The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-04-01
FORTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, March 81.
Mr.. Platt called up for the purpose Of maxi
ing some remarks on it, his bill providing for
the organization of the patent Office into sep
arate department. He adduced many consid.
eratlons to show the necessity for oraaniEa-
tion OF the patent office, for increase in its
working force or larger accommodation for the
transaction of business. To illustrate the
oveIerowded condition of business at the
present time, he said that if man invented
new machine relating TO agriculture it would
take eight months before his application
could be passed upon. He attached no blame
to the pafenf otica employees or the Depart
ment Of the Interior, but he insisted that the
inventors Of the country were entitled to bet
ter treatment than under the present system
1t was possible to give them. They have con-
friDuted more than any other class to the
wealth, prosperity and progress of our couu-
try. The patent office was the only depart.
ment OF the government that absolutely paid
its own way and instead of continuing the
practice Of small appropriations, cramped
quarters and defective system that threw
encouragement in their way, there should be
large and liberal appropriations, ample work
ing room and sufficient staff of experts to
dispose promptly and judlciously of all appli.
cations that may be sent in.
On conclusion OF Mr.. Patts remarks the
Senate wentinto executive session, and when
the doors were reopened adjourned.
HOUSE.
In the House this morning Mr.. Beach of
New York, from the committee on public
health, reported back the resolution directing
that the committee investigate the question OF
the adulteration of food and drugs
Mr.. Browne of Indiana thought that the
adulteratlon of food should be regulated by
States.
Mr.. Cox of New York called attention to
the fact that while before the war but 800 bills
would be presented to Congress in q year, at
this session 1000 had been already introduced.
Congress was taken in everything. Congress
had no right to be perpetually interfering
with local matters, aud he objected TO the
microscopic bills brought in for the purpose of
getting ihg aarplus out of the Treasury. He
moved TO lay the resolution on the table,. The
motion was lost, yeas III, nays f24, and then
on motion of Mr.. Cox the resolution was re-
committed, yeas lit, nays 116.
Several bills and resolutions we're intro:
duced, among them one by Mr.. Finnerty OF
Illinois, a joint resolution declaring "that the
thanks of Congress are due and are hereby &C
corded to United States Minister Sargent for
the faithful and dignified manner in which he
has discharged the duties Of the office while
representing the interests of this republic
while at the court of the German empire"
Another by Mr. Kasson of Iowa, bill to re-
peal the internal revenue tax and the distilla-
ton of apples and peaches.
By Mr.. Nichols of Georgia, a resolution re-
citing the fact of the Cincinnati hot, and ask
ing that committee of investigation be APP
pointed.
The bill retiring the trade dollar was then
taken up, and MIR. Bland of Missouri took the
floor in opposition TO the bill. and especially to
that section which provides that the trade dol
lars received at the coinage mints shall be- re-
gsrded as silver bullion, aud, at bullion value,
shall be deducted from the amount of bullioR
required to be purchased and coined by the act
of Feb. 28Gh, 1878
Messrs. Miller Of Texas and Lacy OF Michi-
gan, supported the bill, the latter saying how
ever, that he would vote against it If the
fourth section, which provides that trade dol.
lars shall be deducted from the monthly coin
age of silver, was stricken out Without ac-
ton the matter went over.
Robert Smalls of South Carolina appeared at
the bar of the House and took the oath of
Office as representative to succeed the late e.
w. Nj. Mackey. Adjourned.