Evening star., 1898-04-30
Conference Report Taken Up for
Consideration.
IN A PARLIAMENTARY DISPUTE
Rights Of Officers to Their Inven-
tons.
D EN- ED AND DEFEND

After the reading of the journal in The
| House of Represe ntativos today Mr. Tay
Ter (Ohio) of elections committee No. 1
filed end asked immediate adoption of IA
report in the case of Willis vs.. Handy,
| from Delaware, fayoring the s.ttirg neRl-
Der, Willis having abandoned the con-
| test.
| Ihe report was adopted.
| Naval Appropriation Bill.
Mr.. Boutelle (Me.) called up the con-
| ference report on the naval appropriation
| bill.
The Speaker announced that the House
adjourned yesterday pending the DISPOSE
| ton of a point of order made by Mr.. Can
| non Qll), that the conferees had exceeded
their jurisdiction by introducing into the
| report matter which was not in difference
| between the two houses.
the Speaker recognized Mr.. Cannon.
Mr.. Cannon said his point was based
Upon the provision inserted by the con-
| ferees providing for additional officers.
| ncn-commissioned officers and 1,J00 men in
| the marine corps. He was willing, he
! said. reserving his point of order. TO with
| draw his objection to the end that a prop
| csition might be submitted to reject the
| conference report and then consider the
particular amendment in question iii order
| that the House might pass upon it and
| then instruct the conferees upon the
| amendment in line with the action Of the
| House.
Mr. Boutelle said he was anxious to Sc
cure the earliest possible action upon the
naval bill in order to equip and support to
| the utmost the forces the country had sent
to war, to the end that the earliest sue
| to t,.aJ
| Accordingly he was not inclined to insist
| upon technicalities that might delay the
passage of the bill, but was willing to make
| any reasonable arrangement that would
| give the House fair opportunity to con-
| slider the amendment in question He pro-
posed that by unanimous consent the
| amendment be read and discussed reason
ably and voted upon Should it be rejected,
of course, disagreement to the report would
| follow. Should it be adopted, the report
| would be accepted.
Mr.. Sayers (Tex.) suggested that the
| House might be precluded by such an
| agreement from discussing other features
| of the report, which some members might
| question.
Mr.. Cannon 0l) insisted that the proper
course would be for the House to disagree
with the Senate
Conference would then follow necessarily
and meantime the House could consider and
| pass upon the amendment to which he had
made objection.
| Mr.. Boutelle finally made request for
| unanimous consent that the report be re-
| jected with the right to move to recon-
| slider reserved, pending which motion, the
House should proceed to consideration and
| debate of the report each side to occupy
| one hour and half.
Solution of the WrangIc.
Mr.. Boutelle's request was agreed to
| and with this solution of the wrangle as
| to procedure the House proceeded to con-
| s.der the report.
MIR. Sayers (TeN) had the Senate amend
ment read, directing the Secretary of the
| Navy to use, found necessary, inven-
| tions of naval officers, and authorizing such
| officers to prosecute claims for compensa-
| ton therefor in tie Court of Claims.
Mr.. Cannon presented resolution, de-
claring it the sense Of Congress that officers
| of the navy were not entitled to compen-
sation for the use of inventions made while
in the service of the navy, and that the
laws should be amended as to prevent
| such compensation.
Mr.. Sayers spoke in opposition to the
1
| inventions, declaring the inventor officers
| We're educated and employed at the ex-
| pense of the government, and the latter
| was entitled to use without expense the
| Inventions of such officers.
| Mr.. Shafroth (Col) spoke in opposition to
the amendment. and in the course of an in
| terruption, Mr.. Cannon pointed out that
the amendment contemplated only officers
| of the navy, and made no mention of
other employees.
| Rights of Inventors.
| Mr.: Walker (Mass.) addressed the House
| in support of the amendment insisting that
| the government had no more right to ap-
propriate without compensation the inven-
ticns of its naval officers than to deprive
| them without remuneration of Jewels they
| might find while in the service. He at
| tackled the resolution of Mr.. Cannon, and
| declared that the private employer had as
much right to use, without pay, his en-
plcycs invention the government had to
Use, without pay, the invention of its off,
GERS
"The law" interrupted Mr.. Cannon, sis
| that if an employe, using the TOOLS lime
and material of his employer invents
sc mething, the employer is entitled to a
part of the invention"
'Ihat Is only where the man Is en-
ployed to invent" declared Mr.. Walker,
and then added. 1.-The gentleman from ILL
rois is entirely off in his law. I have pat
ented. and know something Of the patent
law"
Patent lawyers are generally poor
| Ones" responded Mr.. Cannon and Mr.
Walker concurred amidst laughter.
Mr.. Bromwell Ohio spoke for the amend
ment, and Mr.. Moody (Mass.) followed in
opposition. declaring the government took
its naval officers almost from the cradle
and carried them to the grave, and should
be entitled to their inventions. He refuted
the contention that the amendment would
stimulate invention among naval officers
as reflection upon their patriotism He
said our inventor-offlcers should, and would,
be content with the enduring gratitude of
their naticn.
Mr.. Dockery (Mo.) opposed the amend
ment. It would give a monopoly to certain
officers. Proceeding, he said 1t was most
unusual feature to be introduced into an