Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-20
THE FoRTY-FIFrH CONGRESS.

THE FoRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
The Senate.
| NATURALIZATION.
WASHINGTON, Dec. ia communication was
received from Davenport, supervisor of cleo
| tions at New York. suggesting amendments If
the naturalization laws. Referred.
| JUaoRs' eArHs.
Senator Christiancy reported substitute fol
the bill of Senator Beck to repeal certain sec
! tions Of the revised statutes. The substitute
| provides test oath for jurors. Ordered print.
ed and placed on the calendar.
| Senator Beck gave notice he would call the
| bill for consideration tomorrow.
MAIL TRANSPORTATION DEFICIENCY.
! Senator Dorsey, from the committee on APP
| preparations. reported fayorably on the House
| bill to provide for deficiency in the transpor-
tation of mails by railroad.
The House bill appropriating $4,000 for
transportation of mails by railroads was
| passed.
Senator Mcdonald introduced bill to reim-
burse several States for interest paid on war
leans and for other purposes. Referred
CONFERENCE.
The Vice President appointed as the confer
ence committee on the part of the Senate on
the ratification appropriation bill, Senators
Window, Allison and Nithers, and On the con-
tors Window, Dorsey and Wallace. Of Pennsyl-
vania.
RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Senator Davis, West Virginia, introduced a
bill making an appropriation to improve the
Little Kanawaha river in West Virginia. Re-
felred.
ARMY REoRdAsIzeTIoN.
Senator Burnside took the floor to explain
the provision of the bill recently reported
from the joint committee, for the reorganiza.
tion of the army. He said the officers of the
army were law abiding men, and while they
might disagree to regulation and customs,
always obeyed the law. Nearly all the troubles
between the staff and lins had arisen from the
uncertainty to regulations of the SERVICE
and it was for the purpose of turning them
into laws that the committee had engrafted nu-
merous army regulations in the bill. The COM
mission tried to keep in view both the efficiency
and economy Of the service. Hequoted at length
from the bill, and said it was likely that in q
few years hence some of the cavalry regiments
might be changed to infantry reg ments, and
thus the expense Of the service be decreased
Referring to the provision forbidding further
manufacture of arms by the ordnance depart
ment, he said he thought it was calculated to
stimulate the invention Of arms throughout the
country 1t had been said by opponents of the
bill that it curtailed the power of the secretary
of war; He denied ti,at such was the
case. In no way did it abridge the powers
of that officer. The general in chief had no
power to appoint staff officers. The bill pro-
vides that they shoulG be appointed }y the
President upon the recommendation os the
commanding general, and he (Burnside) knew
L1Ato ,+ol
pointments than the commanding general of
the army. In the earliest days of the govern
ment the secretary of war not considered u
part of the army. He had always been con-
sidered q civil officer.
In conclusion Senator Burnside said he was
satisfied some system of reform was necessary
and should be made at this time.
The bill was then laid aside.
DISTRICT BONDS.
Senator Dorsey then called up the House bill
and amendments of June 30th, 1878, to fix the
rate of interest on bonds authorized by said
act, to be issued by the commissioners of the
District Of Columbia and for other purposes
Bill passed, % to 16.
PATENTS.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the bill to amend statistics in relation to
patents, and Senator Window gave notice that
he would hereafter submit the following as an
additional section:
In any suit brought in any court now having
jurisdiction in patent cases for an alleged in
fringement of any patented article or discov-
cry. where it shall appear that the defendant
purchased the same from the manufacturer
thereof or from the person or firm engaged in
the operation, sale, or practical application
thereof, oc that he manufactured or applied
the same for and to his own use, and not for
sale nor for making product for sale, if the
plaintiff shall recover judgment for merely
nominal damages. the court shall adjudge that
and if the plaintiff shall not recover
the sum of 800 or over, the court shall ad fudge
him to pay his own costs, unless it shall also
appear that defendant at the time of such pur-
chase, manufacture or practical application
had knowledge actual notice of the exist
ence of such patent. and that such purchase
manufacture or practical application was an
infringement of the rights of plaintiff
Laid over to be submitted hereafter.
Senator Davis, Of Illinois, said the bill before
the Senate was calculated in manly respects to
effect improvements in the patent laws. He
spoke OF the present imperfections in the pat
ent laws and the difficulties which inventors as
we'll as consumers, were subjected to. He SUBJ
mitted an amendment to the first section of
the bill:
That if any suit instituted in any one cir
cult court of the United States as to the i1ity
of patent, shall be determined upon final
hearing, any other circuit court may recognize
said decision, and in its discretion grant in
functions based thereon, to continue pending
in an appeal to the supreme court of the first
suit, and it the validity of any such patent has
been decreed against in suit instituted in any
once circuit court, any other circuit court may,
IN It's discretion, grant stay of proceedings in
any United States court brought under said
patent of any appeal to the supreme court in
said suit"
BLAINEs' COMMITTEE.
Pending discussion, the Vice-President an
nounced as the select committee to enquire
whether the constitutional rights of citizens
were invalid in the recent elections in accord
ance with the resolution of Senator Blaine
adopted Tuesday: Senators Teller Cameron
(Wis.) Kirkwood. Mitchell, Plumb, Bayard,
Wallace, Bailey and Garland.
Senator Mitchell asked to be excused and
said in Justice to himself and his constituents,
he could not serve on the committee. Besides
he could not serve on account of sickness in
his family. He was in full sympathy with the
investigation, however.
Senator Plumb said ii was impossible for
him to serve, and asked to be excused.
Both Senators We're excused but no appoint-
nlents made fill the vacancies.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
patent bill, and Senator Christiancy spoke at
| length of the imperfections in our patent laws
but was unable to conclude his remarks to-day.
On motion of Senator Wadleigh further con-
sideration of the patent bill was postponed un.
| til Tuesday, Jan. Z.
The Vice President appointed Hoar mem.
| Der of the select committee under Blaine's res.
olution in place of Mitchell. declined. and Nc.
MILAN member in place of Plumb, declined.
| Senator Teller, chairman of the select com.
mittee submitted resolution authorizing the
committee to employ such clerks and stenog-
| raphers as may be necessary.
CENSUS.
! Senator Voorhees, submitted a resolution in