The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-02-20
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Times are hard in this city, like they,
are in oil other partseof the country.
The poor are snfsriag. for thewapt of.
work, and. consequently, for the neces-l.
sariesc cf l:se sss sss slhis s:lhisrs sss=ss has been a.
gayer or more extrayagant society
assembled in Washington. There have
never been moro parties and receptions
than have been held during the present
winter. The wives of heads OF depart
ments and bureaus. &C., dress in the
most extreyagaus Btyle. Some have
means. some. haTe none. Those who
have none. Of course. must expect the
perquisites Of their Office to make up all
deficiencies. An administration is re-
sponsible, in the capital. for the morals
of the people, to some ertent, but always
for the extravaganza in mode of living
and of dress. Example is derived from
the fountain source; and when the heads
lavish their means in fine clothes. in
diamonds and jewelry and in splendid
entertainments, what can you expect
from subordinetes but corresponding
extravagance and o constant tendency to
run in debt and live beyond their meansP
The admiDistratipn started ont under O
pledge Of reform and retrenchment, but
example of private econ omy would be q
better guarantee Of honesty of purpose
than the lavish proaigacy that the capi-
tai has been plunged In during the pre-
sent session of Congress. Somebody
must pny for all these magnificent enter
tainments, and that somebody is most
likely to be the people; but if the people
never find it out, then, truly, will 'igno-
rance be bliss"
It was agreed, at tho meeting of the
Ways and Means Committee, yesterday,
to report an amendment to the general
tax bill, providing that the Internal Re-
venue Bureau be made separate depart
ment, independent of the Treasury, and
its chief constituting one of the Cabinet.
There was barely majority Of the COM
mittee in favor of such change. and,
consequently, it is thought that the
House will hardly accept it.
The Committee on Reconstruction
directed its Chairman, General Butler,
to report to the House bill, which. if it
passes, the United States District Courts
will hereafter have the greater portion of
the pardoning power. The bill provides
that every citizen disfranchised by the
third section of the fourteenth amend
ment, except those who have held com
missions IN the army or navy, or have
been members of Congress-, shall be
restored to all rights of citizenship, by
applying, by petition, to such q Court
in any State in which he had his home
during the war.
An effort is being made to have bill
introduced in Congress to authorize the
Commissioner Of Patents to distribute
premiums for the best inventions in GER
tain specified classes. The patent fund
has increased until it is now over
$500, 900. This fund belongs rightfully
to the inventors of the country. It has
accumulated from fees which they have
paid into the Patent Office, and is over
and above oil the expenses of that insti-
tuition. The proposition is to give back
to inventors, a portion of this fund yearly
in the shape of prominms for their in
ventivc genius and industry
Suppose 100000 should be set apart
yearly and distributed in sums of SIC, 900
each to inventors who should produce
the best invention. with working ma
chimes, i'll ten different and distinct
classes, such as the reaper, steam engine,
telegraph, printing press. &C.. what an
immense stimulus would be given to
inventive genius, and how wonderfully
would the Industrious pursuits of the
country be benefited We owe onr pre-
sent advanced state in the mechanical
arts entirely to tho patent system. Yet
every inventor feels that if he ever re-
alizes anything for his invention after he
receives patent from the Government,
it must be done by his own enterprise
and perseverance in introducing it.
There is no positive assurance that he
will ever be compensated for his time,
labor and ingenuity, although there is
always strong hope. Should the Go
vernment encourage invention by giving
it some suitable reward, it would not
only be doing its individual citizens
justice, but would be adding to its own
wealth, and to it's standing with other
nations.
No ono who is unacquainted with the
system of patents, and with inventors as
class, can we'll form even an approx.
mate idea of the impetus that would be
given to genius throughout the whole
country, by judicious distribution of
positive sums of money for the most
meritorious inventions or discoveries,
which may be made yearly. The past