, 1889-12-12

received almost no benefit from their in.
ventions. In case of reissue OF sucii
patents they reverted to the inventor, u
ho had not disposed of his invention or
the royalty upon IL by new cohtract
contingent on the renewal.
"Wcll toward the close of tho hear
ings Of tile committee things began to
grow hot. II was evident tho agents OF
the corporations must make some ire
mendous effort to gain thcir purpose or
all WAS lost. Tho sewing machine men
gathered themselves together for grand
coup. Chairman Conger WAS called
away for "a day or two on private bust
ness and during his absence important
former actions OF the committee were
rcconsdercd and reversed. When
the chairman camo back there
was pretty row. Conger plainly
hinted that the lobbyists had got
in their work and declared that por.
ton of the committee could not rescind
any action of the committee in the abb
sence Of the remainder of the commit.
tee. There was a heated argument on
tho point. The members who had been
convinced did not readily yield their
position. Finally Conger electrified the
committee by the declaration that IL the
former decision of the committee were
not restored he would go upon the hoor
OF the mouse, uIlnOllnNt MS ItolkndtlOU
and give his reasons i'll the most unmis-
taxable language. This had the desired
effect, and the committee took the back
track.
GAS a last and desperate resort the
agents of the sewing machine lobby de-
tcrmined to attempt to reach the chair.
man him self. Accustomed to see men
fall down before the golden calf, they
ianced the great show OF virtue on the
g n
pose of striking for high figure; and
so they laid their heads together and de-
cded to beard the moral lion in his den.
"The leading attorney of the sewing
machine combination himself agreed to
undertake the difficult capture of the
chairman He set about to cultivate the
genial gentleman from Michigan. lie
was brilliant man, splendid
raconteur, II perfect gentleman in
every way. His approaches were not re-
pulsed. Conger has wonderful keen
sense of wit, and no man appreciates
brilliancy and eloquence more than he
lie allowed, but did not seek, the COM
pany of the attractive attorney. Finally
the time came to strike the blow. One
evening the attorney called on the chair.
man at the latter's rooms. lie found
him alone, and employed his most
charming powers of conversation to put
the victim in II proper frame OF mind to
be ruined.
"lle went over all of the most specious
arguments that had been advanced In
support of the reissue of the patents, and
ended by conlessing that II refusal to re-
issue would result in the almost bankC
ruptcy of the great companies interested,
and that they would be willing to spend
almost any amount at the moment to
accomplish their ends,
"'Do you mean TO say that the COM
panics would be willing to pay a large
amount in cash to have the patents reis-
sued2 SAID Conger, timidly, and yet
with q show of expectation.
THAT is exactly what l mean said
the attorney.
"'To whom would the money be
paid? asked Conger, with the innocence
of child.
Well, to any one you may name
say--say-thc members OF the commit
tee--or-or-wcll,y yourself, for instance
said the attorney, showing the first sign
of embarrassment.
"'Do you mean to say that you would
pay me IA large sum If | secure the re-
issue of the parents?' said Congcr with
such countenance of perfect acquies-
cence that the attorney was completely
deceived, and came boldly to the point.
That is actly what | mean, he re.
piled.
"'About how muchP said the chair
man, in thoroughly business like tone.
"A few hundreds
"a few hundreds! Thousands
Thousands upon thousands! Tens OF
thousandsl Tens of thousands upon
tens of thousands! You may write the
figures yourself
"'What! Tens of thousandsP said
Conger swcetly. i may write the fig
ures myselfT
"'Eou may
"Quick as lightning the entire demean-
or OF Chairman Conger was transformed.
Corger was on his feet towering over
him, his eyes blazing with fury.
AT last l have made you unmask
yourself, you Internal scoundrel,' he
Numbered. Il have suspected from the
beginning that you were here to bribe
and corrupt as well AS to argue, and
now you have exposed the full extent of
your damnable villainy. Do you see
that door2 Get out of 1t at once aud
never enter it again. Not one word
not one word more or i will call the ser
wants and have you kicked into the
street. Get out of this house and out OF
this city. If you are here tomorrow, /
will expose you and have you put under
arrest. Get out, you scoundrel.'
And you may he sure the attorney
got out He went to his hotel, packed
his bag, took the hrst train home, and
from that night he has never been seen
in the city of Washington.
"A reissue Of all OF the patents men
toned was refused. The Tanner brake
would have been aranted but for the fact
that the inventor had made a
new contract with the holders
OF the patent whereby he would re-
ceive merely a petty royalty, and SO
that was refused. The brake, the reap
ers and mowers, the sewing machines,
except in matter of improvement. the
patents on which had not expired, be
came universal property and fell to
about onc-third their former price.
81 had, said the gentleman, "the story
of Conger's adventure with the attorney
from one of few intimate friends to
whom the ex-senator related 1t years
ago.
ALL SORTS OF ITEMS.
Delawa res citizen soldiery consists OF
4. H.. "A a 4 par