The morning call., 1892-05-04
Adoption of the Conference Report
by the Senate.
PACIFIC COAST DELEGATION PLEASED.
Democrats Discussing Revision of the TariF-Op.
position to Free Lumber and Barley-Edi.
sons Delayed Patents.
Special to THE MoRNINa CALL

WASHINGTON, May 3-The members OF
the Paclhc Coast delegation in Congress all
express themselves as being we'll pleased
with the Chinese bill as reported by the
conference committee and ado pied by the
Senate to-day. They are unanimous in the
opinion that it is a great improvement over
the existing laws. In the Senate to-day
tue conference report was opposed by Sher-
man, Dawes, Frye, Platt, Palmer and Call,
and was favored by D0lph, Morgan, Vest
ana Hlscock. Senator Palmer has utterly
ruined his chances for the Presidential NOM
ihatlon, IN the opinion of some of his
friends. 1t was surprise to many that
hisc0ck was arrayed on the right side, but
he has evidently heard from some of the
labor organizations in his State; likewise
D0lph. Ii is believed that there will be
but little more opposition manifested to the
adoption Of the conference report by the
bonse Tomorrow.
Discussing the Tariff.
The Senate Committee on Finance has
not yet considered the tariff bills passed by
the House. There was meeting this
morning devoted to discussion of the bill
amendatOry OF the direct tax act. Chairman
Morrill,. who with Senator Mcpherson con-
sututeS the subcommittee to inquire into
the effect of the tariff laws on the trade rela-
tl0ns between this country and Canada,
is authorized 10 present report to the Sen
ate That II may be printed and recOmmitted.
Inc Democratic members of the Ways
ana Means Committee listened this after
noon TO Democratic members of the House.
who expressed their views Oh the tariff bills
pending before the committee. 1t was evil
dent tnat there was quite number of DEM
ocratlc members unfayOrabe to report til e
a of
aud at least one member was opposed to
the reduction In the duty on barley. The
opposition to the lumber bill came from
North Carolina and the great lake States
IN the Northwest, on the ground that the
duty should not be taken off unless COM
pensatory Dement'S were given by the gen.
eral tariff reduction bill. The committee
was urged 10 place refined sugar on the free
list, and make lower duties on thread and
steel rails.
Compensation for Carrying the Mails.
The proposition made by the House Post
of1lce Committee IL the postal apprOpria-
ton bill TO reduce the compensation to the
land-grant subsidized railroads for carrying
the mails to 80 per cent of the rate allowed
nOnaided railroads, as the law at present
provides 90 per cent, has awakened VigOr-
Gus opposition from the land-grant rail-
roads, ana they are protesting against the
proposed legislation az unjust and unrea-
SOnaDIe. 0-uay the repreSeD tatlYeS or q
number of these raih Dads appeared before
the committee and stated the reasons for
their opposition.
Edison's Delayed Patents,
The Commissioner of Patents has issued
three patents to Thomas A. Edison. as
siguor to the Western Union Telegraph,
covering the features of a speaking tele-
phone. The original application was filed
in 1877. Owing TO the Intervention of other
applications covering the same invention
the patents We're delayed. The latest ob-
staele 10 the Issuance of these patents was
the Berllner application, upon when a
patent was issued last November. These
inventions OF Edison have been granted
foreign patents. some of which have al
ready expired. This raises the question
whether an American patent issued after
the expiration of foreign patent is valid,
the application for an American patent hav-
ing been filed prior to the date OF the grant
of the foreign patent. This question will, it
1t is thought, be brought before the United
States Supreme Court, severah Circuit Court
Judges having decided ii in the negative.
An amendment 10 the sundry civil appro-
priation bill to-day was reported from the
Senate Committee Gu Military Affairs au-
thOrizing the Secretary of War to establish,
not to exceed two, military posts at points
on the northern frontier where lie may in
his judgment deem it for the public good.