The New York herald., 1868-05-27

In March last an act was passed by Congress
and approved by the President authorizing the
issue to Charles Grafton Page of letters patent
for alleged inventions in the science of electro
telegraphing, the position of Professor Page as
an Examiner in the Patent Office disqualifying
him from either taking out patent or acquiring
any interest therein without special legislation.
Professor Page died on the 9Th instant, but
prior to his decease, under the pretended
authority of this law, patent was granted to
him which virtually hands over to his represen-
tatives the whole control of American tele-
graphy, entirely ignoring the claims of other
recognized inventors, and taking from the public
rights they have enjoyed for years by the
expiration Of former patents. The heirs of
Professor Page now step in and insist upon Sc
curing to themselves the profits promised by
this singular law.
The direct claim of Professor Page, as set
forth in the law, was for the invention of the
induction-coil apparatus known among tele-
graphers as the Ruhinkorf coil ; but the patent
covers much more than this. 1t embraces the
employment of one electromagnetic instru-
ment to open and close the circuit Of another
electromagnetic instrument, using either one
battery for both or separate batteries for each"
which is, in fact, the famous ''local circuit
years ago patented to Professor Morse; the
coordination Of an automatic or mechanical cir
cult breaker with either primary coil alone or
primary and secondary coil combined, invented
by and patented to Royal e. House; the ''em-
ployment Of separate and Independent batteries
to operate an electro magnetic circuit breaker
and the circuit which is broken by It" which is
the famous repeater" patented to Mr.. Hicks;
and, indeed, covers all automatic closers, re-
peaters, local circuits, registers and all points
Of value known in the electro-telegraph busi-
ness.
The bill and the patent founded upon IL are
outrageous impositions upon the public, and
will not for moment stand the test Of the
courts. II is singular that Professor Pages
name should never have been known and asso-
ciated with these important inventions, and
that as Examiner Of Patents for many years he
should have passed favorably upon the claims
Of those who have secured patents for these
very discoveries, which he afterward claimed
to have originated with himself. The Morse
and House patents have expired long since,
and by limitation Of law their inventions have
for years been public property The Hicks
patent has yet some years to run. The truth
Il, the bill bears upon its face evidence Of
having been the work Of lobby legislation, and
thepstenti Is glaringiy absurd, unjust and Illegal
We understand that an effort Is being made 10.
indnce some Of the telegraph companies TO
buy up the pretended rights Of Professor
Pages heirs; but we advise them 70 keep
their money in their pockets and to take NO
notice whatever Of the claim. The passage Of
such law shows how careless and stupid our
Legislators at Washington have become since
the small amount Of brains they possess has
been muddled up by impeachment, and the
best thing they can now do is TO repeal the act
and take care that they ore not HOODWINKED
into such absurd Legislation IN ~ future