The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-02-10
Washington Letter

" ASuiNGTON, ID. o., req. D. lSo',
The senate made such progress With the
| tariff bill last week that those VINO have
been least hopeful OF its passage in con-
gress have taken heart again. On the de-
mocratic side of the chamber the impres.
sion seems to prevail that the senate may
pass the BIZ! by the last of next week, prob.
ably not until the very last day ot the
week. The stubborn contests ina, have
marked the committee Of the whole on Ter
tam provisions will be renewed in the sen.
ate when the bill shall have been reported
back. The amendment placing lumber on
the free list will, perhaps, be opposed Will,
even more vlgor than it was in committee.
The iron schedule and the sundrics also
contain provisions which will lead to re-
newed debate, and, upon the whole, !. the
hill gets through the senate thi. week no
doubt Its friends will be satisfied ..
The tariff debate In congress shows con
clusively that local interests, after all, excr
else powerful influence upon the minds
and votes of congressman. The tariff re
former, who n a general way declares
himself in favor OF reductions. halts When
some production OF his own state 's
reached, and when It comes to vote he Is
found on the side OF protection as tar n
that production or industry IN which h''
constituents are interested Is concerned,
The ten or fifteen thousand government
clerks are having hard time ut 1t this
winter. FIRST came the civi! service oil
which proposes an examination t(
weed ont the most ill,Cratc Of them; mex
Secretary Foiger's rules, which requlrcc
them to be at their desks By nine O'Clock
or 10 forfeit, part of their pay; and last and
worst bill has been formulated Ill con
qress which enacts that they must get &c
work at 5 so a. N. and work until a:3o +
In. You may be sure there is wailing ano
oJjurgation in the hearts and on the lips
of thousands Of saiarled employees, but NJ
designations have yet occurred. No reSig
Inalions will occur. The government woi
lis far behind hand ut thousands OF desks
and It much better 10 have il expedited o.
imposing additional hours on these over
paid, pampered, idle clerks than by em
, p,oy ing an additional force rs has peer
the custom of the republican party. From
& 80 A. N. to a:;;0 y. NJ. would not be con
\ sidered m onerous days work by soverS
millions more competent but not as wei
paid clerks III the country. Business II
d,sgraccfully neglected especially IN I'M
liz. s. patent office. This office Is not onl.
supported 10y the fees paid by inventor
flor patents, but it yields q large yearly sur
ylus to the U. :. treasury. Yet II Is no
| uncommon for an inventor to have u wal
o from two to six months before his inHcn
ton can be examined and passed upon
Over one hundred examiners are appoint
i ed for this work and by proper industr.
@ and attention to the duties for which the,
i arc paid with the inventors money, tue
= could easily keep the work up to date
That this is far from impossible is prove
u by some few OF the examiners who 40 II
Sc and have time to spare; bit the majority
knowing well that they hold their place
q" by political favor, are, as rule, IDLE an
lneglectful. spending the time during Quo
Is hours IN reading newspapers, gossipin
"a and talking politics The number OF ny
I, plications for patents last month was erea
or than was ever made in any previou
month, the receipts of the patent ono
k amounting TO over $4,000. The commi'
e sioner of patents has asked for IN increas
lof force and room; but what is the use {
increasing his force when he cannot max
g. those employed work more than halt thel
d timer Tie commissioner himself hold
I Ibis position not from fitness, but by poll
ical Influence; many II the exam'n'ne'