Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-11-27

The Question of Paying the Crew
Of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Statement In Regard to Leprosy
important Rule in Regard to
Patents--Affecting Story of a
Veteran Who Came to Washing
ton After an Office.
WASHINGTON. d. c., Nov. 25-The
fourth auditor of the treasury, has
sent the secretary Of the navy a letter
n reference to the pay of the crew of
the Arctic steamer Jeanette, which
shows that the United States paid
these men the sum of $20,555, and
there remained due them a balance
amounting to 1924, which latter sum
may be affected by future legislation
Of by new evidence. The letter was
sent for the information Of the secre-
tary of the navy that he may take such
action as he sees fit. Secretary Whit
ney mas not considered the subject
Yet.
The State department was Informed
by cable from Madrid yesterday that
he Spanish government consented to
-xtend the time for putting a higher
Iuty on American straw paper until
February, to give American manufac-
turers a chance to show the injustice
tha; was being done on the Island of
Cuba by putting a higher duty on their
paper than is imposed on the same
paper made in Europe.
Consul General Putnam, at Honolu.
la, has sent to the department Of State
IN exhaustive article on the subject Of
Ieprosy, written by DR.. Geo. L. Fitch,
who. the consul-general says, has en-
3joyed opportunities ~Youchsafed to few
TO become thoroughly acquainted with
the malady. For years he had charge
Of the government hospital and leper
settlement on the island of MolOkalu.
DR.. Fitch believes himself justified in
saying that leprosy is hereditary and
can not be communicated by one per-
son to another.
The commissioner of patents, in a
recent decision has laid down the fol-
lowing important rules for the con-
luct of interference proceedings in
patent cases: "First, in inter-
ference proceedings, where neither
applicant will, under rule 3, be pre-
sumed the first inventor and priority
awarded him. Second, In such cases
where the invention in controversy lie
disclosed in the application of the
senior applicant, priority cannot be
awarded the junior applicant, ever
though such senior applicant expressly
lisclaims, for the present, any claim
for a patent for such disputed inven-
lions. Third, In such interference
priority must be awarded such senior
applicant, Notwithstanding the
ath of the junior applicant dis
closes the fact that he has
received a British patent for
mis- invention which antedates the
line of filing either application.
Yesterday an old soldier, accom-.
panied by a boy, applied at the police
headquarters for assistance. He was
without money and hungry. On
questioning, it was a~scertained that !
MS name was John Kenny, ifty.6ve%
years old, an old soldier with eight
honorable discharges from the United
States army. He had Travelled all the
way from Arizona with his boy.
thirteen years of age, paying his way
ION the cars-$60 for himself and SIS
for boy-in order to make
application for a place of watch.
man. He thought, after hav.
ng served the government so long
and faithfully, he ought to have
some place in recognition for his Gdel-
Pity. He had left a wife and three
children in Arizona to get along the
leSt w%ay'they could, with only $25 to
furnish them with subsistence during
mis- absence to get a watchman's place
In this district, when he proposed to
send for them. The nan and bow
were sent to the alms-house to ecuper-
ate. They will then be sent home.
The officer detailed to look after poor
"ayfarers or crazy persons. says that
here are many similar cases,
Official returns recently made of the
forest Lands of the German empire, a
'ynopsis of which has been transmit. 4
Jed by Consul Harper, at Munich, tol
the secretary of State, shows an in. |
cteaSe since 1878 of l52, 546 acres of
forest, a result brought about by re-
planting and wooding commons and
waste lands.