New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-08
BENEFITS OF PATENT LAWS.
ADDRESS By PROF. JAMES A. wHIrNFY BEFORE TIL
SOCIETY or PRACTICAL ENGINEERING.

ADDRESS By PROF. JAMES A. WIIIINfY BEFORE THE
SOCIETY or PRACTICAL ENGINsERING.
The annual meeting of the NewY0rk Society
Of Practical Engineering opened last evening at
Room No. "a Of the Cooper Institute The annual address
WAS delivered by Prof James A. Whney, the President
Of the Society. Tie subject was The relation OF Patent
Laws ~ American Agriculture Arts, and Industries"
The address very long. The subject was further
discussed by John W. Sutton ard Dr. Horato d. sLep-
pard, the former taking issue with the statements Of
Charles Rcade, the English novelist, in his letters
Copyright, in which he places the author hisser
plane than the inventor. The speaker claimed that the
inventor greater man in every way than the
author and in his cree approached nearer the Deity
than all Others The chief points Of Prof Whitneys adj
dress we've as follows:
On June ., 1875, one OF tho great political parties Of
the country in its State Convention in Ohio and under
the influence OF the Granger movement, committed iiscl
resolution demanding such revision Of the Patent
laws would relieve industry from the oppression Of
morDpOes" This resolution at the outset that
the Patent laws have proved oppressive TO industries
without adducne any arguments 10 prove its correctness.
An oppressive monopoly is that which takes away from
the rbic something that the public before enjoyed TIE
law expressly forbds the Issue Of patent except
10 some one who has cseatcd a and u7-
ful Improvement in some art or manufacture.
II simply protects the inventor for limited time in the
possession Of what except for him, would have lad
existence The principle ~ the same a. thi which pc
tects AL property except that the inventor Las less plO
lection than other person Who creates property. n
the law OF patents has wrOnged amy class Of Or
tarded industry IL places TIC poor AT the mercy OF
the rch it should be repealed But ] believe end con-
nd that grade ~ society and all clf Of
have been benefited BY the Patent laws that the prog
OF every industry has been accelerated by them
that natural resources have yielded rlmdrcd or .
tIousand Oh than would have been possible with
them, and that they afford today the diest meas
whereby poor man Inay rise TO alluence and position,
and add to the wealth u the aircuJrist than
TO the wealth OF the manufacturer.
The reasoning which wond destroy the rights OF
the inv ntOr in his patent would destroy The title deeds
the farmers homestead his right to the exclusive
ownership Of The profits of his c0rnhed. The right Is
lnnisercd can be productive cniy OF good results what
right I'm principle Is always night in practice, and the
their propricty element OF National policy. There
are thousands II in this country who led by the
promised rewards Of the Patent laws, hao educated
themselves to invention II the Patent laws We're re
pcard this education of men 10 the special work OF
proving arts and industries would cease.
MEMORIAL MONUMENT OF THE POET REUTER-
Yesterday was the second day of the Plat
deusche festivities at schi,zen Park, Union Hin, n j.
very largo number of persons attended. The earle
part OF the day taken up with gynastio exercises
and acrobatic fcats Toward evcrng occurred the
important feature OF the dayhe laying q. the founda
ton stone of q monument TO the Low Dutch p,et,
Fritz Reuter- who died last year. He vGs born
in ROstOck, Mcc1lonbTg, about I'LL. lis poems
ter The discOntnuance of that dialect in literature foI
humorons The memorial which his country r1en viii
erect his memory, Union Hl, viii consist of a
~ the poet in brsnze, larger than f-2e upon
granite pedestal fee; 1gh Major Busch. Who AID
poetic manuscrpts sent by his widow, and c5ries OF TIC
New-York papers. Mr.. Busch then introduced r. T..
stephan, who delivered an Grafton On Renter.
To-day tie German singing soci.te. Of SevYOrk and
the neighborhood viii Nst the Pax, where they VII
by wedding IN the Low Dutch style In model German
cottage.