Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-03-16
WASHINGTON LETTER
ESPECIAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.


House and Senate who were to pass
upon it might make an examination.
Nearly all the members of the COM
mittee examined the statue, and in
formally passed their judgment uponlt.
1t is believed that they will be unani-
nous in disapproval of it. The face
and head are commented upon rs very
defective in resemblance to Grant, and
as entirely lacking in the characters
tic expression Of firmness and force
which marked Grants features. 1t is
not believed that the committee will
permit the statue to be erected in the
Capitol, but will have it returned
to the sculptor.
IT AFFECTS $500, 600, 000--Tho Sill
preme court Of the United States, in
an opinion read by Justice Harlan,
decided that the date Of issue and not
the date of application for an Ameri-
can patent, determines whether or
not it expires coincidentalIy with n
foreign patent granted for the same
invention. The decision was made i'll
the case of the Bate Refrigerating Co.
versus Ferdinand SulHberger, ct. al,
certified from the court of appeals Tor
the second circuit, which asked the
supreme court to decide. The deci-
sion affects adversely many patents,
notably in connection with the
use of the telephone, the cleo
trio light and many other val
liable inventions, all told, it is esti-
mated representing $500, 600, 600 of
capital, which are by the decision held
to have expired, Westinghouse peo-
pie say the Bate Refrigerator case
wipes ont every one Of the General
Electric Company's patents which has
thus far been sustained in the courts.
The decision terminates many Edison
patents relating to electric lighting
which have protected Edison licenses,
but it will bring abouta great decrease
in the cost of patent litigation.
WEBsTER's SEcRETARY-Mr Charles
Lanman, the artist, traveller and
writer, is dangerously i'll at his home.
Mr. Lanman was Webster's private
secretary during the statemans last
We lrs, and wrote the private history of
that great man. He was also secretary
of the japanese legation for II years.
! SO capable II man was he and so vaIu-
able were deemed his services, that on
| his retirement the Mikado, in acknOwl-
edgment, presented him with s., 600.
As a landscape artist Mr.. Lanman has
won recognition. There are | 1000 Of
! his artistic works in valued collections.
He is said to have painted scenes from
almost every state in the union. Mr..
| Llnman has been great traveller and
has engaged in many dangerous eX-
plorations. He was the first civilized
man to explore and make known the
region of the SaguenNy.
OVER THE WoRLD-The members
of the Massachusetts delegation in
the Congress Just ended will soon be
scattered all over the world. Messrs.
/ O'Neil, McEttrick, Stevens, Everett
and Randall have finished their con-
gressional services for the present, Mt
least Gen. Draper goes to Kentucky,
and in few weeks will start on Il
European Journey. Messrs Mccall,
Gillett and Wright started for their
homes, and the other members of the
delegation will follow in few days.
Senator Hoar leaves soon for his home
in Worcester, but Senator lodge will
remain here for several weeks. Messrs
Apsley and Mccall are to join n party
that is to start on March 10 for a
three months trip through Japan and
China.
CoPYRGGHr PHOTOGRAPHS One OF
the last acts of this Congress was the
passage, by both houses of bill to
amend the copyright law. The bill
was signed by the president. The OBJ
iect of the amendment is the protec-
ton of newspapers from liability fol
suits for enormous damages for the
violation of copyright of II photo
graph, or picture. As the law stood
it was possible to obtain judgment OF
81 for each copy of IL newspaper
printed which contained reproduc'
ton of photograph which had been
copyrighted. Recently a New York
paper paid 50, 900 to compromise Il
suit for nearly half II million because
copyrighted photograph OF an actress
had been used without the consent OF
the owners of the copyright, but at the
request of the actress. The new law
makes such suits impossible.
NOMINATIONS THAT FAILED Ont o.
total of nearly 500 nominations sent
to last session of Congress, the Senate
failed to act upon u, including the
following: Arthur P. Greeley of New
Hampshire and John H. Brickensteil
of Pennsylvania, to be principal exam
liners in the patent Office; Albert b.
Stearns, appraiser of merchandise fol
the district of Boston and Charles
town. Postmasters: Maine, Susan q
Stephenson, Togus; Massachusetts
George W. Wales, Randolph; Charle
f. Blodgett, Stoneham; Alfred d
Hoitt, Arlington; Thomas H. Mum
Ftchburg.
New ENGLAND PoSrMAsrERs-NeW
England postmasters have been ap
pointed as follows: Maine, e. +. Syl
! lester, Sunset, vice J. h, Johnso.
| .emoved; Massachusetts, Alice s
: Rose, North Dighton, vice j. A, Rose
5 resigned: New Hampshire, W. h
Dow, New Hampton, vice F, P. Nor
rill, removed; G. A. Lull. Washing
ton, vice Mrs. b. A. Hill, removed.
| ACTS OF NO EFFEcT-Ninety act
\ were signed on the last day of Con
gress by President Cleveland. Fifty
. six acts that reached the Prcsiden
failed to receive his signature befor