New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-03-17
Case OF the COH,Iuissioncr of Gsatcuss.


Asa brief synorsis has been given OF the Report
Of the Select Con mittee of the late ouse Of Repre-
sentatIvss on The charges preferred against Mr..
Holloway, Commissioner OF Patents, BY nr. X.
Belts il is Just to Fay that the publication OF the
Report 10 ACCOMPANIED by statement from Mr..
Holloway in reslOnsc 20 the injurious Iefeciions
upon his official conduct.
As 10 the expea ditures, hs Gays that " in period
Of unpsr Heed depression, for the purpose o. pre-
serving the efficiency and even the existence of the
office lie " encroached upon The surplus fund pros
vided for precisely such an emergency" lie pro-
ceeds 10 show (" that such an eacroacuneIt as in
conformity 10 wel'-estab lished precedents and thas
" notwithstanding TIE increased expenditure re-
quirci by Congress, IN important reduction Of the
expenses made from Ihe previous year."
As TO improper aud unauthorized expenditures fos
printing be re eTs to the official proceedings of Con.
gress, 10 show hat the whole subject which 10 tho
foundation OF the present charge, was deliberately
actei upon after full discussion end explanation BY
three committees Of Congress, and 6y both Houses,
and his scion solemnly indorsed and approved.
In relation to the third charge ne says, Even II
there is large number Of temporary clerks EN-.
ployed there are 81 vacancies II the permanent
de-Ss"
"A 10 the fourth charge, he says The salaries
OF the Commissioner, Chief Clerk and EXaruners N
Chief were lot changed because they were fixed by
law, and there was no grade with lower compenss-
non 10 which they could be reduced and sti legally
perform the duues appertAining to their othce'"
In relation TO the charges the Commissioner says:
" /, is bat far to claim from his own showngl, that
in the contingent expenses proper OF 1901, there was
a reduction Of nearly $50 900 from thOee Of the pre-
yiors year" The charge that the expenses Of tho
Office were increased by making fifteen or moro
Glasses in the Office instead OF eleven, the former
number" the Commissioner shows IL an instaIco
If the palpable ignorance gross peryersion in rela-
ton 10 TIE affairs OF the oiice.'
Tie Commissioner proceeds 10 answer Other
CHARGES orcer and III the courso OF bis statement
saw he Las asked for no appropriation Patens
Office. The estimates a!e for repairs and construes
tions in the Patent Office building which have nos
for years been paid for cut OF The Patent Office fund
at il also charged that two ladies have been.
employed by this Office ne copysts, who were Seces'
slonists. The only evidence submitted 10 sustain
this charge is the TACT that their husbands have gone
10 tue south and that one OF the ladies' went there
TO her husband, with the intention OF returning
but has not done so.
They we're appointed withoU, any reference to
their political opinions or sSmpathies, aud simply
from their destitute and necesstous situation. NO
act OF dlsoya!ty on the part OF either OF them has
been ever brought TO my the Commissioner no.
tice nor do believe they We're ever guilty oi any
act preJudicl 10 the Government"
In conclusion, the Commissioner saws he mas
deemed il incumbent npon him to reply only 10
charges affecting biz official conduct. As the Com.
missioner represents all the Official conduct Of tue
Office the corruption imputed to the head tain,s every
limb and member of the body. IL public confidence
in the office shaken, doubts arise 10 the validity
of every patent issued, and every decision made
under suspected administration, and tie value OK
millions of properly is impaired.
"Msy not. then. Gentlemen Of the Committee, II
in your judgment sh.ll have cleared myself from
the aspersons upon my official conduct, demand
from you such decided vindica'ion Us sba restore
the public confidence in ills Office. which cannot
but fear has bee. spoken by Rebels, so aseiduously
circulated, aud will give 20 tho country al least the
assurances Of honest pun poses III It's head T.