The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-11-11

'ArEN1oFFlcE LlTHoeRApHlNa
Wight That Is Likely to Bs.ng TO the Sur.
face Big Scandal,

race Big Scandal.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9.--The end of
he battle which the commissioner of
,atents has been waging over the lith-
graphing business of the patent office
snot yet. This has been long strug-
,le and in which success has so far
'een with the commissioner. He is in
act very proud of the results of his
york. One of the chief functions of
he patent Office is the publication of
diagrams OF new patents as we'll as
weekly gazette of the patents issued,
n which there are also small il!ustra-
ions of the devices patented.
This work necessitates expensive
ithographing and furnishes one of tho
most profitable contracts which the
Interior department makes. Its an
,ual cost approxilnates $4,000. The
publication of the Patent Office Ga
:ette alone amounts to over $4,000
rear. This is, to all intents and pnr-
poses, complete weekly magazine,
we'll Illustrated. The work has long
,een done here by the Norris-Peters
sithograph company. For many years
here have been efforts made by other
ike firms, both in Washington and
Elsewhere. to secure this contract. with
little success.
The only break in the record was at
he inception of Mr. Cleyelaud's first
administration, when the contract was
ct to the Bell Litbograph company of
Washington. Unfortunately. however
his organization proved unable to do
he work. The cnuse of the comnIaint
vas insutfiicency and inadeouacy of
,lant. and the contract had to he made
,qain with the Norris-Peters company
,s they had the only complete litho-
raphinp establishment hereabouts
There have been for MANY wears
| charges made as to the way in which
he Norris COMPANY held
his attractive monopoly. That
was a powerful organization the com
missioner has had good cause to learn.
When the contracts were advertised for
:}is wear there were two bids. one from
lie old contractors and the other from
;he National Lithopraphipp company.
which was an ENLARGED successor of the
Sid Bell companv. There being n diff.
ference of Sl.7O0 in favor of the new
company Commissioner Seymour grant.
ID them the contract He was at once
made the subject of violent attacks ali
,yer the country. He received hnn.
lreds of letters from prominent attor.
news and leading peopIe ali over the
country advising him, urging him and
threatening him if he did not continne
70 patrouize the Norris. Peters connanv
Owing to the short time the new
company had to make ARRANGEMENTS
| Tor its first worl, there was some cause
| for iu.t COMPLAINT. This was also
ground for renewed violent outbursts
against the commissioner. The power
welded by the old contractors was eyi
dent everywhere. II had been n rich
monopoly and one which extended Tia
Influence in 1nanv unexpected channels
There was even in the appropriation
Hills n nrov;sion that this lithorr,,h
work should be done in Washington. if
! suitable nlnnt md ,vorl,men could ba
/ found here This of conrse would
/ .omnletclv shut ont outside bidders
md the plant of the old comnanv was
90 far superior to any in the district as
4 "a render its hold nnon the worl, nj.
most mandatory
The new company was, however, so
greatly improved in methods and mn
:.hinery that both the publication of
The Gazette and the lithopraphv of the
copies of patent documents are now
/ declared by experts to be finer thnn
4 any previously done. Underthis whole
story there is dishonesty. partisanshin
aud dispraccful private adninistra.
4 hon of public affairs which when fully
rayn,1a6 will l>a s,,rnr;.;,,r ,,l 4h;,