New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-06-16
FLASHING TON.


ARGUMENTS BEFORE THE COMMISSIONER or
PATENTS ON THE STEEL QUEsUOS-THE
DECISION REsERyID-gHE NETWORK GEN.
TRIAL SCRIP CASE TO BE DECIDED NEXT
WEEK-ANOTHER CASE FOR TIE PENSsfL-
WANNA CENTRAL.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRlBUsRi
wAsHEGToN. Thursday, June is, 1871
Commissioner Legeett h,afd to-day, arguments both
In favor and against TIE extension OF the patent OF VIM
Kelley Of Kentucky for purifying iron by forcing up and
through 1t atmospheric air vLile it Is in molten state
Previous TO the discovery, hch Mr.. Kelley claims TO
have made iron was purin ny blowing air over the
surface Of the melted MEAL but this process always
chilled the iron and to keep 1t in fluid state, IL
necessary to heat by tie Of fuel Mr. Kelley claims
TO have discovered that ithe Introduction Of the pipe,
conveying the compressed air, below the surface
OF the melted iron united the oxygen
of the air with the carbon IN the ron and produced
combustion sufficiently rapid TO generate heat enough TO
the iron In its melted ate. thus saving from -
10 50 on every tun Of purified IRON in the cost Of fuel
alone. The Mushet and Bcssmer processes for making
steel similar in principle 10 the Kelley process OF
purifying iron and the American patent OF Bessemer
though dated short time prior to the Kelley patent in
1851 was applied for after MI Kelley had applied for his
The Commissioner at that time decided that the Besse-
process In the nature OF an improvements IN the
application Of Keleys process, and that neither inter
fered with the other The Mushe and Bessemer patents
have already expired, ana Tue bppncatiohs W feno"
them were denied the ground that the Inventors
had already, Il not in this country, at least
in England, been amply repaid for their invention
Counsel for Mr. Kelley set forth that though the first
patent this process issued years ago. the In
ventor not through any neglect bis part has ~ yet
failed reap from 1t any great benefit and that In h
attempts introduce it, he las expended large sums Of
money which have never In any way been returned 20
him. The process is almost universally used for
making wrought iron TIE remonstrants are numerous
railroad companies and iron manufacturers, the latter
principally from Pennsylvania. They requested that the
Commissioner would hear the case personally
and attempted to charge the Examiner to
whom the case had been submitted with
unfarness to deny that Mr. Kelley the inventor Of
the process urge that the public interest required
that renewal Of the patent lie refused The reply OF
the petitioners exOnerated tie Examiner, and seemed To
meet all objections As the decision may be withheld
until the 22d inst, the Commissioner took the papers and
reserved his Judgment This case is OF the greatest i'm
portance not only all iron and steel manufacturers
but also to all who in any way make OF steel and
bar iron In largo quantities. Is the only remaining
patent on the pneumatic process Of decarbonizng ron
Commissioner Pleasonon says that Immediately after
rendering the decision in the NewYOrk Central Scrip
case he ordered the Collector 70 proceed with the eoec
ton Of the tax That order he has cogaermanded
and therefore tell why the tax has NOT been col
lected He certainly has not authorized any delay On
the other hand It is stated that the delay " caused by
death In the family Of Assistant Solicitor Robinson. who
was thus compelled to leave the city just prior to the re-
turn of the E. c. Banfeld the Solicitor from the
West Mr.. Robinson's researches among authorities,
as to the power Of any one 70 make an appeal
to the Secretary from the decision Of the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue had not been carried far a. to
enable the Solicitor TO make use OF them Mr. Banfeld
u.s. therefore, now going over the whole ground on the
question at ISSUE and expects TO reach final deterpina
ton respecting the early next week. All this how
ever does not show by what authority the Collector dis
egards the order OF the Commissioner.
1t is reported here that Pennsylvania Central Rail
road Company is negotiating for the purchase OF the
Washington and Ohio Railroad, short branch b miles
in length, extending from this city and Alexandra
westward, on the south side Of the Potomac River 10
Hamilton Va. 1t is understood to be the intention OF
the Pennsylvania Company to extend this road to
junction with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, after the
Point OF Rocks branch is finished.
Mr. Jesse Grant, Postmaster at CovingtOn. KY, and
father OF the President arrived here this morning and 10
at the White House. An amusing scene occurred at the
Ninthst door Of the Interior Department this morning,
when Mr. Grant attempted to pass In before the hour at
which visitors are admitted. The aged door-keepef
knew only what his orders and politely but firmly
informed Mr. Grant that, no matter who he wa, he
could not go Mr.. Grant is rapidly losing bis sight
Mr. Geo. B. Chenowith the new Disbursing Officer Of
the Post-Odice Department has been to-day preparing
to file his bonds and will probably enter upon his duties
tomorrow Saturday.
Frank Hay and VIM. H. Williams have been appointed
Appraisers Merchandise ia the NewYork Appraisers
Office The Hon. E. d. French is again confined TO his
house by sickness.
The papers filed with the Judge Advocate General in
reference to OF soldiers by general courts
martial show that In the army has not decreased
within the past four years.
George b. Williams Chief of the Financial Division Of
the Internal Revenue Bureau, is engaged In taking
count OF the internal stamps and other stock
hand and otherwise settling up the business OF his d.
VISION preparatory to starting out with clean sheet at
the beginning Of the next fiscal year.
GENERAL PRESS DLsPATCH.l