New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-16
WASHINGTON NEWS NOTES.


yALUELEss PATENTS.-The Commissioner OF
Patents has received large number OF letters since
taking charge OF his new office In regard TO the
value of patents that have been issued Many peo-
pie have secured patents on their inventions. and
fnding them commercially worthless have become
indignant that they had spent their money and were
unable to receive anything IN return for it. Commits
sioner Butterworth to-day remarked:
The Patent Office issues many patents that arc
known marginal patents. They cover an idea
that is slightly in advance OF anything that has
been patented before, yet in themselves have nttie
or no value. Patent attorneys may advise the-
clients that their applications do not cover enough
to have any commercial value, and then allow the
claimant 10 go ahead or not as he sees fit. But
that is matter tina, this office o has nEhng to O.
CO.. g
politician. "by burying man who was iynched he
abe in many ways Finally he shot saIOonkegepsr
% n '9s ad
cuted him in very short order After they returned
S ns ns S a Rs the os esfes ns q
nursing he ecSysrsd from his injury though was
era months before nc could attend TO his saloon.
That soHf ' ssd not hha IL
turn for life and they raised large sum Of money
body was first planted in gully il was afterward
taken up and properly buried in what is now George
kept the grave green
JUSTICE FIELD AND THE REPORTER.-Ths
correspondent of great Eastern daily newspaper
narrated in group Of friends to-day how a slip OF
the tongue destroyed his chances Of obtaining some
matter he was seeking earnestly. and involved him
in an unpleasant experience with one Of the SUI
prome Court Justices lie received letter In
structins him to see the Chief Justice and the As
sociate Justices OF the Supreme Court and ask
each OF them TO contribute to the columns OF his
paper short essay subject pertaining to the
history Of the Supreme Court. He glanced over tho
note of instructions hurriedly, and when he met
Justice Field shor, time later he not certain
OF its contents To refresh his memory he drew
the letter from his pocket and began TO read from
1t TO the Associate Justice the instructions which
had been to him. In the body Of the letter
"of course, the old buffers do not expect to DO
paid for this work. the correspondent read hur-
riedly and he ran right into this sentence before
he knew where he was He stopped IN the middle
OF IT and was about to omit tho remainder. when
Hold on~what is that? Let that for .
"Oh. that's OF no consequence. Judge" said the
Just let me look at It for a minute" said Jus
tce Field. He glanced over the c9rrespondents
twinkle IN his eye that showed that he appreciated
the humor OF the situation. but the correspondent
1t did not end the search. but it might well have
ended IT, for none Of the essays were EYER written
like to encourage II at his own expense.
RUSSET LEATHER HORSE EQUlPMENTSS
General Miles. shortly before starting for Europe
on his tour OF military investigation submitted to
the Secretary of War recommendation which will
interest all officers of the Army General Miles
advised that tho leather OF Army brides. saddles.
harness, etc, should be changed from the present
color, black, to russell. The proposition Is a some
what radical one the American Army has never
used other than black leather for horse equipments.
been observed is not. with General Miles. concli-
sye reason why change should not be made His
rule Is that II that which Ia in use Is not the best
obtanable, the fact that II has been the regulation
for many years should not stand In the way or the
adoption of something new. To conservative OFF,
GERS, OF which the Army is largely composed. Gem
eral Miless recommendation will AT first SUR
prise. but 1t is probable that upon reelection, they
will agree with him that russell leather il better
for military purposes than black. General Miles
says, among other things. that all the armies OF
Europe now employ russell leather for horse equip
ments. having abolished black leather some limo
ago The General regards russell leather cheaper,
cleaner easier TO keep in good condition and fully
as durable black leather in service II can he
cleaned with soap and water without using a spe-
cially prepared dressing. which black leather re-
the leather he says. but this objection be
come by occasionally rubbing the equipments with
cil. Special attention is called by General Miles in
his recommendation to the fact that, with black
horse equipments. the use OF dressing TO give
| them n polished appearance Is Indispensable. When
the equipments get wet as they must OF course do
I'm service, the uniforms OF officers and are
emphatic have been the complaints OF officers from
| hi9