The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-03-27

The resolution asks that $50. 900 be re-
funded for "money heretofore expended tor
printing, In pursuance Of section fourteen"
Of the patent act of March 2, 1861. II
seems from the letter of the Commissioners
that only 317. .OS7 81 were expended auder
that section; that is, for the ten copies au-
tborized by it; but that an additional expeu-
diture Was made of SIT 400 10 for twenty
extra copies Total. S34553 81. Youwih
observe th at this is 5 5,446 So less than the
sum asked Of Congress. Were there any
other expenses properly chargeable under
the section referred to; and if SO, how much
and for whatl
By what authority were the extra copies
(20) printed, and for what purpose ?
Was the paper for the printing and pho
tographiug furnished by the Patent O6bce
or by the contractor
Very respectfully. your obed't serv't,
E. P. WALTON.
Chairman Committee on Printing.
Hon. CALEB B. SMITH.
Secretary Of the Anterior.
To the above letter replied, through the
Secretary Of the Interior. as follows:
UxIrED STATES PATENT OEFIcE,
Washington. April, -, 1869,
S1a: have the honor to reply to the let
ter of Hon. E. p. Walton. chairman of the
Committee on Printing of the House OF Rep
rescutatives, dated April 22d instant, refer
red by you to this Office.
The inquiries proposed by Mr. Walton
may be resolved into the following in,errog-
lst. What are the number of pages in
one copy of all the sets of specifications Of
patents printed? e
ed. Upon what data was the estimate
based of $500 asked to be refunded for
moneys heretofore expended for printing,
sc? agad ijs fsa A
Sd. BY what authority were the extra
copies of the specifications. &c, printed,
and for what purpose? s a.se o.. i
4th. Was the paper for the printing aud
photographing furnished by the Patent Of
fee or by the contractor? 8 s ws4
To these interrogatories answer:
1st. The number of printed" pages in
one copy of all the s,ts of specifications of
patents printed is 6,036. -ss
2d. The estimate of $4,000 asked to be
refunded for moneys heretofore expended for
printing, &c, was made before the actual
expense had been ascertained, aud was in
tended to cover not only the ten copies, but
also the twenty additional copies engaged at
the reduced price. Ii was supposed at the
time that the estimate was made that the ex-
pense of printing and photogrsphiug these
thirty copies would probably exceed $4O,-
900. To this it was thought but just to add
the cost (including the stationery of making
the copy with which the printer was fur
nished. it not being deemed prudent to al
low the original books to be taken from the
Office, aud the additional expense incurred
lch kxv
proof repeated exami nations, and
comparison with originals. To cover these
and other incidental expenses it was compu-
Hence the amount asked for. q
Sd. The authority by which the extra
copies were printed is that which has been
invariably exercised by the Commissioners,
of making such expenditures out OF the
psen, fond AS, in his Judgment. would ia
citate the administration of the Office
Expenditures for the library and similar
purposes have been made under this pre-
scriptive authority. which has never been
Questioned by the Secretaries of State or the
Interior, or by the Comptroller Of the Treas
ury, by whom the accounts Of the Office are
allowed. s.e 3a aa m5EL u 1ssse 5a
r. The extra copies were printed to fas:iIitate
ing the means of procuring, by exchange.
the publications of foreign patents, the pos
session OF which is indispensable not only
for the completeness of the library, an OBJ
ject for which all the inventors of the coun-
try are solitaous. but for determining the
question as-sQ the originality of the nven
tions arisingson every application.
This of6:e receives complete set of the
publications 81 the Grea. Seal Patent Office
in Great Britain. Prot Woodcroft. of that
Office. in ietter dated March Is. 1851,
says: !" The copies OF the publications of
this office Great Seal Patent Ofice) already
presented to The Patent Office and other pub
lie libraries Of the United States. have cost
the country spwsrds of 100000" and "that
the con,inuationsof these works cannot be
maintained at : c6st of less than e 5 week
ly.' The office also receives the psblica-
tons of the French Patent Office. and of the
other departments Of the French Govern
ernment The whole number of exchanges
amounts to two hundsed volumes, At lesst.
received from the s3sious governments Of
Europe. Congress having literally provi-
ded that foreigners sehouli be admitted to
as citizens of the United States. it was be-
ifcscU W oc 'u eSNoAaNpCY win IUC piiie Va
that provision. as web - for The financial
interests of the of6ces place the publca.
tons of this Office in Ross important Ii
brar;es of foreign couna =.
4th- The paper for 6rinting and pho
tographing was FURNISHED 81 the contractor.
have the honor to -. Air, respectfully,
your obedie1t servant,
DIP. .1OELOWAY.
Qanmissioney.
Hon. CALEB B. SAr1
Secretary Of he 1efeyior.
This explanation uxs dsemed perfectly
satisfactory to the Com1Aittee on Printing,
Who instructed the chaifnan Of that COM
mistee to introducexal snsndment to the
proper appropriations - / providing for re-
funding to the Patent Once fp0d the whole
amount estimated ~ expended for printing.
Iinciuding the cost Of the ewessy additionsl
copies. Il being conddssed advisable BY