Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-09-02
Correspondence of the Beacon


WAsHINGToE, Aug. 80, 1886.
Messrs. Editors One of the bus
lest departments under the Govern
ment is the Patent Office. The amount
Of work that is done by this depart
meut can be appreciated only by a
trip through the Office and an expla.
nation Of the details. In the past
twenty-five years the granting Of pat
ents has grown to an extent that is
astonishing, and indicates what pro-
gress is be;ug made in the sciences BY
Young America. For the first forty
six years after It's organization the
number of patents issued averaged
~uly two hundred and'ffty per year,
but the Office lie now issuing patents
at the rate Of FIVE hundred week, or
twice as many in one week az it for
merly issued in year. The total
number issued up to this date Is
3G4 ,62I. The Office, after paying It's
own expenses, has a balance to its
credit Of s., 945, 4O5As in the Treasury.
1t is the only branch OF the Govern
ment that pays its own expenses, and
is not harden to the people by way
of taxation. A man with a mechani-
cal turn of mind could intensely enjoy
weeks and months among the 1000
models and drawings so conveniently
arranged and displayed in this i'm
mense department. George Washing
ton and Thomas Jefferson both re-
ceived patents on Improvements in
ploughs."
In a former letter / alluded TO the
friendships that are SO often abruptly
broken among the officials. No mat
ter how patronizing and humble an
applicant may be, the moment he gets
in he assumes all the dignity and i'm
portance his position is entitled to,
and brooks no insinuations. About
the time Congress adjourned Senator
Harris, of Tennessee, went up to see
the President about an appointment
in his State, which some of his con-
stituents were interested in. He
stated his case, and the President re-
piled: well, it seems to me that you
have a good deal of assurance to come
you voted against my man Matthews.
The Senator got hot in a second. II IL
have you know, Mr.. President, he
said, that it is none Of your business
what do or do not do in the Senate.
| am the master, sir, Of my own actions
there, as you are here. | didn't cone
here asking any favors Of YOU on any
personal grounds. The people of the
State OF Tennessee, whom | represent,
asked ne to do this, and that is why
| came here. You may do as you d
please, sir, about the matter; but, sir,
want it distinctly understood, that
what | do as a Senator is beyond your
jurisdiction" and the irate Senator
left in a hurry and declares he will
never speak to the President again.
Treasury officials are having consid-
cradle quiet fun growing out of the
recent bond calls. 1t is well known
about the department that Treasurer
Jordan, who is now at the Arkansas
Hot Springs, is violently opposed to
bond calls on general principles, and
in a recent letter TO a personal friend
he fairly howled because so much OF
the surplus has been ordered out Of
the Treasury. At the present rate OF
redemption of bonds, SIS, 10000 per
month, the redeemable part Of the
public debt will be wiped out in about
seven months, there being but $l07,-
100000 of three per cent. bonds vet
outstanding and subject to call.
In one OF the appropriation bills
passed at the last session of Congress
is an item OF $l4 for pay to the Fourth
Regiment of Vermont Militia for SER
vices at the battle of Plattsburgh
twar Of 1872 Rather tardy Justice
but better late than never.
III.