The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-02-22
,mauons Tor the purpose or ralslna ra.s,s.

omauons Tor the purpose or raisins ratss.
The published story about the return of
the British minister to England Is denied by
authority. Mr.. West has but Just gathered
his family about him here, and Is so COM
fortably settled In his legation home that he
does not entertain any plans to travel for
! the present year. Last summer he and his
daughter went out with the Willard eXcur-
sion to the northwest, and continued their
trip to Victoria, in British Columbia.
sToRRs' PORK BILL.
Mr. StOrrs has drawn up his bill for pork
inspection and has explained IL To members
with results that he feels to be entirely sat
isfactOry;. The points of the bill are as fol-
the president whose duty it shall be to in
| spect as to the condition and quality of the
| livestock and hog products intended for
foreign shipment, this inspection not to be
compulsory; the inspection to bemade upon
the application of the packer or shipper and
In case of hog product at the place OF pack
ing, the eXpense of inspection to be paid by
the packer or shipper; the certificate of in
spection over his official seal as United
States Inspector to accompany the shipment.
| Speaker Carlisle favOrs the bill very deci-
dedly as does also Mr.. Reagan, chairman of
the committee on commerce. Mr.. StOrrs
says that the active support of every mem
Der of this committee can be secured within
|
ton Is not compulsory Obviates all cOnstit,i-
tiOnal difficulties. The inspection Is not mi
crOscOpic and 1t is to cover all forms of hog
product.
AN IMPORTANT BILL.
An important bill TO the farmers of the
country, introduced by Senator Voorhees,, is
one to protect innocent purchasers of pat
ented articles. 1t provides that 1t shall be a
valid defense to any action for an infringe
ment of any patent or any suit or proceed
ing to enjoin any person from the use of a
patented article, that the defendant therein,
or his assignOr, purchased the patented arti-
cleS for use or consumption, and not for sale
or exchange, In good faith and in the usual
course OF trade, without notice that the same
was covered by a patent, or without notice
that the seller had no right to sell such arti-
Gle; and in all such cases notice received af-
| ter such purchase shall not have the effect to
impair in any way the right of such purcha-
ser as absolute owner. The object of the
bill more directly is to protect the purchases
of the barbed-wire fence and the driven
well. The owners of these patents, it is
charged, have eXacted royalty from innocent
purchasers, and hundreds of farmers have
acceded to such exactiOns rather than worry
over q lawsuit.
PosTMAsTERs' SALARIES.
! The attorney general has rendered an
opinion in regard to the construction of the
| act of March 3, 1888, relative to the adjust
lnent of pOStmaSterS' salaries. He holds
that in all cases in which il appears from the
| biennial reimbursement of the salaries of post
masters of the third fourth, or fifth class
that they receive 10 per cent. or more less
than they would have received in commits
siOns under the act of 1854, they are entitled
under the act of March 8, 1888, to the differ
ence between what was paid them and what
they would have received as commissions
under the act OF 1854. He also holds it was
not the intention of congress by the acts of
1864 and 1866 to dispense with biennial re-
adjustments. 1t follows that the claimant,
under the act of March 3, 1883, must show
that acts subsequent to that of 1854 deprived
him OF III per cent or more OF what he
would have received If those statutes had
not been enacted, and he been compensated
on the basis of the act of 1854. This Opin-
ion OF the attorney general Is in harmony
with the construction given these statutes
by the department.
THE FOUNDRY BOARD.
The foundry board has submitted its re-
port to the secretary OF the navy. 1t does
not recommend the establishment of a gov
ernment foundry, but thinks that steel man
ufacturers should be called upon to provide
material and recommends the establishment
of two gun factories under the control of
Watervliet arsenals, West Troy, N. Y, be
selected as the site for the army gun factory
and the Washington navy-yard, District of
Columbia, as the site for the navy gun fac
tory. The, report concludes as follows:
1.-THE fact that the United States Is destitute
of the means of fabricating modern guns,
so urgently needed for national defense, and
that at least three years will be required to
complete tools, construct shops, and estab-
fish the plant, would seem to demand an
immediate appropriation of the 81 5000 600
estimated for the establishment of the
proposed gun factories. In describing the
trip abroad, the board states that the request
made by the latter to be permitted to visit
the Krupp gun establishment in Prussia was
refused"
BIsMARCK's INSULT.
The American legation at Berlin has no
information regarding the reported return
by Bismarck of the resolution of coincidence
over Herr Lasker adopted by the house of
representatives. The Tagblatt hopes that
spOnsible for the acts of Bismarck.
The state department. at Washington has
no information that Bismarck has returned
the resolutions on Herr Lasker's death.
Secretary Frelinghuysen has telegraphed to
the minister at Berlin for information. The
secretary is inclined to doubt the report.
The New York Stats Zetung says: Bis
marck probably looks with contempt upon
the conduct of political affairs in this coun-
try, and we regret to say there Is cause for
such views. He evidently relishes the OPP
pOrtunity for the expression of his contempt.
Perhaps he thought to thus influence the
German nation against the United States,
which has proved a refuge against misery.
We doubt whether he will succeed. We
should not give Bismarck cause for contempt
by treating his insult with Indifference. In
every measure the United States may take
TO defend the dignity of the country against
the insolence and malice Of the German gov
eminent IT will have the full support of the
German-Americans."