity Of the Howe
machines that have been sold during ths
present term Of the patent, It Ia argued that the
quantity sold during the next seven years must
amount to many millions of dollars. and that,
therefore, the inventor should be proportion
ately remunerated, or, 10 other words, that In
stead Of being half millionaire he should be
made whole one. We need not point out the
absurdity Of such an argument II admitted II
would at once establish what Congress has de-
termned TO get rid ola vested interest on the
part Of the inventor In all the future proceeds
Of his discovery But the injustice Of the prin-
ciple cannot be better demonstrated than By
the example before us. Here Il o man who has
been made abundantly rich by the monopoly
Of chance idea, of but very little originality
in itself, who claims to tax for perpetuity the
very likelihood of hundreds Of thousands OF
poor sewing girls, who toll twelve or fourteen
hours 10 the day TO exc out precarious subsist-
ence. The cost Of the best sewing machines,
with the Howe improvements, owing to the
protection afforded to the patentees BY the Law,
is from seventy-6ve 10 a hundred dollars,
although their expense Of manufacture does not
amount TO fourth Of these sums.
Whilst the inventors should be accorded .
fair remuneration for their Iabors, II Il mani
testify against the interests OF society that Con-
gress should give them longer monopoly Of
the benefits Of their ingenuity than win suffice
10 effect that object We contend that this has
been done In Mr. Howe's case, and we protest,
in the name OF the poor, overworked creatures
for the Improvement Of whose condition Provi-
dence evidently inspired the idea Of the sewing
machine, against lite price being thus unnecessa-
rily enhanced.
Should the reported extension Of this patent
turn out to be correct Il win lead to one import.
ant result We have always been opposed to
the placing In the hands OF any public officer q
power 80 dangerous ~ that which Is confided
TO the Commissioner under the law. We're ne
never so honest II would expose him TO unjust
suspicions, and In any case to temptations which
not one man out Of ten can resist. Just look
at the enormous value Of the interests involved
In such patents as those Of Colt, the India rub
Der companies, the Telegraph, and dfsy Others