Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-11-20
WASHINGTON BREEZES.
MR.. BELL AND HIS TELEPHONE
The Case Becoming so-Long that the At.
torneys are Requested to he Brief
Commander Sicard's report
other Washington News.

WASHINGTON, Nov. BIN the telephone
case to-day the secretary expressed pre-
ference for aiIidavits rather than oral eX-
pert testimony Mr. Starrow expressed a
wish to put in an affidavit by an expert
Touching this the secretary said The case
would resolve itself into u question of eX-
pert testimony and no doubt both sides
could produce evidence to sustain their
respective cases. The counsel for the Bell
company express ,ed desire to examine
and test the models submitted 10y the other
SIDE, and long discussion took place be
tween the opposing counsel as to the Gus
tody OF the models. The secretary finally
interrupted and said that he was much
pressed by official matters, and another
important case would come ND for argu-
lnent on Monday and the case should be
settled by that time. He believed that
three hours ought to suffice
Mr.. Young said the case had assumed an
Importance far greater than he had con-
templated when it began. Mr.. Starrow
SAID the counsel had consulted together
and regarded it as utterly impossible to
make arguments in three hours. There
were charges OF corrupt practice and
fraud that required attention. Finally
| the secretary decided to allow the Bell
| pert afhdavits. The other side would he
allowed sufficient time to reply, and the
arguments must begin tomorrow. When
the hearing was resumed Mr.. BakeWell
who was counsel for the defence in the
Plttsburg case, made a statement touch
Ing the proceedings in that case. He said
the court had declined to 90 into question
of the validity of the Bell patent Mr.
Blackwell had offered to prove that the
RelSS instrument would transmit speech
and the court said if that could be
shown he would refuse an Injunction
but on second thought said that that
point would make no difference. Mr..
DickerSon pointed out that Bakewell' s
statement placed the Plttsburg court in
IL very disagreeable night. He appealed to
Mr. BLACKWELL to recall the facts and try
to remember whether Judge Mckcnnon
had not said that if Starrow would ac-
knowledge that the Reiss telephone would
transmit speech, then he would deny the
injunction and that Starrow had declined
to make any such admission. Blackwell
admitted that some such statement had
! been made but said it referred to another
occasion and he persisted in his first state
meut The hearing was adjourned until
tomorrow when it is intended to present
the remaining atlidavlts and begin argu-
mentS.
Report Of the National soldiers Home.
" ASHINNlO 4NONclllDcG IJ.-I ne an
nual report of the president of the board
of commissioners of the Soldiers home
for the period from October !, 1854. to Sep
TENDER 80, lSSj, shows that one hundr, ii
and nInety.two DISCHARGED soldiers re
ctiNed their original admission to the
nome during the year for which this re
port Is made, which is one less than ne
number admitted last year SiNty-tNVO OF
/ nt MI
enlisted men n the army, and the remain
ing 40 were entitled to admission by dis
abilities incurred in the service The re-
port says there has been Il very great lit
crease IN drunkenness among the inmates
during the year, the cause for which is
laid by the governor to the existing law
tor the disposition of the pension money
OF the inmates. About one-terth of the
pensioners assign their pensions to rtla-
tlVes. The other nine-tenths on whose ac-
count more than $4,000 is paid out quar-
terly to the treasurer of the home are
permitted to draw small sums from time
to time,
The Inspector Generals Report.
WAsHINGTON, Nov. 13-Inspector Gen
eral Davis in his annual report says that
the inspection of many accounts shows
that the funds of the army, so far as dis
covered, have been faithfully disburscd
lue ucdlth Oh the troops Is reported to
have been generally good AT majority
OF the posts mucn time and attention had
been given to instruction of troops result
ing in marked improvement in drill and
in knowledge of tactics and the improve
ment made in rite practice is highly com
menlable The light and field artillery
mas not kept pace III improvement with
mat OF small arms batteries.
Commander Sicard's Report.
WASHINGTON, Nov. ID Commander
Montgomery Sicard, chief of the bureau
of ordnance of the navy department, in
his annual report submits estimates for
the expenses Of the next fiscal year
amounting TO S3,45S, So. He desires a
modern armament for the third rate ships
recently built, which he says are in the
most important respects good examples
OF modern vessels The purchase OF Il
swift torpedo boat from one of the celebra-
j.