The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-18
THE HOUSE.
An Appropriation of $1,OOO,OOO Passed for
the ImproVement of the Mississippi.

the Improvement of the Mississippi.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17-The Speaker laid be-
fore the House a message from the President
transmitting from the Secretary of the State of
Pennsylvania communication rendering the
United States Marine Hospital, at Erie, Pa, as
soldiers and sailors home Referred
Mr. Morse by request, introduced bill re-
pealing the duty on the extract of hemock and
other barks used in tanning. Referred.
Mr. Beach offered resolution calling upon
the Postmaster general for all reports and pa
pers referring to the starroute investigation
made by special agents during 1881.
Mr. Skinner, of New York objected.
Mr. Beach called attention to the fact that the
objection came from the Republican side.
Mr. Skinner said he did not object for the pur-
pose of defeating the resolution, but thought it
should go to a committee. Referred to the com
mittee on expenditures in the Department of
Justice.
Mr. Springer, chairman of the committee on
expenditures in the Department of Justice, re-
ported back the resolution calling on the Post
master general for correspondence concerning
frauds in star-routes. Adopted
Mr. Cox, of North Carolina, from the committe
foreign affairs, reported the resolution request
ing the President to transmit to the House the
correspondence relative to the condition of
things in Mexico since the proposed railway con
necllOn Win The OlnIeu OLaboS also. the relation
of the boundary between Mexico and Guatema
la Adopted. .',
Mr. Robinson of New York from the commit
tee on pensions reported.the bill pensoning the
surviving grandchild of Thomas Jefferson.
Placed on the private calendar.
The regular order being demanded the Speak
er announced it to be on the motion made yes
terday by Mr.. Hiscock to commit the senate
bill appropriating 81, 100000 for continuing Che
improvement on the Mississippi river to the com
mttee ON rivers and harbors with instructions
to report back with an amendment restricting
the expenditure of money TO Plum Point and
Lake Providence reaches, except where neces-
sary to protect works already begun.
The motion was lost-yeas III, nays 162.
Mr.. White, of kentucky, moved to commit
the bill, with instructions, to the committee on
rivers and harbOrs not to report back until the
Secretary of War had furnished an itemized ac-
count of the expenditures for the improve
ment of the Mississippi river from July l. 1879
to Jan. Is, 1884 Lost.
The yeas and nays were called, and the bill
passed-yeas 2l5, nays 81.
The House bill of similar title and import was
laid on the table.
The following is the negative vote on the pas
sage of the bill Adams of Illinois, Anderson,
Atkinson, Barr, Bingham, Boutelle, Bowen,
Brown of Pennsylvania, Brunm, Camp
bell of Pennsylvania. Chaee Collins,
Connolly, Dingew, Eldridge Elliott
Ermentrout, Everhart, Fielder Geddes,
Harmer, Hiscock, Howey, James, Johnson
Kelley Lacey, Lawrence, Lefevre, Long, Lover
ing, McComas, Mckinley Willard Miller of
Pennsylvania, Millikin, Morey, Morse, Mutcher
ONeil of Pennsylvania, Parker Patton, Per
kins, Peters, Poland Ranney, Ray of New York,
Reed, Rice, Robinson of Ohio, Russell, Skinner
of New York, Smith, Steele, Storm, Taylor of
Ohio Waite Warner of Ohio, Weaver, White of
Kentucky, Whiting and York-64.
The House then proceeded to the considera-
ton of the calendar The first bill was amend
i'm, Of ba att,ta 70
provide that when an article had been patented
in foreign country, previously to obtaining
patent in the United States, the patent granted
in this country shall not expire until
of the foreign patent. In speaking
to the bill. Mr.. Anderson said that probably
three fourths of the monopolies of countries
were fortified behind the patent system of the
United States, and he wished to have it under
stood that he was heartily in favor of giving the
American inventor such period of time to
give him full generous reward for his labor
and genius, but, on the other hand, he was in
favor of drawing the line between that and the
ability given to crystalline monopolies. II
question whether the patent system should not be
looked after well the altitudinous tariff
system. Some years ago patent was taken out
on instruments for transmitting Geographic
messages by the Morse system. His impression
was that investigation will show the ability
of the Western Union Telegraph Company to
wear out their opponents who had rested on the
question of the patent of the Morse instrument.
Mr.. Rice thought Mr. Andersons speech big
explosion and little powder. Hereafter the com
mittee on patents will be happy to discuss with
the gentleman from Kansas the patent laws IN
connection with monopoles. Now it was not
necessary.
Mr. Cox, of New York, offered an amendment
providing that the act shall not apply to any
patent now in existence, or to an application
now pending, or have the effect of extending the
time and duration of patents under existing
laws Adopted
Mr. Holman moved to reconmt the bill with
Instructions to report back with the provision