Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-11
The Downfall OF the Great Sewing
Machine Combination.

noCuAhC
We gave yesterday an abstract of the i'm
portant report of the House COMMITTEES on
Patents, adverse to the application for an
extension of the Wilson patent for the "four
motion feed" used by various sewing ma
chine companies of the great monopoly com.
blnation. AS this is matter of interest TO
almost every household in the land, we give
below the full report OF the committee as
adopted by the House yesterday:
The memorlalist, Allen B. Wilson, on the
iZth day OF Novembef. 1850, obtained let
tiers patent covering the invention OF the
device for feeding sewing machines. These
letters patent were reissued in two parts
January I'D, 1856, aud December 9th, 1856
and at the expiration OF the term OF the let
tiers patent an extension thereof was granted
by the Commissioner of Patents for seven
years: The extension expired November
18th, 1871. So that for twenty one years Mr.
Wilson has had the benefit of the protection
OF the patent laws, and has been the recipi-
enI OF great advantages accruing therefrom
useful one, supplying a mechanical princi-
pie In the manufacture and use of sewing
machines, and had long been felt necessary to
thelr successful operation. Its value was at
once recognized, and by various arrange
ments with the inventor IL was adopte,l by
all the more important ard extensive 10 anu
factories in the United States, the inventor
becoming a stakeholder in one of them In
addition TO this, the several sewing machine
companies using this invention conceived
Inc idea OF forming combination for the
purpose of buying up and using for their
JOINT and sole benefit the several patents
which had been recognized as valuable tn
their trade. Their combined wealth enabled
them TO do this, and, ia king this invention
as basis, they did form an association
Known as the Sewing Machine Combination
Dy which they have succeeded in controlling
tne trade throughout tho United States for
many years.
The power thus consolidated in their hands
has been used oppresstvely and tyranically
in many instances; it has been able TO keep
the prices of the machines at an unusually
eXOrbitant figure; 1t has brought great
wealth to the companies aud individuals be-
longing TO IT; and IL has stified the growth of
a free and healthy competition, and by this
means has kept from the public other and
useful machines which could have been sold
at much less price.
Your committee are satisfied tn at the me-
morialist has been fully and amply recon-
pensed for ali his trouble and expense in the
invention and development of this device;
Indeed, from position OF comparative poy-
erty be has been raised by it not only to
conpe tency but TO wealth.
From the statistics furnished ms in the o.
animation of this subject it appears that
this sewing machine combination In one of
the companies of which Nc Wilso
was and is stakeholder, sold during
the year l0...............3f3,599 machines.
DITTO 1915. .H2,Sl3 ditto.
Ditto ISL. .3o9,j06 ditto.
Making total IFS 9i5 machines.
These machines are retailei to the public
al an average price OF S65, and it further ap-
sold, including reasonable profit, at 1920.
This combination in 1856 fixed the fee for
Licenses 10 use this and other patents owned
by IL, at s15; in 1860 1t was reduced to 81; in
1868 TO s., and in 1870 TO 80. In addition to
mis- pronts as stakeholder In one OF the "com-
blnation companies" Mr.. Wilson was en-
titled TO, and no DOUBT did receive, n portion
OF The royalties paid in license fees under tue
above scheme.
With one exception, which will expire
next year, all the patents INTRODUCED and
USED by this combination are at an end and
the motives for such q combination will end
with them; and then 1t Is believed that the
sale and manufacture OF sewing machines
trade now 80 great and extensive, affecting
directly almost every family In the land
Will be thrown open TO a free and healthy COM
petition, which cannot be but highly adyan-
taeeous TO the public.
Your committee are satisfied that the pub
lie have paid very heavily for said inven-
ton, and that the inventor has been fully
rewarded; and they therefore are of the opin-
lon that the pray er of the memorialist ought
not to be granted, and recommend that the
memorial do lie upon the table.
GOVERNMENT SUIT AGAINST A RAIL
RoAD.-A suit for $500 900 has been COM
menced In the United States district court ct
New York against the New York, New Ha-
ven and Hartford railroad for unpaid taxes
due the government.
~The corporation coutt Of Norfolk, Va,
foun6 Policeman James Hollywood guilty OF
ROOFING the Marine bank, and sentenced him
10 three yeara In the D0nftenfiaYv